Novint Falcon USB Game Controller

0m3g4Muff1n987 · Post by **0m3g4Muff1n987** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:56 pm

I don't know if you guys have heard of this, but I just saw it in a CompUSA catalog, and I looked it up on google. And wow. Is it cool.

So pretty much, it's a big ball with 3 arms connected to a smaller ball with 4 buttons on the top. You grab the little ball (

) and move it in three dimensions. It's just a controller you plug into your computer via USB, and you can use it in any games that have a mod for it. Currently there aren't many games that support it, but people have taken notice and I know Half-Life 2 is supported.

It not only lets you move stuff in 3D, but it has really strong force feedback and stuff too. For example, in Half Life 2, when you fire the SMG or get hit by a combine, it really pushes your hand. And if you pick up something light, like a box, it'll move easily, but if you pick up a car with the grav gun, it'll be pretty tough to aim correctly. It really creates a whole new experience.

Oh yeah, and you can swap out the little ball for other attachments, such as the pistol one below.

Vids?
CNET Vid
Pistol grip attachment
TigerDirect Video

I want to see some moar games that support this, because I'll for sure be getting this eventually.

Tural · Post by **Tural** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:57 pm

That's nice.

GametagAeonFlux · Post by **GametagAeonFlux** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:57 pm

Cool concept, but I honestly can't imagine using it.

V0Lt4Ge · Post by **V0Lt4Ge** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:09 pm

Saw that thing at Frys the other day. My friend and I just looked at it and said wtf.

shadowkhas · Post by **shadowkhas** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:18 pm

Cool, would be interesting in a flight/space sim.

Yodel · Post by **Yodel** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:38 pm

shadowkhas wrote:Cool, would be interesting in a flight/space sim.

You could swap the mini-ball dealy for one of those streering wheel style aircraft sticks. It would really reinforce the Push-and-Pull style controls on the Y and Z axis. I would still prefer a standard joystick for military craft.

shadowkhas · Post by **shadowkhas** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:46 pm

Yodel wrote:You could swap the mini-ball dealy for one of those streering wheel style aircraft sticks. It would really reinforce the Push-and-Pull style controls on the Y and Z axis. I would still prefer a standard joystick for military craft.

Agreed, it probably wouldn't beat out a good ol' yoke for flying airliners, but for light jets, it seems great, as it'd be responsive to 'em. Throttle would be an issue, though.

metkillerjoe · Post by **metkillerjoe** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:26 pm

Its another of those products that seems like it would have great potential, but, IMO, probably won't go anywhere. Its like the powerglove for the 21st century.

JacksonCougAr · Post by **JacksonCougAr** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:58 pm

AS a shooter add-on it seems great; if I played pc games I might get it ;p

SHOUTrvb · Post by **SHOUTrvb** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:35 pm

I saw this ages ago. Personally I don't understand it. I read that it's actually very simple to get used to and can be fun, but the concept of it just feels unnatural to me. I don't see myself owning it any time soon.

Yodel · Post by **Yodel** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:27 pm

shadowkhas wrote:
Yodel wrote:You could swap the mini-ball dealy for one of those streering wheel style aircraft sticks. It would really reinforce the Push-and-Pull style controls on the Y and Z axis. I would still prefer a standard joystick for military craft.
Agreed, it probably wouldn't beat out a good ol' yoke for flying airliners, but for light jets, it seems great, as it'd be responsive to 'em. Throttle would be an issue, though.

In the video the demo guy was using a Keyboard in tandem, so that could work too. Pretty promising for things like X-Plane and MS Flight Sim, though.

[EDIT]

It would be much, much easier for orbital spaceflight in X-Plane when I fly my shuttle.

JacksonCougAr · Post by **JacksonCougAr** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:43 pm

SHOUTrvb wrote:I saw this ages ago. Personally I don't understand it. I read that it's actually very simple to get used to and can be fun, but the concept of it just feels unnatural to me. I don't see myself owning it any time soon.

Probably no harder a switch than keyboard to controller (PC -> Xbox)

If you watch some videos with the gun you see the promise of it :\

SHOUTrvb · Post by **SHOUTrvb** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:24 pm

I've seen the videos; still looks ridiculous. However for the right person I'm sure it could be very fun. Not for me though.

Cuda · Post by **Cuda** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:51 pm

It's cute, but in the half life 2 example they gave, All but two (three if you count the crowbar) are two handed weapons. When you're aiming a gun that two handed, with the setting cranked like he had, it'd be awkward to fire like that and move along the axis that it has.

hollow121314 · Post by **hollow121314** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:27 pm

i play pc games and i know id rather use a mouse... 'A' for effort though

Edwin · Post by **Edwin** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:28 pm

O.O i can think of a space-flight sim (full newtonian control setup) that two of these with postol grips would own for