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Sixense/Kickstarter

Stem controllers brings wireless motion tracking to gaming

The STEM controllers can track the movement of your legs, arms and head and reproduce them in-game.

ANYONE WHO HAS ever wanted virtual reality to become, well, a reality will be a step closer to realising it thanks to a new set of controllers.

The Stem controllers, developed by digital control company Sixense, are wireless and use electromagnetic tracking to capture your movement in-game.

Taking the shape of a handle with an analogue stick, a trigger and six buttons, the controllers works in pairs – one for each hand – allowing it to track your legs, arms and head independently. If you move your hand, your character’s hand moves as well.

The makers claim that the controllers can deliver motion gameplay to “virtually any published PC game.” However, games that have been customised to work with it like Portal 2 – which has 14 levels made by Sixense itself – will benefit the most from it.

Although it can be used on its own, the controller is also compatible with the Oculus Rift, the virtual reality headset which is designed to offer an immersive gaming experience.

(Video: Sixensent/YouTube)

The project was originally put up on Kickstarter where it raised over $600,000 (€440,000) back in October. The company will begin shipping the system in July.

Read: Sony announces game-streaming service Playstation Now >

Read: 15 free games to play when you’re feeling bored >

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9 Comments
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    Mute Olive Tierney
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    Aug 1st 2019, 1:08 PM

    Wishing both Gardai a speedy recovery!

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    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
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    Aug 1st 2019, 2:25 PM

    Some how I don’t think they noticed he had an imitation firearm, makes more sense that they saw a gun and after they overpowered him and took it off him they discovered it was an imitation firearm. Very brave Gardai, to tackle a potentially armed individual.

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    Mute John Murt
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    Aug 1st 2019, 12:06 PM

    Big claim for the boys

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    Mute Willie
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    Aug 1st 2019, 12:07 PM

    @John Murt:
    I think you meant, i hope they are ok

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    Mute John Murt
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    Aug 1st 2019, 12:29 PM

    @Willie: im sure they are ok calculating how much they will get

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    Mute Owwwwnnnn
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    Aug 1st 2019, 12:48 PM

    @John Murt: take a day off… It’s a lovely day!

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    Mute SFNutters
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    Aug 1st 2019, 12:52 PM

    @John Murt: what have you done lately…other than stupid commenting?

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    Mute Ciaran
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    Aug 1st 2019, 12:52 PM

    @John Murt: Try doing their job for just one day and then comment.

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    Mute DisgruntledDub
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    Aug 1st 2019, 2:42 PM

    @John Murt: I hope they are adequately compensated after being injured while on duty. Who knows what this lad was doing with an imitation gun.

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    Mute ronano
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    Aug 1st 2019, 7:07 PM

    @John Murt: clown

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    Mute shellakybooky
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    Aug 3rd 2019, 7:12 PM

    @DisgruntledDub: go away will you it’s people like you that have our country ruined with this “claim culture” they probably only got a few scratches doing their job. Compensation for doing their job…… feck off

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    Mute Tarfton Clax
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    Aug 1st 2019, 2:57 PM

    I watched it happen. There was a screaming, shouting woman who was causing trouble most of the time and she encouraged him repeatedly to get into the Garda’s face. When he did the Gardaí took him down swiftly, and efficiently.

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    Mute George Vladisavljevic
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    Aug 1st 2019, 3:26 PM

    Would like to see the guy challenge police in France, Germany, Spain or any other mainland police force, with an imitation firearm, and see how long he is left standing.

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    Mute Finn H. Schoyen
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    Aug 1st 2019, 8:28 PM

    @George Vladisavljevic: Good luck with that! In Norway, the police respond with imitation firearms of their own, so the perps can claim benefits for their imitation injuries.

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    Mute Karl Phillips
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    Aug 1st 2019, 7:29 PM

    Arrest the woman I say for hate crime, well done to the Gardai keeping our streets safe .

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Aug 1st 2019, 1:58 PM

    Why were they trying to arrest him with an imitation firearm? Had they no real ones?

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Aug 1st 2019, 6:01 PM

    @John Mulligan: have you any cop on ,? one can carry out a robbery with an imitation firearm.

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    Mute Walter Obrien
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    Aug 1st 2019, 3:07 PM

    Build that wall!

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