The Project Esther concept demonstrated by Razer at CES impresses with its haptic feedback while gaming and brings people one step closer to a Ready Player One-level immersion experience.
Project Esther is a prototype, but Razer’s Sensa HD Haptics platform behind it is very much at work and ready for adoption by game developers.
In a 15-minute test with the Project Esther demo, players will get to experience how haptics react and change as in-game objects move closer and closer to the screen. The demo then transitions into a forest setting, where wind and raindrops cause different sensations on the back.
The prototype was created to demonstrate the new Sensa technology, which combines what users see and hear on screen, with tactile sensations during gameplay. Razer wants Sensa technology to foster a diverse product ecosystem that people can choose from to fit their gaming style.
Any audio content can be integrated with Sensa, so whether users are playing games or watching movies, as long as there is sound, Sensa can create the corresponding feeling. During the demo with the game Mortal Kombat, users could notice various haptic effects from the gaming pad for each weapon, with the laser having more of a pulsating feel, while the machine gun had more feedback.
If this is the future of gaming, this will provide an exciting experience for gamers to enhance their gaming experience. Even though Razer is using it in cushion form, nothing is stopping other companies from using it to create other experiences, like the Nintendo Power Glove to enhance the immersive experience of gaming.