Google Plus Hangout Gaming?

Summary:

we got a view on this?

Google Plus Hangout Gaming?

James_Nostack 21 Dec 2011 18:25

Though I try to avoid social media, I'm intrigued by the idea of gaming via Google Plus, the Facebook manque unveiled this summer. I've been on one or two "hangout" video chats, and the technology seems to work well enough. I expect others have already used it as a gaming platform.

If you've used it, what was the experience like?
What did you do for dice, maps, and that sort of thing?
Would you be willing to use it as part of the Red Box scene?

I think it would be interesting to try G+ as a type of ConstantCon, where someone posts and says, "Anyone up for a game tonight at 8 p.m." or something, and maybe 1-3 people show up and they play. But I don't know if there's demand for that.

Re: Google Plus Hangout Gaming?

Ridiculossus 21 Dec 2011 18:29

Yes. Also with a dieroller and a free shared whiteboard, a lot can be done.

Re: Google Plus Hangout Gaming?

TavisAllison 21 Dec 2011 20:45

Yes, it is fun!

We can start G+ games as Red Box events and then go to Constantcon for more players as desired.

Re: Google Plus Hangout Gaming?

letsdamage 22 Dec 2011 02:14

I've used it. The experience is somewhat comparable to tabletop. The main issue is that you don't get the usual (fun) phenomenon of everybody talking at once. It is a lot of fun nevertheless.

Dice, maps, etc. have been (in my experience) handled by the shared whiteboard program Twiddla, which includes dice rolling. Usually people end up just taking each other's word when it comes to dice rolls, as doing it with software is kind of a pain in the ass.

I am planning on using it to run a game, if my life would stop being so friggin' hectic for two seconds. I will of course let everybody know when I do, so you'll have the option to jump in.

Re: Google Plus Hangout Gaming?

TavisAllison 22 Dec 2011 14:26

For maps, as a GM I just drew on one of my wipe-erase tiles and held it up to the camera. I later played using a whiteboard program and didn't find it worth giving up the intuitiveness of drawing and talking and looking at the camera; dealing with the whiteboard program focused me on the computer instead of letting it be a window to the other players.

Re: Google Plus Hangout Gaming?

Greengoat 22 Dec 2011 15:23

I was trying to tell James about MapTool:
http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=maptool

I have done skype games with it and it seemed easy to use and customize. I am trying to build a counters set using OD&D artwork now to use with folks from the Oregon territory. It has integrated die rollers, fog of adventuring mapping, and all that other stuff. It might be good if everyone meets on G+ and switches to audio for bandwith.

Requirement is just the most recent version of JAVA and it is free software.

Re: Google Plus Hangout Gaming?

Ridiculossus 22 Dec 2011 16:32

I found that most of the intuitive map and counter software has not been written with my intuition in mind.