IllumiRoom: Peripheral Projected Illusions for Interactive Experiences is a proof-of-concept from Microsoft Research that was just announced at CES. The concept is to use a projector to bring the game outside of the television screen and into the room with you.

“Our system uses the appearance and the geometry of the room (captured by Kinect) to adapt the projected visuals in real-time without any need to custom pre-process the graphics. What you see in the videos below has been captured live and is not the result of any special effects added in post production.” 

I am intrigued by this idea because I think it adds more than just what one would get with a bigger tv screen. I have been thinking lately where the future of gaming would go visually be it 3D or something else like the Oculus Rift. A larger screen doesn’t let you see more of a game it only lets you see the same thing bigger and the Oculus Rift is limited to one person. I’ve seen projectors putting an image of a game onto a dome screen to give you peripheral vision and the ability to see “everything” around you as if you were in the world but that looked a little too much for me. I think the IllumiRoom is a more realistic and viable option for immersing yourself in the game. I’d assume there would be some sort of a projector on a tripod most likely so it has free range to project into the walls and ceiling of the room.

The best part is the fact that it doesn’t even need to be a good projector with a crisp image; it only needs to be something good enough to give you an idea of what is going on around you. I think the video shows some good examples of the immersion it could provide. I understand that this is just a concept and there are several things that could pose problems: you would have to be in a very dark room to get the best effect, you or other people in the room could block the projector, or if not everyone has access to this device it could pose an unfair advantage in multiplayer games. All those issue aside I really do like where Microsoft Research is going with innovative ideas. I would take this over a game tablet with bad integration any day. 

What do you think? Could you see yourself using something like this to get into the game or do you think it's just another gimmick?

There is more information and another video with the IllumiRoom on the Microsoft Research site here.

Comments

  • rezuss Avatar
    rezuss
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Well, this sure gives the word "immersion" a new dimension.
    Looks like the best kind of gimmick IMO

  • Jeremy Flower Avatar
    Jeremy Flower
    11 years, 2 months ago

    My gaming TV/setup is tucked in the corner of the room as part of my "home office". Opposite side of the TV from room's corner is a window. I don't think this would look that good like that.

  • Absolutely_Daft Avatar
    Absolutely_Daft
    11 years, 2 months ago

    This is another gimmick. I get immersed by good games, not shit virtually flying in my face.

  • FullDarkGear Avatar
    FullDarkGear
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Looks cool in my opinion, but it will probably only apply to a handful of people (myself excluded).

  • Zladko Avatar
    Zladko
    11 years, 2 months ago

    This reminds me a lot of Kinect. I can see myself really liking this technology a few years in the future, but not as what it is right now.

  • theottomatic91 Avatar
    theottomatic91
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Does not really seem worthwhile in my opinion, I would like to see Microsoft return to making quality games rather than focusing on gimmicks for the casual audience because those people enjoy good games as well.

  • Fuzzydude64 Avatar
    Fuzzydude64
    11 years, 2 months ago

    This is a highly interesting idea, I must say. I say go forward with it and advance it as it could bring whole new dimensions to immersion. Projecting what's below, behind, around, and even above you. Gaming could become an even more immersive visual medium than it is now! I'm not so sure about it being on Kinect though, maybe it could handle it, but do it's bad reputation (and well deserved from a gaming standpoint, sorry to say) I'm rather iffy on it. Still seems like an idea worth advancing. It'd be the next best thing next to Virtual Reality.

  • CyborgMaid Avatar
    CyborgMaid
    11 years, 2 months ago

    It's a really cool idea for sure, but I doubt it will ever be a success. Atleast not yet. I think the technology to make this really good and actually work properly is still to expensive to sell on the regular market. I think it is still too early for this to be any good. But hey.. You got to start somewhere I guess, and atleast they are trying something new.

  • Samir Huzejrovic Avatar
    Samir Huzejrovic
    11 years, 2 months ago

    I'm actually pretty interested.
    If done right, it could make alot of games feel more "immersive(?)".

    Imagine walking through the woods near riften in skyrim and seeing the leaves from the trees fall around in your room. I would want that. I would want that as fuck.