A Killer Trackball Gamepad by REvolve on KickStarter

[GSZX1337]

A long while ago, I was on a forum with a ton of back and forth about First Person Shooters on PCs versus consoles. Most of the time, the PC Gamers will say they'd consider console shooters if there were some sort of trackball controller available. My opinion's a little more nuanced, but I've been intrigued by the idea. Now, an ambitious company named REvolve is realizing this idea and has started on a working prototype. The Kickstarter Project is almost a third of the way funded at around $20,000.

The controller currently only works on PCs with Android compatibility in the works. A "translator" to have the controller working on consoles is being looked into. Right now, the prototype is wired but the final product is planned to be wireless over Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the Wololo article (first link) states that the wired prototype cannot be purchased so you'll just have to pledge and wait for the final contoller.


You can see a short video of this controller here.

I'm currently trying to keep a budget 'til my next payday, but I think I'll be pledging for this and for Shovel Knight. So what do ya say? You wanna show Sony (who rejected the idea) what they're missing out on?

[CRTGAMER]

The controller currently only works on PCs with Android compatibility in the works. A "translator" to have the controller working on consoles is being looked into. Right now, the prototype is wired but the final product is planned to be wireless over Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the Wololo article (first link) states that the wired prototype cannot be purchased so you'll just have to pledge and wait for the final controller.

So what do ya say? You wanna show Sony (who rejected the idea) what they're missing out on?

I have seen pics of the beta PS2 Trakball "Duel Shock" before so this is interesting. I would love to own the wired PS2 Trakball controller. As for the Cell Phone or even the Android Tablet market, I don't think there would be that many portable gamers who would want to bring along a bulky controller.

1. LEAVE IT WIRED. I hate controllers that have proprietary rechargeable batteries. Even rechargable batteries fail, would the replacement be easily found years later? Wired will also keep the production costs down, including Hazmat issues of the battery.

2. KEEP that Trakball universal as a standard USB PC mouse. If the ball is read by rollers inside, change it to "Marble Mouse" sensor.

3. KEEP the left Analog stick and Buttons as a standard PC game controller.

The two USB cables are fine as is
No drivers would be needed and it would definitely be hitting a much larger market. PS3 and 360 USB controllers work fine in the PC, should be easy to make the Killer Trakball work in both consoles and PCs as well. The most important feature is that the Trakball is designed as an exact movement read and not emulating an analog stick. Keeping it as a mouse guarantees this.

Does look like no rollers, is that a Trakball sensor underneath?

[fastbilly1]

While cool and I would love to have one, unless he can get it fully working on a console its just a pc controller and Id rather have mouse/keyboard. If he can get it fully working on a console, well that changes the playing field quite a bit.

Edit:
Oh, and thank you for the update about Shovel Knight. That looks awesome.

[GSZX1337]

I have seen pics of the beta PS2 Trakball "Duel Shock" before so this is interesting. I would love to own the wired PS2 Trakball controller.

Damn, I need to look into this controller.

As for the Cell Phone or even the Android Tablet market, I don't think there would be that many portable gamers who would want to bring along a bulky controller.

Remember the Ouya just came out. If that's successful, there's definitely going to be other Android consoles.

1. LEAVE IT WIRED. I hate controllers that have proprietary rechargeable batteries. Even rechargable batteries fail, would the replacement be easily found years later? Wired will also keep the production costs down, including Hazmat issues of the battery.

It's very likely that the controller will just use AA batteries like the Ouya controller or the GP32. If not, perhaps it'll also work over a cable like the PS3 controller.

2. KEEP that Trakball universal as a standard USB PC mouse. If the ball is read by rollers inside, change it to "Marble Mouse" sensor.

I believe that's what the "translator" is for, to keep the controller from having to use proprietary protocols.

3. KEEP the left Analog stick and Buttons as a standard PC game controller.

The two USB cables are fine as is
No drivers would be needed and it would definitely be hitting a much larger market. PS3 and 360 USB controllers work fine in the PC, should be easy to make the Killer Trakball work in both consoles and PCs as well.

If the controller uses bluetooth, perhaps a driver won't be necessary.

...should be easy to make the Killer Trakball

It isn't actually called the Killer Trackball, that was a fuck up on my part. I meant "killer" as a synonym for "cool".

The most important feature is that the Trakball is designed as an exact movement read and not emulating an analog stick. Keeping it as a mouse guarantees this.

That's what the project promises:

Because a trackball is not like a joystick - it's like a mouse. It provides the same kind of 1-to-1 input when you move your hand or fingers around