A NEW FRONTIER FOR THE SETTLERS OF CATAN
Posted by Lindsay Ruthven – August 2, 2010Continuing to build its digital game empire, Vectorform re-imagines The Settlers of Catan for Microsoft Surface.
Seattle, WA and Detroit, MI, August 2, 2010—The Settlers of Catan is a classic multiplayer board game, combining economics, strategy and chance, as colonists compete to build settlements from raw commodities. Created in Germany in 1995, and now available in 30 languages, The Settlers of Catan has achieved icon status. Over 15 million copies have been sold worldwide, and an estimated 20 million people play regularly, through a diverse set of traditional and digital game forms.
In partnership with Microsoft, Catan LLC, and Mayfair Games, Vectorform has recreated The Settlers of Catan for Microsoft Surface. Microsoft Surface is an innovative computing platform that responds to touch, natural hand gestures and real-world objects placed on the display. With a large, 360-degree, horizontal user interface, Microsoft Surface offers a unique gathering place where multiple users can come together to interact with content and each other–making it an ideal platform for games like The Settlers of Catan.
Working to maintain an authentic, interpersonal experience of board game play, Vectorform leveraged the social nature of Microsoft Surface. This functionality, defined by Microsoft as “together computing,” provides a distinct advantage and authenticity over games played on traditional PCs or personal devices. “Where a computer game is a solo computing affair, board games are connected experiences. Together computing has its place now, and will be more prominent in the future.” Vectorform Game Studio Executive Director Joe Engalan says.
Vectorform used the artistry of Mayfair Games’ analog version of The Settlers of Catan to illustrate the game elements, including resources, land, and evolving civilization. The digital board is complimented with real-world elements, including an acrylic die set which is seen and recognized by Surface’s built-in cameras. Additionally, an x-ray visor, fabricated specifically for the game, reveals a player’s cards to the player, while shielding the cards from competing colonists. “I’ve never seen real die used in a digital game,” Mollie Harms, Game Producer for Vectorform Game Studios, says. “I think the visors could revolutionize digital card playing. This is a new way to maintain secrecy that doesn’t hinder game play.” The visors, the dice, and the game-play experience on Surface were wildly popular with fans of The Settlers of Catan, who were involved in the design and development process, loaning time and feedback to informal focus groups.
The Settlers of Catan was first shown on Surface at Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio, in July of 2010. The extensive media coverage generated over 15,000 views of a promotional video for the game, within 72 hours of publishing it to YouTube. Vectorform will also show the game at Gen Con Indy, taking place August 5 through August 8, 2010, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Additionally, on September 3 through September 5, 2010, Vectorform will demonstrate Settlers of Catan at PAXWest, the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Washington.
Vectorform will continue to promote Settlers of Catan at conferences and private events through the summer, and is offering customized, branded versions of the game to a network of clients and partners for use on Microsoft Surface. In the future, Settlers of Catan will be available for purchase through Vectorform’s App Store. Additionally, the Vectorform App Store will sell other titles, including titles for iPhone, iPad, and other platforms. “The future for The Settlers of Catan is very bright, and we are going to push that experience to new markets and communities. But we’ve got quite a few more titles in the queue, and they are all very exciting. Keep watching, because this is just the start of the empire,” Joe Engalan says.
Click this link to view the Press Release
Vectorform to launch “The Settlers of Catan” for Microsoft Surface
Posted by Lindsay Ruthven – June 21, 2010The Settlers of Catan has been one of the most popular strategic board games since its official launch in 1995. The game is translated in over 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies.
Now Vectorform Game Studio brings you The Settlers of Catan as presented by Mayfair for the Microsoft Surface. This multi-touch, multi-player experience captures the authentic experience provided by the popular board game. Featuring 3 or 4 player modes, a beautifully animated and interactive board, and a free-form interface which keeps play flowing as smoothly as possible, this experience is sure to be a defining element in the legacy of Catan.
Features:
• Full multi-touch from the Microsoft Surface allows all players to interact with their elements of the board at once.
• A digital playing surface breathes new life into the Catan experience through graphics and animations.
• “State-free-trade” allow players to swap cards without entering modes or pressing buttons, keeping the experience as pure as possible.
• Customized art unifies the multi-touch interface with Mayfair’s 4th Edition release of The Settlers of Catan to create a seamless play experience.
• Integration with real-world objects to maintain the original Catan board game feel.
Vectorform on ExtraTV
Posted by Lindsay Ruthven – April 1, 2010Last summer Vectorform collaborated with ExtraTV to develop an application for the Microsoft Surface. Check out the clip below of Vectorform’s Alison Weber, teaching Mario Lopez how to use this unique application, affectionately dubbed the Vectorform Telestrator.
We are thrilled with the spot, and only regret that a special shout-out to the team who worked extra hours to make this debut a success didn’t make the final cut. Clemens Conrad, Justin Bush, Hammam Chamma, and Karl Steckling, you rocked it! To our friends on the Microsoft Surface team, Kyle Warnick and Chris Wojahn, as usual you guys rock too!
Click the link for video: Ali on Extra
Vectorform Applications at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Posted by Lindsay Ruthven – December 9, 2009News from Vectorform Germany. “Neue Arbeiten” (“new kinds of work”) was the event theme of the IHK and Microsoft Event in Bochum. At this event there was a presentation of the MS Surface and the 24’’ and a 46’’ Multi-touch Citron Displays. The special focus of this event was how modern ways of cooperation and communication can sustainably change companies. Vectorform provided various solutions out of different market segments on MS Surface and the Multi-touch displays and revealed the future potentials that lie within the use of Windows 7 and Multi-touch applications.
Dipl.-Kfm. Gerd Pieper, President IHK Bochum, Achim Berg CEO Microsoft Germany
Tillmann Neinhaus, General ManagerIHK Bochum (from left to right)
Achim Berg CEO Microsoft Germany, Dipl.-Kfm. Gerd Pieper, President IHK Bochum, Tillmann Neinhaus, General ManagerIHK Bochum (from left to right)
“Extra” Praise for a Job Well Done
Posted by Vectorform – August 30, 2009America’s top celebrity news and gossip show just got a little juicier. Vectorform recently collaborated with ExtraTV to develop a unique application for the Microsoft Surface. A simple and fun interface was created to show host Mario Lopez how to interact with videos and images using multi-touch gestures and a natural user interface. The application supports telestration- in case Mario wants to draw a fake moustache on Paris Hilton! Celebrity content can be sent to the Surface via remote access for on-the-fly updates. Best of all, Vectorform’s one and only Alison Weber had the opportunity to sit down with Mario Lopez and show him how to use the application. Mario was a joy to work with and a very quick learner on the new technology. As a result of our efforts, ExtraTV has extended its glowing praise on a job well done to Vectorform.
Visit ExtraTV Online and Learn More
Party @ CeBIT
Posted by Vectorform – February 26, 2009Catch Vectorform at CeBIT March 3rd through March 8th. Principles Kurt Steckling and Jason Vazzano will be onsite with Creative Director Clemens Conrad and Account Executive Sven Schneider. The guys will be at the Microsoft booth with our Surface applications, including the ancient game of GO and Surface DJ, and a very exciting, soon-to-be announced new client.
And if you find yourself in town for the show, join us for a celebration! Vectorform was recognized with the Client Innovation User Experience Revolution Award from Microsoft for the BMW Product Navigator, and we will receive our award March 4th at the MSDN Cinema. We hope to catch you there, and if you want to set up an official meeting, drop us a line at sales@vectorform.com.
Multi-touch at the NAIAS 2009
Posted by Vectorform – January 22, 2009A big splash for Vectorform at the NAIAS 2009…multiple doses of multi-touch experiences created for the Chrysler 200C concept vehicle unveil.
From a multi-touch dashboard that interfaces with a mobile touch screen phone, to a completely seperate MS Surface experience demonstrating the multi-touch capapbilities using…multi-touch. Unveiled and recieving a ton of publicity.
Future of Vehicle Connectivity – Chrysler 200C
National Retail Federation “The Big Show 2009″
Posted by Vectorform – January 13, 2009People were out at the NRF this year and Vectorform’s retail multi-touch applications were well recieved. The NRF, in partnership with Hybridia Design, produced a conceptual music store called the Sonic Bar, which showcased how technology can be immersed in the customer experience. Vectorform was invited to contribute to the experience by creating a couple of POC’s based on a retail music store using the Surface and WinTouch platforms.
Once again, multi-touch was a big hit. The audience was very global and really excited by the technology, our applications and the possibilites, which are seemingly endless. Other features in the Sonic Bar customer experience were the Xbox 360, touch kiosks, promotional scanning systems, Microsoft Snag it tagging system, a DJ booth and an experiential marketing video wall presentation featuring a full audio and lighting rig. Another really cool thing to point out was the Wayfinding kiosks around the convention that used Win7 and touch technology to help guest find vendors by company or offering and then printed out a little map for you to take with you, along with the contact information for that company. While it was very kiosk-like, it offered a nicer interface and an overall better user expeirence.
As we wrap up here, I’ll be headed back to Detroit and will be sure to keep you posted on the events happeining at the NAIAS 2009. Vectorform, automobiles, multi-touch, iPhone, Surface…innovation. I can’t wait!
CES 2009
Posted by Vectorform – January 10, 2009First off: Wow!
Vectorform has had a blast at CES. Our NBC Universal apps and the managed experience has been a huge hit. The NBC reps handed out 2GB SD disc jump drives in a Surface tagged package that were coded so that as people set down their package, they either received a notice saying “Winner” and received really cool novelties like a toaster powered by USB, or another message to visit the wall of media to download content to their new jumps. People were fanatic about it and NBC ran out of jump drives at the middle of day two. Mobbed! So, today people are slowing down to take the time to interact with the Surface and discover the content, which is really the magic of it.
Now I’m taking a little break here to blog from the NBC blogger lounge, appreciate the gratuity of the NBC folks over the past few days as well as throughout our projects with them and to view the crowds’ continued interest in the Surface. People are really taking the time to engage with NBC’s content, likely spending more time with it then they may have in the past and having a better experience overall. Adding a whole new dimension to what media can do to people by adding the sense of touch to sight, audio and emotional connections. Its just the beginning of something really big in the Multi-touch realm. As we wrap up here, things seem to be a little more quite today. We are continuing to meet some fascinating people and see interesting technologies.
Me? I’m getting geared up for what lays in wait for us at the NRF…not necessarily geared up for the red-eye that I’m catching tonight. More from New York tomorrow!
Happy New Year from Vectorform!
Posted by Vectorform – January 9, 2009So what is 2009 going to bring? Well if our January antics are the prelude, we’re in for quite a show. Starting off with turning 10 years old, showing off a new brand identity, our first iPhone app, CodeMash in Cleveland, CES in Vegas, NRF in New York and wrapping it up with the 2009 NAIAS in our hometown of Detroit…Whew! It’s a wonder we were able to look out the window and see the snow fall in December, well there’s no snow at our Hyderabad office, but you know what I mean.
Details? Well, I’m going to take a little liberty to sneak outside of the ‘Surface Only’ blog for a moment…
*10 years old: Growing up and in need of a new brand identity. What did we find out? Vectorform has become a place where employees feel comfortable and valued, like a family, and that creates a culture that is innovative and exciting, with people who are passionate about the work that they do and supported to bust out and try new things, meeting employee and client needs alike. Happy Birthday, Vectorform!
*iPhone: Debuting in the iPhone app business with the SurfaceDJ, and it looks like it’s being picked up at a good rate. Definitely more to come in this realm.
*CodeMash in Sandusky, Ohio: Our lead Tech Dev., Joe Engalan will be speaking at 11am on Thursday, Jan 8th about multi-touch developing and demonstrating apps that we’ve been working on.
*CES in Las Vegas: already making a splash with our NBC SurfaceDJ in the NBC booth, you just have to check out Al Roker’s dance moves. Yeah, it’s for entertainment…but just think if each little head were bits of information that were being passed around the world?
*NRF New York, NY: This year Microsoft invited Vectorform to take part in their future of music concept store “Sonic” at the National Retail Federation “The Big Show” in New York at the Javits Center. Adapting one of our retail prototypes to match the music realm, we’ll be featuring not only a Surface app, but also a Windows7 application featured on a TouchTV Networks screen. Yeah, Big Stuff….
*Last, and certainly not least..NAIAS in Detroit, Michigan we’ve been brewing a good one. For what feels like a really, really long time we’ve given up, and missed like crazy, some of our swankiest developers to work onsite at Chrysler on a top secret integrated multi-touch development that will be unveiled at the 2009 NAIAS in Detroit…that’s still all we can say! Be sure to check it out!
For now, that’s what we have going on. In the little moments when we come up for air, we’ll keep blogging with the happenings in the tech world.
Thanks for stopping by!