Philips pushes ambient gaming

PHILIPS has introduced what it claims to be a "light year leap" in ambient experience by controlling the environment in which games are played.

Due for release in May 2006, Philips new environmental gaming device will be amBX. The aim of amBX is to allow games to control the environment in which they are played to an unprecedented degree, including general lighting, heat and airflow around players.

Game developers will be able to script events in games to trigger effects and changes in any environmental aspect of a player's surroundings. The new technology will work through the availability of current home networking devices in an attempt to bring players closer to experiences games are trying to evoke. The examples Philips gave were those of splash green lighting and increased heat in jungle or fans activating while players attempt a H.A.L.O. jump.

Philips is already in "the advanced stages" of talks with game developers and peripherals manufacturers with regard to amBX supported games and devices. The amBX technology will be officially launched next May.

amBX will offer something new to gamers in an are found wanting since the introduction of surround sound to games. Hopefully we'll see this technical innovation hanging on, though some of it sounds a little hard to take. As an established gamer my knuckles already turn blue during extended play… Lord knows what would happen to some of us if the temperature dropped suddenly. µ