They call it crowdgaming.

May 27, 2007 7:17 PM

Become a joystick.
posted by phaedon (15 comments total)

From the press release:

"NewsBreaker Live combines live msnbc.com RSS newsfeeds, the movement of the audience as a human joystick, and the big screen as a game board to bust audiences out of their pre-movie doldrums with an interactive game that delivers real-time news headlines to kick start the moviegoing experience."

You can play a version of NewsBreaker by yourself online, or try two other flavors of fun: NewsStream screensaver and Spectrum TV.

Brought to you by SS+K, Etcetera Edutainment, Brand Experience Lab and MSNBC.
posted by phaedon at 7:18 PM on May 27, 2007

Pretty cool, much better than the stupid factiods and quizzes slideshows they show now. I eagerly await the implementation of this with Quake III.
posted by zardoz at 7:23 PM on May 27, 2007

I already am my own joystick that I use quite frequently...
posted by subaruwrx at 7:24 PM on May 27, 2007

If this catches on, people will get pretty jaded and not really get involved.
posted by delmoi at 7:32 PM on May 27, 2007

I love the guy who shouts "stay focused, guys! stay focused."
posted by Kattullus at 7:38 PM on May 27, 2007

I imagine if you just shot a few minutes of pong gameplay and told the crowd they controlled it, they'd believe you.

Hmm.... I'm thinking of some nefarious psychology experiments...
posted by Citizen Premier at 8:10 PM on May 27, 2007

and penis jokes.
posted by Citizen Premier at 8:10 PM on May 27, 2007

You know who else had motion sensors?
posted by Peter H at 8:38 PM on May 27, 2007

Darth Vader?
posted by Citizen Premier at 8:39 PM on May 27, 2007

"crowdgaming", it sounds fun.

Related, this new way to control the computer mouse using visual responsive software.
posted by nickyskye at 8:45 PM on May 27, 2007

Please say coming soon to Evansville, please?
posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 10:25 PM on May 27, 2007

holy hell. I've confused headlines before, but glancing at this at work very quickly, I read this fpp and the one below it together, resulting in "Be a bisexual joystick, but only on the internet", which at work, I decided to give a miss, only to come home and discover my mistake.

senility, at least you are entertaining. I may never need a tv.
posted by dreamsign at 12:45 AM on May 28, 2007

Hey, remember when the before-movie wait consisted of a white screen, soft music, and no retarded Coke ads, endless local real estate ads, and then 53 trailers?
posted by Rhomboid at 1:59 AM on May 28, 2007

Kattullus writes 'I love the guy who shouts "stay focused, guys! stay focused."'

If that's the dork in the front row who can't stay in his seat, somebody needs to use their joystick to target him. A full can of soda launched from row seven should do the trick.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:04 AM on May 28, 2007

Hey, remember when the before-movie wait consisted of a white screen, soft music, and no retarded Coke ads, endless local real estate ads, and then 53 trailers?

I remember when the before-movie wait was a cartoon or other short. Thus, the movie was the "main feature". Barely, but I remember it.
posted by dreamsign at 7:52 AM on May 28, 2007