Related Sections: Art & Design Gaming Video
This high-tech glowing ball lets you wage urban war
Urban Defender has gangs of players putting down the guns and knives and instead reaching for what looks like a glowing dodgeball. The objective here isn't to go after other people, though. You're aiming for buildings.
The game apparently isn't quite finished yet so the multilayer backend I'm about to describe isn't in place yet. Ideally, you should be able to take your ball around the city and toss it against buildings, claiming that structure for your team. The ball has an accelerometer inside and is GPS-enabled so that it can upload impacts to a map on a server and mark your territory. That part works, but you can't score points or play a "game" par se — yet.
The ball also acts as your guide. It'll vibrate and pulse differently when you're in enemy or neutral territory, and make noises as you claim an enemy structure. Check out the video below for a demonstration.
Urban Defender, via MAKE
By Orphen at 5:24 PM ON 11/06/09
This sounds pretty fun - I want one.
By DSMatthews at 5:48 PM ON 11/06/09
Add Go like rules, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_%28game%29 and the game would be an awesome blend of the strategic and the tactical.
By apaniyam at 10:51 PM ON 11/06/09
This would be much better with team interfacing, turning off those bloody sounds (for public areas) and if the ball was one handed, so it can be tossed into a bag, or easier held.
By wil at 12:19 AM ON 11/07/09
This is what kids/gangs in the future will be killing each other over. Sad to say. But hey, at least we got them back out of the house.
By i1patrick at 7:33 AM ON 11/07/09
This is basically the modern version of breakdance fighting.
By tr at 9:19 AM ON 11/07/09
"Damn sonny, I remember growing up in the mean streets of the ghetto. All we had was our white, gps enabled vibrating ball, and our competitive server hostings. You kids don't know how hard it was!"
If you brought this to my city, the kids would probably knife you, and then steal the ball. Defend that, Urban Defender!
By more at 4:59 AM ON 11/08/09
By xeromage at 4:59 AM ON 11/08/09
Whats with all the negative feedback? This looks fun as hell! Everyone I've shown this too wants to start playing immediately!
When/where can we start!?
By drixoral at 1:29 PM ON 11/09/09
Hmm... might want to check with building owners before you start throwing these balls around. If its a brick or concrete outer structure they probably won't notice, but if you hit a window (!!!) or if it's a wooden structure, you might knock things off the inside walls, damage the painted surfaces, or annow the people inside with the "thonk!" sounds. Just saying, this doesn't sound thought out.
By Hank Jekyll at 3:06 PM ON 12/11/09
Hell yeah! Prayer for the Rollerbabies here i come!!
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
Hank Jekyll:
Hell yeah! Prayer for the Rollerbabies here i come!!...More »