VOTD: The Most Innovative Game EVER (Sorry Nintendo)
The game LevelHead could be one of the most original games I saw at a E3. I wanted to get video footage, but when I finally was able to, the show ended. Luckily, likecool found some video. In order to play the game, you need a webcam and three blocks. When facing the blocks on the webcam, a 3D virtual room appears with a man inside on your computer screen. By tilting the blocks, the man will walk in that direction. The goal is to get the man from one side to the next and through the exit. It’s a pretty simple concept, but innovative as hell. Watch the video, and you’ll understand why this game is F’n awesome.
Video of the Day is a daily feature of /gamer showcasing geekarific video creations. Have a video we should be feature on VOTD? E-Mail us at slashgamer@gmail.com
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
What’s the name/artist of the song? Aphex Twin?
Cool game btw.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
wow, when will this hit stores, and how much will it cost?
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Quite interesting, but seems kinda boring…
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I have to agree with Draken. Although the control concept is very unique and interesting, the game play seems quite shallow.
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:17 am
@WOWEEE
The source code is already out so if you know how to compile code you can get it for free. Or on the product’s site there is a link to order a pre-configured unit, and I am guessing that it is expensive.
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:26 am
@Draken
I don’t think this is so much about this particular game, but about this new technology. Imagine what could be done with this!
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:47 am
Is that Aphex Twin? I have to know what track that is!!
This looks sick!
August 3rd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Who seriously has a webcam with that good quality…?
August 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
This looks like its been edited…look at the box when he turns it.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:28 am
easy to get hyped about the possibilities, but if more enhanced executions (something a bit more dynamic than walking a man up and down stairs) aren’t fluid and simple it will fall in the hands of a very narrow market – - just ask the 6 people in the world who bought the Zune.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Everyone should relax about how easy it looks. It says its only level 1, and I doubt they would show very extremely challenging puzzles if it hasn’t been released yet. Give it time.
August 16th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I don’t know why people are getting excited about this “new technology”. The cubes are covered with dotted squares… it should be relatively easy to track the positions of those cubes in 3D space. Try doing that without markers, then I’ll be impressed.
Nevertheless, it’s nice to know people are actually doing something with this technology… I just hope they come up with something a little more interesting.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Great innovative ground-breaking technology generally does not come with the whole package. Look at Crysis. Excellent revolutionary engine but the game itself is kind of… meh.
Oh and by the way I did buy a Zune and it’s better than the iPod so get over it, truthatallcosts. The reason “six”, I’m going to go ahead and tack on hundred thousand, people bought it is because it is cheaper, more flexible, and more well-supported than the iPod. If you buy your music from iTunes, then I laugh at you. And now you can even develop games for the Zune.
But I think this game would have been cooler with some more action and movement. The guy moves slow, and nothing interesting happens except the changing of ambient colors. If the music wasn’t there I would’ve fallen asleep.
August 16th, 2008 at 11:59 am
it says the name of the artist song and album at the end.
i agree neat concept narrow market.
i do like that the use the same tech as UPS for board config.
August 16th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
yep, amazing idea, boring game
August 16th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Yeah whats with the box. When he moves the box the “game” screen doesn’t move with it.
Neat idea though! I’d buy one. or 6
August 16th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
This is very original, but got really old really fast.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Seriously though. the song is sick. i must know the name of it.
August 17th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
its in the credits
August 18th, 2008 at 6:55 am
That just blew my mind.
Consider me down for 10.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:50 pm
@hmmm, @adam and @Ralph:
The patterns of squares on each face of the cube are readable by the software via the cam, when it ‘sees’ a face, it maps the relevant game screen to the cubes face. When the cube is turned away, the screen is no longer mapped until a new face is read by the software.
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 am
Wow, thats so obviously shopped.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
@DrFreemanstein
I’m aware of that… I’ve been working on computer vision problems myself. Most recently, recognizing human actions via webcam… with no markers
Seems a little bit trickier than this.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Great idea for this technology, which isn’t very ground breaking at all. I suggest looking up ReacTable for anyone who doubts me. This software uses a different ‘fingerprint’ for the webcam to read but otherwise the exact same technology. I do like this application for it though, very nice. A bit slow on the movement and a more, how should I say, ‘Portal-istic’ feel would probably do it better. Honestly Portal was all I could think of as I watched, that and Bjork.
September 1st, 2008 at 7:52 am
For you lazy folks, the music is from Ronny Ragtroll and the album is Smart Disable For All. The track is #4, called Pakt Abak Enbl Aadjes and is released under a Creative Commons Music Sharing License (also known as Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic)
All this info (and the tracks) from http://www.archive.org/details/ntt012
September 7th, 2008 at 10:56 am
looks fake, but the concept is good
September 10th, 2008 at 3:48 am
That is pretty awesome. I’m sure there will be some game developers out there with some amazing ideas.
September 18th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
This is totally fake! My dead blind grandma could tell me that. I don’t know why you would even lie about such a boring game…..
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Jesus you people are thick. Chris’ dead, blind grandmother could tell that was fake.