The Geek Church

As the E3 2010 conference in Los Angeles gets underway this week, Microsoft is already grabbing people’s attention with the recent demonstration of their new motion control system, Kinect (previously named project Natal). There were several games for children, groups and adults shown at the event and you can expect game developers such as Konami, Lucas Arts and Turn 10 Studios to be involved with the launch of Kinect as well. Popular titles like Star Wars and Metal Gear Solid are scheduled to arrive on the new controller system in the near future.

The Kinect device itself consists of a RGB camera, 3D depth sensors, and a multi-array mic and it also has a motorized tilt function. Microsoft intended for it to be a new kind of dashboard interface controller for the X-Box 360. In order to use it, you first log-in by waving your hand. Then your hand movements will control a cursor on the screen, allowing you to make selections on the displayed menu and browse through featured content. This new motion control system is designed to respond to your voice as well. According to Crunch Gear, Kinect might be the closest thing resembling the technology seen in the film, Minority Report so far.

With Kinect, Microsoft is taking a more direct approach to the concept of motion control than Nintendo or Sony. On the Wii and the PS3, motion control relies on the use of an actual hand-held controller. While the absence of a more conventional controller could lead to some problems in gameplay, there is definite potential with the user interface for Kinect. Thus, Microsoft’s new game control system may spark the beginning of a new age where hand-held controllers for PC and console gaming would be obsolete.

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I remember reading an article about a Microsoft meeting a few months ago. An employee’s iPhone rang, and when he answered it, Steve Ballmer saw it. Steve then took the opportunity to pretend like he was stepping on this man’s iPhone. I’ve been hearing similar stories that Steve Jobs will have fits about his competitors like Adobe or Google.

Is it just me, or do I think that it is silly to live in a world where all the tech companies of the world can live together and make whatever products they want, and distribute them to whoever they want? Are Ballmer and Jobs jealous that their companies didn’t make what their competitors obviously did? Or do they just want to get to the point where they are weeping, because there are no more worlds left to conquer?

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For years, video games have changed and evolved to be more advanced, interactive, creative, unique, convenient and accessible to both the hardcore gamer and the common man alike. However, despite all the various developments and breakthroughs we’ve seen with personal computers, consoles and handheld devices, one thing is always true about gaming. It exists to entertain the consumer. But some games are designed with other purposes in mind like exercise and education.

That being said, a new game was created last January to entertain and educate those who use it. Specifically, this game was designed to teach people how to improve their understanding and ability to use Microsoft Office. The name is of this game is Ribbon Hero. According to available sources, the game’s creator is a man known only as “Danc” from Seattle, Washington. He has been a game designer, pixel artist, painter, tools designer, product manager and marketing expert. He currently designs games in the Northwest.

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A while ago, Microsoft announced that it would be sponsoring a Family Guy episode that would air commercial-free, but would contain some obvious Windows 7 plugs.

This announcement appeared the day after I wrote my article about shows Christian people probably shouldn’t watch based on general principle. The one where I named Family Guy as a show that should be avoided.

It would appear that Microsoft mirrors my opinion. After discovering that the show contains “riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene, and incest”, they have pulled out as the advertiser for this episode.

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This is one of those times in which I’m sure all of you are saying “duh”. Why are you even reporting on this?

Here’s what you might not know, the features:

1) A 10 percent boost compared to Vista.

2) A 64-bit default setting.

3) Improved User Account Control. This means less warning windows that will pop up every time you want to do something.

4) Improved troubleshooting. Solve problems without technical support, anyone?

5) Touch support. If you have a touch sensitive screen, then you might love this. Think of it as an iPhone for the big screen.

For those you who are looking forward to the October 22nd date of release for Windows 7, then you might want to preorder it from Amazon.

If you do it now, then the company promises to get it to you on the launch date.

I believe you can get it at a discounted rate as well.

I’m sure I’ll be giving you more coverage of the Windows 7 launch as it is this week. In fact, prepare for too much coverage.