Virtuix has revealed that its Kickstarter-funded VR treadmill Virtuix Omni will start shipments in September, priced at $499 plus delivery, reports EuroGamer.
The Virtuix Omni is a virtual reality interface offering players multi-directional movement on-the-spot during game play. The treadmill comes with a back harness, tracking software, a mini-game demo and a pair of special shoes which work with the low-friction surface allowing walking, running or jumping to be digitised. Those who would like to share the Omni experience with friends may have to consider stocking a range of different shoe sizes. (Previously, we have reported upon a similar system released by Cyberith where special footwear is not required.)
The US$499 price does not include the necessary Oculus Rift headset or PC controller required for the full set up, to make the most of the system, these will have to be purchased separately. The price also excludes what may stack up to a hefty shipping fee due to the bulkiness of the product.
If you were one of those who believed in the Omni and funded it on Kickstarter nearly a year ago, it would also seem that you will be offered a lower buying price.
The Virtuix Omni was showcased at EGX London last year where gamers were given the chance to have a go on it. Although we can't see the device storming our living room space quite yet, it is highly possible that we might start seeing these popping up in public arcades.
With so many VR projects popping up in the market, including Steam VR by Valve utilising Oculus Rift, Sony's Project Morpheus, and more simplified devices such as Rescape by 13th Lab, what is the key attraction factor in these devices? Are we still waiting for the perfect VR platform or is there already one out there or on the precipice of launch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
