The first 30 games that will be available to the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset upon its launch have been revealed, encompassing various genres including first-person adventures, tower defense games and strategy titles.
Making the most out of virtual reality technology and these games will require players to move around in 360-degree movements, which could be difficult for some players to achieve if they need to use the Oculus Rift while sitting down. Fortunately, a solution to the problem has already been released.
Praevidi has unveiled the Turris, which is the first chair in the world designed specifically to be used for the Oculus Rift and other virtual reality headsets. It is described by the company as a high-performance, low-latency and stable platform for an improved virtual reality experience.
The Turris is a rotating seat that has motion sensors and a built-in PC powerful enough to support the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive and even headsets that rely on Bluetooth connections such as the Gear VR. The stool features ports located at its back, allowing for a complete hands-free virtual reality experience with the cables connected to the virtual reality headset hidden away from the reach of the user's foot.
The Turris also allows the user to make movements with less effort while in virtual reality, which would allow for longer sessions and increased productivity.
According to Sherri Smith of Tom's Guide, the Turris was an impressive accessory due to its responsiveness, which generated excitement regarding its possible applications once virtual reality technology has become even more developed.
Testing out the Turris with the Oculus Rift, Smith explained that while controlling a character in a first-person view, leaning forward or backward on the chair will have the character move forward or backward, while leaning to either the left or the right will have the character strafe along either side. Rotating the direction at which the character is facing will require the user to rotate the Turris.
The price of the Turris, however, is at a steep $3,000, which would allow it to attract possibly only the most hardcore enthusiasts of the fledgling technology. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction for virtual reality accessories.
