Reviews: Novint Falcon

We last heard of the Novint Falcon back in June. It was supposed to introduce the idea of 3D Touch, allowing users to actually feel an object onscreen. We’re not talking about the simple rumble that force feedback is usually associated with, folks. This is supposed to simulate how holding or touching an actual object would feel like. Does it deliver on that promise? Ars Technica has a review:

The Falcon retails for $240 on Novint’s site, but you can find it for around $190 at other retailers if you look hard enough. It’s an expensive peripheral, but you get a lot for your money. The Falcon may not be for everyone, but as a haptic controller it’s one of the most impressive controllers I’ve ever used. The software support and game list has to become a little bit wider and stronger before this is a must-buy for everyone, but between Half-Life 2 and Penumbra, I think $190 is more than a fair price, especially with the number of games you get with the package and the fact that upcoming game mods will be free.

The review mentions that you might want to fasten it more securely on your desk when you use it, but otherwise it’s a solid peripheral. It’s nice to see something that promises so much actually deliver, so I hope that the Novint Falcon gets further support from games and other programs. It’s certainly more than just a novelty item and I think we’ve only scratched the surface on the possibilities with it.

Source: Ars Technica

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