Razer Hydra: Super-precise motion controllers make it to PC, Portal 2 support

According to Joystiq's extensive report from CES, a new PC motion controller from Razer, the Hydra, will get its own version of Portal 2. The device will apparently be bundled with a special version of Portal 2 which will specifically support the Razer. Joystiq say: "That Portal 2 bundle will include a special version of the game, that includes not only native support for the Hydra controllers, but new maps and puzzle mechanics built exclusively for Hydra." The device should, it seems, be released around April, the same time as Portal 2, for less than $100. I've posted a shakycam demo of Portal 2 being played with the device below.

"During our hands-off tour of the still-prototype hardware, we were consistently impressed with the controller's accuracy. Imagine dual-wielding two PlayStation Move controllers except – in place of the relatively cumbersome process of requiring a PlayStation Eye to track a glowing sphere to position the controllers in 3D space – the Hydra uses a small base station that creates an electromagnetic field with a radius of about six feet. That's it. That base station serves double duty as a stand to rest the presently wired controllers on. Worry not, wire-haters, a wireless model is in the works but, much like Razer's other hardware, it's going to perfect the technology with a wired release first before chasing the wireless solution."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnF5q4NmVLs

RPS

Do not want. bleehum

Looks like two beefed up Wii nunchuks.

Scary. I don't want to be flailing my hands in front of my laptop like a madman either.

Razer products never cease to surprise me.

i thought pc gamers hated motion

i thought pc gamers hated motion

dontshackzmii

Eh? The mouse is often conveyed as being a form of motion controller.

[QUOTE="dontshackzmii"]

i thought pc gamers hated motion

lundy86_4

Eh? The mouse is often conveyed as being a form of motion controller.

day one purchase for me.

Looks like two beefed up Wii nunchuks.

Scary. I don't want to be flailing my hands in front of my laptop like a madman either.

UCF_Knight

Im actually excited :D

I am disappointed with Razer at CES 2011.

[QUOTE="UCF_Knight"]

Looks like two beefed up Wii nunchuks.

Scary. I don't want to be flailing my hands in front of my laptop like a madman either.

Videodogg

[QUOTE="Videodogg"][QUOTE="UCF_Knight"]

Looks like two beefed up Wii nunchuks.

Scary. I don't want to be flailing my hands in front of my laptop like a madman either.

UCF_Knight

I hope you realize you just convinced me to get this thing :Pohthemanatee

Im actually excited :D

devious742

The controls look immersive indeed. But there have been many other great alternative controllers like the Novint Falcon already where I always doubted that I would use them regularly. I hope that I will have the opportunity to try out this device, looks interesting enough.

**** that.

Just give me a mouse please.

I'm more interested in the box mainpulation thing in the video of the controller being used with Portal 2. I assume it's a Razer-only addon, right?TheOtherTheoG

ill pass , my old razer salmosa still doing its job

[QUOTE="dontshackzmii"]

i thought pc gamers hated motion

lundy86_4

Eh? The mouse is often conveyed as being a form of motion controller.

Motion controlers on pc have been around for year. I mean hell the sixxaxis is like the old MS Sidewinder Freestyle and that pad is from the late 90s.

i remember how pc fanboys said how move looked like a **** now its time for PAYBACK! i will soon be inventing words for this things what comes around goes around :D

i remember how pc fanboys said how move looked like a **** now its time for PAYBACK! i will soon be inventing words for this things what comes around goes around :D

NWA90s

I'm glad they are applying motion controls to PC gaming in a modest fashion, and testing the waters with innovative applications instead of taking the Nintendo route and stuffing it into everything when most stuff doesn't need it. I am cautiously optimistic to see where this leads gaming... because if any platform will shepherd in actually innovative ideas for motion controls (and not just replacing a button press with a novel waggle), it will be the PC.

While I would need to try the thing out to really know if I should be excited, whats got me a bit interested is what indie devs could do with it.

This had better not be a reason why Portal 2 was delayed. :x

[spoiler] I'm sure it's not. That would just be silly. Power to whoever wants this product, but just give me Portal 2. [/spoiler]

[QUOTE="Videodogg"][QUOTE="UCF_Knight"] I did not see the guy demonstrating the device flailing his hands and arms. UCF_Knight

Do you really game only when you're outside?

**** that.

Just give me a mouse please.

Vaasman

You don't have a mouse already? I see nothing wrong with this. The more the better. Maybe indies and the modding community will come up with something good. Hell they may integrate it in Oblivion too. Everything can happen.

Meh not interested, but you can't go wrong with a Razer product. (Love my Deathadder)

Are there actual buttons on it that you can use instead of the vapid use of gestures seen in the Blops video? Because I really do not understand the concept of replacing button presses with motions that are just as abstract an imitation of the on-screen action. How does that add anything to the experience? As additional controller inputs those gestures could make sense, but tacking these motion controls onto games designed for a different input device simply doesn't do anything for me. It's just a curiosity. And I'm not paying $100 for that.

The big question is what support this peripheral will be getting. You absolutely know that Sony and Microsoft will be supporting their things quite heavily. But this is one peripheral among like fiftythousand. While they have the capability of pushing this pretty hard, will enough developers bother to offer meaningful support for it to be a worthwhile investment? Portal 2 and Carmack quotes is a good start, but there needs to be significantly more than that.

The technology can be how great as it wants, without significant developer support they're not getting mine. Same old dealio as usual basically. I'm yet to own a Move, Wii or Kinect. There needs to be games I care for that utilize the technology in a meaningful manner. Portal 2 is one game.

Do you really game only when you're outside?edidili

Seems pretty cool i might just get this for my pc if enough games support it and it works well for controlling games so i have another option of how to play my pc games which is always a good thing. I'll wait for a wireless version though don't want to have to deal with that when I'm gaming in the living room. I found this video which showcases 36 games that already have support for it when it comes out. I like thats its targeting core games and trying to enhance the experience beyond replacing buttons presses with waggle or just going for casual games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW4ijslim-M&feature=related

the motion control devs are nuts. tie the reticule to the center of the screen like normal

Meh not interested, but you can't go wrong with a Razer product. (Love my Deathadder)

tagyhag

You love it huh, so I can't go wrong in picking it up?

**** that.

Just give me a mouse please.

Vaasman

No thanks i'll stick with my mouse and keyboard. I got my wii for motion.

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]

Meh not interested, but you can't go wrong with a Razer product. (Love my Deathadder)

ShuichiChamp24

You love it huh, so I can't go wrong in picking it up?

[QUOTE="ShuichiChamp24"]

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]

Meh not interested, but you can't go wrong with a Razer product. (Love my Deathadder)

tagyhag

You love it huh, so I can't go wrong in picking it up?

I'd like to second this. The Death Adder is sick, and it's incredibly accurate in tracking your input too - it was actually kind of jarring upgrading from a generic Logitech mouse to it. It takes a while to get used to having perfect accuracy, and all your tiniest of movements registering on screen. Amazing product.

[QUOTE="bleehum"] Do not want. ohthemanatee

Not interested,I´ll stick to Razer´s mices.

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="dontshackzmii"]

i thought pc gamers hated motion

ohthemanatee

Eh? The mouse is often conveyed as being a form of motion controller.

Just imagine playing L4D with this and meleeing your monitor of your desk.