GameRunner first-person shooter treadmill controller

We've finally found the perfect device to complement our Entertrainer workout-motivator (you remember, the device that shuts off your TV if your pulse drops too low): the GameRunner treadmill controller for first-person shooters on your PC. Apparently this rig works with any FPS that would otherwise use keyboard and mouse controls, and replaces the "walk" command with your own leg power. You can control the speed of your on-screen character by walking faster or slower on the treadmill, and other actions like strafe and fire can be mapped to one of several buttons on the handgrip. Since we love video games, and we really love staying buff, we can't think of a single reason why this $500 'mill won't be an immediate addition to our gameroom following its introduction at CES.

[Via Joystiq]

[MCR @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Lose some weight and some eyesight! That oughta be fun with the sweat in your eyes after a while.

[Beej @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Wow. That's actually really cool. And for $500, that's enough to get my lazy butt up and running.

[Victor Dorph @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

What happened to VR? I mean why dont we all have it in our homes right now? I think if a company like sony, MS, or others really put pressure behind it, it could be done for the cost of a PC.

[khamel @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

so what happens when you are playing a game that forces you to stop moving? especially games like medal of honor or even splinter cell where its all about timing? and what about jumping?? going backwards? strafing? if there is a regular keypad that you can use for those parts, how long will it take to just stop walking/running and play standing up?

[uclatommy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Good idea, but the implementation needs work. Might be a healthier way to play, but I think I would be very frustrated controlling an fps with this. I would have designed a giant trackball that you stand on top of with a circular handrail. Even better would be if the handrail could rotate to indicate direction and a monitor fixed on the handrail.

[Freaky Smalls @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

yeah it should be a ball that you run around on... like a huge trackball for your feet. That way you can strafe, go back wards... maybe even jump.

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Ugh, why don't you just run to get off your fat ass and lose weight?

Running gives you a runner's high after you do it for long enough and it's great for you! Do it for yourself, not a video game.

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I'm also interested to see how they would handle immediate stops from running and how they would handle backpedaling.

This screams "Hi, I'm a terrible gimmick."

[waffa @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

ya only problem is that you probaly couldnt play fps for like more thatn an hour or an hour and a half becuase your going to need to be sprinting like crazy then a sec later completly stoped and hidding behind something. those short sprint burst will tire oyu out quickly. you wont be able to think as cool headedly.

[HL @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

If they can somehow manage to get Fatal1ty (or heck, any of the top pros) on this thing...

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

There's also the whole thing about how when your typical FPS character is running, it's like 25 mph or something obnoxious like that. I'm sure it would scale, but that sort of takes away from the general "intuitiveness" of it.

[tiuk @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I saw something somewhere with a guy controling an FPS by running inside what looked like a giant hamster ball. I think it was a commercial on the Discovery channel, I didn't watch the program. I Think that's more of a step in the right direction.

[Brian Flowers @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

That's not bad really...I could use something to distract me when I run...it's like listening to music as you run, but more entertaining.

[conglacio @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

It allways ammuses me to see how long a character in a game runs for ages, with loads of waepons. now the player can get a taste of what he's putting the character through.

[Ryce @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

like someone else said "falling off a treadmill sucks..."

[Vasco @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This is fine as long as you use it in addition to regular exercise, not as a replacement for it.

[Duffy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

There is a symposium that will be held in March '06 that features innovative 3D input devices for video games and virtual reality.

http://www-human.ist.osaka-u.ac.jp/3dui2006/

I attended the one 2 years back ...It was pretty cool. You get to see some technologies that may hit the market in a couple of years.
Its held along with the VR conference in Virginia

http://www.vr2006.org/

[Dominic @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Hmm... now let's see Heaton and walle get a bit thinner!

[Homestar Runner @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Actually there should be specific games for the fps treadmill. One that's just a huge map with a bunch of random stuff going on around you but won't kill you. You can just keep running and explore. I'd love to do my jogging routine with something like that.

[fierywater @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

#17

If you could find an RPG like Morrowind that uses the W/A/S/D configuration to move, there's no reason you couldn't play that with something like this.

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

That's more interesting, 17. Or loading up photo-realistic environments of famous places to run (Central Park, etc), with the program setting the appropriate inclines and stuff...

Now THAT would be pretty cool.

[allan Wallace @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This looks like the perfect Christmas present.

Health and aggression suppresion in one unit.

[Fantaz @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I would need to have all the buttons that a current FPS would use on the controller before I would jump on this. Also I'd be far more tempted in buying a VR setup in 5-10 years time instead.

[Cem @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I always play games each morning on my home trainer, way easier and cheaper. Also, you can play every game you want. I played Pro Evolution Soccer 5 this morning on Xbox Live while burning calories on my hometrainer :-) (I did loose the game though)

[Willem @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

It has been done already: http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=9c64eaa7-3fc9-475f-966c-461b362d1891&lang=en

[christian @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Speaking for someone who's played Katamari on the treadmill, I can attest that it's not exactly the best idea. Walking, turning, stopping, sprinting - all things done in a game lead directly to one thing on the treadmill: falling off.

[super_structure @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This is pretty impressive, and $500 isn't too much to ask for a decent treadmill. I really wish this was something that I could hook up to the treadmill I already own, though.

As far as people complaining about "strafing" and such. How is walking forwards or backwards while holding down a left or right button less realistic than just pushing a button on a hand controller? If you don't want it, then just stay fat and sit on the couch. Don't just completely diss a product you've only seen one picture of.

Andy: I am a runner and this is about the only thing that would make me interested in FPS's again.

[Tyler @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Hopefully this won't support "bunny hopping". That particular bit of unrealistic stupidity needs to go....and quickly.

[Whisky @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

The idea is interesting, but try running with your arms holding on to a bar in front of you. Its not very natural, in fact its annoying.

[(FTP)Dragonkiss @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

1 reason why not to use ingame....
#1 try aiming and avoiding an panzerfaust projectile whilst running on an treadmill looking at an lcd monitor.
My score at ET is awefull enough but with this thingy it will suck big time!!

[Shane Morgan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Where can u buy it????

[David Linzer @ Jan 6th 2006 9:12PM]

I think it sounds really neat. The Gamerunner is really more of a game walker, as when your character is running you would actually be walking. That's the jist from the web site. You can adjust the relative speeds. No way you can ever run and sprint on a treadmill that is not motorized, period. But who cares? If I walked for as long as I played, I would get more than enough excercise. Walking is great for you. I'm going to try it.