The future of video games: Giant hamster balls?
ngon master
Click the link for the video
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/19/virtusphere-virtual-reality-hamster-ball-put-to-the-test/
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/19/virtusphere-virtual-reality-hamster-ball-put-to-the-test/
For eons we've wondered what it would be like to walk around in a bona fide Virtusphere, and at GDC last week we finally got our chance. The large plastic cage can turn and roll in any direction, and once replete with a wireless head-mounted display and fake gun, we were ready to take on some polygonal alien baddies. Getting into the cage is surprisingly easy, but unfortunately once we had a screen strapped to our head our well-honed sense of balance was right out the window, and we found ourselves staggering around a bit as we got used to the motion of the cage. The real military versions have a motion sensing gun controller, but we had to do all our aiming with our head, which didn't help. After a minute or so we got used to the "momentum" involved in moving the cage, which felt pretty great, but we'd say our favorite part about the experience was just being able to turn in place to confront baddies -- there's something about a few well placed steps that really blows away a left or right tug on our 360 controller's analog stick. At the end of the day the sheer size, cost, and ultra-dated graphics has us hardly pining for one of these in our living rooms, but with a bit more work on the gaming end (and a working gun pointer) we could see this as the arcade experience to beat. Check out a video of our harrowing experience (from outside and inside) after the break.
Replies
Eh that's perfect for Quake III actually. The player's movement had acceleration and deccelaration (pretty sure I killed the sp. on those two). So yeah, maybe your fastest speed would be a slight jog, the ball wouldn't allow you to go any faster, and you'd have to plan your change of direction in advance. I really don't see this as a problem.
you would if you were blindfolded inside a giant metal hamster ball that didn't stop spinning when you wanted it to
Or maybe I'd be so awesome that I'd be pulling barrel rolls or whatever like they do in Gears and be kicking everyone's ass. FPS Doug style.
I would be overjoyed if arcades came back.
It'd be just like office chair laser tag, but probably better. Whoever builds one and sets it up as a 2-player mall kiosk for $5/game will be a very rich man.
Yeah I remember seeing this on a science channel show years ago... and it STILL has the same graphics, hell, probably the same game...
I'm sure this is something that would be fun to try a couple of times or so.. But I don't see it becoming a big hit..
The guys I watched sprinting full-tilt in the thing might beg to differ.
It would almost feel like swimming, but you'd get used to it. Motions and gestures could even be scaled if you're too tired or not interested in the exercise, so as to only twitch one's limbs a small amount, and still perform full actions in the game.
This thing is silly. A rotating treadmill would be way more effective. It could even be small enough to have in your home.
Not sure how that would work. How would it sense you turning or stopping?
I dunno, I'm not an engineer, but I have no doubt somebody could figure it out.
in short, it was very disorienting, hard to control, and awkward. fun for a quick spin, but i don't really care if i ever am in one again.
the graphics were terrible, and the visor sucked. it was like looking at an iphone sized screen 4 feet in front of your face. at least i didn't fall like most people. when i got out the guy told me i caught on fast and did pretty well. I then spit in his eye and kicked him in the balls, then high-fived lotekk before giggling and running away with my arms flailing in the air.
^This.
If however, you forget that you're in a ball and try to walk/run normally you'll fall since your feet will contact the raised side of the ball earlier than you would normally expect.
A structure that size will have a lot of momentum, so as has been said, stopping and turning will be a difficult gradual process.
I think it could work with a ball about four times the size - as long as you were running on top of it. It would have to move according to your foot placement/movement speed. Then you could have a fixed 360 globe structure all around you with the scene projected on it from outside - you could even have it in 3d and wear glasses...
For what this is, and the fact that it's a 'mall' attraction, why not go that extra mile?