Immersion Allows Custom Shakes

Undoubtedly, PC gaming's next big hardware enhancement is going to be in the force feedback realm. With Nintendo 64 owners already getting the shakes from the wildly popular Star Fox 64, PC owners are probably feeling a little left out.

Luckily, Logitech, maker of the Wingman series of joysticks, is leaping headfirst into force feedback with a joystick named the Wingman Force. What will it mean for gamers?

A new sense of gameplay.

Imagine cruising down a corridor in Descent II and feeling the blast of a quad laser coming from behind. Or imagine a Quake deathmatch where the feeling of a rocket slamming that wall near you is completely different from the feeling of the second one that an enemy lets fly right into your helmet. This is what we've all dreamt of, and from what we saw last week, it is coming.

Immersion, the company behind the technology, has gone one step further by making a special customization package called I-Force Studio. Game developers supporting Immersion's technology will supply a small file that will allow gamers to alter the settings for every rumble, jolt, or slam the joystick will give. Rather then having a developer code every specific movement, which would normally add more time to game development, this one little file will hold all the relevant force feedback information. And best of all, anyone owning the Logitech Force or any other joystick sporting the Immersion technology can customize his game even more.

From the demo we saw, the object-oriented I-Force Studio is easy to customize and the force of the pushes and tugs are awesome. Nintendo 64 owners may love the Rumble Pack but the Wingman really does make it look like a Fisher-Price product. Some of the settings are so high that it feels like there should be a weight lifting game included with the joystick. Luckily there is a featherweight option for those who can't take that kind of power.

Gamers worried about buying an unsupported product won't have to worry either. Microsoft has included the I-Force technology into the Direct X 5.0 API and manufacturers like CH Products, Interact, Advanced Gravis, and ThrustMaster will also be shipping products with Immersion's technology.

Joysticks are expected to be in the US$99-$179 range. The Logitech Force should be hitting the retail chains in January.