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Just been reading a short article in PCZone, about a possible new type of game pad. The BioForce Shock Pad, which does exactly what it says on the tin (Damn the bloke from those adverts is SO annoying!).
Essentially, what happens is, you hold the game pad like you would any other joypad, but you have pads on the ends of wires you stick onto your arm. Like the little white round pads you see on TV in programmes like casualty.
"At the lowest setting, the shock generally feels like a mild tingle, but at its highest setting the controller can deliver a stronger shock, one that can make you drop your controller." The article says.
You won't have to worry about specialist developer support for the pad either. It needs no more than support for force feedback, which is in a huge number of games already. The joypad detects the force feedback signal, and simply converts it into a shock instead.
Is this a good thing for gamers?
Well, it could certainly help you get better at games, you'll not want to mess it up if you get an electric shock each time you foul the other player, or hit a wall while driving. It would certainly be good punishment if none appears on the screen, ie no damage to the cars when you crash.
I certainly think it could add an extra element to playing games. I was thinking it would be good for FPS's, but you don't use a joypad for them on the PC. Maybe this will be mainly a console add on? Although for driving games and sports games on the PC it could work well.
It reminds me of a scene from one of the James Bond films. They are playing a RISK type game, and each time you lose a country, you get an electric shock. Of course, Bond wins, you wouldn't expect him to lose, would you? :0)
I really feel these new controllers could take off. As they don't need any extra programming for them, support for force feedback is which widespread anyway, it's not exactly going to be hard for the developers to sort out.
Having said that, I don't know if I'd fancy sticking pads all over my arms each time I want to play a game. I'd prbably look like a mental patient for a start! I would guess that a pad could be released with the "shock pads" or whatever their technical name is, built into the pad, so you wouldn't have to have extra leads etc sticking out.
The article continues to say that test are underway to analyse the overall safety of the pads before it is due to be released later this year. However the piece doesn't say if thats a UK release, or Jap, or US, so we may not get them 'til next year.
Thoughts?
Essentially, what happens is, you hold the game pad like you would any other joypad, but you have pads on the ends of wires you stick onto your arm. Like the little white round pads you see on TV in programmes like casualty.
"At the lowest setting, the shock generally feels like a mild tingle, but at its highest setting the controller can deliver a stronger shock, one that can make you drop your controller." The article says.
You won't have to worry about specialist developer support for the pad either. It needs no more than support for force feedback, which is in a huge number of games already. The joypad detects the force feedback signal, and simply converts it into a shock instead.
Is this a good thing for gamers?
Well, it could certainly help you get better at games, you'll not want to mess it up if you get an electric shock each time you foul the other player, or hit a wall while driving. It would certainly be good punishment if none appears on the screen, ie no damage to the cars when you crash.
I certainly think it could add an extra element to playing games. I was thinking it would be good for FPS's, but you don't use a joypad for them on the PC. Maybe this will be mainly a console add on? Although for driving games and sports games on the PC it could work well.
It reminds me of a scene from one of the James Bond films. They are playing a RISK type game, and each time you lose a country, you get an electric shock. Of course, Bond wins, you wouldn't expect him to lose, would you? :0)
I really feel these new controllers could take off. As they don't need any extra programming for them, support for force feedback is which widespread anyway, it's not exactly going to be hard for the developers to sort out.
Having said that, I don't know if I'd fancy sticking pads all over my arms each time I want to play a game. I'd prbably look like a mental patient for a start! I would guess that a pad could be released with the "shock pads" or whatever their technical name is, built into the pad, so you wouldn't have to have extra leads etc sticking out.
The article continues to say that test are underway to analyse the overall safety of the pads before it is due to be released later this year. However the piece doesn't say if thats a UK release, or Jap, or US, so we may not get them 'til next year.
Thoughts?
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Wòókiee Møn§†€R wrote:
Well, funnily enough... as it was in a PS2
> mag and related to PS2 pads, I posted it in the PS2 forum... :-)
PS2 forum?!?! Who goes in there? Pfah! :0)
Certainly could -
> doesn't take much. After all, people with pacemakers aren't allowed to get too
> close to mobile phones, as far as I know. Could be wrong, though.
True, I have heard this as well.
Wonder how
> long it'll be before we hear stories along the lines of 'console used as murder
> weapon' though? You never know - someone has a rich aunti with a dodgy ticker,
> and tinkers with the joypad.
Or have I been watching too much Murder She
> Wrote? ;-p
I think you have, yes. :-)
Well, funnily enough... as it was in a PS2
> mag and related to PS2 pads, I posted it in the PS2 forum... :-)
PS2 forum?!?! Who goes in there? Pfah! :0)
Certainly could -
> doesn't take much. After all, people with pacemakers aren't allowed to get too
> close to mobile phones, as far as I know. Could be wrong, though.
True, I have heard this as well.
Wonder how
> long it'll be before we hear stories along the lines of 'console used as murder
> weapon' though? You never know - someone has a rich aunti with a dodgy ticker,
> and tinkers with the joypad.
Or have I been watching too much Murder She
> Wrote? ;-p
I think you have, yes. :-)
Your Honour wrote:
> Well, I didn't see it on here. Did you write about
> it? I think not! :0)
Well, funnily enough... as it was in a PS2 mag and related to PS2 pads, I posted it in the PS2 forum... :-)
> However, surely any electric shock, not matter
> how week, could still affect someone if they have a weak heart or whatever?
Certainly could - doesn't take much. After all, people with pacemakers aren't allowed to get too close to mobile phones, as far as I know. Could be wrong, though.
Wonder how long it'll be before we hear stories along the lines of 'console used as murder weapon' though? You never know - someone has a rich aunti with a dodgy ticker, and tinkers with the joypad.
Or have I been watching too much Murder She Wrote? ;-p
> Well, I didn't see it on here. Did you write about
> it? I think not! :0)
Well, funnily enough... as it was in a PS2 mag and related to PS2 pads, I posted it in the PS2 forum... :-)
> However, surely any electric shock, not matter
> how week, could still affect someone if they have a weak heart or whatever?
Certainly could - doesn't take much. After all, people with pacemakers aren't allowed to get too close to mobile phones, as far as I know. Could be wrong, though.
Wonder how long it'll be before we hear stories along the lines of 'console used as murder weapon' though? You never know - someone has a rich aunti with a dodgy ticker, and tinkers with the joypad.
Or have I been watching too much Murder She Wrote? ;-p
Your Honour, I think Wookiee or might of been me actually wrote a topic about it in the Sony forum.
feel free to go look for it :-)
feel free to go look for it :-)
I can see people sticking them on friends without them knowing and giving them a good shock. Could be dangerous in the wrong hands
Wòókiee Møn§†€R wrote:
I think you're a bit slow!
These were
> first mentioned a few months ago, I think it was by Mad Katz for the PS2.
Well, I didn't see it on here. Did you write about it? I think not! :0)
I just hope they have a good failsafe, though... I can
> see the tabloid headlines now...
"Tekken 4 fries tot - parents find
> crispy body"
Or maybe...
"Gamer revives heart attack victim...
> joypadleft on chest as Kazuya takes a whuppin'"
True. The article I read did say that test are underway at the moment. There's no way they'd release something like this unless it's properly checked out first.
However, surely any electric shock, not matter how week, could still affect someone if they have a weak heart or whatever? I'm no doctor, so I don't know, but surely it's a possibility....
I think you're a bit slow!
These were
> first mentioned a few months ago, I think it was by Mad Katz for the PS2.
Well, I didn't see it on here. Did you write about it? I think not! :0)
I just hope they have a good failsafe, though... I can
> see the tabloid headlines now...
"Tekken 4 fries tot - parents find
> crispy body"
Or maybe...
"Gamer revives heart attack victim...
> joypadleft on chest as Kazuya takes a whuppin'"
True. The article I read did say that test are underway at the moment. There's no way they'd release something like this unless it's properly checked out first.
However, surely any electric shock, not matter how week, could still affect someone if they have a weak heart or whatever? I'm no doctor, so I don't know, but surely it's a possibility....
Somebody thought of that ages ago for playstation, The dual shock is cut off and sent to your arm to give some sort of buzz.
should be out by now :-)
should be out by now :-)
Your Honour wrote:
> Thoughts?
I think you're a bit slow!
These were first mentioned a few months ago, I think it was by Mad Katz for the PS2. Basically to 'emulate' things like getting hit in a fight game... the pad would give you enough of a jolt to temporarily paralise your arm and prevent an immediate reaction.
I just hope they have a good failsafe, though... I can see the tabloid headlines now...
"Tekken 4 fries tot - parents find crispy body"
Or maybe...
"Gamer revives heart attack victim... joypadleft on chest as Kazuya takes a whuppin'"
> Thoughts?
I think you're a bit slow!
These were first mentioned a few months ago, I think it was by Mad Katz for the PS2. Basically to 'emulate' things like getting hit in a fight game... the pad would give you enough of a jolt to temporarily paralise your arm and prevent an immediate reaction.
I just hope they have a good failsafe, though... I can see the tabloid headlines now...
"Tekken 4 fries tot - parents find crispy body"
Or maybe...
"Gamer revives heart attack victim... joypadleft on chest as Kazuya takes a whuppin'"
Page: