New releases including not only hardware (Trackers with accessory tools for gaming and action play) but software bundled that goes as far as bringing full body sensing into VR play.
The Vive system is considered one of the best for interactive VR in the commercial marketplace, and after seeding development with the hockey-puck shaped tracker for months, HTC has put 3 formats together combining a tracker with a hand-held gun, a paddle, and straps that allow the wearer to place them on the body (best for the legs/feet).The Vive Tracker is an interchangeable motion tracker that enables consumers, arcades and developers to take advantage of third-party hardware and software that improves VR experiences. One Vive Tracker can work with any number of VR accessories and software applications.
New Trackers from Vive
Each Tracker retails for $99.99 and can be used with dozens of VR titles and multiple new accessories including Hyperkin’s Hyper Blaster, the Racket Sports Set and Rebuff Reality’s TrackStrap, which are now available for either pre-order or purchase.
“With Vive Tracker, we’ve already seen the tremendous tools and experiences that the development community has created and unleashed into VR,” said Daniel O’Brien, GM US, Vive. “As we launch Tracker to consumers, we’ve lined up a number of developer and hardware partners that are committed to making VR on Vive more immersive than ever before. The Vive Tracker opens up a whole new set of experiences that can take advantage of full body tracking and a number of peripherals that set VR experiences on Vive apart.”
The first Vive Tracker accessory bundles will launch for pre-order on November 16 with expected arrival dates of mid-December.
- Hyper Blaster with Duck Season
- Racket Sports Set with Virtual Sports
- A third partner bundle featuring straps to enable full body tracking, is available today.
- Rebuff Reality’s TrackStrap with Redfoot Bluefoot Dancing
Hyper Blaster
The Hyper Blaster brings a retro light gun to VR for the first time. When paired with Vive Tracker, the Hyper Blaster serves as both a gun and motion controller in integrated games such as Duck Season, Arizona Sunshine, The American Dream VR, Operation Warcade, TacticalAR, and Practisim VR. The Hyper Blaster will be sold exclusively through Amazon and includes Duck Season as a pack-in title, and one Vive Tracker, all for $149.99. Duck Season, by Stress Level Zero, is a throwback to the golden age of 1980’s gaming and movies with a hint of horror in a Spielburgian universe.
Unique to Duck Season, the Blaster is virtually represented within the game world.
In addition to the six titles integrated at launch, Vive is working with 10 additional developers to integrate the Blaster by Q1.
Racket Sports Set
Custom-molded and weighted to feel like real paddles and rackets, the Racket Sports Set is packaged for both Ping Pong and Tennis games. Connected via a simple screw, the handles are integrated with five titles. The bundle will sell for $149.99 and includes both Ping Pong and Tennis handles, a Vive Tracker and a pack-in redemption code for Virtual Sports from Vive Studios. Virtual Sports brings Vive owners realism ping pong and tennis that is only possible on the Vive. Pre-orders are available today via Amazon, Abt Electronics, BH Photo, Fry’s, Gamestop, Micro Center and NewEgg with additional retailers expected
In addition to Virtual Sports, the Racket Sports Set is integrated with six titles today and expect an additional five by end of year.
TrackStrap for full-body VR
The Vive Tracker takes SteamVR tracking to another level of accuracy, easily adding feet, wrist, hip or leg tracking movement to VR experiences.
Rebuff Reality is selling TrackStrap, which easily attaches to Vive Trackers to your feet and other body parts to enable full body tracking. A pair of TrackStraps is available now for $24.99 via rebuffreality.com and includes a pack-in redemption code for Redfoot Bluefoot Dancing on Steam, inspired by Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) and Audioshield.
Dozens of developers have integrated body tracking into their experiences, including CloudGate Studios’ Island 359, which will launch a “Virtual Self” update on December 1, using Vive Trackers for full body tracking and movement.
Additional compatible titles include Climbey, Holodance, High Fidelity and more.
