[Tech] Novint Falcon

[thatbloke]

So at i37 there was this bunch of people from the ATK community demoing a piece of kit called the "Novint Falcon".

This is a funky controller that you use in games in place of the mouse and I must say that as soon as I tried it, I fell in love

Now it would appear that I may have accidentally slipped and entered my card details on the Novint website, so I should have one showing up in the next couple of weeks

Here's some info about the device:

Novint homepage
Info about the Falcon Pistol Grip, which is what I have coming as well as the Falcon
A list of all available games that make full use of the Falcon - Most major Valve titles support it fully already, and they are developing a set of drivers that allow the Falcon to be treated as a standard mouse for games that do not have further support for it.

 

[Zhar]

Looks good! But I wonder if you won't get cramps from holding the pistol grip after holding it for 3+ hours as with a mouse, you put your wrist on the table, as far as I have seen, that isn't possible with the pistol grip. But tell us when you get it delivered

 

[waterproofbob]

This was for me the ultimate case of, that is kinda cool but I'd never buy one as I just don't think it is worth it. A very cool toy but I think It'd quickly get uncomfortable and I'd want to get back to my mouse. However happy to be wrong on this one as they are pretty funky.

 

[thatbloke]

So my Falcon still hasn't arrived, 3 weeks after me ordering it, though I am apparently supposed to expect it next week.

On me making a post on the Novint forums asking about other people's delivery experiences so I can figure out what's going on, the CEO of the company chips in and mentions that becuase of the delay and as I just had my birthday and because I'm a good community member I can have a free game

schweet.

 

[Traxata]

I r shocked

 

[KillCrazy]

You jammy git

That device does look awesome and I'd love to give it a try, but I agree with Zillet and Bob that it looks like it would get uncompfortable after a while and I would keep switching between it and my mouse.

Let us know what it's like after some games!

 

[VibroAxe]

a) What game u getting?
b) you bringing that bad boy to the i-series, would be interested in having a poke

 

[thatbloke]

a) What game u getting?
b) you bringing that bad boy to the i-series, would be interested in having a poke

The "free" game is one called XLR8. It was recommended by tomnovint, the CEO of the company. I have no idea what it's like because I don't have the Falcon yet

Assuming the sodding thing arrives before i38 (still heard nothing about delivery) then I will have it with me at i38 so u can have a play

 

[thatbloke]

So as I've still not heard anything about my falcon they are refunding me US$87.50 (half the cost of a falcon at its current full price) and then I have to wait 2 more weeks...

If nothing more happens in that 2 weeks then they are going to ship a new one

 

[VibroAxe]

If you end up with two I would like to call shotgun

 

[SgtFury]

If you end up with two I would like to call shotgun

Wouldn't you call pistol rather than shotgun??

 

[thatbloke]

Ok, just got off the phone with Parcelforce...

After paying a £23.16 customs charge my Falcon is going to be delivered tomorrow

 

[thatbloke]

Thought I'd make a post, basically Novint are having a massive sale on Falcons from 27th-30th of November, if you have some cash to spare then during those days you can get the following bundle:

Novint Falcon controller
Pistol Grip
Penumbra Overture HaptX edition
The Orange Box

for $99. This bundle normally retails for $180!!!.

You will need to add shipping to the UK from the US to that too (approx. $60) and then the UK customs charge (£23.16 for most people so far, that includes £8 "handling fee" added by parcelforce) which will nearly double that price, but for the feeling of immersion that this gives you in so many games, and for the impending release of the F-Gen drivers, which will allow you to use it in ANY game, this is a good buy

If you do decide to take the plunge, it will ask you for a referral code during the purchase process, use my code - "splorkums". I'm not sure if this will apply the usual 20% discount on top of the already discounted $99 price but it will count towards my tally of Falcons sold with my code - when i have 3 sold with my code, I get a free one.

If I get a free one, I am planning on using it as a raffle prize or perhaps offering it to a THNer so that they can share in the funzies

 

[Traxata]

Does your own falcon count towards the three?

 

[thatbloke]

Does your own falcon count towards the three?

nopeage

 

[BiG D]

I do like buying gadgets, and $99 is essentially impulse buy range... But it just seems SO DUMB. I really need some convincing that it improves gaming...

 

[Traxata]

(It doesn't) I couldn't get on with it at i38 playing on TF2, bob didn't like the look of it neither did Vib's but I don't know if they tried it... I found myself trying to use it like a joystick, rotating the gun grip in my hand which it can't do, you have to hold it straight and move your arm around...

 

[thatbloke]

(It doesn't) I couldn't get on with it at i38 playing on TF2, bob didn't like the look of it neither did Vib's but I don't know if they tried it... I found myself trying to use it like a joystick, rotating the gun grip in my hand which it can't do, you have to hold it straight and move your arm around...

it takes some getting used to!

But seriously, play something like TF2 or L4D1 with it, for an hour or so, and it really improves the experience.

The Novint website claims that it takes around 10 hours of play with it to get used to it to the point where you are as good with it as you are a mouse, and a further 10 hours to feel like you are improving past the level you were with your mouse.

Regular TF2 contests with falconers vs mouse users have taken place for the past 2 months, the falcon users have stomped all over every one.

This video is a video that the CEO of Novint made, to demonstrate general usage of the falcon while playing TF2.

8 mins long, worth a watch it it piques your interest enough

 

[BiG D]

Funny, cause every review I've read so far has said "nice for single player games, but puts you at a serious disadvantage in multiplayer..."

 

[Traxata]

I agree with those reviews! I was needing my mouse