
Microsoft Surface has been the topic of many a geek discussion, both in awe of, and in support of this new computing platform. Having accepted an invitation from the Surface team to come to Seattle and experience Surface computing for ourselves, Lono and I headed up in mid-December, courtesy of Microsoft. Get all the juicy details and video, after the jump.After letting us run the machine through its paces, with the interesting apps seen in our original Surface Parody Video, we were ushered over to another Surface machine for a real treat. The first game ever developed for Surface.
It’s called Firefly. (If you’re not into all of this reading, you may skip straight to the video HERE)
Carbonated games (of Uno and Hexic fame) were tasked with coming up with a game that utilized Surface’s unique multi-touch interface. While certainly not on the scale of AAA titles in bells and whistles, what they delivered is a glimpse of what a game could be, if not limited to mice and controllers.
Firefly utilizes multi-touch by asking the players (up to four at a time) to herd tiny insects into glass jars. The object is to be the first player to collect 3 fireflies of each color, while preventing your opponents from doing so. A simple premise that can turn chaotic, as the only real defensive move in the game is to murder the poor fireflies that your opponent needs to win. Herding fireflies takes a gentle touch, as I found out on several occasions. If you’re too ambitious, it’s “lights out” for the poor bastards. Now for the video. (On the next page)
If you feel we’ve earned it, how bout a digg?
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Looks pretty darn boring if you ask me?
Think about the interface not the game.
“Anybody can do this”
Except if you don’t have any fingers!
@andrew… actually you could still do it. You’d just have to move whatever you had a lot more.
Lol, I thought of that a dirty way, :$ since you could use ‘anything’ xD
Yea didnt think about it in terms of RTS games that would be damn sweet! however i dont think that makes it n e less of a stupid system because msoft never sold PCs and started a whole brand just 4 gamers
Think about that Tom Clancey Endwar promo teaser, using this as the control scheme.
Great job guys! I linked to you here:
http://thegamersgarage.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=1&mosmsg=Item+successfully+saved.
My first big disappointment of the day. This isn’t Firefly, the show, video game. Thanks a lot SG.
Introducing Firefly: the only game that lets you collect fireflies with your toes!
Great article Doc! I asked the XNA guys about the Surface last week and they didn’t want to touch it. I added this to our news here: http://www.gamingangels.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2587
i think the game sounds crappy but the idea is spectacular… pretty soon you’ll have command and conquer on the surface bc of its ease of motion
Yeah, it could be a new era in RTS, imagine Supreme Commander on this table.
Dig effect to take place in 5….
Nice one Doc. While the game seems ok, its just to showcase the ability of Surface.
Rts and mmo’s would play great on this
Work being done on educational content in the same direct manipulation genera here – http://edusim3d.com – surface could be a boon in schools with some really rich/immersive educational environments
Rich
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[...] ้าใครยังจำเจ้าโต๊ะ Surface à¸à¸´à¸™à¹€à¸—à¸à¸£à¹Œà¹€à¸Ÿà¸‹à¹à¸šà¸šà¸¡à¸±à¸¥à¸•ิทัชจาà¸à¹„มโครซà¸à¸Ÿà¸—์à¸à¸±à¸™à¹„ด้ ตà¸à¸™à¸™à¸µà¹‰à¸—ีมงานขà¸à¸‡à¹„มโครซà¸à¸Ÿà¸—์ได้สร้างเà¸à¸¡à¸•้นà¹à¸šà¸šà¸—ี่ใช้à¸à¸´à¸™à¹€à¸—à¸à¸£à¹Œà¹€à¸Ÿà¸‹à¸¡à¸±à¸¥à¸•ิทัชà¸à¸±à¸™à¹à¸¥à¹‰à¸§à¹€à¸à¸¡à¸™à¸µà¹‰à¸Šà¸·à¹ˆà¸à¸§à¹ˆà¸² Firefly (ไม่เà¸à¸µà¹ˆà¸¢à¸§à¸à¸±à¸šà¸‹à¸µà¸£à¸µà¸¢à¹Œ Firefly) à¸à¸˜à¸´à¸šà¸²à¸¢à¸‡à¹ˆà¸²à¸¢à¹† เป็นเà¸à¸¡à¸—ี่เราต้à¸à¸‡à¹ƒà¸Šà¹‰à¸™à¸´à¹‰à¸§à¸à¸§à¸²à¸”หิ่งห้à¸à¸¢à¸—ี่บินà¸à¸¢à¸¹à¹ˆà¸šà¸™à¸ˆà¸à¹ƒà¸«à¹‰à¹€à¸‚้ามาในโหล (คล้ายๆ à¸à¸±à¸šà¸žà¸§à¸à¹€à¸à¸¡à¸•้à¸à¸™à¹à¸à¸° เพียงà¹à¸•่ใช้นิ้วà¹à¸—น) ใครสนใจวิดีโà¸à¸à¹‡à¸¡à¸µà¹ƒà¸«à¹‰à¸”ู [...]
“We really enjoyed the opportunity to see this first-ever game application for Surface, and playing Firefly was surprisingly addictive and fun”…… “Its great b/c of the way its innovates gaming!”
Hmmm…So you can praise Microsoft surface, yet you can’t give credit where credit is due for Nintendo’s many innovations? You constantly rave about the 360 while bashing Sony and Nintendo, disregarding what they have brought to the industry. Its clear this site is a 360 Fanboy site in disguise as you contantly bend over for the big “M”. Its a little disgusting.
I”m unsubscribing today, and sticking with the Joystiq Podcast instead. Funnier, Smarter, Better.
I’d say your comments would have been true of SG a few months ago, Nascar Sucks. But they’ve grown and matured as a site and definitely in their acceptance of other console’s achievements. Though, quite frankly, if the Wii actually had anything to celebrate other than Super Mario Galaxy and high sales figures (I mean really), SG would probably notice this.
And to be honest, a touch sensetive table is a MUCH better innovation than a funny stick you wave around. I own a Wii, and I continue to be underwhelmed by almost everything it throws at me, or breaks my TV with.
[...] Techeblog, Sarcasticgamer. Comparte el [...]
[...] Firefly: The first game for Microsoft Surface [SarcasticGamer] [...]
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Multitouch Company http://hci.cn
[...] Sarcastic Gamer gives us a look at FireFly, one of the first games to hit the Microsoft Surface. Video after the break. Here’s how you play: The premise is simple: use your fingers to corral colored fireflies into your jar, while squishing the flies on your opponent’s side [...]
My office just bought a surface unit.
Where do I download the game from?
Different people have different opinions towards a new invention or creation.
Firefly, the first game, a must have one. lol