Online Observations

Here’s a new way to play Guitar Hero

I love the folks behind Microsoft Research as they are always doing something super cool. Take for instance this new interface that they are developing called the “Muscle-Computer Interface”. This allows them to detect control input by sensing the movement of your muscles in your arm when you do something with your hands. I could never explain it well, so you better watch this demo video. Essentially, you will be able to play Guitar Hero without the Guitar.

Play Monopoly using Google maps

Remember Monopoly, the game? I loved playing that game growing up. And now it has finally come into the Internet age. You can now play the game online using Google Maps, and pitting yourself against players from around the world.

The game developers are releasing this version tomorrow (Sep 9, 2009), and here is the link to the website: http://www.monopolycitystreets.com/While not too much detail is available for the game today, it is already known that you will play the game using Google Maps, and will literally be able to buy anything in the world. Some of the game play details are available here and there, here’s what I came across.

You will get a starting set of $3 million (play money of course), and will be able to buy properties such as hotels, houses, stadiums, high rises, etc. And depending on the property, you will receive rent (up to $100 million a day for a sky scraper). Prices will be a function of the location. And in true Monopoly spirit, you will be able to sabotage other players by using Monopoly Chance cards.

I am very excited to start playing this game.

Boost your mana and HP with these handy potions

Are you a gamer? In any case chances are that you have played or seen at least one game where the character refills their health points and mana through the use of red and blue potions. These potions and their respective colors are pretty much universal across all games since time immemorial.

Well, now you can have these potions in real life. Are you feeling a little tired and need that extra boost to your health points, gulp down one of these potions and you are good to go. Of course, at the end of the day, these are simple energy drinks (actually they are energy shots – each of them being 50 ml in volume).

The potions are developed and marketed by a couple of gamers and are meant for gamers, but personally, you don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy this energy shot. The potions are stocked in a number of stores across the USA and are also sold online at the main product site: http://www.manapotions.com/

Here are the claims for the Health Points potion (the specs for the Mana potion can be found on their website):

• - Up to 8 hours of energy
• - Apple-cinnamon flavor
• - No sugar, which means no crash afterwards
• - Elderberry, ginseng, biotin and folic acid
• - Caffeine content equal to two red bulls (which is great)

 

Just about the only con for these potions is that they sell for $3.45 per bottle. Pretty expensive, in my opinion. But I would definitely give it a try. Here’s a (hilarious) review of the health potion on CrunchGear. Have you tried it? If yes, then please leave a comment about how you (dis)liked it.

Have fun boosting