Philips reveals more Entertaible deets, screens
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Aug 30th 2006 at 1:00AM }
Philips reported yesterday that their prototype touch-screen horizontal gaming environment (dubbed "Entertaible") is ready for "market testing" which, according to these high-resolution photos, looks like it might be a lot of fun. Features include:
- ability to be internet-enabled for multiplayer games and larger tournaments
- digital shape recognition (recognizes objects based on the shape of their footprint)
- tabletop senses multiple touches at once
- 32-inch horizontal LCD
- embedded sound
- ability to attract lots of goofy, toothy white people
If some of these were installed at the local pub, and if there were some good games on it, and if the social lubricant were flowing freely (that's a lot of ifs!), gaming might break from the basement to bars, and that'd be neat.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Judd @ Aug 30th 2006 1:08AM
It's called a DS.
Psaakyrn @ Aug 30th 2006 1:11AM
Which then would be full circle. Gaming did start from bars anyway...
Petrie @ Aug 30th 2006 1:32AM
Having seen the way those touchscreen games will keep someone sitting at a bar for hours sometimes, I will agree that this could really take off.
A few problems though, the biggest of which I see is that this is Horizontal. Therefor patrons would be leaving drinks, food, etc sitting on top of what I imagine will be an expensive piece of technology. If these things are durable, and can take a drink spill and keep on ticking, then this has the capacity to become huge.
The best part about things like this is they themselves don't have to make money. All they have to do is keep patrons seated longer, so that the drinks and snacks keep flowing, leading to all around more profit for the bar, club, or wherever they happen to be. Though these could also have their place in any sort of internet cafe, clubhouse, heck even the local Chess club might want in on these bad boys.
Petrie @ Aug 30th 2006 1:39AM
I'm going to add a bit to the above statement, and say that this idea has so much possibility, that if these things are durable enough, the prospect of building an entire bar/restaurant/etc. around them wouldn't be all that far fetched. Build them into every table, even allow patrons to compete at different games among other patrons, or even hold tournamanet between establishments (if you have more than one) with trivia based games and such. There is a ton of possibility with something like this, and all that's needed is the resources to pull it off to have something unique that would pull in HUGE crowds.
L-mo @ Aug 30th 2006 1:46AM
Hey! easy on the goofy, toothy white people, these pictures are cleary taken in the Netherlands. So frankly i'm a bit upset about that remark!
;)
Anyways.....
I could see this replacing regular board games and beeing an alternative to consoles.
They should relaese games like Monopoly, Catan, Risk, Stratego, Chess, Checkers etc... and it would be a cool high-tech-bringing-the-family-back-togheter device.
Matt @ Aug 30th 2006 1:53AM
I can see how this would take off. Now if only it didn't cost $3,000 for one (as I imagine it would)...
Fandel @ Aug 30th 2006 2:35AM
It would be interesting if this thing did, in fact take off. More then likely though, this thing probably will go down the path of items like the Pico, and portable poker contraptions. Also, I have a hard time believing that the company behind the CDI and the raping of the Zelda franchise, will ultimately be responsible for getting gaming out of the basement.
Garrett @ Aug 30th 2006 3:04AM
This could be a stunning platform for strategy and simulation games. Boardgames would also work well (as they've demonstrated). Imagine being able to quicksave that game of Monopoly your family has had on the go since Easter!
45 touch points is certainly impressive. Six to ten would have been more than enough for most games and is all I would have expected. With 45 points you could even touch-type if need be.
The pawns look nice but rather pointless, and easily swallowed (if you have children) or otherwise lost. I hope the games will have obvious onscreen markers as well for those who don't have the markers any more or simply don't want to use them.
Overall, I have mixed feelings. While on the one hand it could have stellar PC ports and virtual versions of classic boardgames (no more missing Scrabble letters or math troubles when landing on Income Tax!), on the other hand its games have huge potential to be unimaginably stupid.
But regardless of what the games are like its possibilities for emulation and homebrew are huge (to say nothing of specific things like Linux and ScummVM).
VerdigriS @ Aug 30th 2006 8:06AM
I wonder if they went as far as to have the touch screen recognize the holes missing in dice. If it was that sensitive, games like Monopoly and others would be a blast to play...
Todd @ Aug 30th 2006 10:34AM
Pub? ...and the moment someone spills a beer the game short circuits. I can see it now, drunk patrons making bets over a game of LIFE and then a brawl starts!
Jacob @ Aug 30th 2006 10:33AM
"A few problems though, the biggest of which I see is that this is Horizontal. Therefor patrons would be leaving drinks, food, etc sitting on top of what I imagine will be an expensive piece of technology."
If it recognises shapes, I think it's fairly trivial to program it to start screaming when someone puts a beer on there.
Petrie @ Aug 30th 2006 10:52AM
"If it recognises shapes, I think it's fairly trivial to program it to start screaming when someone puts a beer on there."
You obviously have nev er worked in a bar/pub/etc. You don't have the ability to tell patrons they can't sit their drink there in most cases. If they are playing a game and choose to sit their drink on the Horizontal surface, good customer service dictates that you allow them to do so. The burden is on the maker of said product to ensure it can deal with the daily wear-and-tear it would receive in such establishments. I realize there are exceptions to this rule with regard to places trying to dictate where you could sit your drink and the like, but for the most part, it's one industry where rarely will the customer ever be "wrong".
diskoboy @ Aug 30th 2006 11:35AM
Looks pretty cool.
Too bad almost every gaming device that Phillips has ever put out has failed miserably. At least in the United States.
mykie @ Aug 30th 2006 11:42AM
"Multi-touch detects forty five fingers."
That sounds dirty, just plain DIRTY!
ManTan @ Aug 30th 2006 1:17PM
I'm sorry, but this can't replace the experience of playing Quizzo in a bar. But, if this thing is installed and it dispenses free Pabst and a shot of whiskey, then I'm all for it.
Historian @ Aug 30th 2006 1:46PM
I doubt this would be good in a pub. Most places offer free refills on soft drinks and such. They would have to charge for use otherwise you get four coke drinkers and zero profit.
Jacob @ Aug 30th 2006 2:14PM
"You don't have the ability to tell patrons they can't sit their drink there in most cases. If they are playing a game and choose to sit their drink on the Horizontal surface, good customer service dictates that you allow them to do so."
Not really. You just program the game to simply not work, and display a nag screen, if it detects a drink placed on it.
Have you ever seen what happens if you put a beer on a pool table? You get a big, angry guy walking in your direction fairly quickly. Even if no game is in play.
Triscuit @ Sep 8th 2006 1:55PM
The second pic gave me an idea: a soccer game where you use your fingers to kick around the ball. The last pic instantly made me think of geometry wars when I saw the shapes around the fingers.
Maria @ Sep 20th 2006 9:57AM
Hello!
I'm representing a well-known FMCG company, and I'm very much interested in presentation of this unit, trial and potential purchase some for developing games around our brands.
I'm looking for a person from Philips who can give all necessary info about this games.
Please leave contact detailes here, I'll write a letter with questions!