More Force Feedback Tech Via A 3rd Space Vest

We’ve featured force feedback products before, but if the idea of sticking patches to your body doesn’t appeal to you, then you might want to give the 3rd Space FPS Vest a try. These things are shaped and worn like a standard vest and hook up via USB. Eight pneumatic cells embedded into it will respond to you getting shot at. Here are the details of how it works, plus the marketing hype:

So how does it work? Well, eight, count ‘em, eight, pneumatic cells are embedded in various spots around the vest. As the vest communicates with compatible games (via the included software), a special compressor fires air into the cells using appropriate levels of force to accurately simulate the on-screen action. So a direct hit from a rifle will elicit a sharp thud whilst a girly punch will summon an appropriately feeble ‘wumph’. Get blasted by some alien shotgun and your entire upper body will receive an almighty whack from all eight cells. Ouch! The jacket won’t bruise you but you’ll certainly know you’ve been tagged. And if you get shot from behind or slapped on the back, the vest responds accordingly. Yow!

I can’t imagine how eight pneumatic cells would not hurt if they all hit you at the same time, but I guess it’s worth a try. The 3rd Space Vest is available only in the U.K. for now, hitting buyers at £149.95. Supported titles include Crysis, Half-Life 2, Medal of Honor: Airborne, F.E.A.R. and Quake 4, among others. What, no Halo? This is compatible for the PC only, folks, but hey, you never know. If it proves to be a hit, maybe they’ll come up with something for the consoles.

Source: Product Page

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