VIDEO: It's World of Warcraft Using Kinect
A group at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies has developed Kinect middleware for off-the-shelf PC games.
Recently we reported that a Korean game developer plans to include Kinect support in its MMORPG Divine Souls. And as we've seen with a crop of hacks that have surfaced since the motion sensing device hit the market, unofficial Kinect support will eventually be available for all of our favorite PC titles-- even World of Warcraft.
As seen in the video below, Evan Suma and his team at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies has developed middleware for off-the-shelf PC games that enables the use of Microsoft's Kinect. Called Flexible Action and Articulated Skeleton Toolkit (FAAST), the "software framework" simulates virtual keyboard events based on body gestures.
"FAAST can be configured with a variety of body-based controlled mechanisms depending on the specific game," he says in the video.
In the sample shown below, the player is using Kinect to control his character in World of Warcraft. To move the character forwards and backwards, the player simply leans in the corresponding direction. To turn the camera, the user moves the left hand from side to side. The left hand can also be used to target an enemy by moving forward in a grabbing motion while the right hand can be moved to trigger different attack spells.
To download FAAST for Windows, head here. To learn more, check out the full 4-minute video as seen below.
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OMFG WOW IS TOO MUCH LIKE A JOB
Kinda cool but I can't see a gamer playing like this for 4 hours or so.
Kinda cool but I can't see a gamer playing like this for 4 hours or so.
well that is a good thing don't you think. balance in all things jajjaja
I can't amagine playing any game for four HRS. with or without a Kinect. I must admit it is rather
cool.
WOW players can now do exercise!
look like a big fake to me
Interesting tech for motion capture, it could save hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Kinda cool but I can't see a gamer playing like this for 4 hours or so.
Now fatty can lose some weight & nerd can finally look like a man... ;-)
never played WOW but if the controls are anything like starcraft its impractical.
I play WoW for countless hours some days. I also bench press twice my own weight. Stereotyping WoW players to raise your own self esteem is fail.
In order to ride a mount one must jump up and done while knocking two coconut halves together.
"..Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin."
Hey Shat, how do I hurl bolts of lightning?
Easy dawg, get WoW and Kinect.
Instead of playing WoW you should get healthy by sitting at a bar for hours drinking alcohol. DUH.
get pwnd nubs.
I play WoW for countless hours some days. I also bench press twice my own weight. Stereotyping WoW players to raise your own self esteem is fail.
You don't like humor? I bet you could bench press much more with a kinect! ;-)
I play WoW for countless hours some days. I also bench press twice my own weight. Stereotyping WoW players to raise your own self esteem is fail.
You play WoW for countless hours a day? You can't count to 24?
You play WoW for countless hours a day? You can't count to 24?
You can't be smart and a muscle man at the same time, it's one or another.
You play WoW for countless hours a day? You can't count to 24?
Sorry, that was pretty funny right there.
I play WoW for countless hours some days. I also bench press twice my own weight. Stereotyping WoW players to raise your own self esteem is fail.
I've known people who also work out. Getting repetitive strain injury playing Counter Strike. Ergonomic keyboard & mice didn't help, neither did joints, coke, coffee, & fags. Maybe this can help muscleman regain use of his wrists. BTW, I can also bench press twice my weight, & I don't play WoW OR work out... ;-)
It's a good way for gamers to get some cardio!
Well if this simply (well not really simple I suppose) maps body movements to keystrokes the uses are endless, affordable minority report style screens are just around the corner!
I play WoW for countless hours some days. I also bench press twice my own weight. Stereotyping WoW players to raise your own self esteem is fail.
Boasting about how much you can bench press to raise your own self esteem is fail.
A good combination of exercise and game play is always a good thing.
Great comments, guys. No one should miss reading the comedy show under these articles.
I can see lots of uses for this even outside of gaming.
He's looking into the applications the Kinect would have for Physical Therapy, this was him just playing around with it.
Why would anyone want to be hunching over every couple seconds to walk and making gestures that show up on screen almost a second later.
More proof, motion gaming = gimmick. If an action isn't 1:1 that means a good ol' kb/mouse or gamepad is still better.
That guy is the ultimate mage now.
health for gamers
I can also bench press twice my weight, & I don't play WoW OR work out... ;-)
I seriously doubt you can bench double your own weight with correct form if you don't work out.
I swear Kinect has made more headlines for non-Xbox uses than otherwise since launch. Which is good for brand recognition, by the way.