We took the gaming section by force this year at CES to bring you some of the hottest and most peculiar additions to the video game world. Check out an impact-generating vest, a specialized wireless Guitar Hero platform, a $60000 racing simulator and more.
Take a Seat, Lazy Bones
If you're a hardcore gamer who feels as though a traditional recliner is simply unacceptable, we stumbled upon a few hi-tech gaming chairs that should achieve substantial high scores in your living room.
The Ace Bayou X-Rocker ultimate gaming chair is complete with armrests, video inputs and speakers mounted on both sides of the padded headrest. We found the Ace Bayou X-Rocker to provide substantial padding, though without a lumbar support, we gradually began to take on a posture similar to Gollum's. Aside from Video inputs, the Ace Bayou X-Rocker sports a 1/8" headphone jack with volume control. Perhaps the most exhilarating feature of this Mario Kart-geared butt bucket is the pulsating vibrations that stun you when you crash into a wall or get decimated with a nuke. This bad boy is also wireless. We can see moms across the country attempting to peel little Billy off of the Ace Bayou X-Rocker with a spatula, yet to no avail.
If you want to toss a little color into your Xbox cave, the Lumisource Pulse is another option. Covered with durable, yet scratchy nylon fabric, the Lumisource Pulse has an adjustable headrest, just like your parent's Ford Focus. Maybe it's just the way gaming chairs are designed, but the ergonomics seemed to crunch our spines into a letter S, forcing us to practice how to walk correctly afterwards. The Lumisource Pulse has video inputs, a headphone jack and volume control, but the seat is not wireless. One caveat is to make sure you don't have the volume cranked when not using the headphones. There's nothing like two sledgehammers of sound taking both of your ears for a long walk down Blown Canal Alley.
Or Stand Up for Your Right to Rock
Want to rock like it's 2009? Ace Bayou also premiered a specialized wireless Guitar Hero platform that vibrates and spouts fiery rock out of its built-in speakers. The catch? We had to stand within the 2' x 2' confined area throughout our face-off tournament against the booth babes. If you have a tendency to hit the stage like Steven Tyler, then Ace Bayou's new Guitar Hero platform might not be for you.
Do You Feel Lucky, Punk?
The only way to do a First-Person Shooter justice is with a Novint Falcon. Novint just added a Pistol grip for more realistic shooting and gun feel, like recoil and trigger sensitivity. We were impressed with the fluid movement of the Novint Falcon, allowing us to blast zombies into oblivion while rocking a Clint Eastwood sneer. We're not sure if the new Pistol Grip Novint Falcon will convert loyal mouse worshippers, but it looks promising.
Nerd Armor
TN Games released a garment that should be kept within the confines of the gaming room, never to be taken into the light of day. Okay, we're being harsh, but an impact-generating vest that contains eight different active zones is a little overboard, isn't it? The TN Games 3rd Space Gaming Vest scared the pants off of us when we were shot down in Call of Duty 2, which is included with the purchase. The 3rd Space Gaming Vest also generates fear-inducing finger taps and the whole thing is powered by an air compressor. If you are hell-bent on becoming a virtual soldier, then this might be the vest of choice.
Bar Games in Your Kitchen
The new JVL Encore countertop entertainment system brings high-definition, touch-screen gameplay into your house. Aside from looking like futuristic gambling machine, the JVL Encore has a 22" screen and digital music streaming capability, just like modern jukeboxes. We were barely amused with the games, though the touch-screen interface was highly responsive. We dig the technology, now let's see Super Mario Bros on the JVL Encore, rather than "Gone Fishin'".
It's Expensive to Be Jeff Gordon
What do you do if you can't race a car to save your life, but are exceedingly rich? You splurge on a SimCraft APEX SC830 racing simulator, of course. The new racing simulator debuted here at CES flaunts a price tag that surpasses an '09 Vette convertible. To be fair, the SimCraft APEX SC830 is designed for professionals like law enforcement trainers and real racecar drivers. Driving in the SimCraft APEX SC830 was a true bolt of exhilaration, and we didn't want to unbuckle ourselves. SimCraft's puropose for appearing at CES? They're planning on sizing down the technology to provide a consumer model to replace that dusty Nordic Track of yours within the near future.
Trash Talk Equipment
Psyko Audio Labs sent sound waves throughout the showfloor with the introduction of their 5.1 gaming headphones. We were taken aback by the realistic gunshots and background noise generated by these fetching headphones, but bass was left out of the picture. We love the unconventional headband, which houses four of the surround sound speakers while the plush ear cups contain a subwoofer in each. Comfortable? Certainly. A-1 top-notch sound? Psyko Audio Labs just needs to pump some life into the bass, and we have a winner.
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