The Wii and its Remote controller were joined by the Kinect for Xbox 360 and the PlayStation Move sometime last year. Ever since then, the words ”˜motion sensing’ have gained higher impetus as more and more gamers wish systems to track them instead of following commands directed via controllers. Well, PC gamers who have been waiting for their turn all this while can now immerse in this world as Razer unveiled its latest creation in the terrain.
Delivering high-end precision, the Razer Hydra has been touted to be the world’s first gaming-grade motion sensing controller for the PC. This innovation has been powered by Sixense and developed in conjunction with Valve to render a seamless drive through the latter’s Portal 2. The device has also been attuned to other 125 games including Left 4 Dead 2, World of Goo and Call of Duty: Black Ops amongst others.
“The Razer Hydra is a significant step forward for the PC gaming industry because it not only affords an almost-physical experience for gamers, but also presents developers an opportunity to innovate and significantly push the boundaries on new forms of gameplay and entertainment,” explained Gabe Newell, Co-Founder and President of Valve.
The Razer Hydra is said to track gamers’ natural body motion and translate the same into the PC. It compatibility with the recently released Portal chapter will enable players to resolve physics puzzles while shooting portals and leaping through the chasms in three dimensions. The offering’s functionality has been plugged to transport players directly into the in-game world, unfurling a virtual reality on the PC.
Min-Liang Tan, CEO and Creative Director, Razer, enthused, “We are excited to finally bring full motion control to the PC. Gamers will be blown away by the pinpoint tracking precision that mirrors every move in-game. They’ll also enjoy the exclusive new Portal 2 content created specifically for the Razer Hydra, giving them more bang for their buck.”
“By working with Razer and Valve, we have established the PC as the best platform for motion gaming,” remarked Amir Rubin, CEO, Sixense. “We developed and optimized 6 Sixense TrueMotion levels for Portal 2 to allow gamers to fully experience the possibilities of motion gaming. Definitely an exciting time to be a PC gamer.”
It has been disclosed that each Hydra set comprises two controllers with thumb-ergonomic analog stick, 4 Hyperesponse action buttons and rapid-fire trigger and bumper. Draped in a non-slip satin grip textured material, these controllers sport agile anti-tangle braided cable while the Base Station included in the bundle offers accurate sensor for 1mm and 1 degree tracking at low latency feedback.
The Razer Hydra and Portal 2 bundle has been priced at 139.99 USD (approx. Rs. 6,184) and 139.99 Euro (approx. Rs. 8,996). The device is scheduled to ship in June 2011 for reaching markets across North America, South America, Europe and major Asian countries. It will also be available on the official Razerzone website. Gamers who wish to book the device in advance can place their orders starting next month.