Gizmodo: Force Feedback

Novint Falcon Force Feedback Controller Gets Valve Support

Jason Chen — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:40:00 EDT

The long-in-development force-feedback PC game device Novint Falcon is a good idea in theory, but without actual support from games there's not a whole lot you can do with it. Good news though, since Valve just announced support with the controller for PC versions of The Orange Box, Counter-Strike: Source, the Half-Life 2 series, Team Fortress 2, Portal and Left 4 Dead. With the pistol grip accessory it'll be fine for every game, but what we really have hopes for is fiddling around with that gravity gun and feeling the force feedback with it. [Novint via Crunchgear]

Trakonya Mutator Force Feedback Device Makes You Pay for Bad Gaming Skills

Haroon Malik — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:30:22 EDT

The Trakonya Mutator attaches to a gamer's wrist and will then shock said gamer if they screw up in-game. The device only functions with Unreal Tournament for now, but wider support is in the pipe works; next stop? Half Life—nice. We can think of a ton of games this type of self inflicted punishment would work well with, but for $59, we're going to need wider support than just Unreal Tournament out of the box. Still, couple this with the 3rd Space Vest and you'll be sure to end each gaming session with a flurry of bruises and fond memories. Bliss. [Product Page via Everything USB]

Mindwire V5 Shocking Game Accessory: Rumble is for the Weak

Sean Fallon — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:20:18 EST

You know what would make gaming even more fun? Pain. Or at least that is what the folks at Mindwire would like you to think. Their new Mindwire V5 unit helps you get into the action with sensations ranging from a "crashing car to the blast of a machine gun's multiple bullets hitting you; a sharp zap all the way through to a soft massaging feeling." Five self-adhesive pads are connected to the arms, legs and stomach that administer a range of electric shocks to create sensations that mimic in-game action.

The system works with most PS2, Gamecube, and XBox games as well as PC games that support force feedback. Next gen consoles are also supported—in certain configurations (a full list of compatible games is available on the website). So, I'm not sure about all of this electric shock business, but tell me more about this "soft massaging feeling?" The Mindwire is available for £99.99 (or $200). [Mindwire via PocketLint via Geeky Gadgets]

Force Feedback Gaming Vest Uses Compressed Air to Mimic Pain

AddyDugdale — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:57:37 EST

Also known as the 3rd Space Vest, the Force Feedback gaming vest from TMgames is filled with compressed air pouches in order for you to feel the pain when you're hooked up to your console and having your butt kicked by scary aliens. Compatible with around a dozen games, including Call of Duty, Doom 3, Quake 4 and Medal Of Honor, so if you want to feel what it's like to be knifed, shot, blown up or merely punched in the kidneys, you might think about shelling out $169 for this. Or you could just go to the rough part of town and tell the scariest mofo you can find that you had sex with his mother last night. [TNGames Storefront via Gadget Review]

Porsche 911 PlayStation 3/PC Steering Wheel

Jason Chen — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:00:41 EDT

It's not every day that an actual automaker creates a steering wheel for console gaming, so this Porsche 911 setup is especially awesome. It's a "fully licensed, to-spec reproduction," which means the wheel, the 6+1 gear sticks, and the wireless pedals are all as authentic as you're going to get in your living room. It's all wireless, has force feedback, an extra sequential gear stick, a 100-hour battery life, table clamps and works with your PS3 and PC, plus comes with a Porsche USB stick to show off to the (nerdy) ladies. Available later this year for $350. [Fanatec via Jalopnik]

DIY Force-Feedback Shock Mouse

Travis Hudson — Thu, 03 May 2007 16:00:31 EDT

We're no stranger to force-feedback peripherals, but this mouse, developed by students at Leiden University, is a bit different than the traditional force-feedback mouse or controller. Here, I'll let them explain: it is a "haptic feedback provider between the computer and the user—it is aware of the user's mouse gestures and can either do nothing, attract the mouse to a new position, or it push away from its current position." Huh? I'm still trying to figure out the practical purpose behind this mouse, but nevertheless it is cool. Get some more details about how it works after the jump.

The FFM is a box on which the user can move around a specially equipped mouse. It has an Arduino i i/o board inside, which controls the servo-motors that position an electromagnet along the X and Y axis corresponding the mouse position. It also controls a relays board which sets the polarity of the electromagnet (which can be turned off, push or attract).

:–Travis Hudson

[Via Techeblog]

TN Games' Force-feedback Vest Beats the Crap Outta Gamers

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:20:26 EST

We've seen some pretty interesting gaming peripherals in our time, but this one might steal the show. It's a force-feedback vest that gives players a virtual beating, responding to everything from punches to car crashes with 10 pounds of pressure sent throughout your torso. The vest is intended to give gaming an extra level of reality and is set to debut in November. So the Wii forces us to exercise and this vest beats us up. Looks like my couch potato gaming days are over. – Louis Ramirez

Product Page [via Electronista]

PS3 Sixaxis Controller To Get Force Feedback After All?

Gizloco — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:46:29 EST

You'll soon feel every bump and jolt while playing with the PS3's Sixaxis controller... maybe. A hardware manufacturer by the name of SplitFish apparently figured out a way to give the Sixaxis rumble without infringing on Immersion's patents. (Immersion holds a number of key patents on controller vibration functionality and it's widely believed that Sony didn't want to license their technology. Hence, the current vibrationless Sixaxis.) Sony hasn't replied to SplitFish's offer yet, legitimate or not. Fill me in: is controller vibration all the important while playing video games? To me, it was cool when Star Fox 64 did it back in 1997, but has grown tiresome ever since. – Nicholas Deleon

SplitFish Could Make Sony's SIXAXIS Rumble [1UP.com via PS3Blog.net]

PS3 Racing Wheels Do Support Force Feedback - Yay?

Gizloco — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 15:35:05 EST

The PS3 supports force feedback steering wheels, contrary to what we said a few weeks ago. Some dude played Need for Speed: Carbon and—get this—the wheel vibrated! Thank God we cleared that up. – Nicholas Deleon

PS3 Steering Wheel Force Feedback Works! [PS3Blog.net]

E306 Clips: Novint Falcon

Jason Chen — Wed, 10 May 2006 18:44:16 EDT

We had a talk with Bill Anderson of Novint Technologies, maker of the upcoming force feedback Falcon controller/interface. It's come a long way from a year ago, and it's grown a ball.

How it works: you grasp it with your fingertips in a handshake-like grip, then move it in any direction inspace and it will feel like you're actually interacting with the item on the screen. Example: If there's a rough ball on the screen, the Falcon will vibrate around the surface of the sphere and prevent you from putting your hand through the actual ball itself.

Retailing in '07 for a target price of under $100, the Falcon is geared towards FPS games, sports games, and other games where force feedback is key.

Product Page

Two videos after the jump.

Hands On: eDimensional Force Feedback Headphones

Travis Hudson — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 07:31:48 EST

I was able to get my hands on a pair of eDimensional's force feedback headphones. The headphones don't employee the traditional force feedback—where it is game dependent—like console games. Rather the force feedback comes from subwoofers that are integrated into the headphones. These headphones retail for $49.95. We'll get into a little more nitty-gritty after the jump.

Product Page

The headphones come with three standard connectors: one for the audio, one for the microphone and a USB connector for power. There is a control unit on the cable that can adjust volume, level of vibration and turn the vibration on and off. The headphones were of average comfort, especially considering the amount of padding that was on each earphone.

First Test: iTunes
What better way to test high-bass headphones than with some high-bass music. After a mere three songs of my bass-intensive trance music I couldn t handle it anymore. Even with the vibration controls set low, the bass I felt throughout my head was still distracting and not enjoyable. Then with the vibration turned off completely the music sounded okay but lacked a good bass sound that a set of speakers couldn't reproduce.

Second Test: Unreal Tournament 2004
The gaming test is where these headphones really flourished. Much like a force-feedback controller, the vibrations are distracting at first, but then you forget about it. The headphones did an exceptional job creating a full 3D environment. Even though they are just headphones they still give the impression of directional sound. Footsteps, gunshots and the like can be easily pinpointed to a direction in the virtual world. In a way it improves awareness in-game with the addition of another sense that can be utilized: feeling.

Bottom Line
If you are a hardcore first-person gamer, then these headphones are for you. The force feedback gives a new, better and more intense gaming experience. If you don't happen to fall into this category, these headphones may be a passer.

eDimensional Force Feedback Headphones

Travis Hudson — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:53:31 EST

Have you ever heard of Shaking Baby Syndrome for Adults? Probably not, because it hasn t been invented, until now. eDimensional is releasing a set of force feedback headphones that will fulfill your desire to be punched in the head and have your brain bounced around the inside of your skull like a pinball machine. Overall these are some pretty good headphones, minus the whole shaking your head until your forget math, thing. They are noise-canceling, include a microphone, are nicely designed, and use an in-line controller to handle the volume and shaking intensity. A lot of good features for a moderately priced $49. Oh, the things you will do in the name of gaming.

eDimensional Force Feedback Gaming Headset [BIOS]