NEWS - Friday, June 24, 2005


Virtual Reality On Xbox

Taunton (MA) - Virtual Reality is one of those promising technologies that keeps running out of steam just when they could get interesting for the mass market. Here’s a new try: 3001 AD believes 2005 is the year for mainstream VR and preps a $500 high-tech headset for game consoles. Remember the monstrous and futuristic Virtual Reality stages from the mid 90s? Many of us, especially journalists believed this to be the future of gaming. Unfortunately, these platforms, typically priced above $10,000, never made it beyond theme parks and cyber cafés. Still, VR always has been a simmering technology that has been waiting for its mainstream opportunity. This opportunity could come along in the fourth quarter of this year, when 3001AD, a company that builds high-end VR machines for large-scale entertainment centers, will introduce a headset that can be used in combination with the Xbox and the Playstation game consoles and several blockbuster game titles. The system, called "Trimersion" and recently demonstrated at the E3 trade show, promises 360-degree head tracking for home gaming. The device uses a binocular video subsystem manufactured by Kopin and delivers a QVGA resolution (320 x 240). According to Kopin, this can be compared to a virtual image equivalent of a 35-inch display viewed from a seven-foot distance. The VR platform promises gamers the ability to control key elements of their virtual environments, such as point of view and player position, with an intuitive turn of the head instead of a thumb or finger command. A non-tracking version of the Trimersion is available for players who prefer a mouse or hand control. Trimersion also lets gamers wield a pistol-style input device, rather than push buttons, to shoot within the game. Mark Rifkin, senior vice president of 3001 AD said that virtual reality has made significant progress in recent years and that the technology is becoming more available. "Ten years ago, VR was very expensive and very bulky. Today, we do not have these issues anymore. We plan to make these systems available on a much larger scale." Still, VR is not going to be cheap. Rifkin expects the Trimersion to sell for $395 in large quantities with suggested retail pricing to come in just under $500. Availability is expected for the fourth quarter of this year. According to 3001 AD, there are currently between 30 and 40 game titles that support its VR technology, for example Halo. Many potential buyers may scratch their head and wonder, if such a system is worth about twice the money of a regular console. But in times when gamers shell out up to $1000 for a graphics card, $500 for a VR subsystem almost appears to be a bargain.
Source: http://www.tomshardware.com

Site Statistics

Registered Members: 80,948
Forum Posts: 725,969
Xbox One Titles: 6,507
Xbox 360 Titles: 1,086
Xbox 360 Kinect Titles: 95
Xbox 360 Arcade Titles: 586
Original Xbox Titles: 987
Staff Reviews: 2,602
Member Reviews: 10,339
News Articles: 16,557
Screenshots: 39,499
Xbox 360 Achievements: 45,112
Xbox 360 Faceplates: 2,016
Cheat Codes: 1,706

Latest News

Bulwark: Evolution Out Now on Consoles

Bulwark: Evolution Out Now on ConsolesThis major free update, which has already been successfully launched on Steam, brings a new layer of depth, strategy, and innovative gameplay mechanics to the immersive world of Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles.


Thrustmaster Unveils T.Flight Hotas One

Thrustmaster Unveils T.Flight Hotas OneThrustmaster’s best-seller is back with a new look featuring the official license of Microsoft Flight Simulator. This complete, precise and easy-to-use hands- on throttle and stick (HOTAS) is the ideal companion for Microsoft Flight Sim 2024







See News Archives

Community Forum Activity

KeyWe Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 26220 Views

2021: XBA is still here
Post by shrew king
40 Replies, 234709 Views

Watch Dogs: Legion
Post by Nato King
0 Replies, 124839 Views

Xbox Series X or S
Post by Nato King
5 Replies, 142550 Views

Spellbreak Grand Magus Pack (3) and Starter Pack (7) Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 131287 Views

I pay $ 1000! I search the Element 54 Canadian launch Team signaturen Faceplate
Post by Smill
0 Replies, 153878 Views

Xbox one no signal
Post by debrartin
0 Replies, 143339 Views

do you remember?
Post by SnoochyBoochy
3 Replies, 213397 Views

i haz xbox
Post by SnoochyBoochy
0 Replies, 167181 Views

Claiming the first thread of 2020
Post by Kraft
7 Replies, 263450 Views

Important! I pay $ 1000! I search the Sweden launch and the Element 54 Faceplate
Post by Smill
3 Replies, 149181 Views

Squad Up
Post by samslophead
0 Replies, 253718 Views

TERA Skinned Xbox One X Giveaway!
Post by Variation-XBA
0 Replies, 178957 Views

Starfield Release expectations?
Post by DJ tx
4 Replies, 309312 Views

Issue with Xbox live on Xbox home
Post by rcmpayne
0 Replies, 167251 Views

© 2000-2024 XboxAddict.com - All rights reserved. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft. XboxAddict.com is not affiliated with Microsoft.

Made in Canada
Site Design by Cameron Graphics