Razer and Sixense Release 'Ultra-Precise Motion Controller' SDK and FPS Utility Library on Steam
A couple of new developer-centric tools facilitating the integration of the bluntly-named "Ultra-Precise Motion Controller" were released today via...
A couple of new developer-centric tools facilitating the integration of the bluntly-named "Ultra-Precise Motion Controller" were released today via Steam, Valve Software's digital distribution service. Created by PC gaming peripheral-maker Razer and technology developer Sixense, the tools mark the latest endeavor born from the multi-year partnership between the three companies, which was announced back in January.
Revealed today at this year's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, the "Ultra-Precise Motion Controller" Software Development Kit and the First-Person-Shooter Utility Library will reportedly enable developers to "effortlessly create a totally immersive gaming experience that takes advantage of a full six degrees of motion with ease," without requiring much knowledge of the controller's inner workings.
New games aren't the only candidates for enhancement, as the FPS Utility Library will also allow older games to be easily "updated" with support for the peripheral.
"With Valve's support," explained Sixense CTO, Jeff Bellinghausen, "we were able to fully integrate the SDK with our FPS Utility Library into Left 4 Dead 2 in less than two weeks." That said, it's unclear if this sort of time frame for motion-control integration is representative of the rule, or more of an exception.
Developers interested in downloading the SDK can do so from the "Tools" tab in the Steam interface. Pricing and availability for the controller itself have yet to be detailed.
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multisync
replyIt's a wiimote - isn't this the exact opposite of why people play FPS on a computer.
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Yes. But Razer is a die-hard PC company, and so they've earned the right to be heard out. Once they've had their say, then I'll dismiss it as a lame gimmick that would come nowhere close to replacing a mouse.
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I abused the fuck out of my Copperhead and now my Lachesis, and I have the Lycosa keyboard. A friend also has the Copperhead and treats it equally badly. Maybe we've had good luck, but I'll take it. They've done right by me.
I agree though, a Wiimote for FPS is stupid.
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PC gaming is moving away from the desk and into the living room. Devices such as this, as long as they deliver what they promise, will be a huge step in that direction. PC gamers ought to look at such things in a positive light. Anything that makes it easy to play PC games from the couch, while maintaining the visual fidelity and technological superiority of PC's vs consoles ought to be embraced.
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There are still advantages to having a screen right in front of you, and room for a keyboard/steering wheel/joystick, etc. I'm not moving away from my desk, that's for sure. The living room is where people live, why would I play games there, an entirely solitary passtime?
I just want to know what the hell this thing does, because they (Valve's opinion carries a bit of weight) make it sound like it does a lot more than other controllers. Why don't they just fuckin show it already... -
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I can't agree with this, not for the majority of PC derived games. I'd rather not game around a "shared" TV, especially when playing a single player games. Gaming with friends is something esle, as we do that now, weather it's on a console, or on our PCs at a LAN part, or online. Most PC games need their own screen, sharing a split-screen is not a substitute, no mater its resolution.
It's a Personal Computer, what you're proposing is why we have consoles, or modified PCs as media centers. I've heard this kind of rhetoric for some time, first with Microsoft, but not just for gaming, they believed at one time it would be a good idea to use the family couch and TV for doing work. So the entire family could gather around while someone works on a spread-sheet, meanwhile the TV is not accessible.
If you're single in your own place, that's one thing, but if you're married, the types of games most of us PC gamers enjoy, are not best shared with our wives, or our children, they're best enjoyed in our own personal spaces.-
You're looking at it as an all or nothing deal. many people including myself have a standard desktop gaming PC but also hook it up to a projector or large hdtv. I play some of my PC games at a desk and other PC games at my couch. I mostly game on my couch for racing games or others that make sense with a 360 pad, but if I could play L4D on my couch maybe I would. I'm all for hearing what Razer has to offer.
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Read my post again, but view it in context to scud's post, which he states; "PC gaming is moving away from the desk into the living room." Talk about an all or none deal and that's what I can not agree with.
You're preaching to the choir. Look over what I wrote and notice that I do account for exceptions. Never do I state it's an all or none deal, it's on a situation basis, which of course depends on the type of game. i account for variables in what I wrote.
Your gaming experience is similar to mine and pretty much anyone I know that enjoys doing so. The only difference is that instead of using a 360 pad to race, I do so with my G25 racing wheel, and since I'm married, I don't always have free reign over the main TV and I'm not alone on this.-
I married too, and that's why we have 2 tv's in our house, as well as multiple pc's. I have a pc that I use mainly for production work, and one that I use for games, the one I use for games is hooked up to my tv. I think in the future this type of setup will become the norm.
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I can see it being a problem when it is required to play games but as an additional option I think innovation like this should be supported. Nothing against you in particular. Just the rage against anything new around here. I doubt I ever use it but it's cool to see people working outside the box.
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