Tag Archives: Controller

Mad Genius Combines Kinect and Sony Move To Bring A Super Controller

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Today’s gaming has evolved to being more interactive compared to the days when we use to get the hang out of Atari’s and even Nintendo’s. One of the critical components that dictate our play is the controller. In this age, having an innovative console controller could defy how we do and view gaming and such can be said to Mad Genius’ creation.

24891 motion capture skyrim demo 1 Mad Genius Combines Kinect and Sony Move To Bring A Super Controller

For starters, the company has developed a motion-controlling gamepad that has superb precision. The controller can even be separated into two (2) portions when one is playing a game.

What sets it apart is that it doesn’t utilize accelerometers or cameras to track gamer/player movements. Its precision is down to 1/100 of an inch which is dead precise in controlling characters, weapons and game menus. It’s also flexible as it can be used to any game console for any game.

The early prototype developed by Mad Genius still has a lot of wires connected to it. As demonstrated in the game Skyrim (see video below), the controller allowed full 3D controls and sensed the jumps, moves and ministrations done by the player.

Mad Genius is planning to launch it on Kickstarter in order to source out the necessary funds for the undertaking. No word as to when production will start and its availability. The company though assured that the final or end product to be shipped will be completely wireless.

Delta Six Gun Controller: Confirmed Release For Xbox 720 and PS4 Too

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We first heard about the realistic gun controller, Delta Six, last year when it was being promoted for Black Ops 2. The automatic shooter is the brain child of David Kotkin who took it online via Kickstarter to gather funds and support. Unfortunately, Kotkin decided to pull it out as he felt that not enough support was gathered. After several hardware and software upgrades done during the past couple of months, the peripheral is reunited again with Kickstarter.

654c8 arduino delta six gun controller Delta Six Gun Controller: Confirmed Release For Xbox 720 and PS4 Too

The Delta Six has this unique ability to combine realism and motion-capable gaming. With its gyroscopes, accelerometers, and buttons in strange places, gamers are allowed to do things such as making a steady shot by pulling the device close to their arm and bringing up those in-game sights through the barrel. The controller features recoil and infrared proximity which gives it the freedom to zoom automatically. You can even tap its virtual clip if you want to reload.

For the innards, the gun controller features an Arduino which enables easy updates and customization in its hardware and software. While it is said to be compatible with the Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, sooner or later it will also enjoy compatibility with next-gen gaming consoles after getting an update from a downloadable patch. As soon as it hits the targeted funds, it will be ready for shipping in December.

Originally, the project bears the $ 89 price tag. Since it was deemed as too low, it has been increased to $ 159. The controllers come in either black or white hues with tips that bear the orange tint. The funding goal is now steadied at $ 100,000 compared with the previous plan of reaching one million.

Interested customers can pledge from as low as $ 1 to as much as $ 159. The latter amount would of course enable them to have their own Delta Six controller. Retail price is set at an “eyebrow raising” amount of $ 225.

Currently, the Delta Six has managed to reach $ 32,688 from diehard 175 backers. It may be true that the controller has a very unique and interesting concept. However, its practicality when compared with other first-person shooter games is deemed questionable.

(source)

Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July 22 to Allow to Additional Testing

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db5c4 leap logo thumb Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July 22 to Allow to Additional Testing

Remember the innovative Leap gesture-control device that aims to replace mice and trackpads for Macs and PCs? Following an announcement earlier this year that the product would finally launch on May 13 (and as a Best Buy exclusive on May 19), Leap Motion CEO Michael Buckwald has announced that the launch has now been delayed until July 22 to allow time for additional testing.

05ac7 leap motion leap 580x359 Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July 22 to Allow to Additional Testing

The additional testing is intended to improve the software that communicates with the device to improve the user experience. As Buckwald noted in his letter to customers who pre-ordered the device, the delay reflects the company’s desire to absolutely perfect the device before shpping to consumers – an Apple-like ideal rarely seen in the consumer electronics world.

While it will be frustrating for many users to have to wait two more months to get their pre-ordered devices, it’s better for Leap to do this right rather than release a product that isn’t ideal for their customers. The full text of the letter sent to customers can be seen below. For more details, visit the Leap Motion website. Interestingly, the pre-order page still lists the ship date as May 13.

I wanted to reach out to update you on the status of our ship date. After a lot of consideration, we’ve decided to push back the date and will now be shipping units to pre-order customers on July 22nd.

This is not a decision we take lightly. There are hundreds of thousands of people in over 150 countries who have pre-ordered Leap Motion controllers, some as long as a year ago. These people are part of our community and there is nothing more important to us than getting them devices as quickly as possible.
 
We’ve made a lot of progress. When we first started taking orders back in May we were twelve (very tired) people in a basement. Now we are eighty (although still tired and possibly still in a basement). We’ve manufactured over six hundred thousand devices and delivered twelve thousand to amazing developers who are building applications that let people do things that just wouldn’t have been possible before.

These developers have given us great feedback that we’ve used to make huge improvements to the stability and polish of the product. We’re really proud of Leap Motion as both a company and a product.

 
The reality is we very likely could have hit the original ship date. But it wouldn’t have left time for comprehensive testing. This will come in the form of a beta test that will start in June. We will give the 12k developers who currently have Leap Motion controllers access to the feature complete product including OS interaction (today developers only have access to the SDK). We will also invite some people who are not developers to join the beta test.
 
Ultimately, the only way we felt 100% confident we could deliver a truly magical product that would do justice to this new form of interaction, was to push the date so we would have more time for a larger, more diverse beta test.
 
I really appreciate your patience. I know it’s been a long wait. Everyone at Leap Motion is working tirelessly to make sure that the wait is worth it. Thanks so much for your help and support.
 
David and I will be participating in an open video Q&A using Google Hangout tomorrow at 11:30am Pacific time. To join our hangout, please visit our Google+ page. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact our support team at support@leapmotion.com or my personal email (buckwald@leapmotion.com). As always, we will not charge pre-order customer’s credit cards until the devices have actually shipped.
 
Thanks again.
 
Michael Buckwald

05ac7 LGvI CYaCi8 Leap Motion Controller Delayed Until July 22 to Allow to Additional Testing

PS3 4.40 Problems Include Freezing, Controller Issues and More

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The mandatory PS3 Firmware update 4.40 was recently released last March 21st. While issues on stability have been fixed due to the update, users have been complaining on new issues and console-related irregularities.

The main issue revolves around the freezing of the PS3 whenever there is an update, install, and game play. The tech team from Sony responded by saying that it must be related to the hardware.

While there could be truth to Sony’s claim, it doesn’t hide the fact that several complaints have been made which only surfaced right after the 4.40 update. Users have even expressed that they have never had any issues before and started having such after getting the update. Whether it’s purely coincidental or an unwanted reality, PS3 users are waiting for an answer.

Aside from freezing, other users have been complaining about their controllers not being synced with the system after it was updated. For a temporary solution, they have to hold the PS button, wait for it to be turned off, and then turn the system on again. Other complaints involve users not being able to view movies on Blu-Ray and HDMI-based problems.

As a way to pacify the complaining users, the PlayStation Network has announced a downtime period from April 15 (2pm) to April 16 (5am). During this time, players won’t be able to access Sony’s website, log in to their account, visit the PlayStation Store, and make console transactions.

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Xbox 720 Controller Leaked With Strange Design (Rumor)

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By this time, game developers have probably gotten a good feel of Xbox’ new controller since they have had it in their hands for a month or so already. While this is not news, stories surrounding the look of the controllers are. According to some secret sources, the controller of the Xbox 720 looks like a zebra right now, with stripes zigging, zagging, criss-crossing and radiating every which way.

There are undoubtedly numerous people wondering why Microsoft had to go that far, especially since specs about its next gen console has already been leaked ad infinitum. But there are several good reasons for the controllers’ distinct camouflage. Probably the best and most logical reason for the zebra look is to prevent images of the controller to be leaked in public. It’s admittedly impossible to trace someone posting a black game controller but if every Xbox 720 controller in developers’ hands have a unique design and someone posted a photo of it, then the company can trace who has that particular unit. One other possible reason for the stripes is for camouflage. As any design student knows, stripes can make it hard for someone to clearly see a product’s features, size or shape.

It’s safe to assume there won’t be any images of the Xbox 720’s controller coming out in the next couple of months or so. It’s not such a big loss tho since the new controller is said to look like the old controller, only smaller.

(via)