Locomotion can be a real headache with PlayStation VR, let’s be honest. The PSVR Aim Controller is great because it comes with dual analogue sticks, but the PlayStation Move wands tend to rely on tilting or teleportation – a mechanic that not everyone’s fond of. Here comes a novel solution in the form of a foot controller called 3DRudder, though.
While it claims to be compatible with over 30 games, there’s actually only a handful of PlayStation 4 specific titles that it functions with, and frankly we've only heard of Bow to Blood. This is a licensed product, though, so you’d imagine it’ll get more support over time – at €119.00 (~$135) it’s going to need to work with the likes of Skyrim VR and Borderlands 2 VR to be worth the investment.
The accessory’s due out in April and does seem somewhat promising. The way it works is that you tilt it around under your feet to move forwards, backwards, and to turn from side-to-side. Yes, you’re going to look ridiculous with glowing wands in your hand and a big piece of plastic beneath your slippers, but we’re open to trying it if it adds to the immersion.
[source 3drudder.com]
Comments 26
I'm going to look like a Wizard with ma wands and flying rug real soon #Can'tWait
This could make me want to find, dust-off, re-charge and use my Move wands, once again, for PSVR.
i've seen that somewhere before
If this thing can be compatible with about 80% of PSVR games, and not have a bunch of problems, I'll gladly invest in one.
I hate teleporting in VR games, and the movement options in a game like Doom VFR drives me nuts when using the move controllers.
So how long till the full body suit. Like the ones they use for motion capture?
@FullbringIchigo This is probably more accurate.
@FullbringIchigo
It looks you can’t stand on it so I’m out. For that much I need the immersion of standing and easily being able to look behind my shoulder. I’m calling a dud right here and now. It’s anti VR if you have to sit down for most games.
@Neolit Far cheaper too, Balance Board was going for $80.
And, me being me, I only watched the vid after posting. $135 and you can only use it sitting down is kinda lame. I'd rather somebody re-purpose the balance board. It wasn't great, but I had a lot of fun playing Shaun White Road Trip. And it's sensitive enough for movement, there was a first person platformer played entirely on the balance board.
Now I really want a Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll in PSVR.
Yeah, I'm one of those people who bought peripherals and a lot of the games. I even bought a few PS EyeToy games on the PS2 before Wii and Kinect. And not 1 but 2 DDR mats for the PS1 before that. I like to have fun.
This is awesome. It just need to be supported.
Just invent the ready player one suit already sony! Not hard in this day and age right! now that's the kind of VR I would invest in! This looks like it will break with the smallest amount of pressure.
@rjejr People have already got the Wii Balance board working for PC VR, it actually looks like a better solution than this thing.:
https://youtu.be/1wQuGkR2JlY
@TheWeird Thanks for the link, way cool. And better than this device. And the board is 10 years old. You'd think it'd be easy to make a better one now. Nintendo never made a great game for it, though we used it a lot more than PSVR with all the minigame collections. Add all the devices together and it seems inevitable VR will take off eventually. Moreso than 3D displays at least.
A gimmick for another gimmick
Looks like a nice bit of kit but i also prefer standing whilst playing, I'm seated most of the day at work and allergic to sports, thrashing around in VR is my exercise!
@Xaessya My hero. 😁
Think this is gonna be too expensive to really get much traction. Just don't see that many games supporting it.
Feels like the aim controller is getting forgotten about already and that's a brilliant device.
@rjejr that was the one that first came to mind actually but then i saw it tilt and spin in the video which the Wii Fit balance board doesn't and then i remembered the old Roll n Rocker from the 80's so i thought it was a better fit
@FullbringIchigo It does seem like it works more like the Rocker Roller than the balance board, but I only figured that out after watching the video.
@MadAussieBloke this - I hate all the comments and articles saying how room scale standing is far superior. Yes it has it's place, but for certain games types (not just Sims) sitting is way better. Skyrim is a great example. I'm not gonna stand for 50+ hrs thanks
@HipstersTears This doesn't feel like a thought through response. You'd be willing to buy an expensive device to increase immersion but forces you to sit as you run around a fantasy setting whacking, firing a bow and casting spells. What about turning around 180 degrees? That's going to be pretty difficult or immersion breaking sitting down.
No, this needs to work standing up. A Wii balance board would be better - it only needs to input directional movement on two axis and your head looking around will manage the rest And if you're going to play a 50+ hour game, I'd suggest you take a break now and again anyway.
Another thing is this doesn't do anything to address the disconnect between what you're seeing and your body's lack of motion. It's effectively just letting you control the left thumb stick with your feet. That's a very tough one to solve without treadmills but taking all of this into consideration does make me think they're massively overcharging for what this offers.
@Ruggafella this is something I've been thinking and reading about for a while actually - I've worked in VR for 3+ years now and have access to all the latest and upcoming headsets. Fact of the matter is that I wanna play some VR games seated. They are more comfortable that way.
As for 'whacking' - it can be argued that motion controls are less immersive when you can't feel the sword in your hand (as opposed to not worrying about it in the first place). Whacking controllers around in place of axes, etc feels gimmicky: they'll never be able to recreate weight or impact and will always separate should my sword get lodged in something and my hand continues moving. As for moving and turning, a stick and buttons are effortless and become second nature - by virtue of this for some applications and games a pad is better.
Obviously the reverse is true - there are some games that are better standing with motion controls.
All because there is no analog sticks on the move controllers another device to solve another devices problem.
If they use it for borderlands ( And they bring the £40 price tag down for borderlands & fix no co-op or aim support ) and other games will be worth it so can use the move controllers move instead of the ps4 controller.
@HipstersTears Some games will suit being seated, certainly. Games that simulate a seated or static character.
Games that simulate someone running around with free movement do not make sense to have head tracking and seated controls.
I agree. All that's needed is a stick if you do want to input the movement this device offers, and you don't care about physical immersion. That's why I think this is even more useless - it can't be used standing, it doesn't solve the motion to visual disconnect and it's just a more fiddly version of a single thumbstick.
The only time I'd consider this the optimal way to enjoy a VR game is in a wibbleboard simulator or Circus clown experience.
I never understood why they didn't just effectively break a DualShock in half and stick a light on top of each half. With a bit more ergonomic shaping, it could have been a much simpler and more elegant solution.
@Deadlyblack it’s the reason I haven’t bought doom and Skyrim VR. Hopefully this device can change things if it works.......
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...