Robotic eyes on autonomous vehicles could improve pedestrian safety, according to a new study at the University of Tokyo. Participants played out scenarios in virtual reality (VR) and had to decide whether to cross a road in front of a moving vehicle or not. When that vehicle was fitted with robotic eyes, which either looked at the pedestrian (registering their presence) or away (not registering them), the participants were able to make safer or more efficient choices. Self-driving vehicles seem to be just around the corner. Whether they'll be delivering packages, plowing fields or busing kids to school, a lot of research is underway to turn a once futuristic idea into reality. While the main concern for many is the practical side of creating vehicles that can autonomously navigate the world, researchers at the University of Tokyo have turned their attention to a more "human" concern of self-driving technology.

Tokyo (Japan), September 20 (ANI): According to a new study from the University of Tokyo, robotic eyes on autonomous vehicles could improve pedestrian safety. Participants acted out scenarios in virtual reality (VR), deciding whether or not to cross a road in front of a moving vehicle. Participants were able to make safer or more efficient choices when that vehicle was outfitted with robotic eyes that either looked at the pedestrian (registering their presence) or away (not registering their presence). Self-driving vehicles seem to be just around the corner. Whether they'll be delivering packages, ploughing fields or busing kids to school, a lot of research is underway to turn a once futuristic idea into reality.

Japanese developer Inti Creates has lifted the lid on Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon at this year's BitSummit -- an annual, Kyoto-based celebration of the finest indie games. Curse of the Moon is a classic 8-bit follow-up to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, originally promised as a Kickstarter reward if certain stretch goals were met. Fans ensured that they were, injecting over $5 million into the project and helping it earn the title of second most-funded video game of all time. In Curse of the Moon's launch trailer, producer Koji Igarashi said that backers who pledged a particular amount should already have access to codes, which can be retrieved via the official home page or a private Kickstarter update. Igarashi, typically flamboyant in his cowboy hat, introduced Curse of the Moon's basic gameplay, characters, and unmistakably retro aesthetic.

Inti Creates is now offering "Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night" Kickstarter backers refunds after game designer Koji Igarashi announced that the metroidvania video game is not coming to the Wii U console after all. Igarashi also confirmed what previous speculations were claiming that the game is going to launch on the Nintendo Switch instead. On Tuesday, Igarashi wrote an update on the Kickstarter page for "Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night" saying that the developers have decided to take the game to a new direction. Instead of bringing it to the Wii U, it will be released for Nintendo's new console hybrid. "During our Kickstart campaign, the Wii U was at the height of its popularity, but then situation has drastically changed after the release of Nintendo Switch," Igarashi wrote.