Sony Announce AR-Based E-Reader

[xg4bx]

"“Wonderbook is a physical book in your hands” that implements the PlayStation Eye to allow players to interact with games on-screen via the e-reader pad. Developed by LondonStudio, this new addition for the PlayStation shows an ambition which Andrew House affirmed during the E3 conference.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has been confirmed as a partner with the Wonderbook system, bringing the online universe Pottermore and her new work Book of Spells. Using the Move controller along with the Wonderbook, you interact with the story using both.

Not so much gaming as it is interactive reading, but Wonderbook looks really intriguing."

http://mediakick.org/2012/06/05/sony...tnership/33940







'ereader' is a bit misleading because you need a playstation to use it but this might be huge with the kiddos (or harry potter fans).

[tubemonkey]

But what is it?

A controller? a book? an ereader? a DVD? a combination of numerous devices?

[xg4bx]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

But what is it?

A controller? a book? an ereader? a DVD? a combination of numerous devices?

i think its pretty much a combo of several things. i think the camera reads the qr codes in the book and translates them into games that you can play/interact with. i'm guessing its like an interactive video game ereader.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

i think its pretty much a combo of several things. i think the camera reads the qr codes in the book and translates them into games that you can play/interact with. i'm guessing its like an interactive video game ereader.

Whatever it is, it sounds expensive; like more than $20 a pop.

[AnemicOak]

Looks like maybe somekind of auxiliary controller used along with Playstation Move & Eye...

More info...

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/04/s...rbook-ps-move/

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/so...ystiq+(Joystiq)


Video of entire 2012 E3 press conference...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUMoX-pl8AA

Start around 1 hour 21 min. for the Wonderbook stuff.

[xg4bx]

heres a bit more-

"Using an augmented-reality book, kids can turn pages and watch themselves and the book animated on the screen. They’re creating educational and gaming content, including unique science and history stories.

Arguably these are little more than a big-screen series of tablet e-books, but with the addition of content by J.K. Rowling and others, this Sony effort shows a definite push towards younger gamers. The title, called Book of Spells, brings interactive fiction to the TV and allows you to turn the pages of a “real” spell book complete with moral poems at the end.

The book also interacts with the PlayStation Move wand to allow you to cast spells on the book in real life. The so-called books will require readers (players?) to interact with the book. With the Harry Potter title, Book of Spells, dragons leap out of the book and fly around the room with a bit of AR magic. It apparently even catches on fire requiring the user to put it out with their hands, leaving soot behind that needs to be wiped off."

http://techcrunch.com/2012/06/04/yer...otter-content/


according to cnet this will be $40 for the book and disc. however once you add in the cost of a ps3 and associated peripherals you need you're looking at at least $400. i don't know if this one book will work for all future 'games' or if you need to buy a new one for each subsequent title.

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

i think its pretty much a combo of several things. i think the camera reads the qr codes in the book and translates them into games that you can play/interact with. i'm guessing its like an interactive video game ereader.

It's another complicated and expensive gizmo that wows at first and then goes and sits on the shelf.

Remember first big Screen and then 3-D was going to revitalize the Film Industry.
Remember the first interactive eReader books.
Still working on that 3-D TV.
Blu-Ray anyone?

Really impressive, but ok, we saw it and were impressed but now it is back to practical reality which is really kind of "oh-hum" but still workable and quite enjoyable and gives good bang for the buck.

[tubemonkey]

So it's a huge book that requires a television, a PS3, a controller, and a camera in order to work? My, what an inexpensive reading experience.

This is a game with elements of reading involved. To advertise it as a book is a bit disingenuous.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

according to cnet this will be $40 for the book and disc. however once you add in the cost of a ps3 and associated peripherals you need you're looking at at least $400. i don't know if this one book will work for all future 'games' or if you need to buy a new one for each subsequent title.

$40 for a so-called book!? Are they out of their minds!? A small library of 25 books will only set you back $1000; not to mention the costs of the required peripherals. A mere pittance.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

$40 for a so-called book!? Are they out of their minds!? A small library of 25 books will only set you back $1000; not to mention the costs of the required peripherals. A mere pittance.

Maybe don't look at it as a book, 'cause it really isn't. Look at it as a different kind of game. $40 for a game title on any console is below average. It's one more thing the folks who already own a PS3 (50 millionish sold???) can do.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Maybe don't look at it as a book, 'cause it really isn't. Look at it as a different kind of game. $40 for a game title on any console is below average.

A game is exactly how I view it, but try telling Sony that. They think it's a book.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

A game is exactly how I view it, but try telling Sony that. They think it's a book.

They'll call it whatever they think will sell it.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

They'll call it whatever they think will sell it.

But will it work on a T1?

[MikeOxlittle]

These will not sell well, if at all.

My crystal ball never lies.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

But will it work on a T1?

Are we talking Sony Reader or Internet connection? Maybe both?