Microsoft at E3 2015: New Minecraft Game for HoloLens Demoed
Microsoft may be making gaming history at the E3 2015. The company demonstrated an augmented reality version of the popular building game "Minecraft" to show off its new HoloLens augmented reality headset.
The demo was intended not only to show off the capabilities of the HoloLens headset, but also to demonstrate how it can make gaming a very rewarding and exciting experience.
"Minecraft" has been traditionally played using several platforms such as PC, Xbox One and Xbox 360, Playstation 4 and Playstation 3, as well as on mobile operating systems such as iOS and Android. The goals of game are to build a world and everything in it and to explore this world as well as other worlds.
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The game's version that was developed for use with the HoloLens allows players to play and interact within the Minecraft world on any surface they want and allows them to play with others who are not using the new headset, according to a report in Tech Times.
Microsoft demonstrated playing the game on a wall with the use of HoloLens which looked similar to playing it on a computer screen. What was more impressive was when the game was played on a table, where the players can see complete areas and worlds as if it were right on top of the table and in 3D. The game is controlled with the player's hands as well as voice. Voice commands will allow the user to change perspectives and views of the image in front of them, such as zooming in to look closely at what's inside a room, or zooming out to see the bigger perspective. Players can also "lift" the world in its entirety to find out if there is something hidden underneath.
Other voice commands demonstrated include launching a lightning strike, simply by saying the words "lightning strike."
Through this demo, the company showed what augmented reality can bring to the table in terms of enhancing gaming experience, by giving people different ways of interacting with their environment.
