HOME

By Al Giovetti
Price:$89.95
Genre:controller hardware
Release:
Developer:
Producer:Noah Ullman
Publisher: Reality Quest
Phone: 888/96-GLOVE.
Website: www.theglove.com
Requirements:

The Glove

History

Company Line

The Glove delivers intuitive, immersive gameplay

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Reality Quest is previewing The Glove, a next-generation controller incorporating natural, finger-button action and state-of-the-art wrist-motion sensing technology.

Fitting snugly over a user's right hand, the revolutionary new peripheral works for both analog and digital titles and immerses users in games in a way no controller has managed in the past.

Scheduled for distribution nationwide for the Sony PlayStation in the fourth quarter of 1997 and for the Nintendo 64 shortly thereafter, The Glove requires no special set-up software. Console systems recognize The Glove as a standard controller, ensuring compatibility with all games for either 32- or 64-bit consoles.

"Since video games became popular in the early '80s, tremendous improvements have been made in graphics, processing speed and story line -- almost every aspect of the game except control," said Noah Ullman, co-founder, Reality Quest.

"The `input' of present-day controllers pales in comparison to the `output' of the 32/64-bit systems. The Glove puts that same level of next-generation excitement into gameplay."

Reality Quest's new peripheral employs sophisticated, proprietary, wrist-motion optical-sensing technology to make directional controls as easy as pointing. The Glove's sensing technology allows the user to move objects up, down, right, left or diagonally on the game screen with just a bend of the wrist.

Since directionals are accomplished with a natural hand movement, all of the player's fingers are free to hit action buttons placed directly under the gamer's fingers.

The result is a dramatically new interface giving the player both more comfort than traditional gamepads and greater control. Hand and finger movements are so natural that left-handed players can use The Glove as well as right-handed gamers.

Supports Digital and Analog Games

For the past 15 years, titles for console systems have been designed to operate with digital controllers. While some games support both analog and digital modes, users have been required to purchase a separate controller for analog games, often limited by software availability. For example, an analog driving wheel is useful only with driving games.

Reality Quest has solved this problem by giving The Glove a three-position switch. With The Glove, users can choose digital mode, which operates like a pad; analog, which acts like a PC joystick; or Reality Quest's revolutionary new simulated-analog mode, which allows gamers to play analog games in digital mode.

Simulated-Analog Technology

With Reality Quest's simulated-analog technology, users can play with joystick-type (analog) control in games which previously worked only with pad (digital) controllers. In the past, gamers seeking to simulate analog control in digital games resorted to quick tapping on the pad controller to simulate the incremental movement of a joystick. The Glove by Reality Quest does the work for gamers.

Using the proportional mode in character games, slight movements of the wrist cause characters to move slowly. A more pronounced bend in the wrist causes these characters to move more quickly. In driving games, a short bend of the wrist causes the vehicle to move slightly, while an acute bend causes a rapid, sharp turn.

Ergonomic Design

All actions previously requiring two thumbs on a traditional keypad can be executed with one hand using The Glove, allowing the player to make faster, more accurate movements. The Glove is also more comfortable, especially over long hours of play. Reality Quest's design features a durable, built-in ABS plastic casing which cradles a user's fingers and houses action buttons, activated with a simple tap of a finger.

Directional movement occurs as soon as the gamer bends his wrist -- an operation that, with The Glove, occurs by reflex. Action buttons are located at the fingertips, permitting "touch typing," unlike the "one-thumbed-hunt-and-peck" method currently used by most gamers.

In addition to taking advantage of natural wrist and finger movement, The Glove's new button layout facilitates combination moves difficult to execute on traditional gamepads. Users can even reverse the Y-axis of the controller so directionals are consistent with the preference of the player or type of game being played.

To maximize the features of each console, the housing shape and placement of the finger buttons will vary slightly for each platform. The comfortable, glove-like design accommodates most hand sizes, ages 12 and up.

"The Glove was designed by gamers for gamers and incorporates the latest technologies and options," said Adam Ullman, co-founder, Reality Quest. "Since every game utilizes different action keys, we've designed it so users can customize button layouts to enhance their own particular playing style."

Auto Centering

Another unique feature of The Glove is its auto centering mechanism. This function returns the controller to a neutral position without having to recalibrate after the hand position shifts.

"One of the biggest setbacks with past controllers which were designed to track body movement was persistent, random directionals during gameplay. Players were often unable to find the neutral position," said Adam Ullman.

"Gaming requires precise control, so we designed a product which does not send unwanted signals -- a major problem with other peripherals in the past -- to the game system."

Reality Quest will offer the new controller for the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64 gaming systems at an estimated retail price of $89.95. The Glove is expected to be on store shelves the fourth quarter of 1997. Additional information on ordering The Glove can be found at www.theglove.com or by calling 888/96-GLOVE.

Reality Quest Corp. was founded in 1994 in New York as Anaphase Unlimited Inc. by videogame enthusiasts Noah and Adam Ullman. The two entrepreneurs refined and patented an innovative hand-wrist action technology with applications ranging far beyond the video game industry.

In 1995, the Ullmans relocated the company to Colorado where they joined the Boulder Technology Incubator, a support organization that provides management assistance to entrepreneurs with innovative promising technologies. The company was organized as Reality Quest in 1995. *

Product Description

Journalists

Put your review right here by emailing us the text.

References