Probably the worlds coolest gaming gadget...

[Raven's Nest]

Possibly old news to some, but this has to be awesome incarnate! Just look at the spandex!

THE VIRTUSPHERE [http://www.virtusphere.com/]

Here's a nicley copied and pasted article [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002400387_btinterface25.html]...

Walk in cyberspace: With virtual-reality software, users feel like they're moving even if they're actually sitting on the couch. VirtuSphere wanted to create a device that would allow the user to move limitlessly while using such software ? without bumping into walls or falling over.

The solution: VirtuSphere, founded in November, created a giant hollow ball that works like a spinning hamster wheel. Wearing a head-mounted display, a user can step inside the 8.5-foot-tall sphere and experience physical movements while the mind is in cyberspace. "The purpose is to enable natural motion," said Palladin. "You can walk and there is no limit."

How it works: As the user moves, the ball rolls, sending coordinates to a computer. The computer evaluates the information and relays it back to the user's display in the form of a changed view. The sphere, which costs between $50,000 and $100,000, can be made compatible with any computer-based simulations.

Who's buying: 12 customers, primarily the U.S. military and law-enforcement professionals.

Edu-tainment: Using a grant from the Washington Technology center, VirtuSphere has teamed up with the University of Washington's Human Interface Technology lab to develop educational and entertainment uses for the sphere. Palladin said potential uses include helping patients overcome phobias and spicing up a treadmill workout. He also wants to create a cheaper version for home use.

Man and machine: Russian inventors and brothers Ray and Nurulla Latypov wanted to create a way for people to move instead of just sitting while accessing a virtual-reality world. Their first effort looked a lot like a treadmill, but users would have to be attached or fall off. It took an estimated 40 years of man-hours and seven different models to create the current form of the sphere. The inventors recruited Palladin, who worked at Microsoft and Intel, to run the business.

The next step: VirtuSphere isn't forgetting about smell, touch and sound. The company wants to add buzzers to simulate a hit during virtual target practice or smells to make a game more lifelike.

 

[Julians]

They 'stole' my idea.
EDIT after reading: 40 manyears? I had that basic design at 15 after a number 2 toilet visit.

 

[IsoNeko]

I could definetly see this working for me in Halo. The only problem is that I'd have to assign a thumbstick to Strafing and looking around. Turning might be a ***** to handle in fast paced fights. Say if someone was to jump over my head, I'd need to look up, turn and then look back down. Meh, other than if it offered Laser guided walls, that registered where I was looking as well I'd definetly buy it.

 

[Julians]

I could definetly see this working for me in Halo. The only problem is that I'd have to assign a thumbstick to Strafing and looking around. Turning might be a ***** to handle in fast paced fights. Say if someone was to jump over my head, I'd need to look up, turn and then look back down. Meh, other than if it offered Laser guided walls, that registered where I was looking as well I'd definetly buy it.

Wouldn't work with current fps. Software would need to recognize: how you're positioned, how your gun is positioned and how your head is positioned. So you could shoot behind you while looking up. Or just turn your head without aiming at that spot or turning your body and so on.

 

[IsoNeko]

All of that could be countered with having "Where your looking" be "Where your aiming" All you'd really need is a controller for everything that isn't related to direction and aiming. The ball would be your analog sticks.

 

[Julians]

All of that could be countered with having "Where your looking" be "Where your aiming" All you'd really need is a controller for everything that isn't related to direction and aiming. The ball would be your analog sticks.

Yea but that would be a 'we can't be bothered to implement it' approach. You still need to hold something in your hands and if the view is not produced directly at the ball, but rather onto some 3d googles you have something on your head. So both items can be tracked and their positions used in the software.

 

[IsoNeko]

So, have the software get an infrared laser implemented onto some goggles. Make the walls reactive to these lasers, just like the Nintendo wii. Wear the goggles. Then have the software convert your input as Direction and Movement. Direction being where your looking, and movement being where the ball is rolling, and there we have it. A fully functional ball that I can use to roam around in custom games with...Just no online competitive play, because I don't have a fire button, jump button, reload button, change weapons button, grenade button, etc.

 

[Raven's Nest]

So, have the software get an infrared laser implemented onto some goggles. Make the walls reactive to these lasers, just like the Nintendo wii. Wear the goggles. Then have the software convert your input as Direction and Movement. Direction being where your looking, and movement being where the ball is rolling, and there we have it. A fully functional ball that I can use to roam around in custom games with...Just no online competitive play, because I don't have a fire button, jump button, reload button, change weapons button, grenade button, etc.

Almost there...

Think motion capture technology used in film making. The one where they cover the actors in little balls and have a camera hooked up to a computer to animate them (yeah it's complicated). Using that idea, nothing could stop you using it for FPS's.

Using the headset to sense where you are looking, and the weapon for where your aiming and bob is your uncle, you have two analogue sticks.

Obviously the weapon trigger is the fire button, using a 'fake' magazine to reload and you have a fully functional gun.

Using motion capturing technology and this thing is pretty much the closest thing we have to a fully interactive VR environment. Solid Snake would be proud!

 

[IsoNeko]

You could always cut out the middle man, and have where your looking be where your aiming with the "gun". Maybe even having gloves with buttons assigned to your fingers.

Edit: Think Guitar Hero, but with less fire and the flames, and more uses.

 

[SnowCold]

Oh shit, don't let nintendo see it!

 

[Julians]

What raven_nest said and
I don't see why IsoNeko you want to 'dumb down' such a great idea. The whole point of this ball is to give players more immersion, better felling like they're actually in a game. Using your head to aim when technology for using your gun to aim and head to look is available, would be a step back and you might just not bother with the whole ball.
Anyway I don't think any fps will become available for it. But if the costs go down we might see it in arcades some day and that would be awesome.
As for home use it's far too big and nobody will go for it. More likely we'll get something that intercepts brain signals directly, hopefully in our lifetime

 

[Crystal Cuckoo]

That would be sweet....

I would love one of those. I'd dedicate a room just so I could play games like Halo and Left 4 Dead on it...

 

[Fanboy]

Well this is undeniable proof that Hamsters are taking over the world!

Those things look like they would be fun to play around with, but it seems too awkward (and expensive) to take seriously.

 

[Ezzay]

I am NOT a hamster.

But yes it does look incredibly fun.