Surfacescapes: D&D On Microsoft Surface

Not strictly PC gaming, but it's nevertheless fascinating. It shows Carnegie Mellon's proof of concept application for running a D&D game on Microsoft Surface and, well, that zoomable fantasy world map is about the most alluring piece of nerd-kit I have ever seen. I mean, I love maps at the worst of times, but that is simple too much. What's even more interesting about it is the way that in terms of interaction, it hybridises boardgame conceits - maps, dice, and physical surfaces - with videogame processes - having menus and automated computation. Pen and paper games become "screen 'n' finger" games?

Surfacescapes Demo Walkthrough from Visual Story TAs on Vimeo.