What Microsoft’s ‘IllumiRoom’ can do for gaming.

Just enough proof for conspirators to claim “ILLUMINATI”.

Today at CES, Microsoft unveiled its newest project, IllumiRoom; the Kinect plus a projector.

As you can see, while it has true potential for gimmicky first and third-party games and tech demos, there are some very interesting implications to this device.

1. Implied Motion: at around 00:40, you can see this in effect. Using the projector, the IllumiRoom can imply motion by warping the image around your television. This can be used for explosions as well for implying speed during racing games.
2. Peripheral Vision: once only thought possible with virtual reality headsets or concavely curved screens, the projector can plaster an image of the game world around the room, giving you the ability to see an approaching enemy just out of the corner of your eye, instead of the tunnel vision we’re used to.
3. Finding the Bodies: the IllumiRoom starts off by scanning your entire room, giving the Xbox just enough time to identify any corpses you may have hidden under your couch or right next to the T.V., like I do.
4. Mind Control: You saw the blank looks in their eyes. Those aren’t humans. Those are husks.
5. A Step Towards the Holodeck: We’ve all dreamed of having our own personal holodeck, and with the state of the Xbox Live Indie Games, we’ll be able to live out our most dire fantasies without the resulting paternal suits.
6. 2001: A Space Odyssey: Remember that really long, LSD-induced scene near the end of A Space Odyssey? Now we’ll be able to live the dream and become a Star Child. Probably.
7. TECH DEMOS AHOY: I’m predicting around two straight years of “Hey, look! We can project stuff on the WALLS!” type games.

In all honesty, I’m really excited that Microsoft’s first unveiling of the IllumiRoom provided us with ways we can make current games more immersive and interesting, instead of more awkward and, ugh, exercise filled like the Kinect did.

What do you guys think of the IllumiRoom? Comment below!

Frank Margarella wants to see awkward corporate guys use Dance Central to demonstrate the IllumiRoom. You can follow Frank on twitter @Fuhjem.