We’ve had an official Sony PSVR accessory in the shape of the Aim gun controller and now the first second party accessory has surfaced on Amazon and it is a bike. The Cokem International VirZoom Virtual Reality Bike has integrated speed and direction sensor, controllers on the handlebars, and comes with a set of games.
The device can also be used with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, Â and will cost you just $399.99. Here’s the official blurb.
The solution to locomotion in VR has arrived. All of the VirZOOM experiences are powered by you. Integrated wireless sensors track all of your movements and sensors measure your pedaling speed – the faster you pedal in the real world, the faster you go in the virtual world. Steer by leaning your body to the left and right. Action buttons, triggers and d-pad on the handlebars create advanced game-play. Enjoy VirZOOM exercise games included with your VZ controller. Say goodbye to your boring workout. VirZOOM Exercise Games: The AAA VirZOOM game development team has created games with 5 avatar worlds and countless mini-games. Enjoy motivating and evolving challenges that come included with your VZ bike controller. Lasso bandits, fly a Pegasus, shoot tanks, race cars and hover in a helicopter – all under your own power. VirZOOM supports major VR headsets with position tracking. Lean any direction to move your way through the virtual world.
Source: Amazon
Avenger
Am I the only seeing the lost potential of this type of kit with games like MotoGP, Ride, and MXGP2?
Am I also the only one thinking a bicycle is cheaper?
DividSmythe
Imagine the sweat you’d produce using this a Ps VR together?
Smelly VR after a few weeks.
GoosePies
Was only a matter of time before virtual riding became a virtual reality on the PSVR ;)
TSBonyman
What happens when you go around a bend in the game? Will your body naturally shift weight on the static bike to compensate.. and then you’ll fall over?
I think a wheelchair/armchair peripheral would be much safer. ;)
VirZOOM
We do use head tracking so you use leaning to steer, and actually ended up with this because it was safer than what we’d tried before! For instance, an earlier prototype had you hook a bike up to a trainer and turn the handlebars to steer, but testers and players at demos naturally wanted to lean into turns. The design we ended up with is built to be sturdy, and the games are designed not to require too much leaning, so the result is really stable.
That said, we would try your wheelchair peripheral if you make a prototype. ;)
TSBonyman
Haha, thanks for the insight. I can see you’ve put some thought and research into the practicalities and i wish you every success! :)
camdaz
I think I’ll give it a miss.
MrJimmy
I think I’d rather wash my Johnson in acid
The Lone Steven
Or…..
or you could buy a cheap execerise bike, ride it whilst playing VR and booom, same experience! Granted, the whole gaming aspect is not there but it’s kinda the same thing.
The bloke in the picture seems to be in pain then having fun.
VirZOOM
That’s actually how our Community Manager (that is, the guy writing this) worked out before starting at VirZOOM – just pedaling on a folding recumbent bike while playing Dragon Age. That’s a good time too! The comparison is kind of like apples and oranges, though, since VirZOOM games are specifically designed to encourage exercise, track your heart rate, mileage, and Calories burned, and so on. (Plus, every time a mage stops to cast a spell, your brain tells you to stop pedaling, which can be a little confusing when you’ve got demons to take out.)
mclarenrob2
If i lived alone I’d buy one if there was a cycling game, but without using the VR headset.
Amphlett
The elephant in the room… Why not just buy a bike and go outside for a ride?
tantalus_blank
I can think of a few reasons:
– Ride through environments much more interesting than a bunch of side streets
– Wouldn’t have to deal with crazy winds/rain/ice
– No bike maintenance
I think this is actually a pretty good idea apart from the issue of getting a sweaty headset. Even from playing an energetic shooting game, the headset started to feel a little bit like I needed air on my face (on the vive at least). Maybe chuck a fan in front of the bike for wind effects?
The Lone Steven
And because Clarkson will run you over. :P
I think, if it was possible, it’s best not to do it. I mean, we already have enough people walking off piers because they can’t be parted from their smartphone and listening to erm… whatever crap youn’uns listen to nowadays. That and no bugger would want to review it.
VirZOOM
We strongly recommend doing that too, but that’s kind of like saying “why not just buy a guitar and start a band?” instead of playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Sometimes you just want to play games, you know? (And sometimes the alternative isn’t always an option, depending on weather, safety issues, etc.)
Plus, we’ll tell you how many Calories you burned AND who among your friends is the mightiest tank combatant. Beat THAT, biking-in-the-real-world!
The Lone Steven
But what if one doesn’t want to know about the calories burnt and who is the best at tanking? People have been punched for less! :P