DIY VR Game Gun packs built-in motion tracking, optional mullet
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jun 21st 2009 2:09AM
posted Jun 21st 2009 2:09AM
Homebuilt motion controllers may be a fairly common occurrence these days -- especially with the Wiimote simplifying things considerably -- but this so-called "PC VR Game Gun" takes a slightly different approach than most, and has the added benefit of a pitchman firmly committed to selling it as the greatest thing since ShamWow. As you can see above, the rig consists of a toy gun with an LCD screen attached to it, but the real secret is a Gyration Air Mouse mounted on top, which allows for some full, seemingly responsive motion-tracking in any PC game. To really finish things off, our fearless modder also ripped apart a gamepad and wired it up to the trigger in the gun, which turns out to be just the thing for playing F.E.A.R.... on the highest difficulty setting. Must-see video after the break.
Update: As helpfully pointed out in comments, there's now a wireless version of the Game Gun and, of course, a new video. Check it out after the break as well.
Update: As helpfully pointed out in comments, there's now a wireless version of the Game Gun and, of course, a new video. Check it out after the break as well.
Wow. That is sick.
Thank you, Thank you, best idea ever. I have two old gyration keyboard/mouse sets gathering dust (mouse batteries are dead). Gyration Mouse + G36C Airsoft gun + Dynex - 15" 720p = WOOT.
Can't wait to try this out.
He needs to copyright the concept and then hook up with a manufacturer as that would sell so well. It would completely change my opinion on first person shooters.
They would need to make sure the 'walk forward' command worked properly; otherwise, you'd need a super long cord and an open warehouse space.
I call bullshit.
This has been done for years! There's even how to's on the web.
Also, the second gun is already wireless. It's the gun from a Trimersion headset.
my icon you stole...
I'd kill for silent scope to come out on this or PSP via Remote Play
GMD = gun mounted dumbass. (rednecks like games and guns)
@ Craig
Agreed - You've had Yoda on lock down forever
L4D 4 person lan anyone?
Peels here.
School shootings anyone?
Practicing ones inner desire of going postal in the virtual world? Yeah...you could if you wanted lol
pretty awesome. now we just need a dy vr helmet
All you'd need are some stereo headphones with a little motion track built into them too. That way the sound environment would move around with your head.
@Asha
Technically the game should change the sound as it moves, so just, headphones in general would work! Get some stereo bluetooth headphones with an adapter (totally easy to find on the current market).
and force feedback
i think you missed the point of it being attached to a gun you could see...
Cool...
Wow. Sooooo cool. Preeeetty impractical, but cool. This could probably get picked up by some company and mass produced pretty easily.
My god I want that.
now THAT is a good idea. I would get WAY more into games. Especially scary ones, because your only option is to look down the barrel of the gun. If it gets strafing down....
yo quiero.
jesus christ i need one for myself
patent it, make it wifi and sell to law enforcement/military as a training device...make a freakin mint
A7
but the cops they need mmorpg with tactile feedback as they simulate live firing but still safer than live rounds...
Make this wireless and you have a multi-million product.
Pretty awesome product,
Pretty scronny man.
Scrawny fail.
This is surprisingly good. I saw the image was getting ready for some lulz, but I must saw that so quite impressive.
nice my english is
doubts i has many
I want that...so much right now...Imagine playing TF2 or HL2 with that...Hell...any FPS becomes even better with that gadget...
Strafing is enabled by downing the row of bottles just above his monitor. I especially like the 'Malibu' backdrop in the updated video...
Soooo..still living at home in the garage, sure has paid off. Wonder if mom still makes p.b.&j's and does the laundry .
Suhweet!! Let's order pizza.....
its probably his 'man cave' when you move out of your parents house and lose your virginity to the first girl who puts out and you marry her, then find out your 35, married, 2 kids and a dead end job. You'll have a man cave too (often times a basement or garage)
p.s. This knowledge is not from my own personal experience.
I know what you mean tom.
I perfer to call it my 'spank tank' though.
Mine is called the "spunk trunk".
P.S. I don't game in there
wow, that looks really nice :)
Looking at the size of the cable swinging from it he might have been better off mounting a fastish tablet on top rather than just a monitor, at least in terms of weight.
"DIY VR Game Gun packs built-in motion tracking, optional bullet", is how I read the headline at first. I was like, "whaaa--?"
Nice work, but pretty impractical for FPSes (like Natal)
Natal sucks
there is no way you can play a game without a controler
i was more impressed with sony
i want to see what games will come you for natal that actually uses it.
This seems awesome. Would buy immediately.
Love your Avatar!
Someone needs to make an IPhone or PSP game that comes with an iPhone-holding toy plastic gun.
Your avatar rules! Flashback was and still is an awesome game.
I want to see it with a 30" monitor.
that is 100% brilliance.
Two questions:
What does it chamber?
And can you fit it with a halo sight?
This is one of those "Hey, why didn't I think of that?" moments. This would be an awesome way of selling FPS game. Imagine Doom coming with it's own BFG like this that you can play away from the PC or console? Now if they could throw in augmented reality so your whole house becomes a FEAR map or something...
Hell, something like that might even make a gamer out of me!
Until you accidentally mêlée attack your mother with the but of a plastic gun in a particularly intense stage.
Shit yes - Augmented Reality + VR Gun would give drug users nightmares for sure. How about just using a tiny screen & shoe-horn it into the end of a scope so you have to close one eye & look through the scope?
Monsters! Monsters coming out of the fridge! Gah - Ghostbusters game with ghosts in your own house!!! You sneak 'round, hearing whispers of "Zuuuuuuuul..."
Being proficient in electronics and basic electrical engineering, this does not look like a hard project. The mouse does all the work of the "motion sensing." You could use a wireless USB to VGA adapter (or any other wireless video devices) such as http://www.iogear.com/product/GUW2015VKIT/ hooked up to a cheap battery powered monitor or whatever display system you're using, and then all you need to do is tear apart a wireless keyboard/keypad/gaming controller to use for the action buttons/trigger.
What this thing needs is force feedback. A couple rumble motors and maybe a linear motor (similar to the one used on the Mythbusters Tesla episode) could create some realistic feelings, including recoil from shots. Of course you could only then utilize force feedback on supported games (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_games_supporting_force_feedback). Alternatively, you could make it so every time you pull the trigger, a standard rumble/recoil is produced. This wouldn't be ideal, for example shooting a rocket launcher would give the same feeling as shooting a pistol, but it would still enhance the gameplay experience.
In all though, considering the price involved to make such a controller, I'd have to ask myself if it's really worth it. I mean yea, it's awesome, but is it worth the $300-$400+ it would take to make it? A wired version would definitely be cheaper (and not as cool) and might be worth it to me. What I would really like to see is a compact wired version of this, with force feedback. Then you'd be put in a cylindrical room with multiple projectors (or one special projector) that displays a 360° view. Then you could look around, turning your head and not necessarily your gun, to see what's going on around you. The only thing that would make that better (besides a killer sound system) would be a 360° 3D display.
Add one of these Force Feedback Vests and a "Butt Kicker" in your boots and your set...
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/20/medical-force-feedback-vest-tweaked-for-gaming/
http://www.thebuttkicker.com/gaming/index.htm
awww snap!!
Ahh...I forgot about butt kickers. Also, the video glasses are a much better idea than the 360 degree projection room. This technology has been so long in the making that I completely forgot about it.
wow, good job dude
If you can built it they will come : )
U need to STFU!
Now, why not connect it to an HMD. That way you get a bigger picture, with no outside distractions. You would only need to find a way to restrain yourself so you don't bump into the wall.
Right now, a corporation is walking to the patent office with his idea. . . .
Is it just me or does he look a a lot like wolverine?
Hahaha.. Thank god he cut that mullet in the 2nd video..
As someone mentioned earlier I'm pretty sure it would be pretty simple to attach this to VR glasses or whatever they're called. Then you would only need a padded room to prevent you from hitting the wall hard!
Actually, his idea with the gun-mounted picoprojector is quite nifty...if you have a 360° dome-shaped projection screen...
It's the worlds first nerdy redneck!
Wonder if one could add a video eyewear viewer like a Myvu, and a second Gyration mouse for the head. If this was possible, it would allow separate control for looking and aiming, like with a keyboard/mouse combo.
dude this would be sick with myvu glasses. at least to make it a little more vr like
http://www.myvu.com/
i
want one
does anyone know what lcd screen he is using?
I'm not buying this..
Not trolling here, but when you project onto the wall how is this different from something like the wii controller with the gun attachment? Couldn't you just attach a little 7" screen to the wii gun thing?
Ok so maybe the wii can't match a pc on graphics or games but you get my point right?
Projecting onto the wall would also loose the VR aspect unless, like a previous commentor mentioned, you had a round clear room to play in.
In my opinion, to experience vr you would need a headset, so you are imursed in the game.
now,
add a webcam too on the gun,
add informations to the image shown on the gun's screen
= augmented reallity and a 3D pointer no?