For several months now we’ve been covering Blu-ray movies with D-BOX Motion Control, and a few weeks back we informed you that D-BOX was breaking into the video game scene with a contract with Electronic Arts that lets gamers literally feel every corner and boost in Need for Speed.
Now D-BOX has announced a new hybrid system that will let you experience motion in both games and Blu-ray movies using the same machine.
The new product, called the GPH-120 Hybrid Motion System, motion-control features two robotic motion actuators built into a sleek gaming seat that delivers real-time responsiveness (up to 2Gs of acceleration) to the on-screen action. And for all you flight-sim fans out there, yes, the motion includes pitch, roll and virtual heave.
Packaged with D-BOX’s KAI-1P USB Motion interface, the GPH-120 carries a suggested retail price of $2,999 and will be available online at D-BOX’s Web site and through specialty retailers in the first half of 2009.
Through the KAI-1P USB-connected D-BOX Motion Code interface, the system captures the user feedback and sends signals back to the system, triggering the two actuators, and delivering the movement sensations of pitch, roll, heave and intelligent vibration. The system reacts instantaneously in real time.
That’s not just marketing speak, either; we tested the system for ourselves at E3, and it performed fantastically well. Now we know what the system will cost, and some of the PC games it will work with: Need For Speed Undercover, GRID, iRacing, Crysis Warhead, rFactor, Nitro Stunt Racing, Live For Speed, Battlefield 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator X and X Plane 9. The GPH-120 is also fully compatible with more than 850 movie titles available for home theater usage on Blu-ray and DVD format.
The GPH-120 system can also be expanded through the purchase of accessory brackets and mounts that accommodate the addition of a steering wheel and acceleration pedal.