Novint Falcon Reviews
From Falcon Army
Introduction
This section of the Wiki includes a list of reviews of the Novint Falcon.
DJ - Professional Gamer - March 13, 2010
Link: http://www.falconarmy.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Pro_Gamer_Review
Title: Novint Falcon Review
Author: D.J. Wilson, a.k.a “Kaizoku”, pro gamer
Date: April 11, 2010
Quotes: "From my entire assessment of the Falcon, it has exceeded my expectations and satisfied most of my criticisms. I would recommend this product to anyone who wants more immersion in their games, who wants more feedback from the game they are playing, or anyone who enjoys alternative peripherals in general."
Pixel Smashers - March 13, 2010
Link: http://pixelsmashers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=87&t=2943
Title: Novint Falcon Review
Author: Derangel
Date: March 13, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Quotes: "...Speaking of that experience, that is where the Falcon really shines. Each weapon you use has a weight to it, you can feel that weight in how the Falcon moves and even when it’s stationary."
"...the grip moved around quite a bit as the boat bounced into things, got peppered by bullets, took sharp turns, or flew in the air. It was something that really surprised me at first."
"The Falcon is a very unique and very cool device that you have to try to really get a feel for it. I can write 20 pages on it, but it won’t make a difference until you have your hand on the controller and are in game."
Click Magazine - January 2010
Link: https://backup.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=916e69895f6371b772ac
Title: The humble mouse has a new predator...
Author: Daniel Anderson
Date: January 2010 issue
Rating: Click Recommended 4.5 stars out of 5
Quotes: "The possible applications for the technology are widespread..." "...a stress free installation..."
"In our time with the Falcon we introduced a dozen people to the device through this demonstration and the reaction was never less than delighted surprise, sometimes bordering on awe. You can feel every crevice and curve beneath your hand – a true haptic revelation."
"We jumped straight into Valve’s Orange Box...In game, the Falcon works even better than we could have hoped. Your first pistol shot is a wonderfully subtle thing, the first shotgun a stirring kick and even reloading has a pleasant shifting of very real weight."
"the experience of wielding a weapon with real weight and a powerful kick while gripping an actual trigger is a million miles away from the best mouse and incomparable to the inaccurate awkwardness of a rumbling control pad."
"The best thing about the Novint Falcon is that it makes games new again"
"Novint’s pioneering Falcon is a ground-breaking peripheral for a number of reasons but its most important feature is that it meets, and often exceeds, expectations. Instead of being a gimmicky first try from a company with a great idea and just competent execution, it really does open up your games to a whole new sensory experience. And it does it without the need for massive amounts of software tinkering or configuration programs and works with a range of AAA titles right out of the box. We really can’t recommend it highly enough for PC gamers who are FPS fans and fancy a way to not only give their favourite past-time a new lease of life but also, potentially, improve their competitive game in the long run."
PCFlip - December 7, 2009
Link: http://www.pcflip.com/reviews/peripherals/novint-falcon-haptic-gaming-controller/1
Title: NOVINT Falcon Haptic Gaming Controller
Author: robodude666
Date: December 7, 2009
Rating: 4/5
Quotes:
"A traditional mouse gives you control over a 3D game by moving your hand in a 2D space, and while it works it’s not the same experience as actually controlling your 3D character in a 3D space. The Falcon does just that. And, not only can you maneuver with your hand in a 3D space you feel the physics acting upon you like the weight of a crate or barrel, or the recoil from your weapon."
"I am not the best shot in FPS (First-Person Shooter) games. With that said, the Falcon was an absolute blast to use."
"the enjoyment of feeling the weight of a barrel or the feedback from a shotgun is just magnificent. After you get used to the grip and button placement, you feel like you're actually holding a weapon in your hand versus just holding a mouse and clicking buttons."
"NOVINT sure has a great controller on their hands (no pun intended). The Falcon is by far like no other controller you’ll touch (yup, let the puns begin). A traditional mouse gives you control over a 3D game by moving your hand in a 2D space, and while it works it’s not the same experience as actually controlling your 3D character in a 3D space. The Falcon does just that. And, not only can you maneuver with your hand in a 3D space you feel the physics acting upon you like the weight of a crate or barrel, or the recoil from your weapon."
"if you’re iffy as to whether or not the Falcon is for you, I’ll leave you with this: if you’re a hardcore gamer that loves a challenge go for the Falcon, you’ll be glad you did"
Game.ie - November 30, 2009
Link: http://www.game.ie/Tech/gadgets/69/Review.aspx
Title: Review Novint Falcon
Author: Daniel Anderson
Date: November 30, 2009
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"...the Falcon sits on your desk like a shapely resting robot. Its smooth lines and white, rounded features are reminiscent of the design of Valve’s superlative puzzler Portal and its gently glowing central light adds another touch of sentience to the unit"
"We really can’t recommend it highly enough for PC gamers who are FPS fans and fancy a way to not only give their favourite past-time a new lease of life but also, potentially, improve their competitive game in the long run."
"A million miles from the aggressive rumble of vibration controllers, the Falcon has the potential to simulate not only the accurate forces of recoil but also give you tangible feedback for when you are being hit and more subtle effects – like being able to feel the textures of surfaces in game. "
"...the experience was incredible. Your first pistol shot is a wonderfully subtle thing, the first shotgun a stirring kick and even reloading has a pleasant shifting of very real weight."
"Instead of being a gimmicky first try from a company with a great idea and just competent execution, it really does open up your games to a whole new sensory experience. And it does it without the need for massive amounts of software tinkering or configuration programs and it works with a range of AAA titles right out of the box."
DeXgo video review - November 28, 2009
Link: http://www.dexgo.com/index.php?site=Videos/view.php&id=18
Title: Novint Falcon Review
Author: Auftrag
Date: November 28, 2009
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"After a few hours it felt completely natural to play games using the Novint Falcon."
"Hitting these bouncy walls of resistance (turn walls) is very intuitive and really helps your aim because the faster you want to turn the greater the resistance is. You always feel whether or not you are inside the turn walls or pushing against them. This helps to turn very quickly and still get good aim."
"It's great to feel the blast of a grenade going off close to you."
"Does this make playing games more fun? To me, definitely yes it does."
"After playing with the Novint Falcon for quite a while...I went back to the keyboard and mouse just to see what it would feel like, and, quite simply, it felt like an incomplete experience...I would much rather play a shooter with the Falcon anytime than playing it with the mouse and keyboard combination."
TweakTown - October 28, 2009
Link: http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/2978/novint_falcon_3d_force_feedback_gaming_controller/index.html
Title: Lock and load baby!
Author: Andrew Jones
Date: Oct 28, 2009
Rating: 90%
Quotes:
"The reproduction of surfaces and texture feedback is nice to feel, as you run your virtual hand over a sphere of varying surface materials and even try to push your hand through the sphere of rubber and then honey! "
"It’s incredible how natural this feels to use in a game with the pistol grip. "
"The addition of an extra dimension of freedom means that you can really get more involved in the POV style of control and your overall experience of the game increases significantly."
"Force feedback really forces you to rethink your game as well."
"What NOVINT have been striving for is to actually help make your multiplayer gaming experience more competitive."
"The feedback actually gives you an edge over most people once you are used to the controller due to the greater level of immersion in the game."
"Want to take the game to the next level? You need some Haptic feedback courtesy of NOVINT and the Falcon!"
Bright Hub - October 7, 2009
Link:http://www.brighthub.com/video-games/pc/articles/13559.aspx
Title: Weird PC Game Controllers: The Novint Falcon
Author: Simon Hill
Date: October 7, 2009
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"It’s dome shaped, fairly heavy, and sits on your desk on a kind of tripod stand. It has an extendable robot arm-type thingy which you move around in order to control your games"
"At the end of the robot arm is a small globe with buttons on it, and this can also be fitted with a mock gun which is perfect for first person shooters"
"Novint, the company responsible for this innovative controller, call the Falcon a 3D touch product. To be honest, their text doesn’t explain the product any better, but it does mention that as you move the arm around to control the onscreen action, motors in the device feedback on what you should be feeling and provide a mock sense of touch
"The first thing that surprised me about the Falcon was the weight of it. It’s a really heavy piece of equipment, and it’ll occupy a fairly large space on your desk"
"You plug a cable into your USB port and install the drivers. Then you calibrate it, which is a fairly easy and straightforward process. With that out of the way, you’re ready for a new and unique gaming experience"
"They are working on an Orange Box version so that you can play Half-Life 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2 with it, and support for a range of other games is in the works. So hopefully the line-up will grow over time"
"The Falcon seems to be targeted at sports and first person shooter games, as the controller seems especially suited to these types of game. For first person shooters, you can also buy the gun handle add-on which plugs onto the end of the robot arm. This a unique alternative to the mouse and keyboard, allowing you to aim and fire very effectively"
"There’s no doubt achieving a real sense of touch through feedback in the controller would be an amazing achievement and could well lead to widespread adoption of the controller"
Destructoid - July 22, 2009
Link: http://www.destructoid.com/peripherally-speaking-novint-falcon-140503.phtml&skin=
Title: Peripherally speaking: Novint Falcon
Author: Jordan Devore
Date: July 22, 2009
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"To be perfectly honest, I never fully understood the appeal of massive, costly videogame controllers. How can someone justify spending so much on a gadget that only works with a few games? I wouldn't have been able to answer that question a week ago, but I recently had a change of heart.
You see, I received a monstrous box in the mail not too long ago, and its contents showed me the error of my ways. The package contained a high-tech 3D mouse called the Novint Falcon, which we have talked about before here on Destructoid.
The device allows you to "feel" virtual objects and brings an unparalleled level of immersion to the games that support it. For instance, gliding your mouse cursor across a rock in one of the Falcon's tech demos actually feels like your hand is touching the rock's bumps. Seriously, it's kind of freaky."
"the Falcon is sleek, sexy, and well-designed"
"In Half-Life 2, when you pick up anything with the gravity gun, you instantly feel the Falcon working against you so that it's harder for your arm to lift up on the device. As crazy as it sounds, you literally feel as if you just picked something up in real life."
"it sure as hell makes games a lot more fun and engaging to play."
"I along with my two younger siblings found the tutorial to be much more interesting. The software gives you a few spheres to play around with and each is composed of something different. There's ice, a magnet, molasses, sandpaper, etc. -- this was the first thing we tried when the Falcon was set up. Upon taking turns playing with the various spheres, we all started laughing in a "holy shit, this actually works ... cool!" sort of way."
"As for the Pistol Grip, an attachment that can be bundled with the Novint Falcon or purchased separately for $19.99, I cannot recommend it enough."
"It's a shame Novint hasn't put more Falcons in stores for people to try, because the device really does sell itself. I know I personally won't ever be able to look at rumble and traditional force feedback the same way again."
"..provides a completely new and immersive experience even when playing familiar games again."
"The simple fact that replaying a game like Half-Life 2 for the umpteenth time was a fresh experience with the Novint Falcon, almost as if my Valve-related memories had been erased, speaks volumes."
Halflife2.net - July 21, 2009
Link: http://www.halflife2.net/2009/07/21/novint-falcon-review/
Title: Novint Falcon Review
Author: Pi Mu Rho
Date: July 21, 2009
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"Navigating using the Falcon is relatively easy"
"I was quite amazed by how much you can actually *feel* the weapons through the Falcon. The pistol is relatively light and has very little kick to it. The revolver, however, feels slightly heavier and you *really* notice the kick."
"Then I used the Gravity Gun. This, to me, was the most impressive feature. WIth every object you pick up, you can actually feel the weight of it. Light objects have barely any effect, but if you pick up something heavy - a large rock, for example - and the Falcon pushes constantly down, requiring actual physical effort on your part to hold it steady."
"The first thing I will say is that playing with the Falcon *completely* changes the playing experience."
G4TV - June 24, 2009
Title: Valve's Orange Box Finally Receives Novint Falcon Controller Support
Author: Jake Gaskill
Date: June 24, 2009
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"Novint’s Falcon controller of the future is one of the craziest pieces of technology available today."
"I remember when the controller was demoed here in the offices a while back, and the whole place was giddy for several weeks afterwards. It’s that cool."
"The partnership between Novint and Valve was first announced almost a year ago to the day that this update showed up on Steam, so it's been a long time coming. However, for anyone who loves mind-blowing game controllers and Valve games, it seems it was well worth the wait.
Gaming Shogun - April 20, 2009
Link: http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/4008/Novint_Falcon_and_Pistol_Grip_Review.html
Title: Novint Falcon and Pistol Grip Review
Author: JelalTrueshot
Date: April 20, 2009
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"Novint has created a beautiful peripheral for exploring virtual 3d space in the Falcon game controller. From hitting a table with a hammer to feeling the recoil of a machine gun, this peripheral is truly incredible."
"For 3d puzzle titles, the Falcon is a huge leap forward in PC peripherals and we were soon blown away"
"So we switched over to the HaptX enabled mod for Crytek's visually-breathtaking Crysis...the Falcon blew me away with its delivery of in-game forces to my hand. Driving around in vehicles actually provides you with acceleration and inertial forces while switching suit modes to the 'armor' setting will lessen the amount of knock-about force you feel when getting shot."
"Hardcore gamers looking for the best gaming experience possible would be remiss to pass up on the chance to use the Novint Falcon, especially with the pistol grip! It has added a whole new dimension of immersion into some of my favorite titles and looks to be adding support for more at a rapid rate."
"The Novint Falcon is not to be missed!"
Tech Olive - April 10, 2009
Link: http://www.tech-olive.com/2009/04/review-novint-falcon.html
Title: Review: Novint Falcon
Author: Tim Hage
Date: April 10, 2009
Rating: 8/10 olives
Quotes:
"The Novint Falcon is one of those computer accessories that is most gamers fantasy."
"In the beautiful world of Crysis, the Falcon flourishes."
"Setting up the Falcon is as easy as setting up any gaming mouse. Install the software, plug in the device and you’re ready to go."
Overclockers HQ - April 6, 2009
Link: http://overclockershq.com/hardware-reviews/novint-black-falcon-and-pistol-grip-review.html
Title: Novint Black Falcon and Pistol Grip Review
Author: Munk
Date: April 6, 2009
Rating: FPS Games: 10/10 - Mini Games: 10/10 - Racing Games: 8.5/10
Quotes:
"The guys over a Novint have made a revolutionary leap forward in the gaming peripherals market with there latest product the Novint Falcon."
"The Novint Falcon Controller is an incredibly durable design. The heavy metal base ensures a rigid feel to game play and ensures all of the forces are transferred directly to the user."
"For FPS’s the Novint was incredibly adaptable and had even more control then all of my gaming mice put together."
"I was so impressed with the degree of interaction the Novint provided I ended up spending hours on games I never would have bothered playing for 5 minutes with a regular mouse."
"I am not afraid to say it I absolutely love the Novint Falcon Game Controller. It is by far the best game peripheral I have ever used."
"The level of interaction this controller offers far out weighs the Wii nunchucks on every level."
"Would I recommend this product? You are damn straight I would"
OXCGN - January 13, 2009
Link: http://oxcgn.com/2009/01/13/novints-falcon-aaa-game-interactive-device-with-left4dead/
Title: NovInt’s Falcon AAA Game Interactive device with Left4Dead
Author: XboxOZ360
Date: January 13, 2009
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"With CES’09 out and all the array of tech devices flowing all over the place, one that jumped out was NovInt’s new version of the Falcon which was being demonstrated with Left4Dead"
"The device is currently available with a”Pistol Grip” but will also come with other lock-on attachments allowing for a fully immersive gameplay experience"
"The gamer will feel the recoil of the various guns, weight of any objects, pressure and slow down due to the character being held down or shot or even killed in-game"
"Each “attachment” un-clips and this allows any AAA title game to have an appropriate attachment affixed for it’s genre’"
"NovInt is currently working with such AAA publsihers and developers as Valve, Codemasters, Electronic Arts, Activision, and many more"
"Covering games such as Need For Speed series, The Orange Box, Left4Dead etc"
"The device is now available through selected stores as of the CES, which comes with the Pistol Grip, and 4 AAA title games thrown in for a solid $US199"
"Which when you think about it, is a bloody good price"
"Once more solid details arrive, we hope to have a hands on with the device"
Sarcasticgamer - January 13, 2009
Link: http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/index.php/2009/01/ces-2009-novint-falcon-hands-on.html
Title: CES 2009: Novint Falcon Hands On
Author: Lono
Date: January 13, 2009 at 10:00 am
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"Shooting stuff in L4D was an experience."
"Newbies might have a much easier time with the Falcon, much like a new Wii owner would prefer the steering wheel over the controller and nunchaku."
"I was told that a steering wheel peripheral is being developed for use with driving games."
"The force feedback in the game was fun to play off of, as you could really get a sense of inertia when skidding around tight turns."
Zmogo Blog - January 12, 2009
Link: http://www.zmogo.com/tag/ces-2009/
Title: Novint Falcon 3D: Changing the World of Gaming
Author: Tech-Marky
Date: January 12, 2009
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"For years, I have seen the Novint Falcon on tech blogs everywhere, and the two-dimensional picture was not enough for me to figure out what it actually was."
"I know that it doesn't look like any type of game controller that you have ever seen, but trust me, it works"
"It works really well on games with 3D graphics, especially First-Person Shooters."
"...you can move around quite freely, and the Novint controller sits very firmly on the desk."
Gadget Buzz - January 10, 2009
Link: http://gadgetsite.info/novint-falcon-game-bundles-ces-2009.html
Title: Novint Falcon Game Bundles-CES 2009-
Author: N/A
Date: January 10, 2009
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"The weird mechanical ball-like mouse replacement in the photo is the Novint Falcon"
"A game controller that adds the sensation of 3-D touch to compatible virtual environments"
"The Falcon has been around for a couple of years"
"But at CES the company is unveiling bundles that include special Falcon-optimized editions of high-profile games such as “Left 4 Dead,” “Half Life 2,” “Tiger Woods PGA Tour” and others"
"The technology is amazing"
"I tried it out with a series of textures (ranging from hard-textured cement to a sticky ball of molasses), and it indeed felt like I was touching everything."
Legit Reviews - January 6, 2009
Link: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/867/3/
Title: Novint Technologies - Falcon Controller
Author: Nathan Kirsch
Date: January 6, 2009
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"The Novint Technologies booth was showing off 3D touch gaming technology on the Falcon controller with both the recently released pistol grip and the traditional grip that has been around for some time now"
"For those that don't know, the Novint Falcon takes the place of a mouse or joystick and allows gamers to feel game actions, objects, environments and force feedback in enabled PC games."
"The newer pistol grip is interchangeable with the Falcon’s standard Grip and lets action gamers feel weapon recoil, enemy attacks and other in-game interactions for an incredibly realistic experience"
"The Falcon controller can be used with a number of popular game titles like Battlefield 2, The Orange Box, Left 4 Dead and Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising"
"The other option is the pistol grip, which is what we tried out on the PC Game Title Left 4 Dead and it was pretty slick to be honest"
"Priced at $149.99 plus shipping the Falcon Controller might be worth a try for those looking for something new when it comes to PC gaming"
"Everyone that had a chance to try it out seemed to enjoy the sensation of having recoil when firing guns and touching objects in the game"
"We'd love to get our hands on one to give it a full review, so stay tuned and we will see what we can make happen"
The Control Centre - September 28, 2008
Link: http://joy-stick.net/?page_id=9
Title: Novint Falcon 3D Touch Controller
Author: N/A
Date: September 28, 2008
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"Since the early days of force feedback I have been a huge fan of feedback controllers"
"So when I saw an unheard of company called Novint was releasing a 3D feedback controller for the PC I could not contain myself. I had to get on a waiting list to be one of the first users"
"The box was large and daunting. It weighed over 10 pounds"
"You receive the Falcon 3D controller, 2 controller handles (one standard and the other with a clear body), a power adapter, USB cable, instructions and software on a CD"
"I had no problems setting up the Falcon 3D on both a Windows XP and Vista system"
"There are a number of test utilities and free games that come with the retail package. The test utility gives you a great sense of the potential this thing has"
"A large floating orb is shown on the screen. You can select its texture and composition and move your virtual hand around the surface to feel the amazing touch feedback effects"
"The ice surface has you hand slipping past the point you intend to move while the gravel surface feels rough and gives plenty of resistance"
"The test utility is truly amazing and shows you exactly what you can expect from well implemented use of the Falcon 3D"
"Wide support from mainstream games is limited to 1 or 2 titles such as the Half-Life series and many more are “coming soon”. I am really cautious of “coming soon” support and never count chickens before the eggs hatch (and I check to see it a real chicken and not a rubber one!)"
Times Online - September 14, 2008
Link: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article4741397.ece
Title: Falcon: get to grips with a real gaming experience
Author: Alex Pell
Date: September 14, 2008
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"Imagine playing a basketball videogame in which you can actually feel the weight of a virtual ball in your hand as you toss it towards the hoop for a match-winning penalty throw. Or perhaps you would prefer to savour the ultra-realistic recoil effects from a pistol gripped in your sweaty palm as you take down waves of alien enemies. This is the future of gaming as envisaged by the maker of the Falcon"
"This device threatens to blow the cozy world of PC gaming wide open — and could sound the death knell for the traditional joypad or mouse."
"The level of feedback a player gets far exceeds the low-level rumble you feel from some standard joypads. "
"The Falcon’s pedigree plumage is taking gaming to a whole new horizon."
Gizmodo - September 12, 2008
Link: http://gizmodo.com/5049260/novint-falcon-controller-with-gun-attachment-reviewed-verdict-awesome
Title: Novint Falcon Controller with Gun Attachment Reviewed (Verdict: Awesome)
Author: Danny Dumas
Date: September 12, 2008
Rating: Awesome!
Quotes:
"It has been almost a year since we first heard that Novint would add a pistol grip accessory to their 3D Haptic Joystick—but the update has yet to hit the market"
"Nonetheless, Wired got a chance to play a few FPS games with the add-on and were blown away by the level of feedback and control, saying that it completely changes the experience"
"Targeting was precise, and each gun used in the game takes on a different recoil intensity—which can sometimes be violent when dealing with high caliber weapons"
"More and more games are adding support for haptic controllers, so gamers interested in the experience will have a lot of choices down the line"
"However, we are still waiting for the pistol grip add-on"
"Let's just hope that it makes it out of the gate by the end of the year. When it is finally released, the grip is expected to retail for $20"
Wired - September 12, 2008
Link: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/09/review-novint-f/
Title: Review: Novint Falcon Gaming Controller Takes Aim on Your Mouse
Author: Danny Dumas
Date: September 12, 2008
Rating: 8/10
Quotes:
"Forget fragging as you know it. With the pistol grip coming dangerously close to flying out of your hands after a few quick bursts with a submachine gun, you may wonder how you got along without this level of feedback in the first place. Every weapon takes on new life, from the meager jostling of the standard pistol, to the forceful thunder of a rocket launcher's blast."
"For multiplayer matches you might feel inclined to turn off weapon recoil altogether, and focus on environmental cues to determine where damage is coming from, giving you a bit of a tactical edge should a hidden sniper fail to make a lethal shot."
"For sports games, the superiority of the experience is a no-brainer, as you just can’t get this level of control from a standard mouse and keyboard setup."
" Incredibly precise feedback. Very stable, with strong motors that resist lots of abuse. Makes playing Virtual Pool a lot more interesting."
PC Magazine - August 2008
Please note this is a dutch review translated into english.
Link: http://pcmagazine.zdnet.nl/reviews/89975/novint-falcon/
Title: Novint Falcon: Joystick strikes back
Author: Thomas Buytaert
Date: August 21, 2008
Rating: n/a
Quotes (translated):
"The Falcon is is strangely enough fantastic in FPS games."
"The fact that with all the forces the presicion and your movement speed aren't affected proves how clever the Novint Falcon is designed."
"If the device will get enough support the Falcon will become a must in the arsenal of a gamer."
That videogame blog - August 4, 2008
Link: http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/2008/08/04/hands-on-novint-falcon/
Title: Hands-on / Novint Falcon
Author: ALIX MINJAREZ
Date: August 4, 2008
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"...after spending some time with the Novint Falcon, I was blown away - this innovative controller rules! "
"The Novint Falcon is an interesting twist to the modern PC controller"
"Heck, if players make their characters jump they will even be able to feel that (and trust me, it’s actually pretty fun to do that)."
"It was very easy to control gunfire!"
"...with the list of games that are integrated with this controller growing, is something you’re probably going to want to experience for yourself sooner or later."
Gaming Nexus - July 17 2008
Link: http://www.gamingnexus.com/FullNews/E3-2008-Novint-Falcon-Hands-on/Item9341.aspx
Title: E3 2008: Novint Falcon Hands on
Author: Chuck
Date: July 17, 2008
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"I have to warn you that using the Falcon will forever spoil you on using mice in first person shooters. It's just a different level of immersion as the Falcon just doesn't provide force-feedback when you are firing a gun (that would be too easy), rather the device lets you know when you are being shot (and where it's coming from) as well as when you are bumping against a wall (helpful when you're in the midst of a tactical retreat and backing your way through a structure. What's great about the Falcon is that these aren't over the top vibrations but rather subtle force that you feel in the controller. "
"The pistol grip felt fairly solid in my hand"
"Novint allowed me to play a little bit of Battlefield 2 and Half Life 2 in their booth to show off what the controller could do. After a few quick deaths I finally got the hang of the controller and began to realize what a different experience it is not just in the feedback but how much more realistic it is to aim a weapon this way. It just feels more natural."
"I have to admit that I groaned a bit as he fired up the boat level from the game. I wasn't sure why the weakest level of my favorite game was going to be show off until I actually played it. The boat mission with the Falcon is a completely different experience as even the most subtle bounces and bumps are transferred to the controller. It's an amazing increase in how you experience the game as you have to work a bit more to keep control of the boat. After the short boat trip I worked my way through a small group of combine troops with ease. Twitch monkeys will be glad to know you can really jack up the sensitivity of the controller."
"After playing with the Falcon I realized how great the device is for adding that next level of immersion into the game. It's just feels more visceral and more real when you're playing and it's an incredible experience."
Red and Blackness - July 16, 2008
Link: http://www.rbmods.com/Articles/Novint/Falcon/1.php
Title: Novint Falcon Review
Author: Niko Lupala
Date: July 16, 2008
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"Today we are taking a look at a cool gaming device from Novint, named Falcon"
It is a "mouse" for gaming but it allows you to do so much more with a force feedback function and a free movement"
"The Falcon makes sure you feel it and get the feeling from the game"
"The Falcon really makes things more realistic in games and we found it much more fun to play this way instead of just ordinary moving things around with the mouse"
"This device will and I repeat will get big on the market, games get so much more fun to play and they also get harder with this device"
"You get a more realistic feeling of the game and with the different grips that are being developed you will feel even more comfortable with the gaming"
"The force feedback is what makes the games so realistic and it actually get a bit heavy after awhile of gaming"
"The unit is well built and a high quality product"
"The big con with this is still the price which is around 200$, and the second con is that alot of manufacturers have not developed their games for this yet since it still has so few users"
"I however saw on their release list that there are new big titles coming out for this device so I am sure that we will see ALOT more from this product in a near feature"
Lucid Lan - July 1, 2008
Link: http://lucidlan.com/news/1346/the-novint-falcon-finally-gets-to-europe-we-got-the-exclusive-review
Title: The Novint Falcon Finally Gets To Europe, We Got The Exclusive Review
Author: Noel Pulis
Date: July 1, 2008
Rating: Fantastic
Quotes:
"In the gaming evolution lately there was a revolution with Nintendo Wii controller putting a new age of game-play into consoles"
"Kicking Consoles aside, the Novint Falcon brings the gaming revolution back in the hands of the PC systems with this revolutionary real-life feedback giving a real feel to the user of the game character being played"
"The Novint Falcon doesn’t just vibrate to your game-play or actions in the game, it will literally give you recoil or push to whatever happens in the game… if you shoot a shotgun your hand will be pushed away with a real life experience of a recoil or if you are lifting a chair you will feel the weight of the chair and the Novint Falcon does this and more because the experience and game-play innovation never stops"
"The Falcon is like an egg with tripod arm holding an alien eye as a controller holder… something of another world with a glowing Novint logo in the middle… weighing around 6Kg giving the user a great innovative feel of the game in any angle forcing a unique simulated touch sensation"
"Novint's forte is the plug-ins for the major FPS titles, and are working a lot on keep the support alive for the Falcon and has already update for games such as Quake 4 haptx edition, Penumbra Black Plague Haptx edition and Half Life 2, and with the recent new agreement with Valve, Novint will be able to give the user the experience of the Falcon for any game on Valve catalogue including Team Fortress 2, Counterstrike Source, Half Life 2 Episode 1/2, and Portal. In the timeline of plug-ins, Novint and HaptX are currently working on Battlefield 2/2041 and Crysis whilst hope we get a plug-in for Call of Duty 2 and 4, also having an in-house team which is also working on World of Warcraft and Second Life"
"The experience on Half Life 2 is one of a kind for all real gamers who are keen in FPS genre of games. Each weapon will give a unique kick with a good recoil kick from the .45 pistol and the fast small kicks from a machine gun. The gravity gun gives quite a notch with the Falcon controller putting on the weight of the object into effect and you will have to make an effort to pickup a big box of wood or a brick from the floor, and one cannot forget to name the driving missions which take a new challenge with the weight of the car when doing a sharp turn or loosing grip… the Falcon will make you feel like you are literally holding the steering wheel in the car"
"Penumbra alone is quite immersive and filled with scares that will make your hair go white and spiky, but with falcon you will get your experience into a living horror movie and will make you play in terror"
"The compilation has a lot of small games which lets the player feel many effects of the Novint Falcon"
"The Novint Falcon also comes with a system like ‘Steam’ which is a console for the Falcon where the user can choose the games to play while getting updates to the actual games, notifications, new games and can buy games online"
"The Novint Falcon is a very great controller for PC system which has a great potential for innovative uses especially games"
"The force feedback and the actual feel of a game is quite real life and with the modification patches for popular games, game-play has never been greater on PC"
"Till now few game plug-ins have gone out but we are looking anxiously for all Valve’s games and other great FPS games which the Novint Falcon will make a great success!"
"The one drawback of PC controllers is the on going support for game releases, but from the looks of it… the teams behind the Novint Falcon and HaptX are doing a great job on the support section and we hope to get more from them! It would be great to have tools which the user can use the Novint Falcon can be used as a normal mouse where the user can use the controller on photo/video editing applications"
"The video gaming community really appreciates the Novint Falcon for the big effort they made and will sure to support the controller for its full potential, hoping the public has the same confidence that we have in this fantastic controller"
DesktopReview.com - July 1, 2008
Link: http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=387
Title: Novint Falcon First Look
Author: Kevin O'Brien
Date: July 1, 2008
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"The Novint Falcon game controller turned out to be an excellent new interface for desktop and even notebook gaming. It adds a whole new level of realism to the game, adding difficulty in some areas while rendering certain actions more intuitive. What makes this purchase even better is that it is compatible with a wide range of games, so you don’t have to worry about it collecting dust in the back of your closet."
" At first glance this device looks odd and cumbersome, but once you start using it, it seems to add a whole new level of realism never before experienced during gameplay. Read on to see just how much I liked it (Hint: I might already have placed an order)."
"The construction of the controller is top notch and built to take quite a bit of abuse. The model I played around with was the one they demo at every trade show, and if I didn’t know better it looked brand new."
Tech-Gaming - July 1, 2008
Link: http://tech-gaming.com/2008/07/01/flight-of-the-falcon-techgaming-reviews-3d-input-technologyew.aspx
Title: Flight of the Falcon: Tech-Gaming Reviews 3D Input Technology
Author: DesertEagle
Date: July 1, 2008
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"For FPS’s, the Falcon adds a level of input and feedback that is unmatched by any other controller on the market."
"... the Falcon conveyed the weight on the ball. All skepticism we had had of the controller was immediately erased."
"Overall, we found the build quality of the controller to be exceptional. The plastic is high quality; the molding shows no imperfections and all joints are well constructed."
I4U - June 12, 2008
Link: http://www.i4u.com/full-review-441.html
Title: Novint Falcon Limited Edition Review
Author: Shane McGlaun
Date: July 1, 2008
Rating: 8.5/10
Quotes:
"When playing games that are Haptix compatible the new world opened up by the Novint Falcon is fantastic. For the first time you aren’t only seeing things in your games, you can touch them as well. For instance if a box is on screen in the game you can feel its contours and if a wall is rippled you can feel the ripples..."
"The Novint Falcon is great for kids too; my 3-year-old daughter loved the mini game where you use a hammer to squash bugs trying to get your food. You lift the hammer with the Novint Falcon and you can actually feel the weight of the hammer in your hand. Slam it down and the motion of the controller stops where the tabletop is so you can actually feel the impact."
PC Gamer - April 2008
Link: http://home.novint.com/news/reviews_detail.php?id=11
Title: Turn every game into a hands on experience
Author: Logan Decker
Date: April 2008 -
Rating: Final Verdict - Good - 79%
Quotes:
"I downloaded Haptics-Life 2, a 'mod' for Half-Life 2 that adds 'haptic' - or touch effects - to one of the best games ever made for the PC, and makes it even better"
"There's no question that the Novint Falcon has an opportunity to become a must-have controller for hardcore PC gaming fans"
"haptic effects remove one of the last barriers between you and your game worlds"
"Landing from a high jump inyour buggy causes the grip to jerk wildly with every impact, and you'd best brace yourself when switching from the relativly delicate pistol to the Magnum, because the kick delivers a hell of ameaty punch to the palm."
"...the most tactile feedback we ever get in games is limited to a bit of grind and rumble from a gamepad. The folks at Novint have spent years perfecting an answer to this unacceptable situation..."'
ARS Technica - March 19, 2008
Link: http://arstechnica.com/hardware/reviews/2008/03/novint-falcon-review.ars
Title: Finally, the gold after all the garbage
Author: Ben Kuchera
Date: March 19, 2008
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"While I usually don't like to give away how I'm feeling about a product during a demo, I'll admit my face had a large grin on it the entire time."
"For such a high-tech looking piece of equipment, the Falcon is a snap to install and get running. The process is happily painless and takes only a minute or two."
"Being in a gunfight and trying to keep a bead on your targets while firing the SMG, feeling the gun buck in your hand and wanting to pull up is amazing."
"The Falcon gives you the sense of chaos that comes from being in a firefight, and it will annoy some that just want to win at any cost. People who like immersion and feedback however, will find much to like in the Falcon"
"When you pick up a rock, for instance, the rock has weight. When you walk with it, you can feel its inertia."
"The Falcon is certainly no gimmick: the feedback the hardware gives you is strong and very precise, almost surprisingly so. It's also well-designed and hearty; you may put it through some abuse when you get into these games, but the hardware can take it."
Gamespot - March 11, 2008
Link: http://www.gamespot.com/users/AirDog80/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-25346620
Title: This Ain't Your Granny's Portal Gun
Author: AirDog80
Date: March 11, 2008
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"The demo felt a hundred times more exciting and innovative than a Wii controller."
"One of the more exciting demo screens gave me trigger time with a slingshot. The scary thing was, having dispatched many an innocent soda can in my youth, it felt so real it was scary. The rubber band gave a sense of escalating tension as I pulled it back and that satisfying thunk at release sending a digital globe downrange. "
"All I can say is drool."
Everything USB - February 25, 2008
Link: http://www.everythingusb.com/novint-falcon-14314.html
Title: GDC08: Novint Falcon Haptic Controller Gets A Pistol Grip, Starts To Make Sense
Author: n/a
Date: February 25, 2008
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"We've seen strange peripherals before like the FPSGun Mouse, but nothing quite like this"
"Novint has the next big thing in controllers, and it might just be a huge success, especially with the enthusiast crowd"
"The Falcon is probably the strangest controller that you will ever use, and it will probably be the most realistic that you can get your hands on for quite some time"
"Looking like an odd robot, the Falcon gives you 3D control, allowing movement in ANY direction"
"It also provides force feedback for a realistic sense of touch, supposedly making it feels like you are playing with a real basketball, have actual gun recoil when firing, etc"
"The handle you hold on to is also interchangeable and they have a pistol grip attachment available"
"Speculatively speaking, this means that there could be a whole range of different grips available, making this extremely versatile"
"It may set you back about $300, but if it delivers as promises and has some true versatility it could be a well spent investment"
Oh Gizmo! - February 22, 2008
Title: GDC08: Novint Falcon Haptic Controller Gets A Pistol Grip, Starts To Make Sense
Author: Evan Ackerman
Date: February 22, 2008
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"The Novint Falcon haptic controller has been out for a little while now, and from what I’ve seen, many people have a difficult time telling what it is at all, much less how it works or why on earth you’d want one"
"I may, in fact, have been one of those people. But slap a pistol grip on the thing and wire it up to a quality first-person shooter, and suddenly it all becomes clear"
"A haptic controller is a controller that provides some form of force feedback to the user: things like the PlayStation DualShock controllers qualify as haptic… drive over something bumpy, for example, and the controller shake"
"The Falcon takes that concept and makes it three dimensional, allowing feedback to push or pull the controller in any direction"
"What does that mean? Recoil, baby. Once you’ve tried the Falcon, pretty much any other FPS controller seems tame by comparison. Hands-on impressions, pics, and a vid, all after the jump"
"So, what does the Falcon do for you, as a rabid hardcore gamer? All kinds of exciting and wonderful things!"
"Firstly, the grip itself is about as gun-like as you could possibly ask for, like this mouse but way better"
"In its current configuration, it has a single stage trigger and three thumb buttons, although more controls (including perhaps a thumb scroll wheel) may be added before release"
"The grip is attached to the controller through three arms which provide no noticeable resistance in normal use"
"You use the pistol grip just like a mouse, pointing it in different directions to look around as you navigate with the keyboard"
"Different weapons provide different forms of recoil, so a shotgun feels completely different to fire than a machine gun does"
"But it gets better. When you get shot in game, the grip will jerk away from the point of impact, giving you tactile information about where the shots are coming from, as opposed to just some flashing red arc of pain which is the best visual cue most games can offer"
"You can switch the pistol grip out for a more traditional ball grip for other applications; the Falcon can simulate texture, weight, shape, movement, etc"
"So, if something is virtually heavy, the controller will provide resistance, and if something is virtually bumpy, the controller will make tiny little bumping motions as you virtually touch it"
"Novint has free plugins for a limited assortment of games (including HL2 and Quake 4), and using their software interface, you can adjust the specific feedback parameters for recoil or anything else"
"So, it absolutely works, and it’s absolutely awesome, but is it worth the $200ish cost, plus the extra $20 for the pistol grip (available June 15)?"
"It’s one of those things that I can’t recommend you spend a couple hundred bucks on until you’ve tried it, but I do recommend that you go out of your way to get a hands-on demo"
"You’ll find them at Fry’s and CompUSA. If you’re enough of a fan of FPS games, my guess is you’ll be hooked"
PC Mag - January 28, 2008
Link: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2253831,00.asp
Title: Novint Falcon
Author: Brian K. Neal
Date: January 28, 2008
Rating: 3.5/5 Good
Quotes:
"The Falcon takes interaction to a whole new level, though, by enabling you to experience both depth and feeling"
"In a nutshell, the Novint Falcon has the potential to be an amazing gaming controller—if it can garner the software support it deserves"
"Looking more like a small robot than a game controller, its futuristic appearance is striking, like something pulled straight from the Star Wars universe"
"Believe me when I say that the Falcon doesn't politely ask for your attention, it demands it"
"The Falcon's internal components include several motors and multiple sensors that work in conjunction with the external arms, to deliver a realistic sense of touch unlike anything I've felt before"
"You'll have the actual sensations of weight, texture, shape, and depth in the game, depending on the scenario presented"
"Where the Falcon really shines, though, is in first-person shooters"
"Also, when I lifted a crate, I not only received the simulated extra weight on my palms, but I felt the crate's shape as well"
"After experiencing Half-Life 2 this way, I honestly don't want to play the game any other way"
"The Falcon is bundled with a variety of minigames, but they are short-lived, and the fun wears thin pretty quickly"
"Without AAA developer support from the likes of the Ubisofts and Electronic Arts of the world (specifically for first-person shooters), the Falcon sails on troubled waters, in my estimation"
"Overall, the Novint Falcon is a marvel and currently a controller in a league of its own"
"A pricey piece of gaming hardware—especially for a mouse"
"The technology behind it is darn brilliant, though"
"The question is, will it get the right kind of software support? I hope so, because, if so, it could change the way video games are played."
Planet Half Life - January 09, 2008
Link: http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/View.php?view=TechCorner.Detail&id=42
Title: Falcon Force Feedback Controller
Author: Alex "ACPaco" Capriole
Date: January 09, 2008
Rating: Performance 4/5, Quality 5/5,Price 3/5,Looks 5/5
Quotes:
"I had to go see what the big deal was, because as we all know Half-Life 2 was released three years ago, so what was the point of exhibiting it? Ah, that soon became apparent. The guy playing had one hand over the keyboard and the other on this weird contraption comprised of a small ball suspended on three pneumatic cylinders instead of a mouse"
" At first I thought it was just a weird new joystick, but when he hit a bump his whole hand jerked and it almost looked like he was having a hard time keeping control"
"It adds a whole new meaning to Valve’s devotion to player immersion"
"After mentioning my fun position here at PHL, I was invited behind the counter for a special demonstration. The Water Hazard chapter was loaded up and I got to test out the Falcon first hand"
"It’s quite easy to move around and look (or aim) where you want, just like a mouse"
"Honestly, it felt just like steering a real ATV, one-handed. The faster you go, the more sensitive the control"
"Hit a down tree at high speed, and the Falcon practically knocks itself right out of your hand"
"When you fire your gun, the Falcon suddenly jerks back, throwing your aim upward. If you’re not used to it, you’re stuck looking up at the sky as the Combine shoot back, throwing you off even more"
"If you’re really into realism and you don’t mind that the fact that only games (worth buying) that the Falcon will work with are Half-Life 2 and Episode One, then this is a product that is, quite simply, everything it promises to be"
" It performs shockingly well, it looks exactly like what you’d think the mouse of the future would look like, and it can probably score you a lot of bragging points, too"
"The Falcon and its developer Novint are barely a year old from what I’ve gathered, so I think it would only be right in assuming that more great games, and more of the Half-Life universe, will become part of the Falcon’s compatibility catalog soon enough"
PCMAG - January 1, 2008
Link: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2253831,00.asp
Title: Novint Falcon
Author: Brian K. Neal
Date: January 1, 2008
Rating: N/A
Quotes: "For those who thought the Nintendo Wiimote was a big eye-opener, be warned: Your peepers are liable to pop right out of their sockets when you see the Falcon." "The Falcon takes interaction to a whole new level" "its futuristic appearance is striking, like something pulled straight from the Star Wars universe."
Game Pro - December 18, 2007
Link: http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/153648/gamepros-got-more-gear-and-toys-for-you/
Title: GamePro's Got More Gear And Toys For You
Author: The Gamepros
Date: December 18, 2007
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"Did you know that the first computer mouse was created in 1963?"
"That was 44 years ago! Sure, there have been a ton of refinements made since then but you're basically using the same technology that's been around forever"
"That's partly because the basic mouse works so damn well--why fix something that isn't broken--but sometimes, we like to venture outside of the box"
"Resembling something that might have been torn out of the cockpit of a downed UFO, the Falcon is an interesting alternative to the mouse"
"It's basically a ball that's connected to a base by three arms; the base houses motors that offers you a sense of tactile feedback unheard of in a conventional mouse"
"There are patches that you can download to make it work with games like Half-Life 2, which can add a new dimension to your gaming experience"
"We could also see it being useful for graphic artists and engineering types"
"We'll need more testing time to see if the Falcon elevates itself from the realm of "cool concept gadget" but we're impressed with what we've seen so far"
"If you're sick of resting your hand on a mouse all day, this is definitely a product that you should take a look at"
bit-tech - December 7, 2007
Link: http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/pc/2007/12/07/novint_falcon_limited_edition/1
Title: Novint Falcon Limited Edition
Author: Joe Martin
Date: December 7, 2007
Rating: 8/10
Quotes:
"It takes force feedback to its natural evolution and is pretty much a revolution in terms of gameplay."
"For some gamers this new approach to gameplay interaction... ...is a positive boon as it makes the game more interesting and appealing – encouraging replays and simultaneously showcasing the possibilities for the device on a larger scale."
"In a fully physical simulation this translates into tremendous amounts of force feedback. A few 9mm shots give tiny kicks of recoil which are rarely a problem, but the .357 and shotgun are a lot more difficult to wield and really will hammer your hand about. It’s difficult to master at first and makes the game uniquely unplayable for a few minutes, but thankfully there are pages of options to fiddle with. Players can alter the sensitivity of each access and tailor the recoil and feedback of every game action – perfect for finding your own balance between realism and fun. "
IGN - November 2007
Link: http://gear.ign.com/articles/833/833067p1.html
Title: Novint Falcon Review
Author: Gerry Block
Date: November 2007
Rating: 9.0 out of 10
Quotes: "...allows users to experience entirely unique sensations of simulated touch."
"The various sensations Novint demonstrates... are surprisingly convincing..."
"A virtual sphere made of sand offers an entirely different sensation of grit rather than sticky goop, and when feeling up virtual spheres of solid substances users can feel each and every bumpy surface undulation, the slippery effect of ice, or the gravitational attraction of a magnet."
"Novint's gaming support for the Falcon will be a multi-pronged effort that will include original Novint titles, existing titles licensed to function with the Falcon, original 3rd party productions, and mods for major releases."
"At launch Novint is providing mods for Half Life 2 and Half Life 2: Episode 1 thanks to the openly available Source SDK. Playing through these rather unquestionably quality games with the Falcon is an entirely novel experience."
"Each weapon in the game produces a unique kick, from the hard blast of the .45 pistol to the fast tat-tat-tat of a machine gun. Objects lifted with the Gravity Gun put weight on the Falcon's grip..."
"The Falcon bridges the gap between real and virtual via 3D touch simulation that is really quite impressive."
Gizmag - May 29, 2007
Link: http://www.gizmag.com/go/7454/
Title: The Falcon Game Controller - with realistic force feedback
Author: Mike Hanlon
Date: May 29, 2007
Rating: N?A
Quotes:
"We all know the keyboard and mouse are NOT the future of the computer human interface, and to be frank, we’re getting a bit sick of waiting for a replacement capable of generating critical mass"
"One device with the potential to play a role in the next generation interface, at least in the area of computer games, began shipping this month"
"Novint Technologies’ highly anticipated, award-winning Novint Falcon game controller is now available in a special Limited Edition bundle"
"The Falcon is an entirely new type of 3D game interface that makes virtual objects and environments feel real"
"“The concept of touch in computing is as foreign to most people as television was in the age of radio, but the Novint Falcon changes computing in the same way the addition of sound changed motion pictures.” said CEO, Tom Anderson"
"“It takes gaming to a whole new level, letting you feel everything that happens in the game in rich detail. The launch of the Falcon represents a significant step in an entirely new field of computing that we feel is about to explode into the mainstream. The Falcon enables one of our most basic human experiences, our sense of touch, with computers""
"The Limited Edition Novint Falcon bundle is specially priced at US$189 and includes Newton’s Monkey Business, with 24 minigames, and the Feelin’ It: Sports Pack, with full versions of Table Tennis, Golf, Top Pin Bowling; Homerun Smashout, and 3 Point Shootout (basketball)"
Popular Mechanics - May 7, 2007
Link: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/technology_news/4216447.html
Title: Novint Falcon Haptics Controller Could Be Wii 2.0: Gadget of the Week
Author: Erik Sofge
Date: May 7, 2007
Rating: N?A
Quotes:
"Videogames and force feedback have been fair-weather friends for years, from motorized steering wheels that go spastic when you slam into a wall, to entire seats that tilt and lurch as your F-16 banks out of harm’s way"
"But playing with the Novint Falcon feels like nothing you've tried before"
"This 3D force feedback controller nudges back against your hand when you fire a pistol in Half-Life 2, like a more powerful version of a game console's internal rumble"
" But switch to a shotgun, and the grip slams back—not as hard as the real thing, but enough to throw off your aim—even making you a bit nervous before firing another round"
"The grip also twitches when you take damage, giving you a sense of where the shot came from, or how hard you just hit the ground after falling"
"In one of the games that comes with the $239 controller ($189 if you pre-order), you shoot arrows, William Tell-style, at an apple atop a monkey's head. As you pull on the grip, drawing the bowstring towards you, the Falcon pulls back"
"The cables mounted in the Falcon's three arms exert up to 2 pounds of force, making me feel like a wimp as I struggled to keep the bow taut while aiming right for that damn monkey"
"For the first time ever, using a bow in a game felt completely right"
"This wasn't anything like waving a Nintendo Wii controller at the TV and hitting a button"
"The tension in the bowstring increases as you pull, and the harder you pull, the harder it is to keep your aim steady, and the more satisfying it is when you hit the bullseye (again, the monkey—who cares about the apple?)"
"Under the hood, the Falcon is relatively simple, with three motorized cables (one per arm) and sensors that detect how far a cable has spooled out or reeled in"
"But programming force feedback into existing games takes time and, in theory, approval from publishers"
"The Falcon also comes with a game developer's kit, to let programmers cobble together their own force feedback games"
NihonTiger90's blog - September 5, 2007
Title: Gaming Gear Impressions: Novint Falcon 3-D Force-Feedback Controller
Author: NihonTiger90
Date: September 5, 2007
Rating: N?A
Quotes:
"For so long, the control of choice on the PC has been the old keyboard and mouse"
"Few other controllers have successfully appeared, especially those that have been experimental like gyromice"
"The Novint Falcon Force-Feedback Controller is a remarkable piece of technology, and one that might just change the way that some PC games are played... forever"
"When it first debuted in 2005, the Falcon was an interesting, but odd piece of technology"
"It had promise... but it look awkward to use, and that perhaps caused some people to overlook it, even though it got praise"
"Since then, the Falcon has gotten a redesign of sorts, becoming much more easy to handle while retaining the way it works"
"This improved version got even more praise, with Popular Mechanics wondering out loud if this was the Wii 2.0"
"Texture Tech Demo - Absolutely mind-blowing. It's the first part of the Novint Falcon tutorial, and if you aren't sold on the power of force-feedback yet, then this will single-handedly change your mind"
"Each of the many textures felt how they appeared"
"This is something that needs to be experienced to be believed, as my words alone cannot describe the experience for you"
"Ball on a String Tech Demo - Moving the Falcon from left to right with varying degrees of speed were translated into short swings or long ones. Similarly, the ball pulled against the tether, and the controller responded with the appropriate force"
"It literally felt like the controller was trying to throw itself across the table when I flung the ball with all of my strength"
"Quite an incredible feeling"
"Catch Tech Demo - It felt exactly like when you caught a ball in a glove in real life. Similarly, you could feel the ball bouncing off the glove if you just missed it"
"Slingshot Tech Demo - Nothing too special here, as another game demo demonstrated this capability better"
"The Falcon does everything the Wiimote does, just to a somewhat lesser degree"
"Road Race - This obviously isn't going to be the thing that replaces the force-feedback steering wheel"
"Overall, the Novint Falcon did somethings well, while it did others very poorly"
"The FPS genre seeks to gain much from this, while other types of genres will fit better on the Wii with its intuitive controller"
"There's a lot of potential for the Novint Falcon, and while it's no Wii 2.0, it's still impressive in its own right"
Uber Gizmo - May 2, 2007
Link: http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2007/05/novint_falcon_controller_to_roll_out_soon.html
Title: Novint Falcon controller to roll out soon
Author: n/a
Date: May 2, 2007
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"The Novint Falcon controller is not exactly new, but word has it that this white game controller will probably debut this June 18th at the recommended retail price of $239"
"This ain't no ordinary gamepad, as it enables you to play games in a revolutionary manner by using a handshake-like grip"
"Realism within the game is increased with the inclusion of force feedback and tactile sensation"
"The Falcon will be bundled with two dozen mini games and a four-game mini pack that consists of titles such as air hockey and tennis"
"I forsee that the Falcon will take some getting used to initially, and the high price will probably make it more of a novelty than a must-have gaming accessory"
Coolest Gadgets - March, 2007
Link: http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20070111/novint-falcon-controller-thing/
Title: Novint Falcon controller thing
Author: Marc
Date: March, 2007
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"The title is deliberately vague, because it’s so different to anything out there that I can’t draw a comparison with anything else"
"I think we’ll stick with “controller” as that’s nice and generic"
"The basic idea is that you manipulate the ball in X and Y axis, just like a mouse, but the controller can push back on any one of it’s three connecting arms"
" The end result is motion feedback unlike anything else I’ve experienced. It’s much more sophisticated than a standard “rumble pack” – with this thing you can feel whether you’re pushing through treacle or sliding along ice"
"The ball head that you grip is detatchable so in theory it could be replaced with a gun, a joystick or something more specialised although right now you get a standard grip"
"Software does need to be modified to make full use of the controller though so don’t expect to start using it with your favouite shooter right away"
"Novint are talking to publishers though so it may start showing up in your supported control list soon!"
Softpedia - January 13, 2007
Title: The World's First 3D PC Gaming Controller with Full Force Feedback Capabilities
Author: Alex Vochin
Date: January 13, 2007
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"It seems that gaming is not what it used to be anymore as the users are growing tired with the already "classical" control methods and companies are rushing in to develop the best solution to this problem, which, hopefully, will set the trend in the future of gaming"
"And one such company is Novint, who has developed a control system like none you've ever seen before, namely the Novint Falcon"
"Thus, the Falcon is the first controller to offer a full 3D feeling and force feedback capabilities, therefore allowing the user to enjoy a very special and immersive gaming experience"
"The device is promoted as a very high-tech PC controller, but in reality, it resembles more with some of a spider-robot than anything else"
"A robot, yes, but a robot which allows the users to experience a full range of realistic touch sensations (as for example weight, shape, texture, dimension, dynamics and force effects), as well as high-fidelity force feedback, which allows the gamers to really get inside the game they're playing (or bring out of their computer, whichever you prefer)"
"Here is what the people over at Novint have to say about the way their device works: "Users hold onto the Falcon's interchangeable Grip (or handle) which moves left and right and forwards and backwards, like a computer mouse, but also moves up and down"
"The Grip can come in many shapes and forms and includes a quick disconnect feature which lets users change handles for specific uses or types of game play. As the Grip is moved, the computer keeps track of a 3D cursor"
"When the 3D cursor touches a virtual object, the computer registers contact with that object and updates currents to motors in the device to create an appropriate force to the device's handle, which the user feels"
"The computer updates the position of the device, and updates the currents to the motors a thousand times a second, providing a very realistic sense of touch"
The Richter Scale - January 9, 2007
Title: CES 2007: Novint Falcon Game Controller Feels Real Good
Author: Jake Richter
Date: January 9, 2007
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"One of the more creative PC game input devices I have seen in some time"
"At CES here in Las Vegas this week, Novint finally announced a ship date and pricing for the device"
"The Falcon will ship on June 18, 2007, and is available for pre-order now in a limited edition bundle at http://www.novintfalcon.com for a price of $189"
"The pre-order bundle includes the Novint Falcon game controller device, a copy of Newton’s Monkey Business (a set of mini-games strangely reminiscent of Super Monkey Ball on the Nintendo Wii), a free game download from Novint’s Online Game Service and membership in the Falcon First Club"
"The full retail price of the Novint Falcon will be $239 when it ships in June"
"What makes the Novint Falcon so different is that it is a haptic device, meaning that it provides physical feedback"
"For example, in the Half-Life 2 demo I tried, I could actually feel the recoil when firing various weapons because the Falcon would jerk up and to the right, just as a real gun would"
"Similarly, when opponents were firing upon me, the controller would jerk in a direction to indicate the force of being hit, allowing me to quickly locate the source of attack"
"The use of the Falcon is very intuitive, although I suspect that with extended game play my arm would tire. Although, arguably, that means it might be good exercise too"
"The launch price for the device is significantly higher than the $99 price Novint had bandied about last May at the E3 Show in Los Angeles, but for a haptic device of this complexity, probably not unreasonable"
"The biggest challenge that Novint faces is getting game developers to support their device natively in PC games, but they assured me that they were working on that effort"
"I certainly look forward to playing with it when it ships because it really is one cool device"
"And I hope they overcome the market hurdles such innovation and uniqueness tend to face"
Slash Gear - January 6, 2007
Link: http://millionsofus.com/blog/2006/08/05/the-second-half-of-second-life-haptics/
Title: CES 2007: Novint Falcon Game Controller Feels Real Good
Author: Rue Liu
Date: January 6, 2007
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"If you think the Wiimote feels good with its reactive vibrations and sounds, then you will be amazed with the Novint Falcon game controller"
"Albeit, you probably wont burn as much calories or give your roommate a nice swollen black-eye, but you will definitely experience the most realistic interactivity that lets you feel weight, shape, texture, dimension, 3D motion, and force effects"
"Once again, I couldn’t resist myself but to give it a try"
"The rep let me try a simple demo by virtually feeling around a ball of molasses, a ball of ice, a ball with textured ridges, and a ball of sand"
"Not that I normally like feeling balls, but I have to say I really enjoyed this"
"I could feel the viscosity of the molasses, the slippery surface of the ice, and the roughness of the ridges and sand with such realism"
"The integration of this will make for some awesome game play"
"Just imagine realistic weapon recoils along with interchangeable grips that allow for customization per game type"
"Preorders are being accepted now for an exclusive Limited Edition Falcon bundle that is expected to ship by June of this year"
Millions of us - August 5, 2006
Link: http://millionsofus.com/blog/2006/08/05/the-second-half-of-second-life-haptics/
Title: The Second Half of Second Life: Haptics
Author: n/a
Date: August 5, 2006
Rating: n/a
Quotes:
"I realized that this product was going to change the way we all live in a fundamental and beautiful way."
"The pixels suddenly came alive."
"Once you touch a virtual object and feel it’s physical contours, you’ll never quite think about virtual reality the same way again."
"...made this a “game-changing” product."
EN Gadget - June 7, 2006
Link: http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/07/switched-on-taking-control-to-another-dimension/
Title: Switched On: Taking control to another dimension
Author: Ross Rubin
Date: June 7, 2006
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"If you purchase a Novint Falcon later this summer, your geekier friends may feel an unusual mixture of amazement and envy when they first see it"
"Where, they will wonder, did you score that Star Wars prop?"
"The Novint Falcon is one of the most promising PC interface peripherals to come along in years"
"With just a few minutes of usage, one can easily see how the controller would be a natural for god games and real-time strategy games, and it could be the controller of choice for Spore, Will Wright's forthcoming spin on evolution"
"Novint also caters to professionals needing to manipulate simulations, but one wonders what a native 3D spatial interface to the PC might look like were the Falcon to be embraced as the mouse was by the Macintosh development team"
"Were the Falcom simply one of the most intuitive 3D controllers ever produced, that would be appealing enough, but the product also incorporates sophisticated haptics or advanced force-feedback"
"Navigate into a wall and the controller will stop. Navigate through dense, bumpy or slick services and you'll feel it slow down, vibrate or slip"
"Other than that, its only disadvantage is its desk real estate which, while larger than your average gamepad"
"If Novint can build developer support for its innovative controller, its Falcon should land on shelves only for a short time before flying off them"
Blind Confidential - May 25, 2006
Link: http://blindconfidential.blogspot.com/2006/05/review-of-novint-falcon.html
Title: Review of the Novint Falcon
Author: Gerry Block
Date: May 25, 2006
Rating: N/A
Quotes:
"Think the Wii's remote is innovative? Get ready for haptic (3D Touch) that'll blow your mind"
"While the Wii has certainly opened our eyes to exactly how cool it is to go through the motions, literally, of playing a game, when it comes to feeling a game, we're still living in the days of the rumble pack's vibration feedback. With a little luck, that might all be about to change"
"Novint rolled into E3 to show the gaming industry what "haptic" (3D touch) interaction is all about"
"Their flagship product, the Novint Falcon, is a highly futuristic looking pod that allows motorized force feedback to simulate the experience of touching three-dimensional objects in virtual space"
"Users move the grip much like a mouse, except in a vertical rather than horizontal orientation"
"By applying motorized resistance to the arms, highly developed software algorithms and some impressive engineering allow a user to experience a wide variety of stimuli that mimic many real world physical interactions"
"For example, a Novint demo at E3 placed a three dimensional ball on screen, covered with a variety of lumps and bumps"
"The falcon grip controlled an on-screen hand that ran over the surface of the ball"
"As the hand went up and down over the lumps the resistance increased and decreased accordingly, which produced a rather believable sensation of touch"
"Another demo involved shoving a hand through a ball of goop. Movement was free and easy until touching the surface, at which point the resistance became much stronger as the hand penetrated the ball until it suddenly popped out the other side and once again became free"
"Another fun demo allowed users to draw back the string of a bow and arrow, with resistance becoming increasingly strong as the bow became taught. Arrow release resulted in the sudden disappearance of all resistance and an incredibly realistic sensation of the release of a great deal of physical tension"
"The coolest part of the Novint demonstration was, of course, real gameplay. A Half-Life 2 mod has been developed to let the Novint Falcon control and interact with the game in amazing ways"
"Moving the grip in vertical space performed the same movement functions that a horizontal mouse would, but now the in-game physics of Half-Life 2 translate directly to real life. Picking up a box in game makes the Novint Falcon apply down force to the grip, effectively creating a truly realistic sensation of real-life weight"
"Hitting the wall with the crowbar resulted in a jarring-vibrating-jolt. The coolest part was gunfire. Each weapon in Half-Life 2 had a particular recoil effect"
"A shotgun blast produced a lurching balk on the Falcon, while automatic machine gun fire resulted in lighter repeated kicks as well as an upward pull, perfectly simulating real life barrel-rise in automatic firing"
"Words can only do so much in describing something so intrinsically physical, but rest assured, the effects we experienced were extremely impressive"
"Our hands-on experience with the Novint Falcon left us totally stoked and begging for more. We'll follow this story through development as best we can, so stay tuned"
