I'd be interested in seeing this put to use in something like Skyrim. Granted, the gun controller wouldn't work, but surely they can come up with some other motion controllers or control scheme.
Video of Oculus Rift and an omni-directional treadmill being used to play Team Fortress 2.
Link to article
What do you get when you combine a 3D virtual reality headset with a passive omnidirectional treadmill? The future of gaming, today. Virtual reality accessory startup Virtuix on Thursday posted a demo video of its upcoming Omni a natural motion interface for virtual reality applications being used in conjunction with the Oculus Rift 3D virtual reality headgear. The video showcases the killer combination being used to play a first-person shooter and the result is mind-blowing.
The user becomes fully immersed in the game, using Virtuixs passive treadmill to move and a gun-like controller to fire on enemies. Then, the Oculus Rift completes the virtual reality experience thanks to its dual head-mounted displays that provide a 110-degree viewing angle.
The experience offered by the Omni and Rift is something next-generation video game consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Microsofts upcoming next-generation Xbox obviously cant even come close to competing with out of the box. A head-mounted 3D virtual reality device coupled with an omnidirectional passive treadmill places the user inside the game. The gamer can walk, run, turn and look around as if he or she is inside the complex new world created by each video game.
I have to say, I'm impressed. While I'm not sold on the idea of physical exertion being needed to play games, this looks like it could be promising.
I'm very interested in the Oculus Rift, I think having the screen fill my entire field of view would add tremendously to the immersion. Hopefully it will catch on well enough that most dev's will support it.
You can keep that silly treadmill though. Simulating the mental aspects of a game, like what I see, is awesome. But the physical aspects like running would be a huge distraction.
Reminds me of the Gadget Show's BF3 set-up. I think it'd be fun to try a few times, but I don't know if I'd personally trade in a KB/M to always play like that.
The physical exertion for it's current setup would be probably be too much for any game that's extremely fast paced, but could be workable for games that only allow short distancing sprinting. They'd just have to slow down the pace required to run, I'd believe. Playing a horror game that way would be just amazing, though.
I'm very interested in the Oculus Rift, I think having the screen fill my entire field of view would add tremendously to the immersion. Hopefully it will catch on well enough that most dev's will support it.
You can keep that silly treadmill though. Simulating the mental aspects of a game, like what I see, is awesome. But the physical aspects like running would be a huge distraction.
i don't see it. it's just too much hardware. you crawl into the treadmill and then there's that gigantic headset. of course, there's the controller too. he's using a gun peripheral there, but he would need different peripherals for different types of games. i didn't notice him jump, but that seems like it could open up a whole new can of worms with timing and gravity and all that. then what about third person games? do we get rid of those?
i have no problem being immersed right now. i could pop in metroid prime, deus ex, or dark souls and get lost. they're able to do it with great designs rather than mountains of input devices.
The problem with motion control is that movement is abstract. I do not control my legs, but just move there. That is why I find controllers are great at reflect relife movement better.
Second, immersion is overrated and does not add much to the game.
Oculus Rift is the next big thing... I've been waiting for a decent VR for some time now and I'm totally hyped. I've seen what Rift can deliver and it's truly impressive...
@people who say the prefer controllers Well the video just wants to show that there can be alternative controls for your Oculus Rift but the original prototype is being designed with a controller in mind. You simply put the device on (glasses) and play in a totally immersive world.
Setting up the Wii in my living room was annoying enough. I enjoy the technology, and I would buy the f*** out of that if my house had been built with a room -just- for it. Not the case.
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