NaturalPoint TrackClip PRO brings motion tracking to gameplay

Any serious gamer already has a headset so he/she can bark commands/encouragement/taunts at his/her teammates while keeping both hands free. But what most gamers probably don't have is a way to glance around the gaming environment with a simple turn of the head. To solve this problem, NaturalPoint, along with Creative Labs, have just announced the TrackClip PRO, a sensor that latches onto your existing headset, but changes your field of view so that each time you look about any axis (roll, pitch, yaw), you'll see exactly what's going on in the game. It can be yours for $40 and will start shipping on December 4, provided that you can tear yourself away from your World of Warcraft marathon long enough to find your credit card.

[Via NaturalPoint press release]

[Chris @ Dec 4th 2006 9:41PM]

I don't get it. If you turn your head to the left, you'll no longer be looking at your screen. If you turn it even a bit so you can still see the screen, you'll have to look at the screen out of the corner of your eye, and when you move your head back the view would center again. Am I missing something?

[Aaron @ Dec 4th 2006 10:21PM]

I have the TrackIR 4 Pro. The head turning is exaggerated by the software so you only have to turn your a head a little ways to look around. It's very nice for flight sims and feels very natural. I am pretty sure this new accessory is not a "stand-alone" device as this post makes it sound. You would still need the TrackIR in addition to this device.

[Earl @ Dec 5th 2006 11:33PM]

You need to use trackers like this with a wearable display, like a visor or goggles.

[Karim Hamasni @ Dec 4th 2006 9:45PM]

I guess this is only useful for those who have massive televisions and sit 2 feet away from the screen.

[lyl545646 @ Dec 4th 2006 9:55PM]

NaturalPoint TrackIR & TrackClip are really good for flight simulator, especailly in the Virtual Cockpit (i.e. FS2004, FSX etc), looking around, zoom in and out. Other than that, it's really bad for FPS games.

[Michael @ Dec 4th 2006 10:37PM]

too bad you missed the part about needing another $180 product just to make this doo-hickey work.

[Othello @ Dec 5th 2006 12:03AM]

Sound's nauseating, since I like to glance at the TV now and then while playing to check what's on.

[KineticOnline @ Dec 5th 2006 5:59AM]

Make a (lightweight) gaming helmet with 5.1 sound, high def display and motion sensitive pov and im sold. Until then i'll pass

[Earl @ Dec 5th 2006 11:34PM]

I'm still waiting on the next Emagin visor to come out. If they can get it to a higher res than 800x600 and lower the price a notch, I'm sold in a heartbeat. ACtually I'm sold now but I wanna wait for the next one so I have the best equipment for my VR programming project. Still it already has the best res of headsets and has an integrated tracker that beats the heck outta this one. Needs some competition to drive price down.

[Carlos Rivero @ Dec 5th 2006 1:20PM]

I wish it could work with my PS3 and be able to glance in corners with Resistance...