Gamertell

Now this is some gaming garb I can really get into. TN Games is showing off a series of wearable gaming gear at its CES booth (January 7-10, 2008).

The clothes, titled 3rd Space HXT Gear, includes a couple vests and a helmet. Each uses embedded with a series of pneumatic cells designed to react to directional cues from videogames. In other words, the pockets puff with air and you feel like something hit you (although in a much more polite and less damaging way than an actual bullet or knife).

Positioning of the cells and coordinated puffings helps to give a directional effect. Games will need to have embedded cues (aka 3rd Space technology) in order to be used with the garb and TN is providing a software development kit to game companies.

For now, the gear appears to only operate with PCs and each requires a compressor box that connect to the PC via USB. The FPS vest is available now and works with a limited number of big-name games and the other two are expected to be available mid 2008.

The first vest is called the 3rd Space FPS Vest and is meant to be worn while playing first-person shooters. TN has created a multi-player FPS titled Incursion and also uses a 3rd Space-enabled version of Call of Duty II to demo the vest. Both games will be bundled with the vest when it is released. In the vest are eight pneumatic cells that, according to the press release, will simulate “crushing explosions to fear-inducing finger taps on the gamers’ shoulders.“ When available, the vest will be available in two adjustable sizes and in black or digital camo. It is currently available for $169.

The second vest is the 3rd Space G-Force/Racing (GFR) Vest which is meant to be used with, as the name indicates, racing games. According to the press release, the vest has six cells spread across the chest, back and each side. The system relies on the body’s natural inclination to avoid pressure, helping to create realistic reactions that feel like acceleration, deceleration, centrifugal force and G-force. This will connect to a PC using a standard USB cable and use a compressor box When available mid 2008, the vest will have a auto racing look with covered zippers and quilted fabric. It’ll be available in red and white.

TN Games HXT Helmet will react to provide various head shot effects using four small cells and an air jet streams next to each ear for that bullets-whizzing-by-your-head effect. I’m not so sure about the head shot effect but the whizzing bullets seems pretty cool. Might be nice if they included a headset with the system as well.

If these work and feel real, I can see a lot gamers really getting into these accessories. Of course, there are some scary/sexy mods that can also be done using the same tech, but we’ll leave that for the Adult Entertainment Expo (Las Vegas, NV, January 9-12, 2008)

Site [TN Games] Read [Wired]

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