TrackIR - Head tracking for Gaming

Now, I know it sounds rather weird, having the view in the game move with your head, sounds like it wouldn’t be very practical, but it sure does look pretty damn kewl.

http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/

The best headtracking game controller ever designed. Experience real time 3D view control in video game simulations just by moving your head.

How it works

 

So, I saw this when it was mentioned on the EVE forums. I guess EVE has support built in for this thing. It would be rather interesting to see it work. I’m not sure how practical it would be in EVE considering (at least in my case) a lot of the actions you take are based on the overview and not actually what you see flying around in space.

I could definitely see myself using it for Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, but unfortunately there is no support for that game at the moment. However, they do have a number of titles listed that do support their nifty little gadget, as well as a number of titles coming up that are supposedly going to offer support for their equipment. A list of titles that currently support their product can be found here:

http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/03-enhanced-games/enhanced-games-all.html

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “if I turn my head left, I’m not even looking at the screen.” If you watch their demo movies, you’ll see that you don’t have to move your head to the exact position it would have to be if you were inside the game. A slight turn to the left or right, up/down etc will move the camera in game the appropriate amount so that you are still looking comfortably at the screen. If I still played flight sims/air combat sims, I would love to have this thing. I actually think it might have been a really nice addition to the Mechwarrior series of games (of which I am a gigantic fan).

I know in some intense situations in some games, I’ll find myself leaning, left or right or whatever while I’m playing. This will actually translate those subconscious movements into actual movement in the games you play.

So check it out, you might see one of the titles you usually play listed as one of the products that support this nifty little gadget. Close to VR, without having to put on some helmet/goggles etc.

~ by g0thicicecream on November 19, 2007.