Augmented Reality needs to catch up with Sandbox gaming

AR is a technology that’s still desperately in need of its killer app—and it isn’t seeing if a couch fits in your living room. Gaming often pushes the boundaries of what tech can do, but so much of AR-enabled gaming is still limited.
Some of the key players in the global augmented reality and virtual reality market include names such as Microsoft Corporation, Google Inc., Apple Inc., and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. among others. These companies are heavily investing in the development of the new virtual reality and augmented reality products as a result of which there is an increasingly high demand from multiple sectors and industries including healthcare and gaming.

Still, we're missing a great deal in the area of MMORPG - a place we all want to be soon. There's Harry Potter Go, which is scheduled to come out next year along with the new Walking Dead AR game, but what about Minecraft? Games like Planet of Cubes are still far, far away from having us reside in our homes we create in the sandbox, but it will be nice one day.

Pig in a tree is the funniest gaming pic of the day

Visiting the Survival Multiplayer of PLanet of Cubes, you can see some things.

As I was running through the woods today looking for the next stop to wait out the zombies,  I looked up and saw this pig in a tree.

Not that I was actually looking for a pig in a tree but it was a funny sight. He was just sitting there taking in the day. Animals in games like these are funny AIs because they’re just wandering around the board.  Are you an animal lover? If you say the furrier the better, the scalier the cooler, the more animals the merrier, then this is the category of game for you.

Something else I didn’t think about is that if you wanted to farm these animals it would only take a few blocks to lock them in and boom! You’ve got a pet! Just something to think about when you see a pig in a tree or any other area in Planet of Cubes.

 

All Pumpkin Everything: A Pumpkin patch for Planet of Cubes Fall Season

I figured I'd do a little homework on how to farm a Pumpkin Patch, since it is Fall season. Here's what the site says:

"Farming Melon and Pumpkin is a difficult process at the first sight, but in the real, this is not it. The are only one really hard thing is to find melon and pumpkin blocks in the infinite world. The tips and tricks in this news will help you to easily and effectively grow melons and pumpkins. Of course, before we do any farming, we need first to know how to farm. Please read our previous news about Farming Basics! Start with searching melon and pumpkin blocks in the Overworld. Then use these blocks to craft melon and pumpkin seeds in the workbench! When you made a hydrated farmland surrounded with fences and lights, you are ready for farming melons and pumpkins. Plant a seed in each farmland block by clicking it while holding a melon or pumpkin seed.

You can read more of that by clicking here.

I'll be online checking out the Fall scene today getting photos. 

Mobile gaming has yet to peak: It's time to get on board

 

Planet of Cubes is just the beginning of what mobile gaming is expected to bring to new users. 

While other sandbox game titles like Minecraft will always dominate, there is so much space for everyone in the industry. The mobile gaming industry is raking in around $30 billion per year. There’s higher expectation that it will soon surpass consoles and PCs.  Meanwhile it already makes up 42 percent of the gaming industry revenue around the world, according to numerous reports. 

Globally, the gaming market will hit $100 billion this year, mostly driven by the evolution of mobile gaming, and upcoming consoles. Anyone who still doesn’t consider mobile gaming “true gaming” is behind in the times and has no care in looking at the worldwide stage. People want to carry their gaming experiences with them, connect with friends, etc. Static, yet expensive consoles aren’t made for that. While they do make cases for mobility, it’s all risk. In addition, it’s totally unnecessary and avoidable. Add Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality to the conversation and that’s a Friday night special at the house – far from mobile gaming. That’s just fine too. 

And it’s only growing. According to the Motley Fool, last year,  mobile gaming worldwide made as much revenue as the global box office. Most story lines in the gaming world are unique, if not better than what’s in movie theaters, thus being the reason why this competition isn’t a competition at all: It’s evolution of storytelling. Companies like Zynga are aware of this, and are working to keep up. According to reports, Zynga is planning a 15 percent turnaround in their mobile gaming, which moved them from overweight to neutral by analyst Piper Jaffray.

In other words, if you're thinking about getting into the mobile gaming industry, this year may be the year to reserve your seat.

Mobile gaming needs to keep up with one user experience for success

 Mobile gaming makes life on the go better for everyone.

Mobile gaming 101 - Whenever you have a few minutes to spare or you are in the middle of a commute and you are bored because of the traffic, you can just whip out your mobile phone, choose a game and your boredom is alleviated.  This is the world as we know it now.


 But they have to work smoothly. Like mobile applications, mobile games also need to work perfectly and deliver richer user experience to gain popularity and profitable. There are so many factors that make mobile gaming such a runaway success that it has established brand new markets virtually overnight.


Keeping up with updates and bugs are the top issue. Without this department, games are ignored, lost in app stores forever. Maintenance is ostensibly the most imperative metric in an allowed to-play experience. In the event that players leave a mobile game too quick and time after time, the diversion has flopped, especially on the off chance that you are adapting your mobile game experience with in-application buys. A similar factor applies in case you're adapting an application with promoting features inside the games. Add Inertness and association disappointment amid advertisement, and numbers will tell the truth. As a result, promotion income is lost and you’re pulling funds from other departments to keep the hype alive.

[PLANET OF CUBES: Multiplayer Update Available!]

Mobile games are about speed and client encounter. Advanced execution is normal and accepted by all players, paying little mind to age and level of gaming background. Client encounters prompt dissatisfaction, deserting and even the uninstalling of versatile diversions. Improved execution implies an upgraded gamer engagement, higher maintenance and expanded in-application income. If mobile gaming is your niche right now, tend to the machine in play.

Multiplayer Update available!

According to information provided by the good folks at Planet of Cubes, the multiplayer update is now available in the Mac store! 

Now you can create your own friends and chat with them privately! Added instantaneous teleport to any friend! Even better, now you can see a list of players from around the world that are around you. 
Other updates included:  Added 3D person camera, TNT explosions, bow / arrow potions, and beer! Using enhanced Arc Arms: Bow, Arrows, and Snow Balls (Longer Arch Endurance), added the chance to launch the eggs! Battle Mode Added Reuse! Added new skin for some monsters! Improve motion animation elements! Improvement in Sneak mode. Added Sneak animation mode reader! Fancy option added graphics for powerful devices! The creator added selection feature element. Upgrade Spawn Logic Area, Modify Marker Messages and Status Area Spawn! Containing smooth graphics, realistic shadows, and added enhancements! Improve world performance and fixed errors!

Monsters Ball in survival mode

I had just entered survival mode in Planet of Cubes when I see this Party of monsters down below. It was too funny. The house on the right was the target apparently, but they gave up and started to have a fit.
I was surprised they didn't get me but I may have been too far away. A Monster's Ball? That's first thing I thought. Just a bunch of monsters having a backyard party!

VIDEO: Exhausted Planet of Cubes Zombie goes up in flames

This Planet of Cubes Zombie was tired, worn out, and would not give up. He had to go up in flames. 

It's rare that the Planet of Cubes zombies are out in the day but when they are, they're asking for it. 

 Why? Because they have that Vampire clause dangling over them: They go up in flames when the daylight hits them. It's hilarious. I thought it would be cool to catch one blow up on camera. If you're not out on the land of crafting  then you want to be in a house right on the border of the alleged safe zone. From there, go to a window or two. Just walk back and forth for a while and you're going to get some attention. It will either be spiders or Zombies.

So in my case, I had a zombie. He was not just any zombie, he was exhausted. It's funny because on the video you can see him taking breaks to catch his breath! I was cracking up. Add a little Walking Dead Theme Music and you've got a funny production (we'll see how long it stays up before it's flagged for whatever weird reason...)

As soon as the sun came up I took off out the house, not without a fight. He was blocking the doorway! As soon as I got out to open land I turned around and caught his demise on video. RIP to that lost soul, I will not be your dinner tonight! No matter where you are when the evening comes, be inside!

Walking Dead Zombies spotted in Planet of Cubes

The Walking Dead in Planet of Cubes Survivor Multiplayer??

Caught this shot of some Zombies outside my window as i waited for daybreak. Felt like i was in The Walking Dead!

Portal Jumping in the New Year

 

When you're portal jumping, anything is possible.

Portal jumping in Planet of Cubes Survival Multiplayer can be fun, but also terrifying. 

You know, it's already pretty rare that I go too far off the base map because you guess it - I have NO PROTECTION (haha). So today in light of the New Year I thought why not? Let's take a portal jump. The photo above shows one of those jumps I took through the portal. Looks great doesn't it? Very nice scenery - 

Travel further down the rabbit hole and you've got this: Spiders and Skeletons shooting at you. I was done.  Not gonna lie to ya - that caught me off guard. So I did what any Planet of Cubes player would do in a situation that you're not prepped for - craft fast, find a hole, and barricade yourself! In the photo on the left you can see that I only had a wooden hoe and a dream to hold on to. Needless to say I was killed by a spider and and soon I will have my revenge. 

I think the biggest issue I'm having right now is the fact I'm not defending myself very well. Longest time out in the Surivor mode? Two days. Usually I forget what time it is and get caught up in the Zombie Apocalypse at night. Have you SEEN HOW MANY COME OUT? CRAZY! 

ALSO READ: My Bunny, My Roomate

Survive the Night in Planet of Cubes Multiplayer Survival

 

Planet of Cubes Multiplayer Survival Notes: Day 1

 Life in the woods isn't as bad as I thought. I think one of the major things I needed to do was have a plan. I mean really, I'm wandering around without any weapons, armor and most of all, food.

So there I was, looking out the window very far from the safe zone. I'm going as far as I can before I get killed and that means hopping from one safe house to the next. I don't know if they're safe houses but when you're in the Planet of Cubes Multiplayer Survival mode, every house is a safe house.One thing I had to remember this time unlike yesterday's adventure was to ensure that every hole was plugged.

These random constructions out in the Survival Mode are not complete, so you've got to inspect every area of the building before you go inside. Otherwise, you're going to wonder how that zombie or monster got inside the building and is killing you. Keep this in mind and you can survive the night. 

Craft immediately, but hunt hard for supplies during the day. Don't EVER travel at night if you're not equipped. It's just a deathwish that will have you sent back to the safe zone. I'm keeping a log of where I'm at just in case that happens. You should too.