All along, software and hardware peripherals are interdependent and collaboratively developed. Whether it's the Xbox Kinect, the PS Move, or the uncomfortably designed N64 Rumble Pak, they all have their own heritage. Now that we are at the dawn of the VR era, it seems that a large number of new peripherals are coming soon.
At the VRLA conference at the beginning of this month, we reported on the surreal appearance of the VR-15. Using the external HTC Vive handle, you can use the VR-15 as a gun-type handle. Now, Ilium VR has also released its own gun type handle - nicknamed "Adviser" Devkits. You can now purchase Devkits on its official website for $199.
In contrast to the VR-15's surrealistic appearance, the "admonitor" uses a traditional submachine gun. Its external materials are very reminiscent of toy guns played in childhood, and the colored buttons on the gun side seem to suggest that this is not a real gun with lethality.
The best part of the "Advisor" is that its external buttons can be removed individually and their positions adjusted randomly. In addition, you can even hang a joystick on the bar, which is very helpful for you to play games that require you to repeatedly move up and down. It can be said that you only need to install an HTC Vive handle on the gun bar, and the "adviser" can be used directly. There is also a pullable ammunition bay on the gun bar that you can drag and drop to complete the in-game swap operation.
The following is an official introduction of the "exhortators":
The exhorter's gun-shaped handle is based on the prototype Thomson submachine gun. It is the first gun-type handle designed for VR games. Its feel is close to reality, external ammunition storage, powerful tactile feedback system, and fire mode switch. In addition, the "Advisor" is still a very flexible handle, it is equipped with a modular plug-in system that allows players to quickly perform button and plug-in equipment replacement.
The handle body is wireless, priced at $ 199, and can be adapted to the HTC Vive head. In the future will also be added for the Oculus Rift and PSVR adapter, but these two platforms are exclusive to Ilium VR developers, you need to obtain additional official authorization to use. The powerful features of this gun-shaped handle can greatly expand the freedom for VR game developers to develop, allowing them to better create VR content.
After the purchase, there will be two additional demonstration games with the handle - one is a desert zombie shooting game and the other is a city rooftop defense game. Developer packages that include how the handles are adapted to Unreal and Unity engines can be downloaded from the official website.
Although technically speaking, this handle is still far from perfect, and its design positioning is mainly for those who are just beginning to use the gun type handle. But for the average consumer, it still has a high purchase value. You can use it to try two games that are randomly presented, and, for non-VR 3A masterpieces, the "admonitors" also provide support, and you can even use it to complete the gun battle in GTA5!
Currently, the "Advisor" has officially listed on the Ilium VR Store for $199.