Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by sean-duffy 4742 days ago
While running backwards is a popular tactic in FPS games, it's one that is obviously completely unrealistic. I think given that this is a virtual reality device, it's more likely to be used for more realistic games that wouldn't require backwards running.
2 comments
snogglethorpe 4741 days ago
If it's a fun and intuitive device, it seems likely it will be used for all sorts of games, even those that are completely unrealistic...

[My impression is that the running backward technique is profitable largely due to limitations on user control and enemy AI, and those are probably not going to go away any time soon (even if developers might really want to make a game that feels realistic, it's, well, hard :)...]

link
mdigi 4741 days ago
If by realistic games You mean "Jogging In The Park Simulator 2013" then i guess it's perfect. This could be a nice device to try out on some gaming expo but i think most gamers will be disappointed with the lack of actions they can perform in it.
link
spazmaster 4741 days ago
Yeah, strafing and walking backwards at least you can do. How would you crouch and go prone for example? And I wonder how good you would be able to aim with Omni, that's gonna be a deciding factor.
link
LordIllidan 4741 days ago
They mention Kinect integration - that should be able to detect crouching movements.
link
freehunter 4741 days ago
But would the belt allow you to crouch? It's designed to keep you from falling, so I assume it's there pretty tight.
link
LordIllidan 4741 days ago
Maybe a ducking motion?

This isn't intended to be the Holodeck - but it's a step in the right direction.

For that matter, how would you represent a jump?

That said, I'd use the hell out of it for a game like Skyrim, or other open world environments. And it can be so much more than that, .e.g. ocean/space environments for instance.

The gameplay is secondary - there are a lot of motions that can't be expressed well using this device (although with the kinect, you can unlock a lot of arm motions - good for sword play, I'd wager) - but it's superb for walking in fantasy environments.

link
nickik 4741 days ago
> For that matter, how would you represent a jump?

You just jump, I think there are videos showing that. I cant jump like the hero in the game but you can do a little hop.

link