Comments on: Surface Computing D&D Demo http://www.purplepawn.com/2009/10/surface-computing-dd-demo/ Game News Across the Board Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:19:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Robert C Kalajian Jr http://www.purplepawn.com/2009/10/surface-computing-dd-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-17646 Robert C Kalajian Jr Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:55:34 +0000 http://www.purplepawn.com/?p=9290#comment-17646 It's a shame that the Philips Entertaible never saw the light of day. The physical aspects of it would have made it such a great product. It’s a shame that the Philips Entertaible never saw the light of day. The physical aspects of it would have made it such a great product.

]]> By: David http://www.purplepawn.com/2009/10/surface-computing-dd-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-17645 David Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:52:29 +0000 http://www.purplepawn.com/?p=9290#comment-17645 And here's another idea—build the surface computer in to a Geek Chic table: http://www.purplepawn.com/2009/07/second-look%e2%80%94geek-chic-tables/ And here’s another idea—build the surface computer in to a Geek Chic table:

http://www.purplepawn.com/2009/07/second-look%e2%80%94geek-chic-tables/

]]> By: David http://www.purplepawn.com/2009/10/surface-computing-dd-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-17644 David Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:51:20 +0000 http://www.purplepawn.com/?p=9290#comment-17644 There two things about dice, Yehuda, that make them an important part of the game to many players, even in electronic form: 1) Anticipation. The time it takes for a die to roll adds tension to task resolution. Some computer-based random number generators show spinning numbers to achieve a similar effect. Imagine a number instantly appearing (or worse yet, just a yes/no result)—not fun. 2) The action of rolling dice replaces the action being modeled in the game. I don't actually swing a sword, but it's my die rolling that determines whether or not I kill the dire wolf. Rob, physical dice as control pieces that the computer could detect would be extremely cool! There two things about dice, Yehuda, that make them an important part of the game to many players, even in electronic form:

1) Anticipation. The time it takes for a die to roll adds tension to task resolution. Some computer-based random number generators show spinning numbers to achieve a similar effect. Imagine a number instantly appearing (or worse yet, just a yes/no result)—not fun.

2) The action of rolling dice replaces the action being modeled in the game. I don’t actually swing a sword, but it’s my die rolling that determines whether or not I kill the dire wolf.

Rob, physical dice as control pieces that the computer could detect would be extremely cool!

]]> By: Rob http://www.purplepawn.com/2009/10/surface-computing-dd-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-17642 Rob Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:11:37 +0000 http://www.purplepawn.com/?p=9290#comment-17642 You have the control pieces for minis - why not have dice that you can physically roll on the surface and can tell what number is face up based on what surface is face down? Nothing wrong with the graphical dice, but - when the dice pops up that can be thrown you should be able to throw a real dice and it reads that instead. (The graphical die should show what has been thrown so that any 'reading' problems with the surface will show up straight away. If there is a problem then you can have a reset and possibly just roll the graphical die instead - or have a DM over-ride that can input the actual result on the die.) You have the control pieces for minis – why not have dice that you can physically roll on the surface and can tell what number is face up based on what surface is face down?

Nothing wrong with the graphical dice, but – when the dice pops up that can be thrown you should be able to throw a real dice and it reads that instead. (The graphical die should show what has been thrown so that any ‘reading’ problems with the surface will show up straight away. If there is a problem then you can have a reset and possibly just roll the graphical die instead – or have a DM over-ride that can input the actual result on the die.)

]]> By: shadejon http://www.purplepawn.com/2009/10/surface-computing-dd-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-17638 shadejon Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:28:33 +0000 http://www.purplepawn.com/?p=9290#comment-17638 Wow. Funny how players cling to the need to see dice rolling, rather than just rely on a computer generated result. Does this virtual rolling mechanism "do it" for players, or do they still want their physical dice? Yehuda Wow.

Funny how players cling to the need to see dice rolling, rather than just rely on a computer generated result. Does this virtual rolling mechanism “do it” for players, or do they still want their physical dice?

Yehuda

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