Games
Microsoft Surface + Xbox 360 = What?
Posted by Jason Chen at 9:45 AM on May 9, 2008
Stefano from onthetabletop attended CHI 2008, where several members of the Microsoft Surface team was there tossing around ideas. One of the more interesting ideas, besides slimming down the table so it could fit inside spaces smaller than bars and AT&T stores, was shoving an Xbox 360 inside. Why would you do this? To allow the 360 to become an additional control input mechanism, possibly making RTS games SO MUCH EASIER TO PLAY. Will it happen? Who knows. These guys could have just been just daydreaming possible features to impress female attendees. [On the Tabletop]
Tags: games | gaming | microsoft | microsoft surface | surface | xbox | xbox 360

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
DomZ
Posted 10:23 AM 9/5/08
Civilization would be incredible on a large table.
DomZ
Amiash is dyslexic
Posted 10:19 AM 9/5/08
(insert RRod Joke here)
Amiash is dyslexic
oopl
Posted 10:13 AM 9/5/08
That would be soo sweet!
Sadly I don't see this happening for awhile. =(
oopl
adamgamble
Posted 10:02 AM 9/5/08
When I first heard about this thing I really wanted to play Warcraft or Rome: Total War. I can't imagine how awesome it would be to do that.
adamgamble
diabolusunknown
Posted 10:35 AM 9/5/08
@Amiash is dyslexic: I think its high time we start inserting NULL there.
It would be awesome to be able to play an RTS quickie at an actual arcade with others. But who goes to those anymore?
diabolusunknown
fuzzycuffs
Posted 10:31 AM 9/5/08
You spilled your drink on my contingent of half-orc raiders, you cheater!
fuzzycuffs
rimshot515
Posted 11:06 AM 9/5/08
@NoStyle: that's easy. what the real next step is holograpic touch displays.
rimshot515
NoStyle
Posted 10:54 AM 9/5/08
Next step is to make a vertical touch.
NoStyle
Joooman
Posted 11:43 AM 9/5/08
But I feel like the biggest plus of Surface is interaction with objects. If you're playing an RTS that's just fingers and you can use any old touch screen or big tablet to do that. In my opinion surface's best use would be for productivity applications.
Joooman
kahri
Posted 11:25 AM 9/5/08
I used to love tabletop arcade games and this would be an awesome way to bring em back. though wouldn't the transition from the 360 output to multi-touch interface create some lag?
kahri
Atsumi
Posted 11:23 AM 9/5/08
Was that Sony or Microsoft that announced that card game with the monsters like Yu-Gi-Oh!?
This picture reminded me that I wanted to try that out.
Atsumi
diabolusunknown
Posted 1:17 PM 9/5/08
@Goooman: Warhammer 40k is probably the greatest example of a game working on this with the criteria you mentioned. Although, the screen would have to be much larger (maybe 4 or 6 merged). But the pieces can be RFID'd and terrain is generated by the screen/360.
Though i wouldnt play it. Never liked the cash grab of a hobby.
diabolusunknown
Y2KGTP
Posted 1:34 PM 9/5/08
Even some basic boardgames would be nice....monopoly, chess, checkers, etc....
Y2KGTP
Lorenc
Posted 3:20 PM 9/5/08
They've already have made a board game, backgammon, but it's only available at microsoft:
[www.flickr.com]
Also check out Long Zheng's post below about some other updated apps:
[www.istartedsomething.com]
Lorenc
strider_mt2k
Posted 7:38 PM 9/5/08
That Backgammon looks very nice.
strider_mt2k
Sqube
Posted 1:06 AM 10/5/08
I think it'd be epic to play an RTS on something like that. Selecting individual factories/barracks/[whatever they're called in your game of choice] might be a bit difficult if you have pickle fingers or they're small, but that could be worked around.
Being able to just circle a group of soldiers and send them forth with natural movements in shemxy. I'll be looking forward to doing that when I'm 40 and the technology actually comes out.
Sqube
Rabid Penguin
Posted 4:17 AM 10/5/08
Microsoft Surface + Xbox 360 = Big Ass Zune Touch.
Add cell-phone with vibration feature and it could be used as a weapon.
Rabid Penguin
Scrubadub
Posted 6:30 AM 10/5/08
STARCRAFT?!
Scrubadub
ajcali08
Posted 8:04 AM 10/5/08
why play games on a crappy LCD? I rather have contrast and the right brightness with quick response and high mhz refresh rate for gaming..rather than playing games while getting finderprints on my 10,000 dollar game controller/LCD screen.
ajcali08
HeeroYuy01W
Posted 6:41 AM 12/5/08
It's a 2D version of Tom Clancy's End War. If you watch the demo vid. that's basically what it is. Also it would be very sweet.
HeeroYuy01W