Milo

Welcome to the Milo forum!

Woody — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:23:37 GMT

This sub-forum is dedicated to everything about Milo, from rumours and ideas to the latest Microsoft Press Conference and Peter’s speech at E3 2009.

Some handy topics on these forums you should give a read:

Guidelines to these Forums
Introduce yourself to the community here

Pretty disappointed so far

mr_bartuc — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:39:00 GMT

You can only talk to milo when an icon appears at the bottom corner of the screen that indicates milo is listening. If the icon is absent, he will continue his scripted motion/screenplay until the next sequence.

Image scanning. Images held up to the screen that the user has drawn will be recognized by milo, but the technology is extremely limited. The designers knew some players would draw sinister images, so they were "smart" by having milo view and recognize colors and shapes but he will never show the drawn image in his world or pin it up on his virtual wall.

Milo has extremely limited conversation. You will not be able to swear at him as he will not recognize or even understand the word as well as many other words.

So with those main points and facts being said, you can now look forward to another linear and bland gaming experience. Is this supposed to be a fun game or were they just aiming at something new and impressive?

The one thing that ticks me off is how they have milo scan what you've drawn but they've intentionally made it so you can't see that drawn image in the game world. It's interesting they want to limit things like that. Wouldn't it actually be FUN if we could influence Milo's world the way we liked?

Milo has a lot of potential but if it remains the way it is now I will definitely not pick this up. Wouldn't even rent it.

If the designers are interested in reading on, here are a few suggestions.
- Make it so Milo can be interrupted. If he's dancing on a rock or in the middle of some sequence have him listening all the time. Play around with that, I KNOW it can be done. If there are issues with that, make keywords to interrupt him like saying "milo" in a louder tone.

- Make it so the scanned images can be seen in Milo's world. Why remove this? It's seems like the most obvious feature to include in the game yet apparently because people have sinister intention you remove it. It's not like Milo would recognize the images drawn.

-Conversation. Probably what most of the people curious about expecting based on what has been shown. Can we hold a conversation with him? If not, then your main goal should be this point.

To others reading this, comment, suggest, correct me.

Milo back-end...?

thotruck — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:40:17 GMT

I'm working on a, so far, very theoretical project regarding webdevelopment, and would like to know if it is posible, maybe in the near future, to get some information on how a system like Milos can communicate with external programs, such as Outlook perhaps.
Is there a back-end to Milos in many ways fine front-end?

Thomas

Milo Info

Atchoo — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:05:21 GMT

Summary:

Milo and Kate is Lionhead's newest IP and was announced at the E3 2009 conference as part of Microsoft's project Natal demonstration. Players will take part in the childhood of Milo (or Milly) by interacting with them through the Natal interface. The game will also feature Kate, Milo's dog.

Milo represents Lionhead's latest work on emotional AI and is the culmination of the project formerly known as Dimitri. The demo shown at E3 also incorporated technology from other Microsoft projects, such as voice recognition. Milo will respond to players movements, facial expressions, vocal intonation, as well as interacting with objects the player is holding.

E3 presentation: Gametrailers (SD and HD available)

Hands-on previews & interviews:

Kotaku 02.06.2009
Eurogamer 02.06.2009

Thanks to those people who have contributed to this thread, including: Salimort, Glen Watts, and fablepower.

Milo Achievements?

clark1250 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:09:10 GMT

What kind of Milo achievements will they have? I hope for some real cool ones.

Plus I hope they make them very unique and not simple junk. If anybody knows please tell or tell me what you hope they will have for Achievements.

Milo in the press!

Woody — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:42:13 GMT

Microsoft E3 2009 Press Conference

INDUSTRY PRESS
Kotaku.com "And, yes, Molyneux told me, this will be a game."
GamePro.com
IGN.com "I Have Met Milo ... And he called me by name.
Eurogamer.net
Examiner.com
Gamezine.co.uk
GameDaily.com
Joytsick.com
GameDaily.com
1UP.com
TalkXbox.com
PALGN.com.au
Gamasutra.com
Kotaku.com
CVG.com
IGN.com
GameReactor.no

----------------------------------

MAINSTREAM
BBC NEWS
Switched
NetworkWorld.com
BlastMagazine.com
EndSights.com
Cinemablend.com
Mirror.co.uk
PCWorld.com
ABC.net.au
AfterDawn.com
Blorge.com
Blogs.ft.com
Electronista.com
MacWorld.co.uk
San Francisco Chronicle
blogs.theage.com.au
USA Today
VirginMedia.com
neoseeker.com
Livescience.com

If you find and article not in the list, post it here!

Peter's Living Dream

Iglock — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:11:41 GMT

New article up on http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/29/peter-molyneux-lecture-extract

"Living dream

We are bringing all those things I've just mentioned together in one title we are creating at Lionhead called Milo. We've got this wonderful new controller, we've got online, and the power, so what do we as creative people do with that? I've always had this dream, this insane and stupid dream, and that dream was to create something that lives.

So what we've done is create a boy called Milo with hundreds of little muscles behind that face. We've created this boy, or a girl, you can choose a boy or a girl. This boy starts off when you first meet him, he's moved from the city to the countryside, he hasn't got any friends, he is starting school in two days' time and he sits there and looks out at you and he says "I need a friend, and you are going to be my imaginary friend." And everything that you do with Milo inspires and changes him, and you see the glory of him improving.

Milo will recognise shapes, but what is really happening here? The process of scanning [shapes shown to the screen] is really lovely, you just reach your arm up. You can also scan in 3D objects, for example if you are eating an apple you can give it to Milo and he will carry on eating it.

The online portion of our inspiration is that we are continuing to collect and improve his object recognition skills. This technology is something that is being worked on by Microsoft Research. With all the Milos that will be released we will be centralising their recognition of everything in the world."

Wow! So all Milos will be pooling data into one huge database for updating AI design!

Discuss:

Things that could go wrong with Natal?

DanLowers — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:02:02 GMT

I think we should list them.

1. Could try and replace controllers.
2. Could be used with RPG's

Carry on the list people!

why milo?

artiboi21 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:11:58 GMT

can someone please explain why Lionhead chose the name Milo? i'm asking this because Milo is such a wierd name. When i get this it would sound wierd telling people i got a game called Milo.

Storyline - Objectives

Blue_loser — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:57:31 GMT

Stumbled across an interview with Peter Molyneux about Milo and Kate. What I found interesting was when he stated "there's an amazing story" and "there will be moments in the story that feel like the end of chapters".

This may well have already been done but I was just wondering what everyone thinks would be a storyline for this game, how it would make it interesting as opposed to just an ongoing conversation. There was no confirmation of an ending to the storyline but what would be a ending to a game like this ?

Now we need Layla

XALAN — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:03 GMT

Layla would be a 20-something logical automaton with big eyes and she just makes you feel tingly all over. Giggle giggle.

Black & White + Natal?

Mooghens — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:42:58 GMT

Ever since E309, there has been a real discussion on forums about how games should be played with natal, say how would an RPG function and would the next halo be using it. Well suffice to say, Natal has been dubbed by many ps3 and nintendo fanboys as well as skeptical 360 owners as useless. However, recently it just struck me as i was playing an old all time favorite of mine, Black & White. Think about how that could actually work, you use your hands to move around by dragging the ground, grab objects by clutching your hand around it, and then throwing them by flinging your arm as well as opening your palm again. You could also draw gestures in the air to cast miracles, or you could punish villagers by picking them up then squashing them between your palms . You could use the typical cube shaped spiral gesture to grab the creature leash, then tapping with your index finger were you would be demanding it to go.

Just a suggestion, what do you think? Could be nice to see something for the hardcore gamer that didn't revolve about flying balls

What if instead of a boy...

Cupdog — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:29:50 GMT

We can have a hot woman?

NATAL may be bad for some....

rockhopperseanly — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:21:37 GMT

A RPG

A boss enemy arrives...

Boss: Im going to kill you like I killed your family!

Guy: Oh no you dont!

SMASH SMASH SMASH!

reseting milo

killerkevin001 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:47:30 GMT

just imagine, something doesnt go the way you want, so you decide "alright im going to reset" what if you tell milo that you are reseting him, that his day would start over? what if he becomes sad? what then? what if you explain in great detail that he is a program and is not real? "what are you talkign about im real? ... arent i?"

New Idea...

bluemax087 — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:56:47 GMT

So, I watched the movie 'Gamer' a couple weeks ago, and it got me thinking... This stuff is crazy but at the same time I can see the Gaming Industry getting to a point where that is possible (If you don't know what I'm talking about, I don't want to ruin the movie for you; I liked it a lot). I then got to wondering, what if Natal and Milo are precursers to technology similar to this... Now, I DO understand that the Natal/Milo technology is nowhere near what was presented in Gamer, but I still feel it's a close connection given today's technology...

Look at the massive following games like Halo have. Now, imagine what Natal represents for Gamers; no controllers, no wires, just you and the game... Now, imagine if this technology actually takes hold and advances!

Also, understand that I'm not saying, at the moment, we're in danger of someone trying to control our minds. I'd like to think that we're smart enough to know something like that is a complete violation of human rights. But, I do think it is possible... eventually... one day...

BBC coverage

Atchoo — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:00:50 GMT

Brief clips from the E3 trailer in Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe. Of course, being Brooker, it was just so he could shove in a joke about the offenders register

And being Brooker, it's well worth a watch of the full thing if you're in the UK.

Your actor slipped and I found it!

SpaceHead — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:42:45 GMT

In the milo video at 2:37 shes about a second and a half shy of convincing me milo is real. The ripples part about the time her hand returns to her chest, then she hurries to quickly play it off.

Although, I may very well be mistaken. But if IM not my question is how far did you expect to get?

Peter may never read this but:
   I have been a fan of fable since release of the first game. Fable 2, I got excited about because I thought it delivered on the promise of an entirely open world I could explore, but it was cleverly linear. I thought We would be able to plant acorns and grow trees, again, Linear into the story. We were promised many things, and we would never have wished these promises filled if fable wasnt a great game. But damnit peter Stop lying to us! Fable 2 was a beautiful game, a great experience overall, but it wasnt even close to what you told us it would be. I said to myself "You know what its easy to get excited about your own work and your own idea its just natural. But now im curious, why would a knight so honorable lie to millions (however trivial it may be) more than twice?

IM no one, in Peters world in the family of royalty Im no one, I dont even qualify as an american. But, being a someone is more reason to be honest, not an excuse to be dishonest. I can understand making promises in the hopes that by the time its time to fill those promises you will be able, but we dont want just beautiful imaginative videos showing what we hope, we would like to recieve it. The bible says its better not to promise if you have no intention of filling it.

   But, By God I will by the next Fable game and anything that comes from lionhead. Because its beautiful, its different and as an artist I enjoy it. But the truth is Lionhead still just only "Has the right idea".

So why is every post and thread about Milo abuse getting deleted or locked (genuine discussion thread inside!)

The_Orcid — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:52:10 GMT

Woody gives us a link to a Pete quote saying, essentially, he has faith in the human race that we won't abuse a fake, not real, not actually alive kid named Milo.

Grand Theft Auto.
Fable 2 (dog abuse anybody?)
Every RTS, RPG, FPS ... in the history of all eternity.

Plus Japanese rape simulators.

Hell, the human race has a hard enough time not abusing and killing and raping folks that actually breath.

And the best response Pete and Woody have is to tell us we will be to Milo and to lock a thread that tried to have a serious conversation about it?

Can you at least say he won't respond to us trying to have virtual sex with him or something? That he won't understand curse words and won't be able to recognize penises? Seriously.

You're trying to impress upon us how super-advanced and post-sci-fi all this is Milo hee haw is, with the one caveat that we can't starve him or make him kill himself or drown him or burn his house down or kick his dog.

I'm not saying I even really want to do these things, but I think it's absolutely ri-frggin'-diculous you're trying to keep everyone from talking about it. Obviously people want to talk about.

I don't even want to talk about, I want to talk about how you don't want people to talk about it.

Will Milo hate?

ledgo — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:37:14 GMT

Interesting question after watching the E3 footage...

If I lie enough, be mean, angry, and ruin his own day, will Milo ignore me? Will he hate me? Insult me?

London expo 2009

bambikiller — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:44:57 GMT

This might be a longshot but Lionhead wouldn't be going to this. The games section is very big this year, and as Guildford's only a hour or two away, i thought they might turn up.
I know it doesn't say on the website but i thought they might be persuaded or haven't made plans yet.The Dates are 24th to 25th of October I believe.
http://www.londonexpo.com/

sorry i posted in off topic as well but milo is likely to be shown off in that sort of environment so i thought i'd give it a go

Concerns...

amolang — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:48:43 GMT

I thought that I would voice some concerns about Milo. I think that this game sounds awesome, and it would be so fun to play, but there are a few things that im worried about.

First of all, I am afraid that the conversations will be very scripted. that you can't just talk. the video was awesome, but what if someone talked about something else? Like football, or lunch? I'm afraid that the voice recognition will not be that . In the way that there won't be much to talk about (that he would understand) and that people with accents won't be able to be understood.

Im also concerned about how the game will flow. Will there be a story line? Or will it just be a virtual friend that you can hang out with?

And what can you do? How long will the game be enjoyable? It seems like it could be fun for a couple days but then the stuff gets repetitive, and the conversations repeat.

How can they make a full game out of this? They would have to add a lot of stuff to make it worth 60 bucks for most people. (i would still get it, because it sounds sweet, but what about others? Could it be an arcade game? Or just a cheaper game, like 30 dollars...

Voice your concerns, or how you think they will handle some of these things.

Some Important Philisophical Questions.

LethargicMotivator — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:19:20 GMT

If you're to shape this young human's childhood, then will you have the option to demean him, to mock him infront of his peers, to embarass him infront of the first girl he's ever cared for, to drunkenly return home and argue with his frightened mother, and when he comes in to her aid, you slap him with the back of your hand?

Although I've asked some stupid questions, what I'm basically asking is, how exactly are you going to shape a childhood? Are we to offer him sage-like advice on the topics of Wrestling, and the various species of dinosaur?

Milo's first public appearence over a year and a half ago??

BenTheMagnificent — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:45:43 GMT

I was reading about project Milo and I remembered reading a thread about project dmitri being developed at LH on the 3rd floor way back in january of 2001. there was a lot of speculation at the time especially when a hint was dropped into one of the fable 2 video diaries with this interesting picture think this is the origins of project Milo? is project Dmitri now named project Milo? tell me what you think below.

Milo The Extended demo from IGN

Fata1moose — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:52:22 GMT

Just watch it.

http://video.ign.com/dor/articles/960019/ign-originals/videos/projectmilo_spc_070209.html