Virtusphere brings together VR, hamsterball technology
by Kyle Orland 
{ Sep 7th 2006 at 5:55PM }
We here at Joystiq are all about the virtual reality technology, but the current state-of-the-art in hand-waving leaves us a little wanting. Enter the Virtusphere, a 10-foot tall, 400+ pound hollow steel sphere with sensors that translate every step into in-game movement. The Russian-made device, which has apparently been in development since at least 1996, uses a head-mounted display and handheld controller to allow free, immersive exploration and viewing of a 3D world.The device seems targeted primarily towards military and police training uses, but the possibilities for gaming are obvious. Just the idea of using this thing for some Super Monkey Ball or even American Gladiators-style Atlasphere matches gets us all excited. What game world would you like to explore in a giant, virtual hamsterball?
[Thanks bassbeast]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
patrick Smith @ Sep 7th 2006 6:02PM
I don't get it so you are a hamster?
Grim @ Sep 7th 2006 6:03PM
I'm somewhat against the idea of virtual reality--or atleast it's current state. VR should only be available (to consumers) when consoles get closer to perfection in terms of graphics, physics, and AI. The whole point of VR is realism. So why would you want to be "in the game" when the game itself can't even match the realism?
I guess I could see VR machines appearing in Japanese arcades in the future. It will most likely be much longer before VR will be integrated into consoles.
Ethan @ Sep 7th 2006 10:09PM
Shadow of the Colossus on that thing would be cool.
Hotdrop @ Sep 7th 2006 6:11PM
Yeah have you ever been inside one? They had one on display at PAX last year and I got to go inside one and let me tell you it aint all its cracked up to be. Infact you suffer from the same issues a hamster inside a ball suffers from. Mainly that you cant stop going once you start (actually a common cause of death for hamsters). That ball is probably around 200 pounds at least so once it gets going if you just stop or try to change direction your going to fall. It works alright it you take really small steps but as soon as you go too fast (walking speed was too fast) the ball will begin to accelerate which forces you to go faster and accelerate the ball more. Point being besidges the fact that its huge the whole not being able to stop thing probably means you wont be seeing one anytime soon.
Somegermanguy @ Sep 7th 2006 6:15PM
Maybe nobody's noticed but there's a HUGE hole in that ball... but I guess that gets covered. Right?
Dracula Jones @ Sep 7th 2006 6:16PM
I'd like to play Final Fight in VR. Same graphics as the SNES version, except YOU'RE IN IT and Andore wants to break you, Mayor Mike Haggar! CAN YOU SAVE YOUR DAUGHTER?
Also, you have no shirt.
Madd Gamer @ Sep 7th 2006 9:13PM
I case you didn't know.. That right there, my friend, is the future of gaming.
Karn @ Sep 7th 2006 6:24PM
Obviously, this technology won't hit consoles or arcades for at least 2 more console generations. Considering the leaps and bounds made in the last 2 generations (N64,PS1-Xbox,Gamecube,PS2-X360,PS3,Wii)I think that we will appraoch realism by the time we get anywhere near this kind of technology.
At this time, there are only 7 prototypes that exist, so I don't think we'll even se them in arcades for a long time.
cringer8 @ Sep 7th 2006 6:18PM
Walking in a VR world is never going to work. You would have to be...I don't know, suspended in the air while walking on top of a globe beneath you. Not very immersive if you feel like you're in a Jolly Jumper.
csc @ Sep 7th 2006 6:22PM
The only time it will get close to the perfect system is when sone helmet thing mpas your brain and makes you think your walking when your not.
becaause come on, who is going to ship a console with a giant hamster ball setup? its impractical for almost all uses, even arcades.
Itll have to get to the matrix style helmet console before full Vr makes it into our homes.
phillosmaster @ Sep 7th 2006 6:24PM
I disagree Grim. Virtual reality is just a term for an artificial reality. All games could be classified as a form of a virtual reality. What we are talking about here is a method of input into the virtual reality. I see no reason for the people working on input devices to slow down for the guys pushing polygons. If I could have more direct control over my character in Oblivion, I think that would only enhance the games immersive qualities. Don't you agree?
Grim @ Sep 7th 2006 6:30PM
Yes, I agree what your saying Phillosmaster. Who wouldn't want to play Oblivion in VR. But VR technology can't possibly handle those intense graphics. I guess if you count the Wii as VR, then it would be possible. But I'm talking about a VR machine that actually works well with games. And to my knowledge no such VR machine exists.
phillosmaster @ Sep 7th 2006 6:32PM
7. csc, there are plenty of Van sized VR machine currently. Like those virtual rollercoaster things. I see them every now and then at touristy type places like boardwalks, carnival etc. Everyone I've been on so far has been admittedly lame. I'm sure if it works well there will be a market for them. I could easily see a unit like this set up in my local mall. I've seen wierder things. For a while they had a cart set up that gave kids rides on robotic animals.
tactics @ Sep 7th 2006 6:38PM
i'd like to play zelda:tp with this hamsterball thing, the HMD, and the wiimote! yay!
-"superfan" tactics.
phillosmaster @ Sep 7th 2006 6:49PM
10. I think the Wii is a step in the right direction. It promises to allows you to have full spacial control of an action item: hand, ball, gun, sword. That's the most important part of an interface such as this IMO. I haven't used the Wii yet so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
Oblivion was probably a bad example. How about Mario 64. I think that would be an interesting game to be hooked up to in this manner. Of course, I'm not sure that jumping in that ball would be the best idea.
ill trooper @ Sep 7th 2006 6:49PM
So, wait, this thing was dropped from the PS3 last week? BUMMER! Sony lies!
Just kidding. I've been seeing this thing a lot on the internet, and while it looks super cool, it seems you still might feel the arc of the sphere while running or walking - a forget about laying down or those Jacke Chan leaps!
donte @ Sep 7th 2006 7:02PM
i've been in the virtusphere a couple of times (at the university of washington). trust me, it's not ready for prime time. the inertia aspects have already been discussed. my guess is that the earlier commenter didn't try it with the v.r. helmet, which gave me the worst case of eyestrain i've ever had. on top of that, there was still some degree of lag, so between the foreign sense of intertia and the delayed visual response, it's still more novelty than actually amusing. it's incredibly clever, but there's a lot of work to be done before people don't vomit or at least leave with a blinding headache.
bassbeast @ Sep 7th 2006 6:56PM
Thanks for the credit, Kyle! I guess you don't remember me from years past. :p
brandon @ Sep 8th 2006 4:56PM
myst, plain and simple this would work perfectly for that game. Altho im always looking for the VR Counter Strike that prob wouldnt work in the hamster ball maybe this tho: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYE6dqaereU
matt@transformers3d.com @ Sep 8th 2006 5:30AM
I find the lack of Katamari Damacy comments disturbing!
Gabs @ Sep 7th 2006 7:14PM
Come on! You know want to play Sonic! Now you too can do death defying stunts and roll up. That would be tripy :-)
Jedi @ Sep 7th 2006 7:43PM
This thing is just SCREAMING to be used for Dead Rising.
Wulkar @ Sep 8th 2006 6:08PM
I want to play Guild Wars with that.
gamer9190 @ Sep 7th 2006 7:32PM
"The PS2 will let you jack into the Matrix!" Oh, Kutaragi, you and your dreams...
l3ftonm3 @ Sep 7th 2006 7:37PM
Virtual Crossfire!!! a slew of these hooked up and you acting the part of a ball in the game rolling towards victims face first would be awesome.
yubastard @ Sep 7th 2006 8:23PM
I have only one title:
"Grand Theft Auto: Puerto Rico"
...and go in a rolling spree frenzy killing corrupt politicians and pig cops... LOL it would rock :)
J @ Sep 7th 2006 8:45PM
Well you could pull you'r own Lemiwinks VR adventure but I don't know if I really want to solve the cattata fish's riddle.
HotShotX @ Sep 7th 2006 9:03PM
Does anyone else notice that if the guy walks forward he will plummet through a gaping hole?
~HotShotX
The3rdNuisance @ Sep 7th 2006 9:31PM
Someone's been reading my mind, of course they read it 9 years before I thought of it, and have thought of much less of it.
Now if I only understood exactly how computers work, and I could make a design.
Chris @ Sep 7th 2006 11:59PM
With new materials this thing could be made super light and easy to change direction. It is the only way forward as far as being able to walk in different directions. This machine has not been well publisied and with a little bit of new technology (lite polymers, OLED's), publicity and funding someone will put their mind to it and everyone will end up having one.
thebigL @ Sep 7th 2006 11:58PM
I'd say the ball would have to be much bigger so you don't feel the arch of the ball as you step, and it would have to have a brake system to stop it so it doesn't gain momentum, as the first 3rd poster mentioned.
n8dogg @ Sep 8th 2006 12:02AM
@26 (Ethan)
Buh? Are you serious? Shadow of the Colossus is an incredible game, but I fail to see how you made a connection between that and this VR tech.
Shadow of the Colossus features horseback riding, lots of jumping, and lets not forget the whole climbing up on a freaking giant idea.
No, this isn't a game suited for this control scheme.
Shane-o-mac @ Sep 8th 2006 1:05AM
haha it screams to be played with Katamari. I know you see it
David @ Sep 8th 2006 4:26AM
I acutally came up with a plan for a working 2d conveyor belt system for VR a long time ago, basically alot of very small (3 inch) conveyer belts assembled into a larger conveyer belt, so the user can move in X & Y infinite planes. Getting someone to build such a system is another matter. The whole thing would need sensors, motors and brakes so you could quickly change direction without loosing your balance, and handle inertia propperly.
Patent pending and all that. This post exists as prior art so don't try to patent it yourself.
unrealy2k @ Sep 10th 2006 12:37AM
Definitely cool if it doesn't cost too much. probly would be ideal for GRAW or goldeneye.
But think about this what if u used the rolling of the hamster ball to help power ur house while you play the game
Mike @ Sep 8th 2006 3:38PM
Here's a better idea: find a way to project onto the sphere, instead of those awful head-tracking puke-glasses.
I remember dropping $20 at a VR Pavillion or something - this was in the early 90's. VR stood for Vomit Regularly. The main attraction was a car thing which would spin around and rotate, inside was a indycar-level race simulator. The effect was feeble, like bad 3d. There were two motion-movie rides - where the seats weren't quite synched to the screen, resulting in even more nausea. Finally there were two "rides" involving games and head-tracking devices. You spent 5 minutes taking instructions from one of the VR carnies, going, "what am I supposed to do?"
It was horrible. While real-time 3D is amazing compared to the mid90's I'm not sure the rest of that VR technology has changed.
For now, the best you can do is get a nice hi-res monitor, dim the lights real low, crank the surround, and practically touch your nose to the screen. It kind of works for the "you are there" sensation.
Another thought, how many of you read Michael Crighton's "Disclosure" (or saw the awfule demi moore / michael douglass film)? Crighton thought VR goggles/gloves would make a great interface for navigating a simple corporate database.
David @ Sep 9th 2006 9:45AM
You all might want to check out our work at www.vsd.bz. We have already built (and patented) the system that David G descibes. For a mind-blowing hmd, try www.sensics.com. Emagin also had a very nice and affordable hmd that works with standard gaming systems - www.emagin.com. The VirtuSphere is still under development, so don't sell it short...