Twist to fitness with $1700 hover-chair controller

We've all found ourselves thinking it at one time or another: "Sure, this game is fun, but it would be even better if I were twisting around in some ridiculous-looking seat hovering just above the ground." Luckily, Australian Simulation Control System's had the same though, and actually did something about it with their pending Dream Machine game controller contraption.
The highly-adjustable Dream Machine uses a " multi modal central support crown" for "rotational and four way pan and tilt action" -- basically a fancy way of saying you can move yourself around by pushing on the handlebars. It's not exactly clear how the $1,700 contraption actually translates your body movements to on-screen actions, but the device's web site claims it's compatible with PC, Xbox and PlayStation games, and that the company is actively looking for companies to create specially-designed applications. Those with too much money and too few novelty controllers can look for it in March.
[Via SciFi]










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthew C @ Jan 18th 2007 2:46PM
Hopefully the build quality of this stellar invention will be better than the marketing image, it must be a joke.
Terry @ Jan 18th 2007 3:07PM
Like the old arcade version of Sega's "Hang On" could maybe not suck...
Revolution @ Jan 18th 2007 3:19PM
That's the most retarded graphic evar
grambles @ Jan 18th 2007 3:41PM
Forget the Dream Machine - where can I get those snazzy speakers.
Zegim @ Jan 18th 2007 3:46PM
You gotta be kidding me.
AStalkingButler @ Jan 18th 2007 3:52PM
Fake fake fake fake fake fake fake.
A Lurking Ninja @ Jan 18th 2007 4:00PM
sad thing is ....its real.. i watched it at ces
Boudin @ Jan 18th 2007 4:01PM
There are two contraptions exactly like this one at the museum of flight in Seattle. They're used in a hang glider flight simulator. I've tried it and it's probably quite realistic for this application.
For a driving game or anything that requires fast reactions, I don't think so. Well, for anything that's not a hang glider simulator, it just wouldn't work.
MrPolarBare @ Jan 18th 2007 4:22PM
You can buy the same device at your local sex shop for $300.
NeverSage @ Jan 18th 2007 5:37PM
I used to have something a lot like this for the snes. It was called the Joyride. Anyone remember it? It was impossible to control
Ace @ Jan 18th 2007 11:06PM
Love the sex swing comment dude.
ackmondual @ Jan 19th 2007 10:41AM
it's alwasy neat to hear ppl coming out with unique gadgets liek this, but at $1700, it's only gonna be for a VERY niche market with very little game made to take good advantage of it.
And no, sometimes your love swing just needs to have motion detection/control and a keyboard strapped to it. :P
Killer Instinct @ Jan 19th 2007 6:10PM
this reminds me of the old SNES excercise bikes they had