Philips Unveils Entertaible 32
Gamasutra reports on Philips' newest gaming gadget, the Entertaible. A touch-sensitive surface allows for unique gaming ideas to be implemented. From the article: "Currently a working concept, Entertaible comprises a 30-inch horizontal LCD, sophisticated touch screen-based multi-object position detection, and all supporting control electronics, and, according to the firm, '...allows the players to engage in a new class of electronic game which combines the features of computer gaming, such as dynamic playing fields and gaming levels, with the social interaction and tangible playing pieces, such as pawns and dies, of traditional board games.'"
Re:in other words... (Score:4, Insightful)
But suppose you could get one of these for $300? You could sit around and play Monopoly without having someone be the banker.
Admittedly, I don't think Monopoly is where this would shine. More complicated games (e.g., Risk) would be good.
I could see lite D&D-type games implemented for this being a lot of fun. Anyone remember Hero Quest? You could play it on this without a DM.
Any traditional board game *can* be implemented on this and maintain the "tabletop" feel, which is important. Additionally, there might be some really cool things you could do with this that wouldn't be possible with traditional board games.
Anyway...my wife and I thought about something like this over a year ago and were really excited about the idea, but didn't know where to start and didn't follow through with it. I'm glad someone else did