I'm Sorry, New York.

In this video produced by Qualcomm, I'm told I represent what "the Big Apple is all about." 

 Yeah... not so much. Anyway, Qualcomm developed a series of videos tracking the ways people use wireless devices around the world and got in touch with me through my pals at JWT.

Also features the first public performance of Controller, proving that wireless technology has never made it easier to sell out!

Augmented Reality Needs Games. Not the Other Way Around.

That was the basic gist of my keynote presentation, delivered at Metaio's Inside AR 2011, a leading industry conference.

The Future of AR is Gaming: Vertigore CEO Josh Shabtai at InsideAR 2011 from Josh Shabtai on Vimeo.

I Feel So Square.

Off-The-Shelf Virtual Reality. Only $34.99.

It's the name that's been throwing everyone off.

A few weeks back, toy maker Hasbro released an inexpensive piece of plastic called my3D, billed by many as an update on the classic Viewmaster: a stereoscopic viewer that connects to your iPhone or iPod Touch.  The primary focus from media so far has been on the toy's promise of bringing 3D to iOS devices, which is understandable, given the name.  But the real story is far more interesting.

my3D is the first virtual reality device that's truly accessible to the mass market.  

It's a deeply immersive, spatially aware experience that combines 360-degree navigation across 3 axes with rich 3D sound and visuals... and it retails for under $35.  It'll be available at more than 1,700 Target stores, which is no small development.  It doesn't perfect the concept of virtual reality by any means, but it does open it up to mass audiences for the first time...

...which is a revolutionary feat more than four decades (or, by some accounts, almost 600 years) in the making.  

I've been thinking about this for some time, having spent the last few months creating software for the platform. My company, Vertigore Games, developed two launch titles for my3D: a 360-degree shoot-em-up called Sector 17 and 3D panoramic virtual tour Teleport: LA. 

And yes, I'm biased... but when I first got my hands on a my3D prototype, I knew I'd caught a glimpse at something significant: an inexpensive device with the potential to change a player's proximity and relationship to a game.  Equally important, it suggests opportunities to create new, natural user interfaces and experiences that will be relevant in a post-smartphone/tablet world.

If you've ever (secretly or not) enjoyed the Lawnmower Man, grab one.  It's lo-fi sci-fi.

It Is A Dark Time For The Rebellion.

UPDATE 03/30/11, 2:24 p.m. EST: Just received notice from THQ that Lucasfilm's has "given [THQ] the rights to continue selling all mobile content including your Falcon Gunner in the Apple App Store until further notice." Thanks for everyone's kind words and support. As soon as I know what this means for our ability to issue title updates, I'll repost.

ORIGINAL POST:

Today's been a whirlwind of a day.

Minutes after learning that Vertigore Games' next two titles had made it through the app store approval process in record time*, I received a message that dropped me like a turbo-laser shot through Alderaan.

Due to forces beyond my control, it turns out that Thursday, March 31 will be the last day fans can get their hands on Star Wars Arcade: Falcon Gunner for iPhone and iPod Touch. Ever.

(Photo taken by @flatfishpro. Follow him!)

I wish it were up to us, but unfortunately, our license to make Star Wars games was predicated on our amazing publisher THQ Wireless' arrangement with the Lucasfilm folks, and that seems to be winding down.  (At the risk of speaking for other developers, it sounds like this may also be the case across the board for all Star Wars iOS games.)

In the end, I shouldn't be upset:  I'd literally been dreaming about making a Millennium Falcon arcade machine for more than 27 years. THQ and Lucasfilm gave me and Vertigore the chance not only to realize this vision, but also to produce the first augmented reality Star Wars game, um, ever. Apple was kind enough to feature us, fans have been gracious enough to give us 4.5 stars and this guy even used the game to shoot down people at the Oscars!

But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad.  Especially when I knew what we had planned:  An awesome iPad 2 version. An Android version. Visual interaction in AR mode (see, we even listen to haters!). And last but not least, a Battle of Endor update, complete with an interactive backing track from Nien Numb.

But anyway. We had a good run. We got to make a friggin' Star Wars game! And even cooler, more immersive things are yet to come from Vertigore.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this game a reality. And if you still haven't tried it, you have 3 days... :)

* BTW, I cannot wait for people to get their hands on these new games.  Five words: stereoscopic 3D on an iPhone. Follow our Twitter feed to get the latest: @vertigoregames. Well, when we're finally able to talk about it.