PC Gaming Vests: Redifining Gaming Realism
Paul Bryant
The video game culture began many years ago. I remember playing pong until my eyes bled (well, not bled but I did eye drops afterward because they were so dry) and playing Pitfall for what seemed like an eternity only to never win and, like a fool, it was not until I aged beyond by 12 years, that I realized it was an endless loop. I could have played more pong at that rate. In otherwise: gaming is addicting.
Over the past decade or so the games have evolved into something much more than rectangle paddles and square balls. The realistic nature of the games that we play is such that can borderline on scary. We cannot, however, seem to get enough. It does not matter if we are blowing space aliens from Mars in DOOM into tiny pieces or fighting the Nazis in France while playing Call of Duty or pretending to be Mario Andretti flying down the Monaco Speedway. Games have become so realistic that we are made to feel as though we are in the game and not merely just playing them.
As a gamer I can honestly say that has been one thing missing. Realism. Sure I have been talking about realistic things like graphics being realistic and characters being realistic. Even large worlds created by programmers for people like us to play around in are sort of realistic.
But realism, ah that is the real holy grail of gaming. to make a player TRULY feel they are in the game. Virtual Reality gave us the visual idea that we were in the game and surround sound makes us hear the game from every direction. We become immersed in the game but never truly feel it. That dream is upon us now and I am rejoicing at the mere thought of it!
Move over power glove. Get shoved out of the way dance mat! Get ready to be crushed under foot vibrating controllers because the Gaming Vest is here and the gaming community is finally going to have what it has been craving: Realism!
The gaming vests are force feedback nylon vests that resemble those worn by military personnel to carry gear, ammo and other sundries (they even come in camo for your war game nuts out there). The gaming vest is available for PC gaming right now but no fear console gamers because they were working hard to bring the PC Gaming Vest to the consoles!
Shameless plug deployed now it is time for facts. Fact 1 was covered. They look like military vests. As cool as that is that is just a visual taste and though we gamers love to look cool in our living rooms it is not the bread and butter of the gaming vest. Fact 2 is more intriguing because these vests have pockets (imagine a hiking vest circa 1982 but not as visible).
These pockets contain little bags that are filled rapidly with air from a compressor. And you may be wondering what on Earth that is all about. Well, the deal with that is simple. During your gameplay whenever you are struck IN game you are struck OUT of game.
The bags fill rapidly with air as a bullet, punch or kick is struck. Several fill up and pulse to simulate G-Force from a jet or speeding a sports car. The bags create pressure so you can feel the strikes in the game. You are in the center of realism now, kids and doesnt it look pretty sweet?
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