Tag: Hardware

Is Virtuix’s New Omni One Virtual Reality Treadmill Ready for You?

Virtuix’s Omni One may help virtual reality feel more physical with its open-air treadmill design, harness support, and growing list of compatible VR games.

Omni One in UseOne of the greatest hurdles to making virtual reality mainstream is its interface. There needs to be more than just a headset and controllers to create a convincing sense of immersion. When tracking movement and tricking the human body into believing it’s in motion, what’s needed is more than an oversized hamster ball. That’s where the Omni One may fix all that. Instead of placing someone inside a confined space, its open-air design and harness may be exactly what’s needed to prevent falls while helping users feel like they’re truly part of the program.

Ready Player One had the right idea. The interface must be compact and portable enough that the hardware can be moved easily. Without that freedom, changing locations may feel awkward.

Continue reading “Is Virtuix’s New Omni One Virtual Reality Treadmill Ready for You?”

Retrogaming or SID Programming with The Commodore 64

Sadly, this update does not have the additional connectors to hook up all the classic storage peripherals like the 1541 Disk Drive or any cartridge games. You need an original Commodore 64 for that.

Commodore 64By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

The Commodore 64 was the very first computer I ever owned, and I have fond memories of learning how to type with it. It doesn’t hold a candle to a proper typewriter but if people weren’t playing video games, just what this machine is used for was limited. For myself, I learned how to code in BASIC and tinkered in GEOS (a graphic user interface) to teach myself elementary graphic design before I finally learned C on an Apple Mac in high school.

Nostalgia is more than likely to drive sales as this machine makes a comeback as a retro gaming device. Amusingly enough, Retro Games Ltd  is the maker. Having this focus can be a detriment when I recall the original packaging suggested this computer can do a whole lot more!

Continue reading “Retrogaming or SID Programming with The Commodore 64”

Is 3DRudder Rubbish for VR Users?

Image result for 3drudder
Available to purchase on Amazon 3DRudder

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

The 3dRudder is finally available for the PS4! It’s been available for a while for PC users, but when I’ve been virtual reality gaming on a console, I can’t think of any other uses other than to drive a tank instead of actually walking. Although I am still skeptical of using your feet (while seated) to emulate motion in an imaginary world, I feel the idea is not perfect in the long run.

It’s a shame navigating VR space for the home consumer is primitive. Go to CES, a military base or an arcade in South Asia, the likelihood of finding a hamster ball to walk around in for that illusion is better. Dedicated centres are not available worldwide. The better idea is to wait for holodecks which sadly won’t be coming anytime soon.

Continue reading “Is 3DRudder Rubbish for VR Users?”