[Ashrak]

A combat simulator developed for the US military that "shoots" back, delivering an electric shock strong enough to knock down players, could be the next big thing for home-computer games.

A Texas-based company, VirTra Systems, is selling the combat simulator to military and police forces around the world. Its spokesman, Steve Haag, said Australian armed forces had expressed an interest in getting one.

Players enter a platform with a 360-degree screen that shows scenarios such as freeing hostages, street gun fights, taking out suicide bombers and team attacks on enemy positions. And VirTra takes the simulations a step further by enabling the computer game to "shoot back".

If a player fails to kill an enemy in time and the enemy is able to shoot back, the simulator delivers a powerful electric shock through the player's hips. You definitely know you have been hit," Mr Haag said. "It has the same power as a stun gun. It knocks you down.

"You have to continue to work through the pain and keep on fighting, as that is what you need to do - to keep on fighting even when wounded.

"You have to regain your composure, shake your head, and get back in the fight as your life and your unit's life depends on it."

Those who play on PCs would love a game that shot back, said David Wildgoose, editor of the game magazine PC Powerplay.

"People are already talking about something like that," he said. "It is possible, and is just waiting for somebody to really integrate it into a game."

Wildgoose has noted that there are already controls that shake and hum as players drive or fly, and a few years ago a company sold a vest that vibrates as things happen on the screen.

Mr Haag said the US military had embraced the technology as trainees were getting rapid heart rates, sweaty palms and fear during the simulation, just like they might get if they were shot.

The US military had used the simulator at fairs as a recruitment tool, he said.

In a promotional video on VirTra's website, a TV reporter trying out the simulator yells: "Hey, shooting people is fun."

Mr Haag said it was only a matter of time and demand before the system could be sold to the public as a computer game.

"This is ultimate shooter video game," he said.

"We use real actors, not computer graphics, and when you shoot them they fall, but if you don't get them properly they will keep coming.

We can put in smells and vibrations."

i want one !

[Nuclear1]

Sweet

...or should I say, shocking?

Read: Bad joke.

[Fineus]

Perfect for all you S&M types out there

And what happens when some tosser hacks it and kills a 12 year old? What happens when someone decides the device has affected their health and sues the company? Hmmm?

[BlackDove]

VR training.

Bad news.

[Flipside]

Amazing, millions of dollars spent on making sure young kids don't get electric shocks from household appliances...

Should be fun when the fuse blows, mind, theres about 1/10000 of a second when, if you are hooked up to the machine, you stand a chance of getting the full mains shock. not enough to kill, but would certainly be worth videoing

[WMCoolmon]

I already posted about this.

[Nuclear1]

Ha!

[Unknown Target]

Might stop people from bum-rushing online...of course, it'd make super cowards, and give the people with stronger bodies and will an advantage. The last part is good ,the first isn't

[Nuclear1]

Can't wait til they put in AA.

[Ford Prefect]

It's going to go off while someone is looking at porn.

[Cobra]

this sounds like pain-tolerance level building.

[Carl]

you just know someone is gonna hook it up to their nipples.

[Dark RevenantX]

Imagine being hit from all four of the Sathanas' BFReds at the same time.

[Bobboau]

I seem to recall the "real != fun" leson for some reason

[Martinus]

[color=66ff00]This is old, I saw a Tekken competition where the players were hooked up to a shock system; the more damage you take the higher the shock.

Given that certain frequency and voltage combinations cause muscle spasm/locking it could make it hard to press those buttons.
[/color]

[Swamp_Thing]

This is what i was talking about, in the other thread. Maybe that strong a shock is too much, but a small zapp when you are hit would make the player more aware and cautious when going head first against an army of AI enemies. Makes you duck more often, think your moves more carefully, and makes you leave your Rambo atitude at the door.
I want one!!

[Fineus]

I just thought of another reason this could be misused... TKers. What better amusement for their pathetic little selves than the knowledge they're actually hurting their teammates when they shoot them.

[Ghost]

Heh. Of course, Kalfireth, you can shoot back... If I started getting TK'd, I'd shoot back in the nuts and see if their character started rolling around.

[aldo_14]

True.... 'reflect friendly fire' would become funny as hell.

[vyper]

Can u imagine this technology in HL2? Oh look - automated turre... ****IN HELL!

Ah, Striders! What the f.... OH FOR THE LOVE FOR JEBUS MY INTESTINES!