Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video)

By Sean Hollister posted Dec 21st 2010 9:53PM

It was only a matter of time before Microsoft's continually-hacked Kinect became embroiled in a VR simulation of some sort, and while we're not riding light cycles quite yet, enterprising developer Nao_u has managed to put himself in the shoes (and short skirt) of a Japanese virtual pop icon. Mapping his every move onto the virtual skeleton of Vocaloid's Miku Hatsune probably won't impress you much at this stage of the game, but there's the little matter of what Nao_u did next: he hooked up a pair of Vuzix VR920 LCD glasses to see through the digital diva's eyes, too. Find the terribly cutesy video after the break, and fast-forward to 4:30 to watch Nao attempt to walk a narrow beam set atop a virtual skyscraper.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/21/kinect-paired-with-vuzix-vr920-shades-creates-zany-virtual-real/
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Very awesome...

-damn... forgot with in the title.... -

Certainly demonstrates the huge potential of Kinect.

especialy around 3:00 where he tries to rape that doll in First Person... I can see a huge market for that in Japan.. >_>

Everything in that video is just so....random. I mean at 4:00 there is just a pair of legs connected to a head dancing.

Does he walk towards the camera to walk forward?

It seems so.. when he's walking the plank at the end...

and random? it's japanese.. it makes sense for them...

That puts constraints on how far you can travel then. You could only take a few steps before you're literally on top of the camera.

I'm wondering how they will overcome that for future games.

Can you imagine playing a mmo with this?! I would love a medieval/Greek using the shield and spear like the movie troy? After landing on the beaches of troy, rowing for what seems like hours. You get off the boat with your fellow warriors only to notice the impossible before you; the ground is litter with giant wooden blockades and arrows have begun to rain down over you, burning tumbleweeds roll down the steep hill. The kinect 4 mics are perfect to yell out battle cries to rally your troops and organize you plan of attack. Your troops snap into formation and begin marching in unison and move to take the beach. After going through hell you finally make it to the bastard archers on your own terms, spear and shield; you make swift work of them bringing the grueling battle to an end.

Movement: Run or walk in place to move forward (works for kinect sports) or lean back while running in place to back up. Head tracking to turn or stride left, right, and centered.

Extra motions: rowing, torch lighting, rope cutting, team work center motion

Weapons: sword, shield, spear, mace, bow & arrows, etc.

Voice: War cry’s that tells your AI (online player) what formation you want them to do.

DLC: whatever else crazy weapon for that time period/ or special armors.

Loving the creative description!

Even a Kinect exclusive FPS with controls that allowed you to move/sprint, jump, shoot and perform all the usual controls a shooter has would be amazing. It would come down to who has the faster reflexes and is more fit for long online matches, rather then players just sitting on a couch.

However, while it all sounds great in theory, I have problems imagining it working smoothly in practice.

I see no reason running in place woudln't work, although it would be tiring for sure.  You do it in Kinect Sports and in some of the Wii fitness games.

I think space side to side would be a bigger issue.

OT - I saw this video yesterday and the possibilities are quite mindblowing IMO.  I've used VR goggles in the past but pairing it with Kinect for puppeteering so that when you raise your hand you see your charater do the same in the virtual world brings it to another level for sure.

Thanks, just to add a little more to what I posted earlier, it would be insane to have executions like halo reach or god of War. Chopping off a guy’s arm and bludgeoning him to death with it ftw.