Ace of Spades HQ

February 16, 2010

We Live in an Age of Miracles and Wonders, My Friends
— Ace

Your fully electronic gaming table, along with animated monsters (with sound effects), has arrived.

Here's another clip of the Microsoft Surface being used for this purpose.

Thanks to Stan.*

* There is no Stan. I am thanking an imaginary person to hide the fact I discovered this all on my own.

Posted by: Ace at 01:37 PM | Comments (89)
Post contains 73 words, total size 1 kb.

1 If regular D&D turns someone into a psychopathic professorial shooter, what does this lead to? Laser canons?

Posted by: Y-not at February 16, 2010 01:39 PM (X69zM)

2 En Fuego!

Posted by: that guy that shouts enfuego! at February 16, 2010 01:39 PM (PD1tk)

I got ten seconds in, heard D&D, and quickly shut that shit down.

Can someone please help "Stan" get laid?

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 01:39 PM (0lPSt)

4 OMG. Glad our son is away. He'd be cleaning out his savings account for this baby.

Posted by: First Wookie, Fatty Foods Czar at February 16, 2010 01:39 PM (UOM48)

5 Don't cry, baby, don't cry, don't cry...

Posted by: Paul Simon at February 16, 2010 01:40 PM (Vyrg6)

6 Y-not@#1

Oops.

Posted by: First Wookie, Fatty Foods Czar at February 16, 2010 01:40 PM (UOM48)

7 Die, stupid sockpuppet, die.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at February 16, 2010 01:41 PM (UOM48)

8 NEEEEEEEEEEEEEERD!

Posted by: Guy who shouts "NEEEEEEERD!" at February 16, 2010 01:43 PM (cHFZO)

9 I had an inane sockpuppet idea this morning, but now I've forgotten it.

Posted by: Z Ryan (goodnight) at February 16, 2010 01:44 PM (cMo6P)

10 Hey ace, I am getting a "banned" address at my other IP. Don't know why and don't know how to, or who to contact to get it straightened out.

Posted by: teej at February 16, 2010 01:45 PM (+VvaI)

11 oh yeah...

Posted by: Z Ryan at February 16, 2010 01:46 PM (cMo6P)

12 Thanks Stan!

Posted by: conscious and doesn't know who Stan is at February 16, 2010 01:46 PM (Vu6sl)

13 Bork! Bork! Bork!

Posted by: Swedish Chef at February 16, 2010 01:46 PM (cMo6P)

14 I like that the picture shows them still using real die.

Man, I've vacuumed up a lot of die in my day.

Posted by: Y-not at February 16, 2010 01:48 PM (X69zM)

Since D&D players are so into fantasy role playing, they should have a social skills add-on where the player actually gets to touch a girl by completing such Herculean tasks like basic personal hygiene and not acting like a dork.

Posted by: Jim in San Diego at February 16, 2010 01:48 PM (F09Uo)

16 Stan? Never heard of him.

Posted by: Charles Gibson playing D&D with Katie Couric at February 16, 2010 01:49 PM (Vu6sl)

17 So they're overlaying a regular square grid... Doesn't anyone use hex paper any more?

Posted by: Y-not at February 16, 2010 01:50 PM (X69zM)

18 Will it avoid these kind of situations:

http://tinyurl.com/28phpy

Posted by: tunakermit at February 16, 2010 01:51 PM (f97Hn)

19 Just play WoW. It's less rolling.

Posted by: lorien1973 at February 16, 2010 01:52 PM (ZXnUe)

20 Oh well, maybe ace will read this and help me out. Sure didn't say anything to get banned, that is, unless he's pulling a CJ and banning us creationists.

Posted by: teej at February 16, 2010 01:52 PM (+VvaI)

21 When the playing board goes icosahedral, wake me up.

Posted by: George Orwell at February 16, 2010 01:52 PM (AZGON)

My inner nerd says "w00t."

Posted by: paranoid polly at February 16, 2010 01:52 PM (r7Vc3)

23 Yeah, definately sounds like Stan needs to wax the old lilac kayak (toldja I was gonna use it).

Posted by: di butler, lover of blasty things at February 16, 2010 01:52 PM (S3xX1)

24 D&D iEdition?

_{yeah i know it's microsoft shut up}

Posted by: Z Ryan at February 16, 2010 01:52 PM (cMo6P)

25 Longbows! Where's the longbows?

Posted by: Georgewing Orwellplover at February 16, 2010 01:54 PM (AZGON)

26 >laceyunderalls: I got ten seconds in, heard D&D, and quickly shut that shit down. >Can someone please help "Stan" get laid? hahahaha omg rotflmfao perfect thanks laceyunderalls and I hope you're a chick

Posted by: Yojimbo at February 16, 2010 01:55 PM (wHTaj)

27 I've never played D&D, seems gay.

Posted by: Dr. Spank at February 16, 2010 01:56 PM (0FiCa)

28 Now, if you combine this with a game design featuring a holographic Paul Anka, his band, and battlehammers that fucking slice, then you would really have something.

Posted by: George Orwell at February 16, 2010 01:57 PM (AZGON)

29 When I was a kid we had sticks and rocks to play with...and were happy to get them.

Hit points, however, were real. Damage took weeks to heal. Parents got pissed. Got the scars to prove it.

Posted by: trainer at February 16, 2010 01:57 PM (yCWYQ)

I've never played D&D, seems gay.

That's because it is. Very much so.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 01:58 PM (0lPSt)

31 This kinda seems like something of a throwback. I mean there are computer games and online multiplayer gaming that does all of this.

Whats the point?

Posted by: sharrukin at February 16, 2010 01:59 PM (593B8)

32 When I was young we played outside and shit.

Posted by: Dr. Spank at February 16, 2010 02:02 PM (0FiCa)

I've never played D&D, seems gay.

>That's because it is. Very much so.

Ugh. You people simply have no imagination. And to the guys above, if you want hexagons, play Battletech.

Posted by: Methos at February 16, 2010 02:07 PM (Xsi7M)

34 that is gay as fuck, and seems interminable. Kills the miniscule amount of fun the game offers in the first place

Posted by: s'moron at February 16, 2010 02:07 PM (p1s9n)

33 Yes because it takes imagination to waste spend time in fantasy land of whacked-out role playing games.

I's jealous of your gaming skillz.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 02:13 PM (0lPSt)

36 Anyone seen my mint in box Star Trek Leonard McCoy action figure? Mom cleaned up my room and I can't find it.

Posted by: Stan at February 16, 2010 02:14 PM (9fjyr)

37 Ok, so next time I tip you, this is my new handle.

Posted by: The Real Stan at February 16, 2010 02:15 PM (noieo)

38 I suggest a new strategy: let the Wookiee win.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at February 16, 2010 02:17 PM (0QJjg)

39 WITCHCRAFT!!! It's Satan's game table. SATAN'S!!!!111!!11

Posted by: MikeTheMoose at February 16, 2010 02:22 PM (0q2P7)

40 Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 05:39 PM (0lPSt)

Hater. Thread full of haters. But seeing as how you have dirty knees, I'm thinking you're the Head Hater.
--------------------------------------
I always thought rolling dice was a bug, not a feature. Whyinhell would you want to roll dice when you could, um, have your "electronic abacus" do it for you? That was not good.

Posted by: FUBAR at February 16, 2010 02:23 PM (1fanL)

Can someone please help "Stan" get laid?

Lacey, he's using a giant touchscreen to create the ultimate D&D game. All we can do at this point is make him comfortable, hook up a nice morphine drip and call his next of kin.

Posted by: Secundus at February 16, 2010 02:24 PM (WuvMD)

42 A group that I have heard of that is by me plays with an overhead projector pointing down onto the battle mat.

People have told me that it is really cool.

Posted by: Rickshaw Jack at February 16, 2010 02:24 PM (tX+B+)

I've never played D&D, seems gay.

That's because it is. Very much so.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 05:58 PM (0lPSt)

You haters just aren't smart enough to understand, is all.

Posted by: FUBAR at February 16, 2010 02:24 PM (1fanL)

I'm thinking you're the Head Hater.

I can accept that. In the case of fantasy role-playing games, yet, consider me the Head Hater. It is the crown I will gladly wear.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 02:26 PM (0lPSt)

You haters just aren't smart enough to understand, is all.

Funny! The donkeys in the MSM said the same thing about the American public re Obamacare.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 02:28 PM (0lPSt)

I can accept that. In the case of fantasy role-playing games, yet, consider me the Head Hater. It is the crown I will gladly wear.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 06:26 PM (0lPSt)

You're just jealous that you don't have a cool hobby. What's wrong with hobbies anyway?

Posted by: FUBAR at February 16, 2010 02:28 PM (1fanL)

47 So where is the simulated shotgun so you can shoot your simulated brother?

Posted by: Vic at February 16, 2010 02:28 PM (QrA9E)

I'm so happy to see that America's fine young minds are devoting their skills to useful occupations.

Posted by: antimatter at February 16, 2010 02:29 PM (gbCNS)

49 Oh yeah, that's $12,500 well spent. As for Surface videos, I enjoy this one.

Posted by: Herr Blücher at February 16, 2010 02:30 PM (xq1pL)

50 My observation from today: Morning morons are a lot more RPG friendly than afternoon morons.

Posted by: Randy at February 16, 2010 02:31 PM (zQKSr)

You're just jealous that you don't have a cool hobby. What's wrong with hobbies anyway?

I have several thank you very little. Books, socializing with friends, snowing as of late...

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 02:32 PM (0lPSt)

52 I'll be honest, I migrated away from D&D and this type of system when the concept of computer RPGs became reality. Back then AD&D, Stormbringer, Car Wars, Star Fleet Battles, Battle Tech, Rifts. But I quickly got over rolling dice when a computer could keep track of the action a lot faster than I could. Then it became Pool of Radiance(On a C64 the first time boy that was a lot of disk switching), Curse of the Azure Bonds, Mechwarrior etc etc, until the modern MMORPG. You guys holding onto the dice just look like some ultra purist cult now, kind of like the D&D Amish who refuse to accept any advance in gaming that might impinge on the glory of the all powerful Icosahedron.

(Again go ahead out geek me if you can)

Posted by: MikeTheMoose at February 16, 2010 02:33 PM (0q2P7)

53 I'm so happy to see that America's fine young minds are devoting their skills to useful occupations.

You don't have any complex hobbies that require effort to be good at, like fishing say?

Posted by: MikeTheMoose at February 16, 2010 02:35 PM (0q2P7)

54 Books, socializing with friends, snowing as of late...

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 06:32 PM (0lPSt)

I said "cool" hobby. I'm just sorry you're so filled with hate and rage that you have to lash out at others. Was it that the boy you liked ignored you to play D&D? It's OK, lacey, it's not your fault.

Posted by: FUBAR at February 16, 2010 02:37 PM (1fanL)

55 I have several thank you very little. Books, socializing with friends, snowing as of late...

Socializing with friends is a pastime not a hobby, the things you do with your friends is a hobby, unless of course your obsessed with people liking you. In which case socializing is a hobby, and apparently a qualifier for high political office.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose at February 16, 2010 02:38 PM (0q2P7)

56 Posted by: MikeTheMoose at February 16, 2010 06:35 PM (0q2P7)

Heh. MikeTheMoose entered the game on fiyah.

Posted by: FUBAR at February 16, 2010 02:38 PM (1fanL)

57 The great thing about so many of the "haters" is that they play rpg style games on consoles and PCs, often single player. They probably don't even see hte connection. At least we played face to face with real people.

It reminds me of all the "Tolkein is ghey" people that 20 years later helped to make huge amounts of money for the LOTR franchise.

Posted by: whatever at February 16, 2010 02:40 PM (XIXhw)

58 54 Yep, you got me! The boy with zero social skills in middle school that raced him to play with little figurines broke my little heart.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 02:40 PM (0lPSt)

59 Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 06:40 PM (0lPSt)

lacey, lacey, lacey. Honey, it's not your fault. Quit blaming yourself. No womyn can compete with the attraction of D&D. You're good enough, and you're smart enough. And gosh darnit, people like you!

Posted by: FUBAR at February 16, 2010 02:42 PM (1fanL)

unless of course your obsessed with people liking you

Cleary not as evidenced by my posts

But that's cool. I look at this way: if I had a son, would I want him playing sports or clubs in school where he could havereal interaction with other kids -or- would I want to see him gaming in my basement. Not a hard choice.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 02:43 PM (0lPSt)

61 I'd rather have a HexaKopter.
http://vimeo.com/6194911

Posted by: lotocoti at February 16, 2010 02:44 PM (b1OiT)

62 But that's cool. I look at this way: if I had a son, would I want him playing sports or clubs in school where he could havereal interaction with other kids -or- would I want to see him gaming in my basement. Not a hard choice.

And a false one. What if he got together with his friends to play games, maybe even rpgs? And why can't he do more than one thing?

Posted by: whatever at February 16, 2010 02:47 PM (XIXhw)

You don't have any complex hobbies that require effort to be good at, like fishing say?

The fishism in that remark is obvious. Hater!

Posted by: antimatter at February 16, 2010 02:48 PM (gbCNS)

64 You're outnumbered lacey. There are new posts so only the RPG geeks are hanging around.

Posted by: FUBAR at February 16, 2010 02:48 PM (1fanL)

65 But that's cool. I look at this way: if I had a son, would I want him playing sports or clubs in school where he could havereal interaction with other kids -or- would I want to see him gaming in my basement. Not a hard choice.

I see this is the difficulty. You view this solely as an OR choice. Either you are a well adjusted social human being or an RPGer. You can have outdoor AND indoor fun too. During the same period that I gamed just about all their was at the local comics shop, yes I did ALSO go outdoors and play on a regular basis, usually depending on how nice the weather was. Just think of RPG's as board games on steroids, meth, and crack. High overhead on rules but a lot more fun than playing Risk all afternoon. Yes you can still go out to bars with your friends in your stompy boots, and the next day throw down with your LVL 10 Magic User. You can live both lives.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose at February 16, 2010 02:50 PM (0q2P7)

66 would I want him playing sports or clubs in school where he could havereal interaction with other kids -or- would I want to see him gaming in my basement.

And what does all that sports obsession lead too?
Fantasy football. AD&D for sports fans, that you win based on the semi random events of real life professional sports. Good trade up.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose at February 16, 2010 02:53 PM (0q2P7)

Well considering that I don't even understand the acronyms you're using, it's hard to understand the overall point. But at the end of the day, I'm okay with that.

/being outnumbered is fine.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 02:55 PM (0lPSt)

68 My inner nerd just cast Greater Weakness on my knees,

Posted by: MikeMakesRight at February 16, 2010 02:57 PM (xM/mV)

Watching men make their weekly picks for fantasy sports is sexy as hell. Watching men play with littlel gnomes, elves, and whatever else, is, well, it's just not my bag.

/there's a woman out there for everyone!

Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 16, 2010 02:57 PM (0lPSt)

70 Assuming that laceyunderalls is a chick and not just some guy playing a role, I have to agree. But not because D&D is inherently lame (I played it a bit in school and had a good time), but that guys who play these games don't get laid. And at those ages, every action should be focused on that one goal.

Posted by: NJConservative at February 16, 2010 02:59 PM (/Ywwg)

71 /there's a woman out there for everyone!

Yup, mines got a Level 34 Champion in LOTRO. Yes I did marry her so hands off!

Posted by: MikeTheMoose at February 16, 2010 03:11 PM (0q2P7)

I did a lot of manly shit. I played football in high school, joined the military, went to the sandbox a couple of times, and now I'm a commercial diver. I drank like a fish and chased anything with two sets of lips.

My brother in law is a nerd. Got a Ph.D in computer graphics design, for God's sake.

And at the end of the day, where are we? He's got a wife, two kids, a house, and a job with Pixar making truckloads of money. I've got a messed up knee, a bad ankle, a bad elbow, partial hearing loss, occasional nightmares and an apartment.

Posted by: Secundus at February 16, 2010 03:11 PM (WuvMD)

73 Watching men make their weekly picks for fantasy sports is sexy as hell

*snickers, points, attempts to hide laughter as a cough*

Posted by: Methos at February 16, 2010 03:14 PM (Xsi7M)

74 The D&D tactical interface wasn't too hot. Slow and clumsy. The bigger strategic map was awesome. It'd be fun to shoot craps on that table. And, of course, chess with battle animation.

Posted by: Comrade Arthur at February 16, 2010 03:19 PM (MWczy)

75 #29 trainer:

Best intergenerational moment ever, was when MY grandfather went to my daughter's classroom in 1987 and spoke to the 3rd graders about homesteading in North Dakota. They asked him where he bought toys.

Answer: There were NO toys unless you made your own!

32 third graders sat there with their mouths hanging open. "No toys? How did you play?"

Answer: Hunting, fishing, tracking, using pebbles for marbles.

It was GREAT, and one of my fondest memories. God bless him, he lived to 99, and was a wonderful guy.

Posted by: Miss Marple at February 16, 2010 03:25 PM (4DwVn)

76 Hmm, I don't like the die rolling portion, since it seems like it would take too damn long. I do like the area of effect and movement stuff, plus showing the enemies. Of course, paper works pretty well too.

Posted by: Alex at February 16, 2010 03:34 PM (wFWt7)

77 I was born 3d6 years too late. That was sweet.

Posted by: fugazi at February 16, 2010 03:43 PM (4bvZp)

I got ten seconds in, heard D&D, and quickly shut that shit down.

Can someone please help "Stan" get laid?

AND

When I was young we played outside and shit.

AND

Damn well said and stuff.

Posted by: mike d at February 16, 2010 03:44 PM (W0V5W)

79 So they laid a pinball machine on its side? Wonders will never cease.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at February 16, 2010 03:56 PM (cpuvG)

Nice idea, but too much effort. It's faster just to roll your own die and move your own miniatures if you use them.

Posted by: hadsil at February 16, 2010 04:24 PM (rksBt)

81 As fun as this would be, us nerd-folk often like to snack and drink while gaming... I would hate to end up getting grease or spilling a Mountain Dew on this sucker. My regular group actually just uses MapTool and Skype to do the whole thing over the intorweb, so we don't even have to see each other.

Posted by: Daniel Bareither at February 16, 2010 04:32 PM (G/tGu)

82 What they need are small tie in devices that feed the Player/Dungeon Master actions into the system. All that activity right on the screen surface is just too slow. Allowing multiple simultaneous actions to be planned at once in advance of activation would really make that battle zing.

Posted by: astonerii at February 16, 2010 04:57 PM (DFbhp)

Do you play it in all eleven dimensions?

Posted by: Ohio Dan at February 16, 2010 05:35 PM (rurh0)

I have several thank you very little. Books, socializing with friends, snowing as of late... laceyunderalls

Boy, toss is a little dice rolling and it sounds like you are already playing D&D.

Posted by: Darth Randall at February 16, 2010 05:39 PM (oLULt)

85 I always thought that playing make-believe and living in fantasyland was more of a liberal/progressive thing.

Posted by: the peanut gallery at February 16, 2010 06:16 PM (mg/vv)

86 I always thought that playing make-believe and living in fantasyland was more of a liberal/progressive thing.

Only if you actually believe the REAL WORLD follows the rules of your fantasy. Otherwise I'd say a little imagination is a good thing?

Posted by: mikethemoose at February 16, 2010 06:34 PM (CoBtF)

87 Ace,

Isn't now about the time you post a video of your latest LARP adventure?

Full disclosure, after all...

Posted by: 5th Level Fighter at February 16, 2010 08:46 PM (SgL5z)

88 #51

Got news for you. This IS socializing with friends. This wasn't using the Surface as a game console, which would be the first instinct of a lot of programmers, and might support multiple players. But no, rather than player or players against computer, this is just an enhancement layer for the traditional, gather around the kitchen table, with pens, paper, and dice, maybe maps and miniatures if you went fancy, and have some fun together. People playing with other people. It was one hell of a lot more social than a kid shouting obscenities into a headset over the latest iteration of Halo while alone in a darkened room.

Posted by: epobirs at February 16, 2010 09:51 PM (tEhG4)

89 Gay. And I don't mean Allahpundit's pc version, called 'ghey'. This is flat out mainstream gay.

Posted by: Kevin at February 17, 2010 07:08 AM (FDaFm)

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