Video games meet board games with the Entertaible
by Jennie Lees 
{ Jan 4th 2006 at 2:00PM }
While we all love video games, sometimes
there are moments when you want to get a little more analogue. Philips are clearly banking on our secret board game
urges with a new product called the Entertaible, an electronic tabletop device which will apparently let you enjoy both
the interactivity of electronic games and the social aspects of board games.Philips have grand visions for the device: new versions of old board game classics, games that are never the same twice, and games that provide social interaction between players. Whether they're conveniently ignoring all the products that already provide all of this (a common-or-garden PC, for example), or genuinely believe their product is better, we can't say. The important tests will come on its rollout to bars and casinos, though: how long does it last after someone's spilled their drink on it?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Atrix @ Jan 4th 2006 2:40PM
I had that idea about 10 years ago. Too bad patents are so expensive to get.
Alkaiser @ Jan 4th 2006 2:41PM
I wish the article had a little less of this:
"The Entertaible is the brainchild of a Philips research team located in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The team is led by scientist Gerard Hollemans, who probably has crazy white hair and is never more than a foot away from a mysterious glass container with all dry ice coming out of it."
The thing looks interesting, and combined with Nolan Bushnell's adult oriented gaming bars, maybe this could take off.
Know where this would be even better, though? Karaoke boxes. Put one in the middle with all kinds of crazy party games and randomizers to determine who sings next...this thing would be the "next big thing" in Japan.
Lectoid @ Jan 4th 2006 3:06PM
This would be an excellent idea. Finally, you would be able to save a board game.
Ipsum @ Jan 4th 2006 9:59PM
Heh, Micosoft's been doing this for a while. It's top secret, though, so don't tell nobody I told you.
ManekiNeko @ Jan 5th 2006 1:54AM
This wouldn't be the first time Philips combined traditional board games with modern-day interactive entertainment. Remember the Odyssey2 Master Strategy Series? It included about four different games, including The Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt! and Quest for the Rings! You had to play the board game along with the video game for the full experience.
JR