Wednesday, September 17, 2014

NBA 2k15 PlayStation 4 Camera / Xbox One Kinect Face mapping tech video





  "NBA 2K15" is angling for a slam dunk with an innovative new way to put players in the game. Gamers will be able to digitally graft lifelike 3D renditions of their faces onto virtual players using the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One cameras. (Sept. 17)


Saturday, August 30, 2014

DepthSense® Human Tracking Library for PS4™ PlayStation Camera Games




A showcase of games powered by our DepthSense Human Tracking Library (HT-Lib) for PS4™: Just Dance® 2014, Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show®, Just Dance 2015® by Ubisoft® and Commander Cherry’s Puzzled Journey by Grandé Games.





HUMAN TRACKING LIBRARY (HTLIB)



DepthSense® HT-Lib, our multi-user full-body tracking middleware, is now available to all PlayStation®4 (PS4™) developers.
HT-Lib enhances the quality of the depth map and stereoscopic features provided by the PlayStation®Camera for PS4™. It has been developed with performance as the top priority. It's specifically optimized for the PS4™ GPU, to use minimal CPU, and memory resources. It delivers fast, low latency data transfer to create the best user experience on any console platform.
To find out more, contact us directly at sales@softkinetic.com for more details about getting started with DepthSense HT-Lib for PS4™.
 


KEY FEATURES

  • Full Body Tracking
    • Multi-user : 4 player simultaneous tracking
    • Detailed movements : 21 joints tracked per player
    • Fast, low latency (30/60 FPS)
  • User Mask
    • Clean user cutout
    • Green screen effect without the set-up or know-how
  • Scene Analysis
    • Automatic and transparent scene calibration
    • Easy filtering of furniture, floor, walls and objects
    • Complex occlusion management
  • Global product features
    • Written in standard C++
    • Record data as a move file (.SKV format)
    • Supports the PlayStation®Camera for PS4™ (Kinect and DepthSense® coming soon*)
    • Plug-in for Unity 4.3 with samples and demos
    • Available on the PS4™ platform (Android & Windows coming soon*)
  • Performance & System Architecture
    • Optimized for PS4™ GPU
    • Tuned to use minimal CPU and memory resources
    • Rapid refresh rates at 30/60 fps

*iisu® middleware supports Kinect, DepthSense, Windows, Android & Linux and is available atwww.softkinetic.com/products/iisumiddleware

UNITY PLUG-IN

Our DepthSense HT-Lib plug-in is available today for Unity 4.3 for PS4™, and gives developers access to the full range of features inside our human-tracking library.
We also provide a variety of Unity samples and demos to help get you started.
 


GAME TESTIMONIALS

We created HT-Lib to handle all variety of game types and scenarios. From full-body avatar controls, to analyzing player behavior. From augmenting traditional controller play, or even targeting specific body parts for control. Whatever your gaming needs, we can help make it happen.
Ubisoft® chose HT-Lib to develop Just Dance® 2014 for the launch of the PS4™, and there are many more games in development for release this year.

GAME TITLES: JUST DANCE 2014® & JUST DANCE 2015® (IN DEVELOPMENT)
GAME DEVELOPER: UBISOFT®


"Ubisoft worked closely with SoftKinetic to bring Just Dance 2014® to the PS4, and we are planning to use HTLib for some new titles for the PS4, including Just Dance 2015® and Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show®."
Martin Oliver, producer, Ubisoft Reflections

GAME TITLE: COMMANDER CHERRY (IN DEVELOPMENT)
GAME DEVELOPER: GRANDE GAMES


"At Grandé Games we have focused on the unique potential of motion control in gaming, and SoftKinetic’s DepthSense HTLib has allowed us to extract the player silhouette in a comfortable and straight forward way in Unity 3D. We are thrilled to be able to realize our game, Commander Cherry’s Puzzled Journey, on the PS4 platform."
Georg Graf, co-founder and programmer, Grandé Games

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Inertial Sensors: DualShock 4 vs Sixaxis/DS3 accelerometer/gyroscope chips

I was wondering what the difference was between the DS4 & DS3 sensors do I dug up the Datasheets of the Accelerometers & Gyroscope sensors. DS4 has a single IMU made up of a 3 axis digital accelerometer & a 3 axis digital gyroscope. Where DS3 used individual chips, a 3 axis analog accelerometer & a vibration gyro sensor.


Accelerometer g-force measurement range 

DS4 (programmable) ± 2 g, ± 4 g, ± 8 g, ± 16 g 

vs 

DS3 ± 2 g


Gyroscope angular rate measurement range

DS4 (programmable) ± 125°/s, ± 250°/s, ± 500°/s, ± 1000°/s, ± 2000°/s

vs 

DS3 ± 100°/s





Dualshock 4

DualShock 4's Bosch BMI055 6 axis inertial measurement unit 


Quote:
Product description

The BMI055 is an ultra-small, 6 axis inertial sensor, consisting of: A digital, triaxial 12bit acceleration sensor and a digital, triaxial 16bit, ±2000°/s gyroscope. The BMI055 allows very low-noise measurement of angular rates and accelerations in 3 perpendicular axes and thus senses tilt, motion, shock and vibration in cellular phones, handhelds, computer peripherals, man-machine interfaces, remote and game controllers.
With its ultra-small footprint of only 3 mm x 4.5 mm the BMI055 is unique in the class of low-noise inertial measurement units. On top, the BMI055 integrates a multitude of features that facilitate its use especially in the area of motion detection applications, such as device orientation measurement, gaming, HMI and menu browser control.

Applications
  • Activity monitoring, step-counting
  • Navigation
  • Vibration measurement, also for active damping
  • Six-dimensional tracking of trajectories
  • Flat detection, tap sensing, menu scrolling
  • Tilt compensation for electronic compass
  • Advanced power management for mobile devices
  • Shock and free-fall detection
  • Image stabilization


DualShock 3 

DualShock3's Kionix KXPC4 (Accelerometer - 3-Axis)

Epson-Toyocom XV3500CB (Gyroscope Sensor)

Monday, August 18, 2014

PlayStation 4 controller Patent shows the DualShock 4's that could have been (DS4 ,PS4 )


DualShock 4 patent that had buttons on the grip & buttons under the d-pad & shape buttons.

And another design that would have had the analog sticks above the buttons

301 seems to be the DS4 that we ended up with.

Edit: there also was going to be LEDs around the face buttons. (must have been the Buzz devs idea)





























I think I know where Sony was headed with the buttons inside of the grip of the DS4 prototype.


Friday, August 8, 2014

DualShock 4 Motion & Touch controls might be the straws that break the Xbox One's back.

Next Gen arrived with all 3 consoles coming equipped with new next gen control interfaces as standard. But sadly Microsoft has abandoned the Kinect as a standard part of the Xbox One to achieve a lower price that would match the PS4's $399 price tag. This seems like a good choice to some who don't like anything motion control related but in the end this will really hurt the Xbox One as a platform because we are at a time when Tablets & Smartphones are the home of all types of new games thanks to their touch screens & motion sensors & some of them become big hits. Without Kinect Xbox One will miss out on these crazy little games with non standard controls because devs will think twice about making games for the Xbox One that only a few can play & even then Kinect might not have been able to do the games justice. But PS4 having motion sensing & touch controls standard will be able to control these games in almost the same manner as a Tablet or Smartphone & better yet PS4 can introduce new gameplay ideas for devs to take advantage of making it a even better console to own than Xbox One even without the power advantage that it already has over the Xbox One.



Only time will tell but PS4 could be the Wii / NDS of this generation once devs start to making good use of it's non-standard controller.  



Friday, July 25, 2014

Without Kinect does Xbox One face the stigma of being seen as a redundant Console?

Without Kinect does Xbox One face the stigma of being seen as a redundant Console?

A Kinect-less Xbox One doesn't seem to have a good selling point or 'It Factor' next to it's closest competition.
  • There is exclusive titles but Halo seems to be the only one that will make a big difference in the line up so far that could make the Xbox One stand out. 
  • No price advantage that could make it the lowest hanging fruit for people who just want a new console.
  • No technical advantages that will make games look or play better compared to it's competition (besides the push for cloud computing).
  • There wasn't a years head-start that would make it the more established console on the market with more games & developers having a better grip on the hardware.
  • It's not aimed at a different market from it's competition where it could escape the head to head comparison in which it pretty much comes up short in every area. 
  • It's not a smaller design making it easier to carry around & better for kids/teens who take their consoles with them from place to place.

Xbox One with Kinect was a vision that a lot of people didn't agree with but at least there was a vision before. Now it seems to be a question of "why is the Xbox One here?" & I have a scary feeling that Microsoft & some devs are starting to ask this same question.

Xbox One remind me a lot of the Sega Saturn.
Priced $100 more at launch then dropped the price to match the competition, 3rd party devs have a hurdle to jump over vs making the same game for the other system and it hasn't really made a case for it's self besides having exclusives but that didn't help Saturn much because people was able to find games that filled the void on the PS1.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Xbox One's June software dev kit gives devs access to more GPU bandwidth




Sunday, June 1, 2014

Free Dark Souls Xbox 360 Digital Download Game

From slickdeals

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/121654/xbox-live-marketplace---dark-souls-xbox-360-digital-download-game


From slickdeals

Xbox Live Marketplace has Dark Souls (Xbox 360 Digital Download Game) for Free for Xbox Live Gold Members. Please refer to the forum thread for additional details. Thanks dealwars

Note, offer applies to Xbox Live Gold Membership only. 

Upcoming Offers

Deal Editor's Note: For a review of Dark Souls, head over to IGN. Xbox Live Gold members with an Xbox One may also take advantage of two free games (Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault). These games will be announced with specific dates according to Major Nelson's Blog." 


Saturday, May 24, 2014

PlayStation 4 & GPGPU : Software Rendering will push PS4 far above Xbox One in Graphics.

At the moment PS4 & Xbox One games look a like for the most part besides better framerates & higher resolutions on the PS4, but PS4 still has a big advantage on it's side that's not being put to good use at the moment & that's the 8 ACE's vs the 2 ACE's of the Xbox One  GPU this will make a big difference when devs start to do more compute based rendering using the GPGPU  & it will make a big difference in the look of the games a bigger difference than what you see now with with PS4 extra power only being used for higher resolution & frame rates.


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Nintendo Revealing New Hardware at E3?

From Neogaf

Word on the interwebs suggests that the Big N is gearing up for some sort of hardware reveal at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.

"We've heard rumors that Nintendo might be showing hardware at E3," IGN editor Jose Otero said on the latest episode of Nintendo Voice Chat.

"They're absolutely going to show new hardware this year," the outlet's co-founder, Peer Schneider added. "No doubt in my mind that something... 'Cause I've heard from multiple people now. I've heard from someone who used to be at Nintendo, I've heard it from somebody on the third-party front."
http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/r...ce=twitterfeed


Interesting, maybe a revised gamepad/cheaper model?


Videogamer too now

http://www.videogamer.com/news/ninte...are_at_e3.html

Nintendo will reveal new hardware at E3, a third-party publishing source has told VideoGamer.com.

Games compatible with the hardware will also be playable at the show, our source says, with the hardware believed to be linked to system specs leaked earlier in the year.

Those specs suggest that the hardware will be formed of two parts - a 'Fusion DS' and a 'Fusion Terminal' - and be a successor to the platform holder's struggling Wii U.

Our source's comments tally with those made by IGN earlier today who revealed that they had "heard rumours that Nintendo might be showing hardware at E3".


"They are absolutely going to show new hardware this year, there is no doubt in my mind..." said IGN's Peer Schneider. "I've heard it from multiple people now. I've heard it from someone who used to be at Nintendo, I've heard it from somebody on the third-party front."

The site then speculates that Nintendo could reveal a new peripheral or hardware revision rather than a new console.

Nintendo told VideoGamer.com that it does not comment on rumour or speculation when contacted about the story earlier today.

The platform holder is set to host its E3 digital event on Tuesday, June 10.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Aquifi Fluid: Software based gesture recognition from the creators of the hardware that went into Kinect for Xbox One

SHAREfactory: Tools of the Trade (video Demo)

PS4 Firmware Update 1.70 patch notes from PlayStation Blog


  • SHAREfactory: After you update your PS4 to v1.70, an icon to download our free SHAREfactory app will appear on your PS4 system’s home screen once it’s available. Once installed, SHAREfactory allows you to easily customize your gameplay videos with special effects, video commentary with picture-in-picture capability through PlayStation Camera, and custom soundtracks using the included audio tracks or your original music imported from a USB drive. You can then share your videos on Facebook or export them to an external USB storage device. The app is packed with plenty of cool, but accessible, tools. It’s simple enough to use for beginning editors, while functioning as a rich video editor for those with more creative aspirations. Check out our new SHAREfactory video that provides a walkthrough of what you can expect:
  • Automatic Pre-download: No more waiting until after a game is released to start downloading select pre-ordered games from PlayStation Store. This new feature allows you to get to your games faster by automatically downloading select pre-ordered games up to several days in advance of the release, so that it’s ready to play as soon as the game is released on launch day. There’s also a countdown timer prior to the release of the game so you’ll know how soon your game will be available for you to start playing.
  • Option to Disable HDCP for Games: This highly requested feature will allow you to have the option to turn off HDCP for games so you can capture longer gameplay sessions directly from your HDMI output and export them elsewhere.
  • USB Export Option for Captured Gameplay: It’s now even easier to show off your heroic gaming moments and the SHAREfactory videos you create with the world using this feature to export your videos and screenshots to a USB drive. Just click on the DUALSHOCK 4 SHARE button, save your gameplay on a USB drive, and then share your proudest achievements on other social networks and other video platforms.
  • Live Broadcasting in HD and Archiving Support: We’ve increased the resolution for live broadcasts so you and your friends can watch games livestreamed in 720p HD. You can also archive your broadcasts on Twitch or Ustream and watch them again later.
  • New SHARE Options: We’ve got a number of new SHARE settings that will give you better control of what you want to share with your friends. Here is what you can look forward to:
  • Change the default gameplay recording time in the SHARE menu under Video Clip Settings.
  • Save only the video clips and screenshots you want by selecting Upload Screenshots or Upload Video Clips for each capture. Also upload video clips and screenshots during your live gameplay broadcasts.
  • Select specific Facebook audiences to share each video or screenshot with.
  • New DUALSHOCK 4 Options: New light bar settings have been added for DUALSHOCK 4, allowing you to change it to Bright, Medium or Dim in the Settings menu. The touchpad has also been updated, allowing you to navigate the on-screen keyboard using the DUALSHOCK 4 touchpad.
  • New Friends Options: It’s now easier to find Friends and send requests with the ability to search Friends-of-Friends, view Mutual Friends on another user’s profile, and accept Friend requests directly from the Friends list.
  • New Trophies Sort Option: You can now sort Trophies by rarity in the Options menu.
  • PlayStation Store Payment Support: Similar to PS3, we’re introducing Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) for PS4 for content purchased on PS Store, starting with PayPal support.
  • More PlayStation Camera Commands: More voice commands are added to PlayStation Camera, allowing you to launch the apps installed on your PS4 with the sound of your voice.
  • New PlayStation Plus Icon: For Plus members, you’ll now have the PS Plus icon appear next to your SEN ID on the login screen, home screen and other areas across the PS4 system’s sleek user interface.
  • Music Unlimited SHARE Options: With a Music Unlimited subscription, you can easily share your favorite songs with your friends by pressing the SHARE button on your DUALSHOCK 4.
PlayStation Vita v3.15 Update

  • PS4 Link Update for Remote Play: Linking your PS4 and PS Vita together will now be easier with the 3.15 update for PS Vita. It’ll enable Automatic Device Registration, which will automatically detect and pair both systems when they’re both online and the same user is signed in to both devices. This makes it even quicker for you to get started on Remote Play or access other second screen features.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/...ta-and-ps-app/

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=810277 

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Project Morpheus: GDC 2014 Presentation ( Sony PlayStation 4 VR HUD )



Watch the full Project Morpheus developer presentation from GDC 2014! From Sony Computer Entertainment World Wide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida: "Our current prototype for Project Morpheus features a head mounted display with 1080p resolution and a 90 degree field of view. Accelerometer and gyroscope sensors built into the head mounted unit as well as PlayStation Camera accurately tracks head orientation and movement, so as your head rotates, the image of the virtual world rotates intuitively in real-time. Project Morpheus also features our new 3D audio technology that re-creates stereoscopic sounds in all directions and changes in real-time depending on your head orientation. In addition to PlayStation Camera, Project Morpheus works with DUALSHOCK 4 Wireless Controller and PlayStation Move to deliver an easy-to-use, plug-and-play VR experience."  

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

PlayStation 4 Eye Gaze control prototype being showed off at GDC 2014









PlayStation 4 Eye Gaze controls being demoed at GDC 2014


http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2014/03/ps4-gaze-eyeball-tracking/