Gaming, you’ve come a long way. The industry is now more than just a controller and some buttons when it comes to experiencing a game. We’ve got motion control, hands-free waggles and VR all competing for a spot in our lives and wallets. But I’m all about the haptic feedback lately.
At E3 last week, I managed to get my hands on some hardware, and the results weren’t disastrous. For once. Over at the Immerz Inc booth, I got strapped in for some time with this wonderful piece of technology. And it has come a long way since it was first revealed way back in 2009.
Right now, it’s a comfy piece of tech. The vest itself is light and unobtrusive, and provided that your equipment has a 3.5 sound jack, it’ll work on it. Which means that this will work on anything really. I fired up some Call of Duty, and was damn surprised at how well it worked.
The acousto-haptic transducers feed pinpoint precision sound to my chest area, which expanded upon impact. It’s not a rumble pack I’m wearing, but it certainly feels like it, and in most scenarios, even better. You feel everything when you play with this piece of technology. Your footsteps, a shot to the heart and the feedback recoil of your rifle. It’s just marvellous.
There’s a Kickstarter on for the vest right now, which is sitting at $95 222 raised of the $75 000 goal at the time that this was written, with 35 days to go. I’m genuinely enamoured by this hardware, and the fact that Immerz have a working final prototype to show to backers who are interested in providing funds, speaks for itself.
Hit the Kickstarter page if you want. Because I sure as hell want to buy one of these for myself.
Last Updated: June 19, 2014
Rince&exhale
June 19, 2014 at 14:35
“The acousto-haptic transducers of the flux capacitor will only work if the dylithium crystals are as charged up as Phill Fish” Wait what?
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 19, 2014 at 14:36
This’ll go well with my OR & VR treadmill.
Rince&exhale
June 19, 2014 at 14:37
And the “artificial-body submersible CoD Full Fish experience emulator”
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 19, 2014 at 14:40
Don’t be silly. I’ll use it with my O2SUPERMAX Breathing Sim – it varies the amount of oxygen you breath while gaming to make it seem more realistic.
Rince&exhale
June 19, 2014 at 14:40
And when you say “vary” you mean “limits” right?
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 19, 2014 at 14:43
It’s a trade secret.
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:47
What about being the goat in Goat Simulator? Or is that just being OVG on a Friday night?
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:46
Wow dude. You always have the most ambitious ideas. 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 19, 2014 at 14:47
It sounds really impressive, until you find out it’s just him standing there with a bucket of water.
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:47
LOL
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:40
We all know how much you love that idea.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 19, 2014 at 14:44
It’s amazing. HAI
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:45
Hai!
Sk3tz0
June 19, 2014 at 14:37
All sounds cool.. but what about ur average gamer that a chubby motherfcker like me 😛 does it come in 4 xl 😛
Kensei Seraph
June 19, 2014 at 14:52
Not much comes in that size.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 19, 2014 at 14:53
Your mom does…
(seeing as CoD is being played, let me play along to the stigma)
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 19, 2014 at 14:54
lol ouch.
Kensei Seraph
June 19, 2014 at 14:54
You’re too easily influenced.
Please stay away from cats, psykers and demons.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 19, 2014 at 14:54
Meow
Kensei Seraph
June 19, 2014 at 15:08
Oh shi*gets melted alive*
http://media.moddb.com/cache/images/groups/1/3/2055/thumb_620x2000/Wich_hunters_9.jpg
Rince&exhale
June 19, 2014 at 14:54
lulz
Brian Murphy
June 19, 2014 at 14:37
“It’s not a rumble pack I’m wearing, but it certainly feels like it”
At which point the demo booth asked Darryn to remove the vest from his junk, and never speak of this again.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 19, 2014 at 14:55
Haha
Monado
June 19, 2014 at 14:37
Darryn don’t make fun of the guy acting like King Kong, jeez 😛
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:40
Total Annihilation Commander’s Pack on GOG for $1.49 now.
I say yes.
Mossel
June 19, 2014 at 14:48
“a shot to the heart”
But who’s to blame?
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:48
You give love a bad name?
Rince&exhale
June 19, 2014 at 14:49
Batmaime?
Mossel
June 19, 2014 at 14:52
LOL!
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 19, 2014 at 14:50
Most physical human interaction he’s had in some time…
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:51
What if they make a future Leisure Suit Larry compatible with the Ovulus?
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 19, 2014 at 14:52
Ovulus? As in ready to mate?
Sith JJ
June 19, 2014 at 14:59
Was not intended. But I’ll take credit for it. Thanks.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 19, 2014 at 14:52
Ovulus bwhahahahahaha
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 19, 2014 at 14:53
LSL – Looking for love in virtually all the wrong places
Graeme Selvan
June 20, 2014 at 09:58
I would totally buy one of these!
Sageville
June 20, 2014 at 12:04
So, now you get this vest + occulus + kinetic type spycam + gun controller = Best game of lazer-tag eva!