We knew the day would arrive when gaming would exceed all our expectations and take it to another level. There’s been plenty of attempts in the past to enhance the overall experience and make it more realistic. Remember the 1980s Nintendo games Duck Hunt, where you would use a gamer gun to shoot objects on the TV screen, or the very physically taxing (but fun) Power Pad, where you could race opponents in a world class track meet by running in place and jumping? Those were the days.
Not that the enhancements to gaming ended there — the addition of superb graphics, high definition displays, virtual reality, voice and facial recognition, and gaming accessories have all advanced gaming technology. Now, it appears that the new Omni One By Virtuix is combining several of these elements to create a next-level gaming experience that will not only immerse gamers in what feels like real world encounters, but it will also incorporate a safe way to physically engage in the game giving users a full body exercise experience on a 360 degree omni-directional treadmill. The new gaming toy is 4 feet in diameter, with a standalone VR headset, and compact enough to fold and store in a closet.
Backed by Mark Cuban and other notable investors, the gaming system that includes a core body attachment to ensure the safety of the moving gamer was featured in the 2018 Steven Spielberg film Ready Player One, a pic about a virtual reality challenge. While the Omni By Virtuix is not currently on the consumer market, the Virtuix team is opening the gateway for average consumers to invest in the product, with a few perks.
“All investors will receive a 20% discount when buying an Omni One system ($400 discount) or Omni One dev kit ($200 discount),” the website states. “You can transfer this discount as a gift card to friends or family. Investors who order Omni One will be among the first to receive their systems and can participate in our beta program.”
Virtuix appears to be using the same selling method as the game changing Peloton where customers can choose to sign up for a monthly subscription or pay an upfront price. Although not made official, the website indicates that the upfront price on the Omni One system may be at $1,995 or $55 per month if users opt for the optional monthly payment plan. The Omni One “Dev Kit,” which does not come with the VR headset, will have an upfront purchase price of $995.
Jan Goetgeluk, Virtuix CEO, started Omni research and development in 2011 before founding Virtuix in April 2013.
“We aim to become the Peloton for gamers and bring our popular gaming experience to millions of homes around the world,” Goetgeluk said.
At the moment, there are 30 games developed by Virtuix and third-party studios that will be available upon launch. Price points for Omni One games will start at $40, while monthly subscription for online gameplay will be an estimated $180 a year. Some games that have gotten the Virtuix touch include Grand Theft Auto V, Battlefield 4, and Team Fortress 2.
I don’t know about you, but The MouthSoap team will definitely have one of these in the office!
