Comments on: A Physics Rebel Shakes Up the Video Game World, Literally

By: Xconomy Profiles Local Start-Up Immerz – Company Shakes Up Video Game World « New England Games SIG

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:04:32 +0000

[...] posting about this, but wanted to share this article nonetheless. Wade Roush of Xconomy recently profiled local start-up, Immerz, Inc. Immerz was recently named one of eleven finalists in the Consumer [...]

By: Wade Roush

Wade Roush — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:25:53 +0000

@Jimmy: Thanks! That’s what they call me around here, not easily impressed.

@vatbier: Yes, it works for girls too. Take a closer look, if you will, at where the transducers are positioned in the photo of Afshar. They’re in a spot calculated to send vibrations into the chest cavity without irritating any other anatomical structures. ;-)

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:50:29 +0000

@vatbier: of course you didn’t otherwise they would not have made this product if it were that EZ ;)

@Ka D’Dargo: BoneFone was a fossil of a joke. It rattled the collar bone, which was the most annoying thing ever. Walkman killed the whole “wear your radio” nonsense. I know bcuz I’m old (and unfortunate) enough to have tried the gimmick. This thing Kor-fx though sounds like the real McCoy, since Wade is a reputable journalist, and not easily impressed with new tech and all that jazz… Somebody finally figured out the sweet spot

And yeh, my money’s on this guy, who invented this thing, pretty clever guy, listened to his NPR interview a few years ago. I no nothing about physics, but I liked his rebellious streak kinda like einstin

By: Ka D'Dargo

Ka D'Dargo — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:22:01 +0000

Seems like it’s just a remake of the Bone Fone:
http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/magicalgadget/index3.html

By: vatbier

vatbier — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:31:42 +0000

I put my headphones on my chest (the ears of my headphone can be rotated 90 degrees) and turned the volume up. I didn’t feel much in my chest cavity.
And on another note: would Kor-fx work for girls too?

By: The Linkielist » Blog Archive » Immerz – Kor-fx

The Linkielist » Blog Archive » Immerz – Kor-fx — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:32:08 +0000

[...] A Physics Rebel Shakes Up the Video Game World, Literally | Xconomy. [...]

By: Geoff Mamlet

Geoff Mamlet — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:51:33 +0000

Great article, Wade. Kor-fx is something I think many gamers, cinephiles, and music fans will want to have. It’s one of those things you have to try, in order to really understand why you would want it.

By: MikeS

MikeS — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:46:11 +0000

Einstein was right about the shortcomings of Quantum Mechanics and so therefore String Theory is also the incorrect approach. As an alternative to Quantum Theory there is a new theory that describes and explains the mysteries of physical reality. While not disrespecting the value of Quantum Mechanics as a tool to explain the role of quanta in our universe. This theory states that there is also a classical explanation for the paradoxes such as EPR and the Wave-Particle Duality. The Theory is called the Theory of Super Relativity. This theory is a philosophical attempt to reconnect the physical universe to realism and deterministic concepts. It explains the mysterious.

By: Wade Roush

Wade Roush — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:40:29 +0000

@Scott, I played Half Life 2 running on a (very expensive) Alienware laptop. Immerz doesn’t make any games — its equipment is designed to work with the standard audio output from any PC. (Later they’ll come out with a version that works with consoles.)

Good question regarding the cost of the Kor-fx device. I checked with Immerz and they say they haven’t yet decided on a price range — they anticipate having more details on that “in the coming weeks.”

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:11:29 +0000

Wade can you tell us what game you actually played? Did they make the game for it? How much is it gonna cost? Miramon, methinks you are not an FPS gamer, otherwise you would know it is actually next to impossible to "hear" the direction of bass component of the audio, which explosions etc. contain. I don't think you would actually feel pain when your "avatar" is injured, it probably just gives you a better awareness of the battlefield. If what is claimed here is true, I would get one no questions asked. Great vid with gamer reactions... "I'm actually shaking right now"...

By: Miramon

Miramon — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:38:47 +0000

There have been many supposedly immersion-enhancing toys released over the last 20 years or so, including a number of chairs with built-in subwoofers meant for gamers. So far as I know, none have had any sales worth mentioning.

Frankly, I’m not sure I want to feel the impact of wounds received by my game avatar presented as vibrations in my pleural cavity.

As for the “7th sense” (what happened to the 6th?) obviously, if you have a decent surround audio system already, you can just hear the location of the sound or the shot or whatever, so no information is being added by thumping away at a gamer’s chest with a subwoofer.