Virtuix Omni Kickstarter - first day goals reached

Devlish · 4 Jun 2013 at 18:08

Well, thes no doubt plenty of reason to be sceptical, but i think a lot of people see the possibilities here, especially when combined with the oculus rift. Certainly, out of its modest 150k goal, on part of the first day it has hit 241k so far.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1944625487/omni-move-naturally-in-your-favorite-game

For those of us in the UK sadly they have changed their minds about having a local supplier for the kits and will now charge an extra $150 international shipping - which means i wont be picking one up until they go commercial. But if that doesnt bother you and you want to get into the tiers that are left, knock yourself out. One tier even has a signed copy of Ready Player One!

We are in the midst of a revolution in virtual reality. The release of affordable head mounted displays and low-cost sensor technologies has brought the decades-old dream of true virtual reality closer than ever, but there’s still one more piece to the puzzle: the Omni.

The Omni takes virtual reality to the next level— allowing anyone to stand up and traverse virtual worlds with the natural use of their own feet. The Omni is the first virtual reality interface for moving freely and naturally in your favorite game. Moving naturally in virtual reality creates an unprecedented sense of immersion that cannot be experienced sitting down. That's why we developed the Omni.

SkeeterUK · 4 Jun 2013 at 18:30

I cant see large men fitting in that thing and could it hold the weight of a large man?

PinkFloyd · 4 Jun 2013 at 18:38

That's pretty impressive. Imagine using that and one of the headpieces would be awesome. Surprised by the price too, a lot cheaper than I'd have expected when I first saw it, joys of such a simple design.

Ksanti · 4 Jun 2013 at 18:58

Looks cool but I'd really not want to be an early adopter on something like this. We need established driver support and viable wireless video and audio transfer for this sort of thing to really work, combined of course with proper battery life to that end.

PinkFloyd · 4 Jun 2013 at 19:34

I wouldn't say wireless video/audio is that vital providing you aren't planning on spinning in circles for ages. Chuck the headset, have the cables running up to the roof via a hook just to keep clear of movement and you should be pretty much sorted I'd have thought.

As to drivers - definitely true. I'll definitely try it out if I get a chance but until I've got my own place and good support in games that it really adds to (I imagine it'll just be a novelty in most fps games) I'd not consider buying it! Likewise with the Occulus.

Jokester · 4 Jun 2013 at 19:36

It's a bit like a baby walker for a grown man.

m4rk84 · 4 Jun 2013 at 20:11

I honestly think the prospect of kinect+oculus rift is an almost as enticing combo, much cheaper and probably much more likely to see significant developer support.

Sin_Chase · 4 Jun 2013 at 20:15

Cable management needs to be SERIOUSLY looked at.

The seriously awesome prospect of this is full 360 degree freedom where you can actually run/walk indefinitely. That's not something ANY motion tracking hardware can do without a supportive platform..which is exactly what omni aims to achieve.

In fact, the Omni is nothing more than a platform to allow tracking devices far more flexibility. I imagine you will see an arm extending off the rotating belt section to mount a tracking device looking back at you, turns when you turn so it can properly track no matter which way you run/look.

Another thing to really really push the envelope on this is synchronising the sound of foot steps with your own on the Omni. Sound is a HUGE part of immersion.

G-MAN2004 · 4 Jun 2013 at 20:15

Hmm, I'd rather sit in my comfy chair and relax whilst playing.

Devlish · 4 Jun 2013 at 20:25

Exercise could actually be *gasp* fun! 'course exercise isnt for everyone - myself included.

RevBillyG · 4 Jun 2013 at 20:45

G-MAN2004 said:
Hmm, I'd rather sit in my comfy chair and relax whilst playing.

What he said!

The Running Man · 4 Jun 2013 at 21:01

Not made for prone snipers then?

Mart2912 · 4 Jun 2013 at 21:09

I can see this being awesome in a game like Amnesia.

:(Rhodri:) · 4 Jun 2013 at 21:20

Mart2912 said:
I can see this being awesome in a game like Amnesia.

I think I'd break it trying to run away faster.

V4NT0M · 4 Jun 2013 at 21:33

Looked like a joke tbh

Nadrian · 4 Jun 2013 at 22:24

If the way it works can be readily and easily implemented into existing game then i'd probably buy this, but just imagine it in a walking simulator like skyrim

FrenchTart · 4 Jun 2013 at 22:26

This won't work so well with retro games

Devlish · 4 Jun 2013 at 22:45

Rhodri said:
I think I'd break it trying to run away faster.

Yeah, in dayz this would be my own personal coward simulator.

privateeye0 · 4 Jun 2013 at 23:44

Come home from a hard day at work then physically jump into a game of say, Borderlands 2 LOL I can only imagine....

Mercutio · 5 Jun 2013 at 00:05

Hmmm, how do you jump + direction?

Does look pretty decent though. The riften video was pretty cool.
Cables wise, as said, coiled/bungle cable on a roof hook would have that side of things sorted. If they got it working how it looked there's no NEED for driver support, all the control+tracking surfaces between them emulate mouse+keyboard as far as I could see. It's basically ready to roll for most games, just the practicalities of which games it will work in.