Virtuix Omni
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I quite literally ran around a virtual arena and loved it
We've been watching the development of Virtuix's Omni VR treadmill since 2013. The company debuted a fully-functional production model at CES 2016 and I was lucky enough to take the $700 device for a test drive -- or rather test run.
Omni VR treadmill gets $3 million in seed funding
Following Virtuix's announcement earlier this month that its virtual reality treadmill will arrive in July for its early adopters, the company revealed this morning that it received seed funding. Virtuix received $3 million to "expand production and distribution of the Omni," the $500 platform that has players strapping in to a harness and wearing special shoes to run, walk and jump using their real-life legs in games. The seed investment round was led by Tekton Ventures and Maveron. One of the other investors onboard with the Omni is Radical Investments, a venture capital firm founded by Mark Cuban. Virtuix took a trip to the entrepreneurial ABC reality television series Shark Tank, which Cuban stars on, in an episode that aired in December. In it, Cuban pointed out that Virtuix's Omni is "pretty much based around Oculus Rift" and that "as Oculus Rift goes, you guys go." Virtuix valued its idea at $20 million, which Cuban and the rest of the cast didn't buy into. "I could see you creating 20 million in sales, 25 million in sales with this, but you're competing just like headsets are going to be competing," he said. "You haven't told me that there's a way to get to 50 million in sales." Given Facebook's recent acquisition of Oculus VR for $2 billion, which was cleared by the FTC this week, Cuban now appears to see more hope for the Omni. Aside from private investors, the other groups that funded Virtuix's efforts this week are Scentan Ventures, Scout Ventures and StartCaps Ventures. [Image: Virtuix]
Virtuix Omni treadmill will get gamers off the couch in July
If you pre-ordered the Virtuix Omni virtual-reality treadmill, it's time to start rearranging the living room furniture. Early backers will be able to strap on their Oculus Rift and start shooting in the virtual battlefield of their choice come July. If you haven't ordered the enormous $500 gaming accessory yet, you won't have to wait that much longer to start running in place – orders taken today are expected to ship in September. And with Facebook's acquisition of Oculus, maybe we'll be walking through our friends' Hawaiian vacation photos by winter.
Virtuix Omni virtual reality treadmill ships in July for early adopters
Virtuix's Omni treadmill, a virtual reality platform that allows users to run and walk in any direction in games using their real-life legs, will begin shipping in July for those that already pre-ordered one. The $500 package includes the treadmill unit, a pair of shoes, a support harness, mini-game and tracking software and hardware. The cost doesn't include shipping, but it does come with a one-year warranty. Those that decide to pre-order a unit now will receive it in September, according to Eurogamer. Virtuix began taking pre-orders for the omnidirectional treadmill in August 2013 following a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that ended in July. The VR hardware developer raised $1.1 million on the crowdfunding platform, and pushed well past its $150,000 goal in its first day. We've seen videos of early demos of the Omni in action, including one accompanied by the Oculus Rift and Team Fortress 2. [Image: Virtuix]
Virtuix Omni gaming treadmill now taking pre-orders
They say a nice rug really ties the room together, but surely a gigantic, costly treadmill dedicated to gaming would do just as well. If you're so inclined, the Virtuix Omni is now accepting pre-orders. The Virtuix Omni is an omni-directional treadmill that, when combined with Oculus Rift, aims to offer the most immersive virtual reality gaming experience to date. $500 will snag you one treadmill with special belt, shoes and tracking hardware and software. The "Duel Deluxe" package for $1,020 will net you two treadmills and aforementioned accouterments, plus a third pair of the special shoes. Shipping costs (this thing is heavy) will be incurred when the Virtuix Omni is delivered in March 2014. When the Virtuix Omni began its Kickstarter pledge drive, the device was only seeking $150,000 - that goal was exceeded in the first day alone. After 30 days, the Virtuix Omni was able to secure over $1.1 million in crowdfunding.
Virtuix Omni pre-orders open, time to clear some space in the living room
Good news for everyone who's been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to run in place. A fortnight after closing the door on a successful Kickstarter campaign, Virtuix is ready to open up Omni pre-orders. $500 will get you the massive Oculus Rift add-on, a price that includes the treadmill, a harness, those special shoes and the necessary tracking hardware and software. That price, however, doesn't include a Rift, shipping or Gatorade. Still, for a limited time, entering the "VR50" coupon code at checkout will get you $50 off.
Minecraft meets Omni virtual reality rig, PC game gets new launcher
Minecraft may not be the most action-packed experience, but all that walking is the only thing the Omni virtual reality rig needs. Above: Two Omni developers take Minecraft multiplayer for a spin, demonstrating the high-voltage strolling, jogging and jumping that players can expect from the game in VR. The Omni Kickstarter still has 20 days to go, and is currently at $970,000 of its $150,000 goal. For everyone without an Omni set-up – and those with one, eventually – Minecraft has a brand new launcher on PC. The new launcher is required to play the game's most recent version, Minecraft 1.6, and any future updates. This new interface supports multiple usernames within one Mojang account, though that feature isn't yet enabled through Mojang itself. The new system will update automatically, without the need for these pesky manual updates, and single-player content is available offline. Players must be offline for that to be the case, or the launcher will continue its attempts to reach the Minecraft servers.
Virtuix Omni VR treadmill demoed with Minecraft in multiplayer mode (video)
Remember that gaming treadmill that we sweated all over during E3 last month? Virtuix's Kickstarted Omni is still firmly in the prototype stage, but that's not stopping the company from putting the gigantic peripheral through its special-shoe-requiring paces. CEO Jan Goetgeluk headed to the machine shop where the first Omni was built to demo some multiplayer gaming. And what better title to try things out than with a little Minecraft? If the below video is any indication, things went relatively smoothly. Says the exec, "even though the Minecraft graphics seem unsuited for VR, the game is actually a blast with Rift and Omni." Who needs the gym?
Virtuix Omni VR treadmill shows up at E3, we go feet-on (video)
I'm a little nauseous and a bit sweaty. This was my first time using the Oculus Rift. It's the sort of thing you've got to ease into, really -- sitting stationary, letting your brain adjust to the whole experience. Or you could just pop the thing on and run in place on a treadmill in a downtown Los Angeles hotel suite. Your call, really. Just don't come crying to me when you're having a bit of trouble standing up straight, as you attempt to step down from the slippery surface at the end of your session. Have I seen the future? Hard to say, of course, but whatever it was that just happened was neat -- and if you were one of the 2,000 or so folks who got in on Virtuix's Kickstarter, it'll be heading your way in January. The company's CEO, Jan Goetgeluk took me through the paces of the system, a stationary design he settled on after toying around with a more traditional treadmill model. The Omni is really quite a simple thing at its heart, a concave, slick surface attached to two bars that converge in a circle. The company's designed special soles, as well -- plastic pieces raised at the heel and ball of the foot, with a fabric friction surface on the toe. Walk around and your feet slip. That's about it, really. Of course, it takes some getting used to, and Goetgeluk stood aside as I learned to walk again: lean forward, step down on the heel and let the rest of your foot slide with it. It took a few minutes, and I'm still not exactly an expert %Gallery-191176%
Virtuix Omni VR treadmill Kickstarter goes live, fully funded almost immediately
Within hours of going live earlier today, Virtuix's Kickstarter campaign for its flagship omni-directional VR treadmill has not only reached its fundraising goal of $150,000, but as of press time has earned more than twice that, with 980 backers contributing a total of $368,987. The campaign still has 48 days of funding remaining. Money earned through the campaign will be spent on transitioning the Omni from its current prototype stage into a product that can be mass produced, with production slated to begin sometime this December. Initial units are expected to begin shipping next January, though the campaign does acknowledge that "delivery dates are at the mercy of unforeseen manufacturing issues." While a final retail price for the Omni has not been disclosed, the Kickstarter's FAQ states that it will be "significantly higher" than the donation levels that currently include the Omni device, which start at $400. Each donation tier is limited to 500 units each, so folks with deep pockets, a love of VR and an angel's share of trust might want to start contemplating.
