Virtusphere creates 360-degree immersive VR experience

Forget that puny, uncomfortable Revolution controller. For a truly immersive gaming experience, the Virtusphere is the only way to go. The 360-degree VR environment allows for complete movement in a virtual environment, and can be paired with head-mounted displays for a total alternate-reality experience. Of course, at between $50K and $100K to buy, this is a tad more expensive than the Revolution, which might explain why only a handful of these have been sold so far, mainly to military and law-enforcement groups, which are using it for training and after-hours fragfests.

[Via Technovelgy]

[Mu Doggy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

AWWW DAMMIT!! My friend and I designed this thing months ago... can't belive someone made one already.

[karmaghost @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"fragfasts?" Yay editing.

[Jim Jolo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Always subtly bashing on Nintendo these media outlets, when will these "grown-ups" realize that its them who are being 'teh KiDdie' by always putting down Nintendo's emphasis on actual gameplay and not just horsepower. Don't count out a controller by the producers of the D-pad, the Analogue stick and the Rumble pack until you try it.

[Osiris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

IT WAS A JOKE OMFGWTF.

[Osiris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Btw vids at:
http://www.virtusphere.com/videos/

Sry for double post.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#2: Yeah, it's when you play Halo for hours on end without eating.

[jayarr_the_motherfcuking_superstar @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

so now i can get the headshots in 3D?

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Man + Hamster = Manster...

Actually, its pretty cool. Until someone dies.

[jacob lawson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

haaah! check the video, then tell me this isn't a lifesize version of MonkeyBall!

[super_structure @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I wonder if the person in the photo above thinks wearing camouflage pants will help avoid being shot in the game? Now that's virtual reality.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The game can see the pants.

[Gil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

exactly why is this 100k? I could build that with 1k.

Someone call hackaday!

[pihrm @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Seems like it would have momentum issues. "Running, running, want to stop, ooh, but my world is still moving around me." And looks like it'd be a bit too small to not feel like you're always walking uphill. Definitely cool though.

But definitely cooler would be a larger sphere, and non-passive casters beneath, rigged with Segway-esque servos...you get the idea...

[Einhanderkiller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

1 day old news. =O

http://digg.com/technology/The_Virtual_Reality_Machine,_VirtuSphere

[SR @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"fragfast: it's when you play Halo for hours on end without eating"

ROFLMAO

[Kenneth Sundby @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It has begun.

[D @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Did someone break into the set of American Gladiators to make these things?

[me @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Old... i saw this last year and it was old then. the video doesnt match motion very well soo i thought it was fake.. I know its possible, but the dynamics dont match the environment they are trying to accomplish... ( btw a lot of articles lately are OLD... ive seen this stuff years ago and finaly its "new and cool" what the hell?)

[Ipsum @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I'm not really seeing the immersion. VR's old, so all they did was design a way to run in place. Am I missing something?