14 DAY TRIAL // Games are becoming more and more engrossing experiences. Think of the first Pong or Pacman. They did nothing to bring you over to their world. They were simple games. Now, think of Call of Duty 4 or Armed Assault. They do everything to make you a part of their world. Sights, sounds, movement, all of them are simulated as possible with the current technologies.
Yet, since the days of the invention of the force feedback, not much development has gone into the way we feel our games. Since always, PC gamers have used a keyboard and a mouse, while console gamers have used specialized gamepads. The joystick was a nice addition to the line-up, but it faded as space sims and flight sims faded away at the end of the 90s. The racing wheel was a nice idea but its usable niche is a bit limited. There are people still using the racing wheel and the joystick, but in the mainstream they are not. As stated above, the last real gaming-related innovation feeling tech was force feedback. But gamers still don't feel much, physics wise, when playing games.
Now, a company called TN Games went one better on force feedback. They have devised a helmet and vest kit, known as 3rd Space, that lets the wearer feel the impact of whatever happens in the game. You get shot? You fell the hit of the bullet. You get a few Gs pushing down on you? You fell pressed by the vest. Got in a close fight and the enemy landed a dew body blows? Better check for internal bleeding. I kid you, but the developers themselves declare that "The 3rd Space Vest from TN Games takes gameplay beyond sight and sound, creating spatial awareness of the world your characters inhabit. Unlike traditional force feedback devices that rumble or buzz, the 3rd Space? Vest gives you precise impact where it happens, as it happens. Get pounded with body slams, crushed with G-forces, and blasted with bullet fire". Notice the blasted, crushed and pounded verbs... those are not actions you would want performed on yourself.
The idea is interesting. Let's hope that the current $169 price tag drops fast and that all FPS games are required by law to offer support for this. Kidding about the required-by-law part. If any new vest feedback news surface, we'll be sure to bring them to you.