Category: Tech

E3 2010 Interactive Kiosk

Posted on July 9th, 2010 in Gaming, Projects, Tech

Built Using: Flash CS4 + ActionScript 3
Deployed On: 4 Sony Vaio L-Series Touchscreen PCs
Browser Used: Firefox 3.6 with R-kiosk Plugin
Used During: E3 2010 at the SouthPeak Games Booth

The purpose of the interactive kiosk for the booth at E3 was to offer additional information on the games being demonstrated in the booth and to give information on titles that weren’t available to play in the booth. Information for each of the eight games on the kiosk included an overview, feature list, trailer, and screenshots. More detailed information on these aspects below.

Main Menu
The kiosk’s main menu has the eight titles contained within touch-clickable buttons that take you to the game’s overview page. The main menu items alternate between a short, stylized video clip and the game’s logo. The kiosk returns to the main menu after three minutes of no user interaction.
Main Menu

Game Overview
Once a game is selected from the main menu, you are taken to each game’s overview page. The overview page is a textual overview of the game and also contains three additional options on the right side of the kiosk as well as a back button which returns you to the main menu. The featured page, which isn’t demonstrated here, is textual information laid out similarly to the game overview page.
Game Overview

Screenshots
The screenshots page follows the overall format of the overview page, but the focus of this page is media. A large central window displays the current screenshot. Controls on the left allow you to select a screenshot to enlarge and scroll up or down to view additional screenshots. Again we have the three information options on the right side as well as the back button which takes you back to the main menu.
Game Screenshots

Game Trailer
The game trailer page shifts focus to the game’s official trailer. Game trailer’s begin playback automatically and can be muted, paused, or scrubbed through using the semi-transparent controls at the bottom of the video. During video playback the timeout function which resets the kiosk is disabled and is re-enabled when the video is paused, stopped, or completed.
Game Trailer

Kiosk Installations at E3 2010
Kiosk preparation during E3 setup:
Kiosk Setup

Kiosks installed and in place:
Kiosks Setup

Watching a trailer on the kiosk:
Kiosk Demo

Kiosk active during the show:
Kiosk During Show

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Going full MIDI with the Xone:DX

Posted on January 27th, 2010 in Local, MP3, Music, Tech

Before I jump in to the topic at hand, why not turn one of these tracks on to listen to before you read on? KillaMC sent me a newer track of his a few weeks back and haven’t gotten around to posting it until now and Damaged Good$ just dropped a new track earlier this week.

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Damaged Good$ – We Hate Damaged Good$ Too [Download from BandCamp]

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KillaMC – Flow On

xone:DX
I’m glad I fought the urges to buy a Vestax VCI-300 and waited to see what came out of NAMM. The xone:DX is similar to the xone:4D, but it’s built to take advantage of Serato Itch. When compared to the VCI-300 the only thing the VCI-300 does better is the jog wheels. The jogs on the DX are fairly small even as MIDI controllers go, but I’m sure I’ll manage. Everything else about the unit has me excited for its March release. Twenty channel USB 2.0 soundcard, manipulation of all 4 channels in Itch via the two onboard jog wheels, built in FX, inputs for turntables or two line-level devices. In one word, huge.

A twenty channel sound card!? That is insane, compound that with the ability to plug in vinyl turntables or line-level devices (iPods, CDJs, Kaossilators, etc.) and you’ve got the piece of DJ hardware that I’m most excited for this year. Wait, there’s more. Not only is the DX fully Itch compatible, but it is able to be used to control OTHER DJ software. Want to use Scratch Live or Traktor instead of Itch? You got it (although you’ll still have to have the Serato box plugged in to unlock the software). Xone really delivers here with the xone:DX and as soon as this thing ships I’m going to be addicted to the thing. Depending on how well it works as a standalone mixer, the DX may even take its place as the centerpiece of my daily DJ setup. Jump to the bottom of the post to check out a YouTube video demo of the DX that Skratchworx posted.

Hey Xone, it’s your friend Eric. I F@#$ING LOVE YOU!

PS: Rane you better unlock 4 channel SSL even if the old SL-1 box is plugged in. Sure, the SL-1 only supports 2 output channels, but the DX supports all 4.

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Hello 2010 – The MIDIFighter Has Arrived

Posted on January 2nd, 2010 in Music, Tech

Let the unboxing and construction begin!
MIDIFighter in box MIDIFighter open box
MIDIFighter out of box MIDIFighter parts
MIDIFighter half assembled MIDIFighter assembled
number 9 out of 300 MIDIFighter sticker on laptop
MIDIFighter test run MIDIFighter lights up
Check out larger pictures + more pictures in my Flickr album for the MIDIFighter.

The MIDIFighter DJ MIDI controller takes the world of Japanese arcade machines and DJ equipment, tosses them into a blender, and pours out this interesting looking device. The MIDIFighter comes stock with 16 holes for arcade buttons, but can also be expanded with some elbow grease and solder to incorporate two analog knob controls and a handful more buttons.

I’ve only played with the MIDIFighter for about an hour altogether and have it currently set up in Serato to have 8 buttons per channel. Then each channel gets 4 hot loop buttons and 4 hot cue buttons to make jumping around tracks and firing up loops easier than ever, no laptop interaction necessary. I’m already looking at the possibilities of expanding the stock controller to include two joysticks, one per channel, for music selection in Serato.

According to DJ Tech Tools the controller firmware will slowly update to accommodate new features and controller uses. It’ll definitely be a fun journey as the controller firmware grows along with the community and my own modifications. DJ Tech Tools will also offer kits to make the MIDIFighter more enclosed and box-like instead of open to the elements like it currently is. Due to my own dark plans for this project I’ll end up having to build a custom case for my unit.

Want more information on the MIDIFighter or want to get one? Currently the first 150 DIY units are sold out (my unit is #9!), but more will be available soon. Check out the DJ Tech Tools website.

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