PrioVR full-body mocap suit promises accurate motion tracking in VR gaming
Sure, Kinect's done a bang-up job of bringing full-body motion tracking closer to the mainstream, but it hasn't exactly fulfilled the dreams of futuristic gaming that Hollywood (and our imaginations) promised. PrioVR, a motion-tracking suit meant for virtual reality games, aims to bring us closer to that future with accurate full-body motion-capture abilities without a camera array in the mix.
The demo on hand today was pretty impressive: A rep was decked out in the upper-body suit, complete with Wii nunchuks, playing a first-person shooter. Sensors on his chest, back, head, arms and hands translated his movements to the screen with little latency, showing up on the display in a fraction of a second. We did notice an ever-so-slight choppiness -- which could have more to do with the game engine than the hardware -- but how much it affects gameplay remains to be seen. Though only an upper-body rig was being shown off, a full-body getup promises to capture everything from walking to kicking.
YEI Technology, the company behind PrioVR, originally launched a Kickstarter effort late last year, but after only raising $111,237 of its $225,000 funding goal, the firm's giving the prototype another go, with a new campaign launching on February 14th. The upper-body suit will reportedly go for about $300, while the full-body version will come in under $400. Obviously, this type of tech opens up a world of possibilities for developers, especially when paired with likes of the Oculus Rift and other head-mounted displays. Expect a few compatible games when the PrioVR makes its way to Kickstarter backers this summer, and a proper hands-on as CES continues.
Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.
