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Virtuix's Omni One VR treadmill is finally making its way to customers
Omni One is rolling out to investors with customers sales likely to start later this year.
Virtuix is developing a home version of its Omni VR treadmill
The systems have mostly been available at entertainment centers like Dave and Buster’s.
VR treadmill creator cancels pre-orders outside the US
Virtuix's Omni treadmill is very alluring to virtual reality fans who want freedom to walkwithout the fear of tripping over cables or running into walls. However, it's also massive and complex... and that's forcing the company to scale back its ambitions. Virtuix is telling its Kickstarter backers that it's cancelling all Omni pre-orders outside of the US, as the logistics of shipping the treadmill are just too much. It's not just the 175-pound, 48- by 43-inch shipping package that's the problem -- it's honoring regulations and maintaining enough replacement parts to handle a global audience. The initial plans to ship worldwide were "naive and unfeasable," the startup writes.
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.
Wireless glove adds touch to VR video games
While Oculus, Valve, Samsung and HTC are all looking to captialize on the resurgence of VR, their solutions all focus on what we can see and hear. That's more than enough to immerse you in a virtual world, but what if you want to interact with the objects within them? Some companies have already taken on the challenge, but researchers at RICE University have created a new haptic glove that uses air to inflate bladders underneath your fingers to offer a real sense of touch.
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 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 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.
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.
Insert Coin: Virtuix Omni VR treadmill gives gamers the run around from $249
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. If the unison of Virtuix's Omni Treadmill and Oculus Rift got your left thumb hungry for a well deserved retirement, then it'll also want to push you in the direction of the game controller's official Kickstarter. Yup, for just $249 (if you get in there quick enough), you can snag yourself an Omni in DIY kit form plus one set of shoes (additional pairs costing $49). Those with deeper pockets can opt to get the full kit (including belt, tracking hardware and software) from $399, or go all out and get the Omni Rack (for holding your Rift control box, favorite beverage etc) and some exclusive merch on top for $539. Really dig this thing? Then why not lay down $7,999 for a custom design made from wood and steel? Those of you who are still undecided can delve into the project a little further (at the source), but it seems likely that the final retail price could be somewhat higher than that offered to Kickstarter backers so, you know, you might not want to hang around too long.
Virtuix hooks up Oculus Rift to its Omni treadmill, shows off 'True VR' (video)
Sure, Omni-directional treadmills are nothing new, but Virtuix's take is worth a mention now that it's been shown off working in conjunction with the Oculus Rift. The company's been posting videos of its Omni treadmill working with Kinect for months, but last Thursday it upped the ante by adding the Rift. All told, it makes for what looks to be an intense VR session of Team Fortress 2 -- one-upping SixSenses' Razer Hydra demo for the VR headset. The company's been working on this unit as an affordable solution for households, aiming to eventually try for funding via Kickstarter. Catch the video demo after the break and please resist throwing money at the screen in an attempt to get in on the action early.
This is what playing TF2 with an Oculus Rift and an omni-directional treadmill looks like
In order to demonstrate the functionality of its "Omni" prototype treadmill, which the company calls a "natural motion interface for virtual reality applications," technology start-up Virtuix has released the above video of the contraption being used in conjunction with an Oculus Rift and Team Fortress 2.The setup essentially works like this: The Oculus Rift handles head tracking and display duties, while a Kinect tracks how the player walks/runs on the the Omni, and then converts that input into in-game commands. The Kinect is an in-development solution, however, and Virtuix says the Omni will include its own sensor when/if it ships to consumers.The company plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in May, with final production units costing somewhere between $400 and $600, sans shipping. A second example video, this time showing a better look at a prototype of the device while in use, has been tucked away beyond the veil.
