GamePro Labs Visits GDC 2008!

It wasn't just fun and games at this year's GDC: there were a lot of companies showing off some amazing hardware as well! So join the gearheads of GamePro as we look at some upcoming tech that's could help improve your gaming life.

Nyko Wireless Wii Nunchuk

Much like the rest of you, we love the Wii's motion sensing controls but we're not so enamored with the little cord that connects the Nunchuk to the Remote. It's a minor annoyance and one that we can live with but if there's a way to get rid of it, why wouldn't you? That's why we were so impressed by the Nyko Wireless Nunchuk. The unit connects to the Remote via a wireless dongle and allows for a fully wireless experience. We got to test one out for a few minutes and found that it felt pretty much identical to Nintendo's first-party Nunchuk and that it performed as advertised.

The potential downside is that the unit requires its own set of batteries; the dongle also adds a negligible amount of weight and heft to the Remote. Still, this is a small price to pay for the peace of mind you get knowing that you won't get slapped in the mouth during furious Wii gaming sessions by the Nunchuk cord. Set to release at the end of March, the Wireless Nunchuk is one peripheral all Wii owners should keep an eye on. We'll have a full review as soon as we get our hands on one for testing.

Novint Falcon Pistol Grip

If you don't know what the Novint Falcon is, it's a 3D haptics controller that's pretty much out of this world. It looks like something ripped out of a downed UFO: the unit consists of a motorized base that controls three extender arms which connect at a single point. The standard model features a ball grip which you use to control the pointer, much like a standard mouse. But the Falcon provides the additional bonus of force feedback and 3D movement. It's hard to describe in words, as it really is one of those things you have to experience for yourself but the included tech demos did a great job of showcasing the gadget's capabilities. There's one demo where an orb is layered with various textures, all of which you can actually feel when you manipulate the orb with the Falcon. And of course, you can use it with games using drivers that Falcon makes available on their website. So far, the list only includes two games of note: Quake IV and Half-Life 2 but the Falcon definitely adds an interesting dimension to those games.

At GDC, Novint also announced the Pistol Grip, which is exactly what it sounds like: a pistol grip that you can attach to the Falcon for an immersive gun slinging experience. We got to see the Pistol Grip in action in HL2 and it looked like a real blast. While most gamers are happy with the standard mouse and keyboard, gamers looking to add a unique layer to their FPS gaming experiences should definitely look into the Falcon and its Pistol Grip; best of all, Novint also just announced an all-black Falcon model as well.

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