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[jagowar]

Somebody finally recorded a full demo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u6OC9a-_OWQ

If most games use it the thing will be huge because it does look like its quite powerful but the key will be getting everybody to use it.

 

[jmdajr]

Smart Glass seems one of the most interesting things of this years E3. I just hope they really really support it.

it's true. I'm intrigued.

and not just for games.

 

[zroid]

My two main problems with Smartglass are most importantly that I probably don't own a compatible device (unless they support BlackBerry tablets which would surprise me quite a bit), and the fact that it just doesn't seem very practical for most types of games.

The only place I can see it perhaps being interesting is in asymmetric 2 player, where the person holding the tablet has no need for button input.

I don't know how anyone could possibly expect Smartglass to have practical applications where the player holds both a controller *and* manipulates the touchscreen.

 

[Krakatoa]

I think it will be cool to use it as an input device for surfing the net on the 360.

It could also enhance the 360's apps (hulu,Netlfix).

 

[Chittagong]

I think Smartglass is really a smart (sorry) idea. It basically takes the best of Wii U, but makes it device agnostic. It'd be superb to have my inventory, radar, map, IR vision etc. on my phone or tablet while I play. One with a quality screen and non-clunky form factor.

Whether it's a success boils down to a few things

- will they cater also iOS and Android? For devs to use it, it will need to have a broad installed base. WP is amazing, but many people haven't even heard of it.

- will they have a simple transparent API and UI framework? One that takes the content and intelligently scales it to different screen sizes, resolutions and aspect ratios. This is by far the most laborous task, but will pay back handsomely.

- will the phone/tablet stay on without going to sleep all the time? And will it be super fast / automatic to start Smartglass? Removing annoyance is a key thing

Overall, it could really undo Wii U competitive advantage.

 

[Bgamer90]

So you're going to be playing Xbox games while balancing a laptop on your lap?

lol, why does it have to be a "balancing act"? I'm pretty sure that devs know that people don't want to constantly view their tablets or smartphones while playing games.

Because in a desktop environment, what's going to be the appeal of a dedicated app for info when you have the entire internet in front of you?

Smartglass will show things about YOUR game. You may be able to find things online to use, but it will more than likely take more time to view things about YOUR game in comparison to viewing it right then and there on your tablet or smartphone. Especially if what you are trying to view isn't tips but instead, things that involve a lot of factors that the player him/herself had an influence on in the game.

Sounds stupid either way.

Heh, sounds like you (and others) just can't think creatively.

I understand if ones aren't interested in it, but calling it stupid is pretty shortsighted IMO.

 

[MercuryLS]

I think it's cool, especially for controlling the dash and apps. I'm really excited to see how it's used in future games, I hope developers really go all out and do some cool stuff with it. Easily one of my favorite announcements from E3.

 

[venne]

My two main problems with Smartglass are most importantly that I probably don't own a compatible device (unless they support BlackBerry tablets which would surprise me quite a bit), and the fact that it just doesn't seem very practical for most types of games.

The only place I can see it perhaps being interesting is in asymmetric 2 player, where the person holding the tablet has no need for button input.

I don't know how anyone could possibly expect Smartglass to have practical applications where the player holds both a controller *and* manipulates the touchscreen.

I thought Playbooks can run Android apps. Is that wrong?

 

[derFeef]

Somebody finally recorded a full demo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u6OC9a-_OWQ

If most games use it the thing will be huge because it does look like its quite powerful but the key will be getting everybody to use it.

I like it. I just hope it's not too clumsy to use together with a controller.

 

[MrNyarlathotep]

non-clunky form factor

Juggling between a controller and a tablet / phone is a less clunky form factor than the WiiU controller?

 

[Bgamer90]

- will they cater also iOS and Android? For devs to use it, it will need to have a broad installed base. WP is amazing, but many people haven't even heard of it.

Yes, it will work on iOS and Android devices (though I'm pretty sure it won't work on ones that are 3 or more years old that can only work on really outdated operating systems).

 

[Bgamer90]

Juggling between a controller and a tablet / phone is a less clunky form factor than the WiiU controller?

Heh, I really think a lot of you guys are over exaggerating "juggling".

I do agree though that the Wii U is better for this since the screen and controller is built into one.

 

[Deleted member 47027]

Also keep in mind those of you who play games with a partner watching you - they can be a part of the game with smartglass as well, they can read things or maybe do things to help, giving them a more active role beyond just backseat controlling. It can really help those kinds of sessions, but I understand a lot of us play alone a lot - but it'd be nice to have something more entertaining than watching, and meaningfully contribute in a cooperative way in a game that may not be 2-player.

 

[tirant]

Your GTA phone implemented on your real phone? It could be cool

I dont know if it was part of smartglass, but I liked the way they controlled Internet Explorer from the touchscreen on their phone.

 

[zroid]

I thought Playbooks can run Android apps. Is that wrong?

it's a bit of a craps shoot at the moment, unfortunately (much like RIM )

 

[Mrbob]

Somebody finally recorded a full demo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u6OC9a-_OWQ

If most games use it the thing will be huge because it does look like its quite powerful but the key will be getting everybody to use it.

It's not that the idea is bad, but look at about two minutes into the video. Xbox marketing manager lady asks the person filming if she is near the end of the map because you can't concentrate on screen and on the phone at the same time. This is the huge difference between smartglass and what the wii u offers. The screen is easily in front of you to look at.

 

[Striek]

Somebody finally recorded a full demo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...ol (using the phone as a tracking pad/mouse).

 

[user_nat]

Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention during the stage demo, but it didn't really seam all that different from their existing Xbox Companion on WP7. Which isn't all that great.

Will be interesting if it uses the same connection method as the WP7 app. Which doesn't work by being connected to the same network, but instead connects over xbox live (so my phone doesn't even need to be on wifi, but the console needs to be online).

 

[Bgamer90]

Also keep in mind those of you who play games with a partner watching you - they can be a part of the game with smartglass as well, they can read things or maybe do things to help, giving them a more active role beyond just backseat controlling. It can really help those kinds of sessions, but I understand a lot of us play alone a lot - but it'd be nice to have something more entertaining than watching, and meaningfully contribute in a cooperative way in a game that may not be 2-player.

Yep.

Rayman Legends for the Wii U would be a good example of that.

 

[jagowar]

It's not that the idea is bad, but look at about two minutes into the video. Xbox marketing manager lady asks the person filming if she is near the end of the map because you can't concentrate on screen and on the phone at the same time. This is the huge difference between smartglass and what the wii u offers. The screen is easily in front of you to look at.

The reason she said that was she didn't have the phone near her so the people filming could see it (that is the whole point of a demo to let those who are new to it see what it can do)... when this gets used in the real world it will either be in your lap or laying on the coffee table and will work fine.

I could even seen a bunch of crazy phone/tablet holders get created because of this (think the accessory market for iphone).

 

[Nevasleep]

I think it's just because of the rest of the conference.
If they had showed more games, I'm sure the reception would have been more positive.

 

[watership]

I remember people saying "Fuck Netflix I want more games". This is the same thing. To some, building more options into a console means less games. Even if that's never been the case this generation, where we are SWIMMING in games.

 

[Dabanton]

Liked what I saw in that demo and it will support my iPod and iPad.

Shame we have to wait until the holidays. I quite liked that example of watching a movie.
I can see it as a way to keep the screen clutter free and have all the info and the rest on your device.

 

[tkscz]

There's tons of games that could make something like this very useful, would be cool if a second player could use the iPad for like aiming, fire control, navigation, I can think of endless uses for this idea in a single or multiples on the same couch.

You might want to look into the Wii U. Just a suggestion.

 

[see5harp]

It's a novel idea but I need to see it in action. Super excited that MS seems to want to extend functionality to both iOS and Android. I will have Windows 8 for my desktop but so far none of their mobile devices are close to dragging me away from iPhone and iPad.

 

[Mrbob]

The reason she said that was she didn't have the phone near her so the people filming could see it (that is the whole point of a demo to let those who are new to it see what it can do)... when this gets used in the real world it will either be in your lap or laying on the coffee table and will work fine.

I could even seen a bunch of crazy phone/tablet holders get created because of this (think the accessory market for iphone).

I'm not sure how this changes a thing. You're still looking away from the TV and it isn't that practical for usage.

 

[MrNyarlathotep]

Heh, I really think a lot of you guys are over exaggerating "juggling".

Well, currently if I'm playing a game and I get a text, I pause the game and check my phone by putting the controller down and using the only 2 hands I have to pick my phone up.

I mean, I guess I could turn battery saver off on my phone so the screen never turns off, and balance it on my knee or something, but it is clearly never going to be as nice to use as a controller with it integrated like the WiiU (or using a Vita as a PS3 controller I guess would work pretty well too).

For all the media stuff they showed, it doesn't seem to add anything at all over just having internet on your phone; if I really want to look up bios and actors while watching something, I can just imdb on my phone without a dedicated hookup (which presumably would only work when using a specific MS partner app that tells the phone exactly what you're watching then does the same thing, saving a few seconds of my time I guess?)

I'm sort of interested in the possibilities, but it would be a third place contender for a game doing anything interesting after a WiiU, and after a PS3 + Vita hookup (assuming Sony aren't idiots and are planning on that as their WiiU stopgap solution)

EDIT:

Super excited that MS seems to want to extend functionality to both iOS and Android.

Not so sure it's a thing they want, and more the fact that WP7 is bombing so hard that only supporting it would mean near total irrelevance to their userbase.

 

[Raide]

Somebody finally recorded a full demo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u6OC9a-_OWQ

If most games use it the thing will be huge because it does look like its quite powerful but the key will be getting everybody to use it.

Thanks for that. Some interesting early concept stuff. I like the idea that I could be playing a game and see the information about it, so I could potentially queue up DLC or friends invites just by using my iOS device. Free download is also cool but I wonder how quickly developers will use it. I can see 343i using it for Halo 4.

 

[Four_Chamber]

Smartglass for me was the only truly innovative thing to come out of E3

As somebody who uses the Xbox mainly for multimedia purposes now instead of gaming, I'm excited.

 

[tinfoilhatman]

I don't know how anyone could possibly expect Smartglass to have practical applications where the player holds both a controller *and* manipulates the touchscreen.

Not sure why it's so difficult for people to wrap their negative heads around, I have my ipad sitting on a 5$ stand on my coffee table where I console game, it would take about .1 second for me to look down and use it as a map, inventory, book or reading device(as someone mentioned for Skyrim)

 

[Rad-]

I don't want it to be used for direct gameplay elements. But I wouldn't mind it as an inventory screen, or a map screen. Or character status screen etc. You get my point.

 

[J-Rod]

I just have doubts developers are going to write what is essentially a dedicated mobile app for every game they make. That is time, money, and people for something that works on only one console. I guess it depends on how much consumers end up valuing it.

Really, the smart glass, cross vita play and transferrable game saves, and even the wii U controller to some extent seem to be adding extra work when they already have too much to do.

 

[tinfoilhatman]

I'm not sure how this changes a thing. You're still looking away from the TV and it isn't that practical for usage.

So it's better to leave the game and navigate into a separate set of menus to look at the map, inventory or read additional information screens?

 

[Alx]

It's a nice feature, that I may use from time to time when it's available, but it's something everybody expected since convergence of smart phones, tablets and big screens is the obvious trend right now.
The most interesting part of MS strategy is how multiplatform it is. I have no doubt that all hardwares will have their own version of "smartglass" features, the nice thing about smartglass is that everybody will be able to use it, without needing a new hardware (something they clearly insisted in during the conference).

 

[Bgamer90]

Which ironically works out well for the WiiU - if developers add additional features for game + tablet, then roll those out for PS3+Vita and 360+whatever-you-have-lying-around it helps justify the whole point of the WiiU

Yeah, I guess it would be pretty easy to have Smartglass features port over to the Wii U.

 

[tinfoilhatman]

I just have doubts developers are going to write what is essentially a dedicated mobile app for every game they make. That is time, money, and people for something that works on only one console. I guess it depends on how much consumers end up valuing it.

Thats not even close to how it works, there would be a "smart glass" api as part of the development environment.

 

[theDeeDubs]

I never considered the juggling act problem but that's because I have my laptop and tablet (on a stand) always sitting next to me while I play games already. It drives my wife crazy but I need the sensory overload . As a chievo guy, it helps on cleanup playthroughs tremendously.

I think this is a wise move by MS. I think this and Kinect will payoff big in the long run. The current applications might not be great, or good even in the case of Kinect, but the experience gains as this tech matures could be very cool.

 

[MetatronM]

SmartGlass is largely attempting to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

Doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing, though. I'm interested in seeing how it functions in the real world.

 

[HisshouBuraiKen]

I f you know why the Trey Parker's joke was funny, you know why people are down on SmartGlass.

It's because it's a huge embracing and endorsement of the ridiculous amount of screen-based overstimulation we suffer from nowadays with the ubiquity of net-connected smart devices. Doesn't anyone want to just sit the fuck down and watch the goddamned episode of Game of Thrones?

 

[Dueck]

...because people are setting it up for the inevitable nickname of "fart ass."

 

[Bgamer90]

So it's better to leave the game and navigate into a separate set of menus to look at the map, inventory or read additional information screens?

Haha, exactly.

I don't see why people are so against it... to view things you usually have to go into a bunch of menus away from the game. With smartglass, you can have your smartphone or tablet right next to you, play the game, pick it up if you want to change some things about your game, and then go back to the game instantly especially if the menu stays on the phone or tablet. Plus, touchscreen helps to save time since with a controller, you may have to scroll down or up a lot using the d-pad or analog stick. On phones or tablets, you can just swipe and touch.

 

[J-Rod]

Thats not even close to how it works, there would be a "smart glass" api as part of the development environment.

I'm aware of that, but the art, writing, design and coding still has to come from somewhere. That's why I said essentially.

 

[jagowar]

I just have doubts developers are going to write what is essentially a dedicated mobile app for every game they make. That is time, money, and people for something that works on only one console. I guess it depends on how much consumers end up valuing it.

Really, the smart glass, cross vita play and transferrable game saves, and even the wii U controller to some extent seem to be adding extra work when they already have too much to do.

That will be the key... you know all first party ms games will use it well but the key will be getting the 3rd parties to use it and it looks like they may be doing a good job of it now.

Right now you see some people creating custom tailored mobile companion apps for each game.... Surely doing the same thing through smartglass would be a much simpler and quicker affair with the provided api's (guessing this will have all kinds of api's to make that easier to create which will be the key in getting those 3rd parties on board). Also smartglass would let them target all devices vs creating separate apps for each platform and having to release individual updates for each.

 

[PhatSaqs]

I remember people saying "Fuck Netflix I want more games". This is the same thing. To some, building more options into a console means less games. Even if that's never been the case this generation, where we are SWIMMING in games.

People dotnt know what's good for them until it's good for them. If MS delivers compelling enough experiences then this will become another crow eating thread just as the xbox boradband only thread, the live thread, the achievements thread, the kinect thread, etc. etc.

 

[see5harp]

Not so sure it's a thing they want, and more the fact that WP7 is bombing so hard that only supporting it would mean near total irrelevance to their userbase.

In the end more people can experience it. It doesn't matter to me what their intentions are.

 

[calder]

You know how I know Jon Snow is north of The Wall? Because I pay attention to the plot as I'm watching the show, I'm not distracted reading shit on my phone!

True, and for me personally I watched that section of the demo completely unimpressed simply because if I wanted to have take a look at a map of Westeros while watching GoT I would... already just do that. If you have a tablet that's exactly the sort of thing you're already using it for. Weird feature to be hyping.

As for the rest.. meh. It's an optional thing, and giving users different methods of doing new things should be useful, I just don't imagine it'll be a huge feature. I used the iOS app for Batman:AC and it was helpful in finding all the Riddler trophies, but it didn't exactly change my life, and a separate inventory screen/map doesn't sound any more mind blowing.

 

[liger05]

Will developers even use this and intergrate the functionality into games. I doubt they will.

 

[Bgamer90]

That will be the key... you know all first party ms games will use it well but the key will be getting the 3rd parties to use it and it looks like they may be doing a good job of it now.

Right now you see some people creating custom tailored mobile companion apps for each game.... Surely doing the same thing through smartglass would be a much simpler and quicker affair with the provided api's (guessing this will have all kinds of api's to make that easier to create which will be the key in getting those 3rd parties on board).

EA already creates smartphone/tablet apps for their games (e.g.: Autolog apps).

I'm pretty sure that EA will have a lot of their sports and racing games be smartglass compatible. If anything, EA was already prepared for it since this would just be the next step for them.

 

[thetrin]

Not sure I really get it(maybe I'm not "core" enough), I'd love for my iPad to be able to be used in conjunction with Xbox games and the dashboard.

There's tons of games that could make something like this very useful, would be cool if a second player could use the iPad for like aiming, fire control, navigation, I can think of endless uses for this idea in a single or multiples on the same couch. Apple TV already does something like this were you can play Zombie Gunship on your television but use the iPad screen as a radar, it's super cool.

So whats with all the negativity?

Because despite the fact that Xbox Smart Glass looks neato, they didn't announce any games that would get me to actually turn on my 360 in the first place.

 

[lefantome]

Having companion apps to be used when I don't play or sometimes while I play will be cool.

but it's not something I require or I can't live without. like the wii u pad.