OutRun sitdown arcade modded into a driveable vehicle

[markronz]

Anyone seen this before?  Pretty cool stuff.  Must have a real passion for OutRun to put this much time into something like this.   This brings to mind thoughts of people relying on technology a bit too much.  Possibly the reason why a real "autodrive" car will never exist in our lives.   Unexpected events are bound to happen.   But as a concept, this is pretty cool!

http://www.conceptlab.com/outrun/

[HanoiBoi]

Interesting to see, but it seems that their biggest challenge is to program a way to 'see the road' through the cabinet that the placed there to block their vision.  Umm... 

Even if they used a video camera to send a live feed to the screen showing the 'actual' road in front of them would be kinda neat.  Pixelate it if need be.

[markronz]

That looks totally fake.  An electric motor shoved into an OutRun cabinet is cute but nothing special.  Claiming that you're rendering the real world into arcade graphics on the fly would be impressive.... and the showcase of a video like that.... and wouldn't show straight road while you're turning the car....

I'd have to agree with you there.   All I wanted to see in the video was sort of a comparison between the real road and the one he saw on the screen, but it wasn't in the video.

Interesting to see, but it seems that their biggest challenge is to program a way to 'see the road' through the cabinet that the placed there to block their vision.  Umm... 

Even if they used a video camera to send a live feed to the screen showing the 'actual' road in front of them would be kinda neat.  Pixelate it if need be.

Also agreed.  The whole idea is a bit ridiculous.   I just thought it was a cool concept. To change the real world and present it as a virtual one as you drove around.   Certainly not a project that I would ever choose to spend my time on. 

[Tumerboy]

Is it just me, or was he looking around the side of the cabinet as much as at the screen? 

[BobA]

Posted this or similar back in 2009

Outrun Cab Mod

[SavannahLion]

That is one dumb ---smurfing--- idea. Especially the notion of releasing an iOS app.

It's not the idea of having a video feed instead of a windshield to view the world, there are military applications so they do have reliable enough systems. It's the idea of playing a video game while driving and the idea of "converting" the feed to an 8- bit reprentation. Try this in L.A. traffic or on Interstate 1, I'll be more than happy to see what I can salvage.

I can't see the video but is he at least smart enough to drive this death trap on a closed track?

[bkenobi]

I can't see the video but is he at least smart enough to drive this death trap on a closed track?

Nope, he drives it on bike paths and sidewalks.

I think the concept is pretty interesting, but the implementation is complete crap (even for an early effort).  Think of playing laser tag with a helmet where the helmet overlaid your enemies to make them look like zombies or aliens.  Or, how about playing Mario Kart on a go-cart track so you could actually race Bowser.

The military stuff is already available, but it's more for overlaying threat indicators on a heads-up helmet display in aircraft for example.

[NightGod]

A  Possibly the reason why a real "autodrive" car will never exist in our lives.   

http://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/2010/10/google-automated-self-driving-cars-video/

Already exists...

[markronz]

A  Possibly the reason why a real "autodrive" car will never exist in our lives.   

http://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/2010/10/google-automated-self-driving-cars-video/

Already exists...

That is pretty cool!   Personally, I still would put that in the "concept" space.  I just don't see people accepting autodrive cars, and it being widely accepted.  Something like in Minority Report (or pick your favorite sci-fi movie) where you get in the car, and all the cars on the road are all automated.   So I guess that was poorly worded on my part.  They will exist in our lives, and apparently do, but I don't think we're going to get to the point of wide acceptance, where it's the the majority of what's on the road.

[rohan]

Holy crap some of the footage of the "car" driving is shot in Aldrich Park at UC Irvine.  I was pissed when they banned bicycles my senior year (2007) in the park...I can't imagine this machine being any safer. This is a much better arcade vehicle anyway:

[jerryjanis]

I like how the Research Director for the Center for Video Games and Virtual Worlds says that this technology could be applied to "electric chair assisted mobility" for quadriplegics and what-have-you.  He does know what an electric chair is, right?

[Guywiththegun]

My god are. Jaded are we?

That's pretty GD cool if you ask me.

[DaveMMR]

My god are. Jaded are we?

That's pretty GD cool if you ask me.

Have to agree with you.   Seems to me that they're aware this is not something that would ever be street legal, but can utilize the technology for other functions.

Though I would have like to have seen a comparison of the game and real road...