Headplay 52" TV: it's all in your head

by Richard Mitchell { Jan 4th 2007 at 3:30PM }

If you're like us, you've been wondering when virtual reality would become an actual reality since you first saw The Lawnmower Man. Sure, videogame graphics have long since surpassed the visuals of virtual reality, but the interface hasn't changed much at all (with the recent exception of the Wii). We still interact with images on a screen without really immersing ourselves in the game world. Enter Headplay's Personal Cinema System. The PCS headset recreates a 52" television directly in front of the wearer's eyes. The device allows for virtually any video input (no HDMI, sorry PS3) so hooking up your 360 (or PC, or iPod, or DVD player, etc.) is a snap. Not only that, the device is capable of reading media directly from numerous memory cards and thumb drives. The resolution goes up to 1024 X 768, so you'll get a nice clear picture, too. The unit also supports true stereoscopic 3D images where available. Headplay plans to officially unveil the product at CES.

Of course, devices like this tend to be overly expensive and perform poorly, but we always have hope that someone will get it right. Granted, it has no head tracking, so it's not really virtual reality, but with the right games it could get pretty close (think FPS games). So, just grab yourself a wireless headset, wireless control, and a PCS, and you'll look like a raving lunatic in no time -- standing there, mashing buttons and screaming obscenities at the nearest inanimate object.

Would you ever get something like this if it actually worked well?

Tags: headplay, pcs, personal cinema system, PersonalCinemaSystem

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Iced_Eagle @ Jan 4th 2007 3:47PM

If it worked and was a decent price sure...

Saves space and possibly money.

I just fear that it would hurt your eyes though :-\

OTAM @ Jan 4th 2007 4:09PM

I want this,now.

mgroves @ Jan 4th 2007 4:10PM

If it was much, much smaller, it would have really good application for video iPods and such.

Other than that, some sort of head and/or eye tracking combined with Wii-like controls would be a very immersive experience for sure.

Robi @ Jan 4th 2007 9:51PM

This seems like it would be nice as long as its easy on the eyes.
I just wonder how well the picture would look.

It could really add a whole new level of realism to a game... Which would be cool untill I put in GOW, dive for cover, and end up jumping head first into a sofa.

The Dude @ Jan 4th 2007 5:24PM

No head tracking = no sale. Hell, haven't they had enough time to develop this stuff? I mean even the VFX 1 from 10 or 12 years ago had head tracking. Might be nice if you fly a lot, but for day to day use I'll take a pass. Besides, you just KNOW it's not going to be anywhere NEAR resonably priced. (Think $399 - $499 guaranteed)