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FPS Gun Makes First Person Shooter Controls More Gun-Like
Posted by Kotaku US Edition at 11:49 AM on January 15, 2008
If you're feeling too detached from the experience of headshotting anonymous competitor's via standard mouse, maybe Zalman's FPS Gun (FG-1000) is what you're looking for. On display at CES 2008, the FPS Gun by Zalman—winner of our Least Worst 3D Gaming Display Award—was impressive in its ability to not be as bad as expected. Perhaps it's that the wrist is positioned vertically, allowing for a wider range of motion that made playing Unreal Tournament 2004 that much more enjoyable.
On the downside, only two of the four buttons felt like they were naturally positioned, with the glowing mousewheel awkwardly out of reach. Perhaps smaller hands will have an easier time scrolling, but when you've got dainty digits like I do, it's hard to imagine the current form factor working for a wide range of players.
Verdict: A good gimmick that works for simple shooters, but not for those in need of a robust button set up.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Gouki4u
Posted 7:22 PM 14/1/08
These guys should look at a bunch of handguns to see what ergonomics for those are like, and redesign this thing to fit the human hand. Cool idea, but it looks seriously uncomfortable, and unwieldy.
Gouki4u
Cell9song
Posted 7:17 PM 14/1/08
a shooter controller for the PC....just what I need.
*sigh*
Cell9song
katorok
Posted 7:10 PM 14/1/08
Looks like a shoe Batman would wear from this angle..
katorok
BassForever
Posted 6:45 PM 14/1/08
Atleast it looks cool, if all else fails, you can show it off to your friends.
BassForever
GizFanAlpha
Posted 6:42 PM 14/1/08
@Witzbold:Me too.
GizFanAlpha
Strangelove
Posted 6:40 PM 14/1/08
The Novint Falcon is the only new-type controller that I'm vaguely interested in.
Strangelove
K-Squad! (Badass Edition)
Posted 6:36 PM 14/1/08
@Kirbytheslayer: Punch the Penguin and Win a Prize!:
Confused me for a long time to. I finally found out you dont pick it up, and thats its already upright....
K-Squad! (Badass Edition)
brent_w
Posted 6:23 PM 14/1/08
This is by no means the first gun shaped mouse.
I've seen at least 2 others before.
brent_w
That Girl Hates You
Posted 6:20 PM 14/1/08
@That Girl Hates You: *guns blah I type to fast sometimes
That Girl Hates You
rdj
Posted 6:20 PM 14/1/08
It looks like a shoe. And that's about all I need to know about it.
rdj
That Girl Hates You
Posted 6:18 PM 14/1/08
I think that its a good idea maybe if they twick it a bit it'll be great... Or I shouldn't use it... I like gund to much...
Must. stay. away.
That Girl Hates You
Dp.
Posted 6:14 PM 14/1/08
If this had SixAxis I'd buy it; I might just buy one anyway...
Dp.
Spiffyness
Posted 6:11 PM 14/1/08
All right! I can't wait for the gun-liked invincible force!
Spiffyness
Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.
Posted 6:11 PM 14/1/08
@McWhertor: thats kinda nifty, your award says it all really.
Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.
hahnchen
Posted 6:11 PM 14/1/08
I saw this on the Zalman website, they've got some really shit peripherals. Should stick to the silent cooling which we all know them to be excellent at.
hahnchen
ZinkO
Posted 6:03 PM 14/1/08
@McWhertor:
sweet, just as I post. epic timing skills.
ZinkO
ZinkO
Posted 6:03 PM 14/1/08
How... how do you hold it? Where exactly does the hand go?
ZinkO
McWhertor
Posted 6:03 PM 14/1/08
You grip the upright portion like a gun handle, with your thumb resting on the handle buttons or the mousewheel. Index and middle fingers pull mouse1 and mouse2 buttons. Make sense?
McWhertor
Kirbytheslayer: Punch the Penguin and Win a Prize!
Posted 5:57 PM 14/1/08
For the life of me, I can't figure out how to use that.
Do you rest your hand on that thing that looks like a mutant mouse, or hold the controller from the opposite side?
Either way, it doesn't look like it would work well.
Pics of it being held would help make it make sense.
Kirbytheslayer: Punch the Penguin and Win a Prize!
Moonshadow101
Posted 5:49 PM 14/1/08
Looking at that pic, I can only vaguely imagine how to hold it. And it looks painfully uncomfortable.
And are those two side buttons located under your palm? How the hell do you push them?
Moonshadow101
dv8godd
Posted 5:46 PM 14/1/08
interesting idea... but yeah, doesn't look terribly comfortable.
I'm not sure I would use it though. I think I can fire off a lot more shots by "tapping" rather than "squeezing" them off.
dv8godd
Arthois
Posted 5:43 PM 14/1/08
Once more, no love for lefty.
Stupid companies & their hate for 25% of the population.
(Yeah, I'm a firm believer we're alot more then reported).
Arthois
myd12
Posted 5:41 PM 14/1/08
doesn't have enough buttons and doesn't look very comfy
myd12
Phester
Posted 5:36 PM 14/1/08
Does it work with the SexBox 3600?
Phester
Eltigro, hospital postin' fool
Posted 5:34 PM 14/1/08
I think I would have trouble keeping it on the desk.
Eltigro, hospital postin' fool
Witzbold
Posted 5:32 PM 14/1/08
Hey I wouldnt mind trying this out!
Witzbold
topaz420
Posted 9:32 PM 14/1/08
This would also help those who suffer from RSIs, as the wrist is stronger in the vertical position.
Though nothing can pry me away from my Wacom tablet -- the best FPS controller I've ever used :)
topaz420
RadiantSilvergun
Posted 8:47 PM 14/1/08
@Phester: Very good.
This thing looked like a killer shoe (literally) from the future first glimspe.
RadiantSilvergun
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
Posted 11:15 PM 14/1/08
A vertical mouse would probably be a better sollution (I mean, there are some awful, but some good too. Best ones are the ones that looks like joysticks)... and also a great help to those with carpal tunnel problems.
But I heard from several people that you kinda loose precision using something like that.
So while it would seem more realistic to fps players, might not be very practical.
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
AznSlackerType
Posted 7:29 PM 14/1/08
.... I don't get it whats that suppose to look like cuz I can't see the gun.
AznSlackerType
Odin
Posted 5:49 AM 15/1/08
I'll stick with Zalmans cooling solutions, they make beastly CPU coolers that also look fucking pimp as well.
Odin
bursar
Posted 5:02 AM 15/1/08
Just goes to show. What goes around, comes around.
[www.monstergecko.com]
bursar
rainofwalrus
Posted 7:04 AM 15/1/08
WTB boob-mouse PST.
rainofwalrus
fuchikoma
Posted 8:54 AM 15/1/08
Better for FPS? I seriously doubt it.
New idea? No, I've seen other FPS gun mouse controllers like it.
But maybe a lot more ergonomic than a traditional mouse...
fuchikoma
cybereality
Posted 8:42 AM 15/1/08
I have no idea how in the hell you hold that thing, but I want one!
cybereality