The Role of Technology in the Future of TT RPGs

[Dannager]

Do you know how much it is going to cost?

Infinity dollars. That is to say, what I played was a student project run by a team at Carnegie Mellon University, and the project is now over. It was designed as a proof-of-concept, and received a lot of attention (and was super amazing cool to try out).

The point is, however, that this is something that is totally doable (since it's already been done before). The student project used the original Surface table as a platform. Surface 2.0 is now right around the corner, and it makes tremendous improvements to the technology. Within a few tech generations, we'll see this sort of platform become very consumer-friendly, which will in turn lead developers to consider designing for it.

 

[jimmifett]

Do you know how much it is going to cost?

The software to recognize IR reflective inputs is open source IIRC, so $0.
It's been used with Maptools, $0.
The cost to build your own multitouch surface table is sweat, elbow grease, a projector, an IR camera (playstation eye works well), some wood, nails, clear plastic, infrared LEDs, some wire, solder. Approx $500 or less. Likely less if you can get a good deal on a projector.

You also need a computer, but I presume you already have one you'd want to use.

 

[Aeolius]

The thread is over a year old, but I still want this tech: link

Until then, I'd settle for an iPad-based VTT app enhanced with Game Center , incorporating FaceTime , and utilizing AirPlay to link the app to any television attached to an Apple TV.

 

[jimmifett]

Geek Chic's Locus prototype:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0PsVuBA8R8

Make your own:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrQ1Gb2vNEk

 

[Dannager]

As long as people are providing project links, you absolutely must watch the following if you are discussing the future of tabletop gaming on digital tabletops (if you've seen it already, cool; it's made the rounds a few times in the past year). You won't really be able to understand what is already possible until you've digested this video:

SurfaceScapes Demo

Again, keep in mind that this is a student project carried out over a single year (two school semesters) by a small team using last-generation technology.

 

[IronWolf]

As long as people are providing project links, you absolutely must watch the following if you are discussing the future of tabletop gaming on digital tabletops (if you've seen it already, cool; it's made the rounds a few times in the past year). You won't really be able to understand what is already possible until you've digested this video:

SurfaceScapes Demo

Again, keep in mind that this is a student project carried out over a single year (two school semesters) by a small team using last-generation technology.

Yeah - the tables are pretty cool. It will be interesting to see how things play out as the tech cost comes down. Some pretty cool possibilities for both table top RPGs and board games too - no more lost pieces from the kids!

 

[BigWeather]

I'm all for PDFs, technology, etc. helping prepare for a game (though I'm still partial to physical books). During the game, however, it's paper, books, and dice. I hope that we never get to the point that we abandon those roots of the game (though I'm totally on board with VTT and the like for remote games, etc. etc.).

 

[Dannager]

I hope that we never get to the point that we abandon those roots of the game (though I'm totally on board with VTT and the like for remote games, etc. etc.).

Is this for aesthetic reasons? Or an aversion to change? Or...?

I don't see anything about paper, physical books and physical dice that would cause our hobby to crumble, be less awesome, or be less successful if we switched to whatever's next.

 

[BigWeather]

Is this for aesthetic reasons? Or an aversion to change? Or...?

I don't see anything about paper, physical books and physical dice that would cause our hobby to crumble, be less awesome, or be less successful if we switched to whatever's next.

Part of it is that is the way I grew up playing RPGs. More than that, however, I think RPGs are a shared social experience and I find laptops, smartphones, etc. only detract from the experience (people surfing during others' turns, etc.). Finally, I prefer to keep the game as much a construct of imagination as possible -- no mats, no minis, etc. So not really an aversion to change, but it is just how I (and I know that's subjective) prefer to experience the hobby. The same reason I prefer physical novels to Kindle versions -- the smell of the book, flipping the pages, etc. is an important part of the experience for me.

I'm cool with others switching, but it's not an either / or proposition. I personally think it'd be less awesome, but understand that others may think it'll be more awesome. As for success, we can't really know. If it is not either / or then it can only be more successful (as it is more inclusive). If it is either / or then it is at least a little bit less successful, potentially, unless those like me that prefer the "old" way are replaced in sufficient numbers to offset.