News: Nintendo Interested In Ambience Technology

Posted by Tom "Tphi" Phillips - Nov 21st 2007 14:27

Could ambience and environment changing technology be the next step forward for Nintendo? Details inside...

Technology is already available for PCs in Europe that "alter the lighting from and around your PC monitor and surrounding lights to actually change your mood and feelings." There's also speakers, fans to simulate wind and rumble functions from a vibrating wrist rest.

It's all part of a system named amBX, partly being developed by Philips. And according to our source, both Nintendo and Microsoft have shown interest in it. We'll be keeping an eye on further developments to see if it makes the leap to consoles after it launches for PCs next May.

Thanks to N-E reader Maikel de Bakker for the heads up on this!
Source: Nisute.com



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Comments

RawkingRawlings Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 08:44 || Total Comments: 344
I love the blue light that emits from the disc drive, off the wii, when you get a message. Makes me feel all warm inside.
S.C.G Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 09:09 || Total Comments: 380
I've always thought that technology like this would be around one day, my only concern is if it becomes standard how many additional pieces of kit will we need to set up as well as the console in order to play?

Sometimes simplicity is better but if this technology gets utilised well into the hardware and adds more to games then I'm all for it. :)
Kurtle Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 09:25 || Total Comments: 268
SCG is right

Hardware's already dodgy enough as it is...things don't ever seem to work their best already.


Anyway....I expect the Phillip WiiDI now...with it's newest game:

The Legend of Zelda: The book or rumbly winds.
Kurtle Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 09:26 || Total Comments: 268
*Book OF
Shaggy Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 09:29 || Total Comments: 17
Ambience Technology is beeing used by Philips in TV Screens they sale.

And its the gay! Please don't!!!
Maiky-nisute Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 09:36 || Total Comments: 279
we have a set here at nisute.com and if there are any n-europe reporters out there that want to test it please drop by!! and you will see how this device works like a dream! (note it is still a prototype)
Kagato Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 11:03 || Total Comments: 655
If thats the stupid light you get around the new Phillips hd tvs than id rather not, it not only looks ridiculous but it takes your attention away from the tv. If i want coloured lights to be going on and off when i watch tv ill stick up christmas lights.
Sim1987 Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 11:26 || Total Comments: 52
go to ambx.com

they should videos of how it works, it is similar to their tvs with the ambient light but a lot more immersive, you can use strobe lighting for lightning, surround sound, heatrs, vibrating chairs, fans etc. So fun
Pookiablo Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 11:55 || Total Comments: 157
My laptop can do a similar thing to a certain extent. It's got numerous LED lights situated around the base and on top of the screen (See Dell's XPS M1710 laptop). Obviously they're not as large as the ones you'll find on these new TVs but I do have the option to set them to strobe, "breathe", cycle through numerous colours or alternate and flash to music.

I don't really fiddle around with it that much but it's nice having the option to change the lights depending on what mood I'm in.

In regards to the topic, I'm interested to see where Nintendo go with this (if they go anywhere at all with it that is).
Nintendo-master2 Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 12:32 || Total Comments: 1530
Oh my god! I would LOVE this! It sounds really cool! I would love if Nintendo would do this!!(<-- yes it deserves TWO exclamation points)
TK-XF Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 14:23 || Total Comments: 13
wow i heard about this on a tv show about 2 a years ago and its still not out yet hmmmm...development takes quite along time.
IceLightning Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 14:35 || Total Comments: 101
So Nintendo would be teaming up with Philips for their second time? Lets hope it goes better than their first, this sounds interesting anyway

bit early to be thinking about the next gen though for us anyway ;)
Syxoed Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 15:21 || Total Comments: 297
Nintendo is pretty good with using ideas originally, so I'm looking forward to how and if they are going to use this.
Solitanze Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 17:32 || Total Comments: 1655
If it encourages unit sales via brainwashing other people watching to buy Wiis and get closer to reaching 150,000,000 unit sales required to pass PS2, go for it Nintendo...
Scythe3000 Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 17:55 || Total Comments: 200
lol i would be very interested in finding out your sources since i work for amBX :P
Scythe3000 Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 18:03 || Total Comments: 200
Oh yeah and if your interested in the technology head over to www.amBX.com for news, also we update our forums regularly so u can get up to date news there. You can also check out some promo vid's at www.amBX.philips.com

Youtube also has a whole host of amBX vid's showing off the current kit.

Kits just went on sale in the UK which you'll be able to find on play.co.uk and gamestation.co.uk

Oh and we just released an amBX enabled mod for Quake 4, which got an awesome responce at quakecon this summer.

So be sure to check it out!
Sariachan Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 00:08 || Total Comments: 326
After seeing what Nintendo did in Phantom Hourglass thanks to the DS features, I can't think about what they could do in games with the Ambience Technology... °_°
Darkflame Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 01:46 || Total Comments: 961
It works quite well from what I saw at Lipzieg.

Because we only focus on a small region in front of us, most of our vision is actualy not that detailed. Having the correct lighting surrounding us can increase imersion quite a lot.

Add in wind and heat effects and you got something as important as rumble.

The problem is the cost to be economical it really has to be things youd have *anyway* in the room, which merely can talk to the system for gameing use.
Scythe3000 Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 02:31 || Total Comments: 200
Darkflame u where at the amBX stand at leipzig?! I probably met you :P

Glad to hear you like the idea :)
Maiky-nisute Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 03:47 || Total Comments: 279
Engelbert van Pelt i seeing a bright future for the amBX (of coarse because he is behind it all) the vertions that will be made for game consoles will be slightly bigger! the only problem Philips has at this moment is the price and the air flow system.

but if you see it you will be convinced that this might do that bit extra in the future of the entertainment industry.
Arab_freak Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 07:55 || Total Comments: 65
Playing this drunk must be tons of fun.
Darkflame Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 08:32 || Total Comments: 961
"Darkflame u where at the amBX stand at leipzig?! I probably met you :P"

I was at the stand, but I didnt talk, was just looking/playing about.

I certainly like the idea. I think adoption will be slow though. Modular-ness is good,with people buying things a bit at a time/getting them as presents.
I think the first purchase's will actualy be people really into certain game types that want the extra feedback. (eg, racing games).

Long term, with luck, it will become a bit like surround sound, with lots of thing supporting it, even if only a fraction of buyers have the full set up.

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