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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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Sounds ok, not sure it will be hugely popualr and there must be health risks with it for some people. But if the price is right Im sure a few will buy it.
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?
Page: