Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Marathon VR
Date: 24 Oct 1994 03:00:52 GMT
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I had heard something about Marathon being compatable with some sort of
VR helmet. Is there any truth to that?
If so, where can you get the helmet? I dont remember seeing them
advertised in macuser or anyplace like that. And what would it cost?
--
--
Greywolf
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
From: erikgib@netcom.com (Erik Giberson)
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
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Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 04:57:56 GMT
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The Big Bad Wolf (greywolf@clark.net) wrote:
: I had heard something about Marathon being compatable with some sort of
: VR helmet. Is there any truth to that?
: If so, where can you get the helmet? I dont remember seeing them
: advertised in macuser or anyplace like that. And what would it cost?
From what I've read (I think it was the specs file that
accompanied the official Marathon GIFs), Marathon does indeed support the
CyberMaxx VR Helmet. List price (as of October's WIRED) is $699 <ouch>.
Sorry, no decimal points in that number, folks.... =)
--Erik
--
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$ Your guilty conscience may force you to vote Democratic, but deep down $$
$$ inside you secretly long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, $$
$$ brutalize criminals and rule you like a king. --Sideshow Bob $$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
From: kbs3387@silver.sdsmt.edu (Kevin Stone)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Date: 25 Oct 1994 05:28:16 GMT
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Yes you are right.. Marathon is compatible with a VR helmet and gun. That
I can confirm for you! I saw it at the MacWorld Expo in Boston this
summer. And, I must say, it was very cool. Although the frame rate on
the beta we were watching was not as quick as it is now it was still very
impressive to watch. I cant wait to see it with the improved FPS,
network talking links, and other features I've been hearing about!
But, I cant tell you where to find one. The one in use at the Expo was
just for show, and to prove that it was truely compatible.
At least I could confirm one thing with you... :)
If you do find out where to buy one... post it immediatly! :)
K.B.S. "Born of Stone"
From: seadams@eis.calstate.edu (Sean P Adams)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Date: 26 Oct 1994 11:45:32 -0700
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> I had heard something about Marathon being compatable with some sort of
> VR helmet. Is there any truth to that?
> If so, where can you get the helmet? I dont remember seeing them
> advertised in macuser or anyplace like that. And what would it cost?
It's called the Cybermaxx VR headset. It's made by VictorMaxx, I think. I
don't know much about it because I stopped investigating after I found
out it costs over $800. AAck! Maybe when marathon comes out more people
will buy it and the price will go down. Maybe not.
Sean
From: asc1@acpub.duke.edu (Aaron Sundance Cobb)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Date: 28 Oct 1994 19:56:56 GMT
Organization: Duke University
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> I had heard something about Marathon being compatable with some sort of
> VR helmet. Is there any truth to that?
The helmet in question, CyberMaxx, was featured in the Fetish section
of October's issue of "Wired." (p. 41)
I talked to a rep at VictorMaxx, manufacturer of the CyberMaxx
(708-267-0007), and he said an adapter to connect the helmet to a Mac
would not be available until January. He was not clear on how it would
connect (serial, ADB, SCSI, etc.) but he did say that it was
stereoscopic, it uses a sourceless tracking system (it detects
movements, not position of the head) and that it gave a 45 degree
vertical and 60 degree horizontal field of vision with a display (in
each eye, I assume) of 120,000 pixels.
I'd be interested to know how Bungie was demonstrating Marathon using
the CyberMaxx if an adapter is not available.
In article <38i51g$dg4@krypton.hpc.sdsmt.edu>
kbs3387@silver.sdsmt.edu (Kevin Stone) writes:
> Yes you are right.. Marathon is compatible with a VR helmet and gun. That
> I can confirm for you! I saw it at the MacWorld Expo in Boston this
I'd also be interested in hearing more about this gun.
Aaron S. Cobb
asc1@acpub.duke.edu
From: kephart@snowhite.eeap.cwru.edu (T. Kephart)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 18:08:27 -0400
Organization: Case School of Engineering
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In article <38rl28$r85@news.duke.edu>, asc1@acpub.duke.edu (Aaron Sundance
Cobb) wrote:
>
> I'd be interested to know how Bungie was demonstrating Marathon using
> the CyberMaxx if an adapter is not available.
>
These manufacturers have this funny think about adapters. Ya know, they
make a custom adapter by hand for testing purposes, and then claim that
there is no adapter available because of things like not having the
equipment retooled to mass produce them. Like they just can't take orders
now and make them by hand until they get the machines set up.
-t
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
From: dsf3g@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (David Salvador Flores)
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
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Sender: usenet@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU
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Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 23:19:15 GMT
Lines: 16
In article <38rl28$r85@news.duke.edu>,
Aaron Sundance Cobb <asc1@acpub.duke.edu> wrote:
>> I had heard something about Marathon being compatable with some sort of
>> VR helmet. Is there any truth to that?
>
[deletia]
>
>I'd be interested to know how Bungie was demonstrating Marathon using
>the CyberMaxx if an adapter is not available.
Well, the same way they were demonstrating Marathon when it was not
available; Pre-release.
Big_Dave
Message-ID: <2686973.1988154@fc.ausom.oz.au>
Date: 28 Oct 1994 04:24:07 GMT
From: Nicholas_Dabner@ausom.oz.au (Nicholas Dabner)
Organization: The Apple Users Society of Melbourne
Reply-To: Nicholas_Dabner@ausom.oz.au
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Distribution: world
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Lines: 12
KBS>But, I cant tell you where to find one. The one in use at the KBS>Expo
was
KBS>just for show, and to prove that it was truely compatible.
KBS>At least I could confirm one thing with you... :)
KBS>If you do find out where to buy one... post it immediatly! :)
I am looking for one of those VR Helmets too. Are they commercially
available? I want one to show at my User Group in December. Hope they are
available in Australia.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
From: djm2@kimbark.uchicago.edu (dan meltz)
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Message-ID: <1994Oct29.175920.22510@midway.uchicago.edu>
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Date: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 17:59:20 GMT
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In article <38rl28$r85@news.duke.edu> asc1@acpub.duke.edu (Aaron Sundance Cobb) writes:
>> I had heard something about Marathon being compatable with some sort of
>> VR helmet. Is there any truth to that?
>
>
>The helmet in question, CyberMaxx, was featured in the Fetish section
>of October's issue of "Wired." (p. 41)
>I talked to a rep at VictorMaxx, manufacturer of the CyberMaxx
>(708-267-0007), and he said an adapter to connect the helmet to a Mac
>would not be available until January. He was not clear on how it would
>connect (serial, ADB, SCSI, etc.) but he did say that it was
>stereoscopic, it uses a sourceless tracking system (it detects
>movements, not position of the head) and that it gave a 45 degree
>vertical and 60 degree horizontal field of vision with a display (in
>each eye, I assume) of 120,000 pixels.
>
>I'd be interested to know how Bungie was demonstrating Marathon using
>the CyberMaxx if an adapter is not available.
the adaptor for the show was jury rigged specifically for the show.
it was, shall we say, not particularly hardy, and was carefully protected
througout the show.
--
--------========<<<<<< djm2@midway.uchicago.edu >>>>>>========--------
"I think the monkeys at the zoo should have to wear sunglasses so they
can't hypnotize you."
-- Deep Thoughts
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
From: erikgib@netcom.com (Erik Giberson)
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Message-ID: <erikgibCyGBJw.4JG@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
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Date: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 20:28:44 GMT
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Nicholas Dabner (Nicholas_Dabner@ausom.oz.au) wrote:
: I am looking for one of those VR Helmets too. Are they commercially
: available? I want one to show at my User Group in December. Hope they are
: available in Australia.
WIRED notes that you can call the company (VictorMaxx) for more
info (and orders, presumably). Their number in the U.S. is (708) 267-0007.
Again, the price listed is U.S.$699.
Good luck! Drop a line if you manage to get one....
--Erik
--
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$ Your guilty conscience may force you to vote Democratic, but deep down $$
$$ inside you secretly long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, $$
$$ brutalize criminals and rule you like a king. --Sideshow Bob $$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
From: djm2@kimbark.uchicago.edu (dan meltz)
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Message-ID: <1994Oct29.180248.22684@midway.uchicago.edu>
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Date: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 18:02:48 GMT
Lines: 21
>KBS>At least I could confirm one thing with you... :)
>
>KBS>If you do find out where to buy one... post it immediatly! :)
>
>
>I am looking for one of those VR Helmets too. Are they commercially
>available? I want one to show at my User Group in December. Hope they are
>available in Australia.
i saw the CyberMaxx being advertised in the Hammacher Schlemmer [sp?] catalog
mind you, that was almost definitely the pc version, without the adaptor,
but the point is that it is commmercially offered (i didnt say advertised,
i dont know if they are actually shipping yet)
dan
--
--------========<<<<<< djm2@midway.uchicago.edu >>>>>>========--------
"I think the monkeys at the zoo should have to wear sunglasses so they
can't hypnotize you."
-- Deep Thoughts
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
From: freidin@flagstaff.princeton.edu (Robert A. Freidin)
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Message-ID: <1994Oct31.190009.18712@Princeton.EDU>
Followup-To: Re: Marathon VR
Originator: news@hedgehog.Princeton.EDU
Keywords: marathon,VR,Cybermaxx
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References: <38rl28$r85@news.duke.edu> <CyEos3.Gr6@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> <391f55$gt0@pcnet1.pcnet.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 19:00:09 GMT
Lines: 47
> I was just going through the December Electronic
>Entertainment and saw a blurb (page 20) on a new
>VR helmet by Virtual I/O (TCI/Logitech) called
>the Personal Display System set to come out next
>month for the Mac/PC/SNES/Genesis for $400.
> from the article:
> " The PDS consists of a pair of lightweight glasses,
>stereo earphones, and an optional head-tracking device....
>Once connected, you see a better than VHS-quality
>picture on a screen that is the visual equivalent of an
>80-inch diagonal TV set about 12 feet away....PDS
>supports full 3-D stereo viewing, which is sort of like
>watching a full-motion View Master....Games that
>support head-tracking will let you look in all directions....
>Virtual I/O also keeps safety in mind by making the
>viewscreens see through. You simply hit a Video Mute
>button, to look around without having to remove the
>headset....Virtual I/O says it will have a gamer-oriented
>product without the 3-D ability that will sell for
>less than $250 by early next year.
>Virtual I/O 206-382-7410"
Just a thought - these LCD glasses you're talking about
(I assume these are like the SegaScope-3D thing sold
back in the '80s, right?) work by alternating which shutter
is transparent at least 30 times/second, right?
That means that the screen has to change at least 60
times/second. Since the Mac doesn't support page flipping,
this is going to be pretty damn difficult to do. I can just
barely get over 60fps at 640x480 on my Centris650
using the MOVE16 instruction, and that's *without*
doing any texture mapping! If the glasses updated less
often than 30 times/second, it would be really
disorienting.
It's a nice thought (since these glasses in theory could
sell for about $60 if you took off the motion sensors),
but I don't see how you're going to attach them to the
Mac without installing some sort of special video card
(expensive). On that note, anyone know how the CyberMaxx
glasses are supposed to cram enough data through the
serial port to support realtime video??
Bernie (freidin@phoenix.princeton.edu)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
From: jcs1589@vaxd.isc.rit.edu (Justin Sherrill)
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Message-ID: <1994Oct31.221246.9985@ultb.isc.rit.edu>
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Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 22:12:46 GMT
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In article <38m84c$gro@eis.calstate.edu>, seadams@eis.calstate.edu (Sean P Adams) writes:
>> I had heard something about Marathon being compatable with some sort of
>> VR helmet. Is there any truth to that?
>> If so, where can you get the helmet? I dont remember seeing them
>> advertised in macuser or anyplace like that. And what would it cost?
>
>It's called the Cybermaxx VR headset. It's made by VictorMaxx, I think. I
>don't know much about it because I stopped investigating after I found
>out it costs over $800. AAck! Maybe when marathon comes out more people
>will buy it and the price will go down. Maybe not.
I heard there is a small company here in the Rochester, New York area that is
making VR helmets now - I saw an article on them, but I don't know if the
helmets would be compatible or cheaper. I'll have to take a better look.
Justin C. Sherrill jcs1589@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Rochester Institute of Technology jcs1589@ultb.isc.rit.edu
Captain Beefheart WWW page at http://129.21.21.53/hpr.html
From: sinclair@pcnet.com (Andrew Sinclair-Day)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Marathon VR
Date: 1 Nov 1994 21:54:55 -0500
Organization: PCNet, Connecticut's Internet Provider
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Robert A. Freidin (freidin@flagstaff.princeton.edu) wrote:
: Just a thought - these LCD glasses you're talking about
: (I assume these are like the SegaScope-3D thing sold
: back in the '80s, right?) work by alternating which shutter
: is transparent at least 30 times/second, right?
: That means that the screen has to change at least 60
: times/second. Since the Mac doesn't support page flipping,
: this is going to be pretty damn difficult to do. I can just
: barely get over 60fps at 640x480 on my Centris650
: using the MOVE16 instruction, and that's *without*
: doing any texture mapping! If the glasses updated less
: often than 30 times/second, it would be really
: disorienting.
: It's a nice thought (since these glasses in theory could
: sell for about $60 if you took off the motion sensors),
: but I don't see how you're going to attach them to the
: Mac without installing some sort of special video card
: (expensive). On that note, anyone know how the CyberMaxx
: glasses are supposed to cram enough data through the
: serial port to support realtime video??
: Bernie (freidin@phoenix.princeton.edu)
I don't think they are the LCD shutter glasses, not at $400. I can pick
up the LCD shutter glasses for about $75-$100 locally (though not for the
Mac). If they indeed are shutter glasses then it's a major rip off. I
think they ase similar to the CyberMaxx, but I'll call them in the
morning and find out (the picture looks similar to the CyberMax) and post
what I find out.
Andrew Sinclair-Day | The Rock Garden | Between the brain that plans
Sinclair@PCNET.COM | 982 State Street | and the hand that builds,
AndrewSD@EWORLD.COM | New Haven, CT. 06511 | there must be a mediator.