Introversion announces amBX version of DEFCON

[KingAl]

I've seen the first mention of amBX in a magazine over here. US$399 for the 'premium kit' apparently, released April in the US and October in Oz. So the cost isn't as insanely bad as one might have predicted.

EDIT: And MadSeven reported this price ages ago. Never mind, it's still the first mention I've seen in print, anyway.

[torig]

I've seen the first mention of amBX in a magazine over here. US$399 for the 'premium kit' apparently, released April in the US and October in Oz. So the cost isn't as insanely bad as one might have predicted.

EDIT: And MadSeven reported this price ages ago. Never mind, it's still the first mention I've seen in print, anyway.

KingAl, and what are its uses? All we know from the message here is that a Defcon version is coming...

@Neothermic,wwwarnick: A lot of those measures mostly do not work. However, banking personnel is possibly somewhat less prone to social engineering (due to awareness trainings) then personnel of say an ISP. Social engineering seems to work best if you draw the other person in the situation of "being helpful" (like having your hands full with boxes at a badge-protected door...) or "complying" (calling said bank posing as Mr X's lawyer. Of course your client asked you to verify something AND therefore you ...<insert clever story>. The point is: if you give the impression the victim actually is aware of what is going on you're more likely not to be suspected than if you try pretending to be the victim )

And if you find that disturbing, that's just offline. Start thinking about all those sites that actually mail you a copy of your password when you submit a form requesting it, triangulation (localisation) of cellphones being possible _even_ when turned down and so much more

[KingAl]

Created by Philips, amBX is the latest in ambient intelligence technology, designed to bring the game world into the immediate present of the gamer’s living room. Using a scripting language, software engine and architecture, amBX will be able to deliver a full ‘sensory surround experience’ by creating hardware that can control the light, colour, sound and even air flow of your surroundings. Developers will work with a range of amBX PC Gaming Peripherals products including LED colour-controlled lighting, rumble peripherals and desktop fans, which can be strategically placed around the player’s room. ...For more info on amBX visit www.ambx.com

[torig]

Created by Philips, amBX is the latest in ambient intelligence technology, designed to bring the game world into the immediate present of the gamer’s living room. Using a scripting language, software engine and architecture, amBX will be able to deliver a full ‘sensory surround experience’ by creating hardware that can control the light, colour, sound and even air flow of your surroundings. Developers will work with a range of amBX PC Gaming Peripherals products including LED colour-controlled lighting, rumble peripherals and desktop fans, which can be strategically placed around the player’s room. ...For more info on amBX visit www.ambx.com

Interesting videos and demos on the site. But where I found the (animated) demos really promising I felt the video of ambx didn't live up to the expectation I had created.
Maybe the brightness of the light in that video was what made it disappointing.

[KingAl]

I think they're pushing it a little when they propose using it for music and the web.

The applications of amBX are as wide as the web itself: online games, gaming sites, animations, music sites and snippets of audio, streaming video content, movie trailers, software demos – even online shopping, or a way for site providers to make download waits more bearable.

Light & fan shows during online shopping? While waiting for downloads!? How do I put this...

[torig]

I think they're pushing it a little when they propose using it for music and the web.

The applications of amBX are as wide as the web itself: online games, gaming sites, animations, music sites and snippets of audio, streaming video content, movie trailers, software demos – even online shopping, or a way for site providers to make download waits more bearable.

Light & fan shows during online shopping? While waiting for downloads!? How do I put this...

Heheheh, don't... I feel your pain
And with the status of the web right now, your house'd be looking like a brothel 85% of your surfing time

[shinygerbil]

Yeah, this was old news, but:

In time, the company also hopes to amBX enable their two previous critically acclaimed titles: Darwinia and Uplink.

I just happened to notice this:

http://www.ambx.com/site/consumer/games ... s/Darwinia

but no Uplink page..

So Darwinia looks like it's been confirmed, and checking the dates, it was confirmed at the same time as Defcon.

[ZakGordon]

It all(the Ambx) reminds me of the 'Alien entertainment' rooms in Xcom, or how I imagined they would work. Is this still going on? They don't have much info of actual finished games on their site?

[KingAl]

I believe amBX capability has been implemented since patch 1.4 with respect to Defcon, and I've heard now and then about other games supporting it.

[elDiablo]

Well, due to there being a Defcon LAN Tournament, which says

The Grand Final, to be confirmed for late August, will be amBX-enabled, making it one of the most visually immersive game spectacles of the year, and hosted in the world's largest dedicated gaming centre, Omega Sektor, due to be opened in Birmingham this June.

and

Finalist Winners:
Top 3 players (1st, 2nd, 3rd) win Logitech G15 keyboards, Logitech G5 mice and Logitech X-540s speakers & a premium amBX kit + amBX games.
1st Prize - Philips 50" Ambilight Plasma screen

makes me think that Defcon is probably amBX enabled