Tech Byte – Gaming Takes Two Steps Forward
New technology steps in to gaming world
CHATTANOOGA, TN – Since the inception of computers, they’ve all been controlled with handheld devices. When I got my first Nintendo in the mid-80s it came with two handheld controllers. Eventually the technology brought us wireless controllers, but for the most part most interfaces require the use of handheld devices. That is until now!
This new company is called Glydr, and it was founded and designed by game developer, former head of Fan Byte Media and is now Chief Marketing Officer, John Warren.
“So my co-founder Rick who is the inventor of Glydr. He was watching his nephew on one of those hoverboards,” John says. “He saw his nephew riding around on one of those things and was like does this kind of motion, not that you can stand on glydr, but does this kind of motion exist in the digital world?” After their initial research they found a need because most other controllers were game specific, had finnicky software or were just car type pedals that only traveled in one direction.
“And so he entered a contest to build a device to locomote in virtual reality so full 3d space. And I think he won some awards for that and then he started iterating on the idea, figured out it was great for video games. But had no experience in the video games realm and that’s how I came in and I just like saw these uses for it,” John continued. “And also a gap in the market. I think different manufacturers have come out with alternative controllers, but they’re designed for maybe one or two games or they only give a few different functions or the software is really finnicky. And we just felt like we could come in and disrupt that space even as an independent.”
Currently the company has a kickstarter to raise funds, they made their initial funding goal in 40 minutes and it runs thru the end of February. They are positioned for a successful production run that will release in the fall so you can hopefully get your Glydr for Christmas.
Glydr also helps people with certain physical challenges be able use their feet to potentially game longer, but you don’t have to be a gamer to get in line for one.
“We think about gaming first and that’s the first audience we’re really talking to but a really cool byproduct of starting to have these conversations is that we are starting to get follow up questions,” said Warren. “Hey can I use this to scrub edit with my feet while I’m doing video production, and yeah you can do that. Someone asked us if they could do a live DJ set on twitch with the foot controls while they can hype up the crowd and not necessarily have to use their hands.”
According to John and his team the design is patented but ultimately, it’s an extension of your keyboard and mouse. It’s compatible with every PC game on the market and interfaces for other game systems he says are on the horizon. For more information you can visit their website, or join their kickstarter.
