We don't just go to GDC in search of hot scoops. We're also constantly scanning our periphery for the next big movement in video game technology. This year, it came in the form of the VirtuSphere – a device we've heard about since 2006 but haven't seen in person until today. No, it's not a magical orb which infuses its user with moral excellence; it's a virtual reality peripheral controlled by its enveloped user's strut.
The technology was demoed on the show floor at GDC with a rudimentary first-person shooter. The player wears a visor (which changes the camera's view as the player looks around in real time) and holds a light gun peripheral. They can walk around the rolling sphere, which moves the player's in-game avatar around the level. Sounds too awesome to be true, doesn't it? Hey, we'd never lie to you. Check out a video demonstration of the device after the jump.
What? Did we try it out? No, unfortunately, we've got a thing about dizzy-puking in public.
Reader Comments (45)
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 6:09AM (Unverified) said
THE FUTURE IS COMING
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 8:55AM (Unverified) said
Wait a minute.. THIS LOOKS LIKE EXERCISING, BOOO!!
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Posted: Mar 12th 2010 6:10AM (Unverified) said
video games are made so that players would accomplish 2 things: sit on their ass and push buttons. this... this defeats the purpose, on a very very large scale.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 6:19AM LimitedVertigo said
What if it was a rape sphere? I mean come on...
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Posted: Mar 12th 2010 6:19AM Puertoricarious said
hmmm, and all along i thought it had something to do with having fun.
guess i'd better find a new hobby.
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guess i'd better find a new hobby.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 7:15AM (Unverified) said
@David: here you go sir, here's +1 internets for you.
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Posted: Mar 12th 2010 6:12AM Uracat said
I don't think it will fit in my living room. =(
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 6:14AM zefur said
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 6:32AM El Stefio said
"Okama Gamesphere!"
"Woah!"
"Woah!"
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 7:06AM falcomadol said
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 8:37AM Soniquev8 said
Ok, I'm surprised no one's said it yet but...
it's the Danger Room.
it's the Danger Room.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 8:43AM dbldn said
This was on The Shark Tank and they were looking for big chunks of money for investment... and none of the sharks bit. Graphics looked very week and the audience was incredible weak.
Posted: Mar 22nd 2010 2:12PM HardBoiled2009 said
Yes this was on The Shark Tank ( i think Kevin O'Leary got into it ) but when they had it on the show i think they said something like military training usage and hoping to get in fun parks i think as well. I also have too say tho the concept isn't the greatest ( IMO ) it's cool they made this but most people don't wanna leave their home to go play a game they wanna stay home or go to a friends house and game.
even if i had a chance too play one i would just too see what it's like but i wouldn't want one ( even if i did have the space and Money for it.
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even if i had a chance too play one i would just too see what it's like but i wouldn't want one ( even if i did have the space and Money for it.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 9:36AM Jerkamie said
These guys were on shark tank with this and no one would invest, and I don't blame them.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 10:11AM Teleto said
I think this is something that's more up the Military's alley. Get this thing running ArmA II and we'll talk. Either way, it doesn't look very easy from the video.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 10:16AM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said
Competitors, ready?
Gladiators, ready?
*Horn blows*
Gladiators, ready?
*Horn blows*
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 10:26AM technoKyle said
Kinda looks like the bit at the end of The Crystal Maze.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 10:52AM Ashkental said
Looks like an Holodec prototype
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 11:11AM JCDoe said
This has got to be the worst idea I've ever seen.
Yeah, there'll be one of these in every kid's house! All you need is a dedicated diesel power generator (because this f$$$er will blow all your fuses otherwise) a 100 sq. ft. area in your house to keep the giant metal ball in, a pricey rider on your homeowner's insurance just in case the ball causes a fire/rolls through a wall/ causes people to break in just to laugh at you. And of course, the low low price of $80,000 for all of that industrial grade steel.
Cheap!
Yeah, there'll be one of these in every kid's house! All you need is a dedicated diesel power generator (because this f$$$er will blow all your fuses otherwise) a 100 sq. ft. area in your house to keep the giant metal ball in, a pricey rider on your homeowner's insurance just in case the ball causes a fire/rolls through a wall/ causes people to break in just to laugh at you. And of course, the low low price of $80,000 for all of that industrial grade steel.
Cheap!
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 11:42AM Xoonaka said
Or... it could be the rebirth of the Arcade. Imagine a room with 16 of these guys for some 8v8 deathmatch! Throw in one of those force feedback vests, and I'm sure you'd get some business selling the experience, once you start porting some better titles like Modern Warfare over.
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Posted: Mar 12th 2010 11:27AM JamesHks said
THIS WAS MY IDEA. well, this is always one of the ways i thought virtual reality might one day happen, this or just a giant 2 dimensionally travelling treadmill.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 11:29AM Shagittarius said
Wow, terrible.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 11:32AM Tephlon said
I'm thinking the only place it makes sense for them to target this to is arcades.
And I have to admit.... done right, I would go to an arcade with 10 of these and play some wicked multiplayer. It's like video games meets laser tag.
I think it has promise... if they can make money on such a model.
But no, this will never go into the average american's home. Then again I don't think it's meant to.
And I have to admit.... done right, I would go to an arcade with 10 of these and play some wicked multiplayer. It's like video games meets laser tag.
I think it has promise... if they can make money on such a model.
But no, this will never go into the average american's home. Then again I don't think it's meant to.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 12:01PM MarkezJM said
Was this the thing I saw on Shark Tank last year?
Posted: Mar 13th 2010 2:15PM (Unverified) said
Definitely. I was just thinking that. The silly bastards turned it down, too.
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Posted: Mar 12th 2010 1:40PM Zorque said
Hey, it's the room from The Man Who Fell to Earth!
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 1:50PM TheDarkWayne said
Man, that's really cool, one step closer to holodecks! It's nice to have something to place my hope back in since now it's obvious Natal and Move will probably be shitty.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 3:33PM JCDoe said
Of course Natal and Move are going to suck. How many wii games /don't/ suck? Not many.
Oh, and let's not forget games that use sixaxis, lol!
Seriously, with VERY few exceptions, motion controls suck. I don't care if there's a camera in the controller and an IR bar on the tv, a camera on the tv and a glowing ball in the controller, or a camera on the tv and fancy software in the machine, it is going to suck. Those few games that won't suck (as bad) will be those that use traditional controls with as little waggle added on as possible (like Mario Galaxy and NSMB:Wii).
Have I mentioned how badly motion controls suck?
Yeah, I hate motion controls.
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Oh, and let's not forget games that use sixaxis, lol!
Seriously, with VERY few exceptions, motion controls suck. I don't care if there's a camera in the controller and an IR bar on the tv, a camera on the tv and a glowing ball in the controller, or a camera on the tv and fancy software in the machine, it is going to suck. Those few games that won't suck (as bad) will be those that use traditional controls with as little waggle added on as possible (like Mario Galaxy and NSMB:Wii).
Have I mentioned how badly motion controls suck?
Yeah, I hate motion controls.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 3:28PM JCDoe said
Lets say this is, in fact, for arcades.
First, to play a game, you're going to need a lot more than a quarter to pay for this thing. Just look at the thing! Its massive! And at $20 for each game, you're not going to see the "arcade revolution" you're hoping for.
Second, did you see how big this thing is? Where do you imagine people will put these? This isn't like having a 5'x5' pac man table at the pizza shop. 16 of these??? That'd take up an entire department store!
Oh, and let's not forget what this is going to do to your insurance rates. Right now all you need to worry about is people slipping on a wet floor or on ice outside the door. Throw in 16 steel balls of doom, and people are gonna be falling over like gangbusters. This is like a gold-plated litigation invitation (rhyme intended).
I'm telling ya now, if these ever make it to mass production, I will eat my hat. In fact, I don't have a hat, so I will go to the store, buy a nice $15-20 ball cap, and then eat it if this takes off. That's how certain I am that it is going to fail.
First, to play a game, you're going to need a lot more than a quarter to pay for this thing. Just look at the thing! Its massive! And at $20 for each game, you're not going to see the "arcade revolution" you're hoping for.
Second, did you see how big this thing is? Where do you imagine people will put these? This isn't like having a 5'x5' pac man table at the pizza shop. 16 of these??? That'd take up an entire department store!
Oh, and let's not forget what this is going to do to your insurance rates. Right now all you need to worry about is people slipping on a wet floor or on ice outside the door. Throw in 16 steel balls of doom, and people are gonna be falling over like gangbusters. This is like a gold-plated litigation invitation (rhyme intended).
I'm telling ya now, if these ever make it to mass production, I will eat my hat. In fact, I don't have a hat, so I will go to the store, buy a nice $15-20 ball cap, and then eat it if this takes off. That's how certain I am that it is going to fail.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 7:54PM (Unverified) said
Nice buns....er I mean nice article o.O
Posted: Mar 13th 2010 12:40PM (Unverified) said
Coming soon for the Nintendo Sii 2013.
And then when everyone and their mom buys into the gimmicky Sii, the Playstation 4 will release an add on called the Playstation Roll which will "improve" and not "copy" this tech.
And then when everyone and their mom buys into the gimmicky Sii, the Playstation 4 will release an add on called the Playstation Roll which will "improve" and not "copy" this tech.
Posted: Mar 14th 2010 1:18PM Korova Pamplona said
I dont know about all you skeptics, I want one. Maybe they can re-engineer it to a half-sphere. It would be farking owesome.
Posted: Mar 14th 2010 2:34PM Capgun said
I've always been interested in this sort of thing. Had been mulling around a similar concept in my head for ages(My idea involved more of a treadmill type pad). Would love to see this seriously get off the ground.
Posted: Mar 14th 2010 6:39PM schwal said
I saw a much more practical type thing at Siggraph a few years back. Basically involved a pair of rollerskates with sensors, hooked up to a TV that rotated around a platform. You "walk" on the platform and steer by rotating the TV. Total size was about that of a large arcade machine. Presumably much cheaper to make and operate too.
Posted: Mar 14th 2010 10:05PM clarinetJWD said
There is the problem of momentum... That's a pretty big sphere, and because it has to be strong enough to withstand you stomping all over it, it's bound to be pretty heavy. That means it'll be tough to get it moving in the first place, and once you're at speed, damn near impossible to change direction quickly...
Posted: Mar 22nd 2010 2:19PM HardBoiled2009 said
I know what i wanna do with the ball. I wanna take it outside and roll things up with it. oh forgot too mention they have too add either something that makes things stick too the ball easily and it will be like playing Katamari games !
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