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[REMEMBER CITADEL]

Not just for Kinect. One of the audio engineer (Bkillian) on B3D said never underestimate the computing cost of audio in video games and that most racing games use up a whole core on the 360 to process audio. He said one programmer in a certain studio made a request for some audio stuff he would like to do in his game, but it was impossible to do, as doing it would require more than the computing power of the 360 (both cpu and gpu) to process it. So I think the audio DSP is really powerful and apparently one of the 3 custom block (sauce hehe) in the durango.

Apparently earlier Durango devkits had dual Xeons. One was there to emulate the CPU, and the other one was entirely dedicated to audio processing. Hopefully at least some of that will be dedicated to better voice recognition. Powerful voice synthesis capabilities would also enable some very interesting scenarios, but I don't think we're quite ready for dynamic synthesis that doesn't sound robotic yet.

 

[SPDIF]

I'm guessing that 3D sound stuff is something to do with this patent:

Microsoft’s patent application describes augmented-reality technology that tracks a user with a “depth camera system” and delivers content-accurate, 3-D audio to the listener, regardless of his or her position in a room. The system collects room and listener position data to deliver specific audio cues — instructions from virtual team mates, gunshots, chirping birds, whatever — inside a user’s unique (and often fluid) soundscape

 

[Doug Heffernan]

Senior Level Designer posting:

First person or third person? Or maybe a hybrid?

Senior Gameplay SDE

Action game is ambiguous to say the least.

Potential 3rd person, puzzles, platforming, action game... I like it already.
Can't wait for Black Tusk to pull the curtain off this thing.

 

[Digital-Hero]

Kinect tennis.
Kinect of war
Kinect Halo
Kinect we couldn't think of another name.

Yup, my thoughts.

 

[abadguy]

Potential 3rd person, puzzles, platforming, action game... I like it already.
Can't wait for Black Tusk to pull the curtain off this thing.

I hope rumors about it being a horror title turn out to be true.

 

[DEADEVIL]

Halo Party
Halo of War
Halo of Duty
Halo Sports

Little Big Planet Karting
Super Smash PS Allstars

Wait

This really happened

 

[Alx]

I'm guessing that 3D sound stuff is something to do with this patent:

http://i7.minus.com/ibksozHK9njyz1.jpg
http://i6.minus.com/i8hiM5EJgeH1Z.jpg

That's very interesting... I don't know how advanced the technology is for such effects. What kind of sound sources would you need to "modulate" spatial sound ? Are stereo speakers sufficient ? In that case it could be a nice feature. Of course headsets would be an easier solution, and would work for more than one player.
It's one of those applications of "kinect as a tool to perceive the environment" category. I wonder how it would be used though, with the limitation of the field of view (even if kinect2 has a larger one, it can only model what it sees). Maybe there would be "scanning" procedures where you move around your kinect for a complete reconstruction of your room.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

You know, having slept on it, I'm even more convinced that speech synthesis will play some part. I mean, even mobile phones have it these days, and it would make the whole thing seem more futuristic; talking to the computer and having it talk back has been one of sci-fi's mainstays. The only potential roadblock I see is the need to support multiple languages, implementing it across the board would not be an easy task.

 

[Alx]

Yes, having a vocal feedback when using voice commands is something I've been wanting for some time... It may be cheesy to have a machine answer your questions by talking to you, but it's still a much natural way to interact. After all, it's what's suggested in the "good morning batman" picture.

They would have to make sure not to use the same answers again and again for common tasks, though, or it would quickly become annoying. Just add some randomization to it, so that it can change its confirmation reply from "ok" to "will do", "sure", "understood", "go go go".
And please, dont make us call it "xbox" all the time.

 

[Hindle]

It never occurred to me Black Tusk may be working on more then one game.

 

[Rimfya]

Is the Lead Designer of Crysis 2 supposed to get anyone excited? Not sure I've played any other game that felt so much like a chore.

 

[TheOddOne]

Is the Lead Designer of Crysis 2 supposed to get anyone excited? Not sure I've played any other game that felt so much like a chore.

They have a bunch of talented staff:

- Daniel Orzulak (Level Designer on Halo: CE, Ex-EA, Ex-Bungie);
- Damien Galipot (Level Designer on Splinter Cell Conviction & Chaos Theory, Ex-Ubisoft);
- Martin Raymond (Senior Game Designer on Homefront, Ex-Kaos Studios, Ex-Ubisoft).

 

[Doug Heffernan]

It never occurred to me Black Tusk may be working on more then one game.

They also worked on Microsoft Flight.

 

[Clay Davis]

It never occurred to me Black Tusk may be working on more then one game.

yeah, would be surprising if they had two games in development. maybe one launch title, one second wave title?

 

[Doug Heffernan]

yeah, would be surprising if they had two games in development. maybe one launch title, one second wave title?

Someone posted a link to an audio interview from November with the studio's lead in a different thread...

In the interview he said that all of their time was consumed with one game at the moment and that they are still in pre-production.
He also stated that Microsoft is planning on doubling the size of the studio and that they have an input on the final hardware specs for Xbox 3.

 

[MrNyarlathotep]

Little Big Planet Karting
Super Smash PS Allstars

Wait

This really happened

No need to get so defensive, because Halo Wars did happen, and a Halo MMO almost did.

I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that MS aren't going to treat Halo as a sacred IP that shouldn't be milked now Bungie have absolutely zero say in the matter.

It's public record that they fucking hated the idea of Halo Wars.

 

[Karak]

You know, having slept on it, I'm even more convinced that speech synthesis will play some part. I mean, even mobile phones have it these days, and it would make the whole thing seem more futuristic; talking to the computer and having it talk back has been one of sci-fi's mainstays. The only potential roadblock I see is the need to support multiple languages, implementing it across the board would not be an easy task.

If they support it for say the main 2 languages for specific areas and branch out from their it will be a pretty big deal.

As for true 3d audio. If you couple that with Illuma-room what you are seeing is the Kinect style technology being used as far more than just a motion detection system.

If they perfect full, REAL 3d ala the barbershop demo's of the haircut and clippers?!? That would be some next level shit to be honest.

Tie that into games like an RPG where you can buy skills that increase your ability to hear changes in the sounds around you in darkened environments and so forth. Pretty cool.

 

[alphaNoid]

No need to get so defensive, because Halo Wars did happen, and a Halo MMO almost did.

I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that MS aren't going to treat Halo as a sacred IP that shouldn't be milked now Bungie have absolutely zero say in the matter.

It's public record that they fucking hated the idea of Halo Wars.

Halo Wars was a fucking awesome game, and I loved it as a RTS. It felt like a great 90s PC RTS to me, and I mean that in a good way. I would buy Halo Wars 2

 

[abadguy]

They have a bunch of talented staff:

- Daniel Orzulak (Level Designer on Halo: CE, Ex-EA, Ex-Bungie);
- Damien Galipot (Level Designer on Splinter Cell Conviction & Chaos Theory, Ex-Ubisoft);
- Martin Raymond (Senior Game Designer on Homefront, Ex-Kaos Studios, Ex-Ubisoft).

These are all Black Tusk guys right?

 

[Karak]

These are all Black Tusk guys right?

Yep

 

[abadguy]

Yep

Cool, hopefully they'll rival 343i and Turn 10 in talent.

 

[The Living Tribunal]

It's public record that they fucking hated the idea of Halo Wars.

Yeah, well, who cares. Halo wars was a great game, it helped expand the universe and was a fresh take on the franchise.

 

[abadguy]

Yeah, well, who cares. Halo wars was a great game, it helped expand the universe and was a fresh take on the franchise.

Yeah nothing wrong with them branching out when the results are good. At least it wasn't a half assed product.

 

[EagleBurnn]

I just wish Halo Wars went in a more serious direction RTS wise. It was a good Halo game, but a lacking RTS one. Everything was so simple and if you had more units (even by 1), you were going to win every time, no matter the scenario.

The custscenes were fantastic and the story matched it, but I wouldn't mind another developer that isn't that Robot Entertainment picking it up.

 

[mocolostrocolos]

Gears of Kinect
Alan Kinect
Project Gotham Kinect
Kinect Kinect: The revenge of Tsunoda

 

[Baconsammy]

Yeah, well, who cares. Halo wars was a great game, it helped expand the universe and was a fresh take on the franchise.

The idea that we should care what Bungie does and doesn't like is hilarious. What mattered was the quality of the game, and it was really damn good.

 

[Clay Davis]

halo wars was indeed great. I'm actually quite surprised to hear that bungie didn't like it. anyway, it's a shame any sequel won't be as good to ensemble being shut down. :/

 

[El_Chino]

Gears of Kinect
Alan Kinect
Project Gotham Kinect
Kinect Kinect: The revenge of Tsunoda

Man these kinect jokes are sure getting pretty thin.

 

[les papillons sexuels]

No need to get so defensive, because Halo Wars did happen, and a Halo MMO almost did.

I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that MS aren't going to treat Halo as a sacred IP that shouldn't be milked now Bungie have absolutely zero say in the matter.

It's public record that they fucking hated the idea of Halo Wars.

is there a link for that? I know some designers didn't appreciate how the franchise was dealt with, particularly that Ensemble had a great game already and that ms decided to slap the halo name on it, but many felt the game was actually a really good halo title. Also halo was originally concieved as a ral time tactics game.

 

[Doffen]

Man these kinect jokes are sure getting pretty thin.

Surely Microsoft only releases Kinect spin-offs lately.

You know; Fable: The Journey. What more proof do you need?

 

[Hey You]

is there a link for that? I know some designers didn't appreciate how the franchise was dealt with, particularly that Ensemble had a great game already and that ms decided to slap the halo name on it, but many felt the game was actually a really good halo title. Also halo was originally concieved as a ral time tactics game.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...s-whoring-out-franchise-says-ensemble-founder

 

[El_Chino]

Surely Microsoft only releases Kinect spin-offs lately.

You know; Fable: The Journey. What more proof do you need?

I'm not arguing that they add too much emphasis on Kinect but going into these forums and seeing the same old jokes gets boring, expected and kind of annoying. It adds nothing to the topic.

 

[OmnipotentO]

Spiritual successor to Killer Instinct and the return of Rare??

Spoiler

a man can dream

 

[TheOddOne]

Yeah, more signs that Redmond is up to something:

 

[derFeef]

I would also love to work on the future!

 

[Dusky]

Yeah, more signs that Redmond is up to something:

Which first party studios are based in Redmond? Or is this potentially a sign that they are opening yet another studio?

 

[Biggzy]

Which first party studios are based in Redmond? Or is this potentially a sign that they are opening yet another studio?

I only know of Microsoft Core Publishing being based there.

 

[derFeef]

VR based future....

 

[Doffen]

Which first party studios are based in Redmond? Or is this potentially a sign that they are opening yet another studio?

Turn 10, Good Science Studio, Kids and Lifestyle Entertainment.

I'm not sure about the following: Platform Next Studios, LEAP, Connected Experiences, Playful Learning and Skybox Sports.

I would say that this is a sign of yet another studio or maybe the result of Microsoft Studios LEAP.

 

[TheOddOne]

Which first party studios are based in Redmond? Or is this potentially a sign that they are opening yet another studio?

My guesses:

1) They have been staffing up considerably for their Core publishing group, with all kinds of positions. It being a helper studio to third party developers they are partnering with. Creative Directors that work for Microsoft that are a liaison between the them and the developer would make sense ;

2) It is a small incubation team that has to possibility to become a studio. For example Black Tusk Studios was already in created in some form in 2009, yet they got the “ok” from Microsoft in 2012 and rebranded. They had level designers and game designers since 2009 too;

3) It could be a bit of both 1 & 2.

What is really interesting is that if they went to T10 or 343i, they usually put that on their linkedin. All that new staff does seem suspicious: Post 1, Post 2, Post 3, Post 4 and Post 5.

 

[Dusky]

My guesses:

1) They have been staffing up considerably for their Core publishing group, with all kinds of positions. It being a helper studio to third party developers they are partnering with. Creative Directors that work for Microsoft that are a liaison between the them and the developer would make sense ;

2) It is a small incubation team that has to possibility to become a studio. For example Black Tusk Studios was already in created in some form in 2009, yet they got the “ok” from Microsoft in 2012 and rebranded. They had level designers and game designers since 2009 too;

3) It could be a bit of both 1 & 2.

What is really interesting is that if they went to T10 or 343i, they usually put that on their linkedin. All that new staff does seem suspicious: Post 1, Post 2, Post 3, Post 4 and Post 5.

Interesting. Microsoft are definitely gearing up for next-gen.

 

[mocolostrocolos]

I'm not arguing that they add too much emphasis on Kinect but going into these forums and seeing the same old jokes gets boring, expected and kind of annoying. It adds nothing to the topic.

Bu-but the lulz

Spoiler

I agree and Im sorry but I needed to do it

On topic.

Im really looking forward to see what MS Vancouver is going to bring up next gen.

Plus, I'd like Playground Games to do an all new arcade racing game following the steps of Forza Horizon, my favourite racing game of the generarion.

 

[Linkified]

My guesses:

1) They have been staffing up considerably for their Core publishing group, with all kinds of positions. It being a helper studio to third party developers they are partnering with. Creative Directors that work for Microsoft that are a liaison between the them and the developer would make sense ;

2) It is a small incubation team that has to possibility to become a studio. For example Black Tusk Studios was already in created in some form in 2009, yet they got the “ok” from Microsoft in 2012 and rebranded. They had level designers and game designers since 2009 too;

3) It could be a bit of both 1 & 2.

What is really interesting is that if they went to T10 or 343i, they usually put that on their linkedin. All that new staff does seem suspicious: Post 1, Post 2, Post 3, Post 4 and Post 5.

My guess is the way they have been staffing in Redmond sounds like a brand new team, that makes it 4/5 different studios with some multiple teams...could even be Mistwalker doing design and this new studio doing the brute force on LO/BD sequel?

 

[Brashnir]

My guess is the way they have been staffing in Redmond sounds like a brand new team, that makes it 4/5 different studios with some multiple teams...could even be Mistwalker doing design and this new studio doing the brute force on LO/BD sequel?

I'd wager that a sequel to BD or LO is extremely unlikely, but I wouldn't mind being wrong.

Even if they did make such a sequel, it wouldn't qualify as a new IP, so it doesn't really have anything to do with this thread.

 

[PhatSaqs]

Yeah, more signs that Redmond is up to something:

Didnt you hear. They are all being hired to focus on Kinect games & 4D ads.

 

[Elginer]

Seriously, I think we all know (even with the jokes) that Microsoft is going to come out of the gate hard against Sony with some core games. Microsoft knows that it's hardcore gamers that will get these systems into homes and then follow the casual market as usual.

They have been investing a lot in new studios and seem to be partnering with others on new games. While Durango is not as strong as Orbis, it's still a damn fine looking system spec wise and it will come down to developers and how they push these systems. Both systems will have their pros and cons and have their own exclusives to showcase each hardware and so on. I think a lot of the doom and gloom is way over stated.

 

[ChosenPredator]

Yeah, I am pretty sure they hear all the doubt about them so I can't see them going in after they get a free glance of what PS4 decides to show.

 

[TheOddOne]

My guess is the way they have been staffing in Redmond sounds like a brand new team, that makes it 4/5 different studios with some multiple teams...could even be Mistwalker doing design and this new studio doing the brute force on LO/BD sequel?

One thing to note is that these "new" studios stay dormant for a long time before shipping a title, for example 343i started in 2008 and Black Tusk in 2009. Another one is Microsoft Studios Victoria, which is headed by some ex-Next Level Games staff.

 

[Linkified]

I'd wager that a sequel to BD or LO is extremely unlikely, but I wouldn't mind being wrong.

Even if they did make such a sequel, it wouldn't qualify as a new IP, so it doesn't really have anything to do with this thread.

Actually if Redmond is recruiting to form a team to work on these projects then they would be then work on existing IP and not new IP, therefore highly relevant to this thread...

 

[ari]

Why the mockery about MS first party lineup? Its not like sony first party are stellar. Their last great output was journey and uncharted 3. But i guess its quantity over quality around these parts?