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LGR Oddware - Spacetec SpaceOrb 360

🕑 Added 2019-01-10 21:37:31 +0000 UTC

Comments

Kadah

Like a shortened joystick that can move in a lot more directions. I've wanted a SpaceNav for years, but even the cheapest used ones are still priced quite high for something where a mouse and two hotkeys serves the same purpose.

LGR

The puck makes SO much more sense! Makes me wonder how that form factor would work with 6DOF games.

Kadah

After seeing this, I can see why the new puck style has been at l the standard since before I knew 6DOF input devices were a thing. The back story on this one was likely marketing dept noticing the rather new and growing PC gaming market and all the random devices being made for it.

LGR

I love the idea and the CAD/CAM Spaceballs I've used are great, just wish I could use it without seriously hurting my wrists. Ergonomics are dreadful for extended use. And yeah I was immediately concerned about the shaft holding it in place, heh. Will use it with caution!

Andy

Aww. I'm disappointed you didn't like that thing. I had one, and I remember it being my favorite controller for FPS and/or 6DOF games. It's durability wasn't great. There's a weakspot in the shaft that runs through the middle of the orb and eventually it'll just come off in your hand. After my second one broke I had to give up on the dream of a 6DOF controller. In roughly that time period I also tried a Microsoft Dual-Strike. Which was more absurd because of its limited range of motion. (And it's d-pad also had a terrible durability problem.)

aquaz

Please make weird noises at the beginning of videos more often :X

Paul

Thank you! You just satisfied nearly two decades of curiosity. I always thought they used pressure sensors, and wasn't expecting it to actually move. Doesn't seem like logical placement, though, for the X axis utility. It's hard to imagine being comfortable pulling up on that ball from a standard grip.

LGR

Thank you!

Chris Rainger

Man, they advertised the heck out of these in PCPowerPlay (AU PC gaming mag). I never saw them in stores though. Always wondered how they worked. Loved the video.

LGR

Hehe, quite welcome. My wrist was hurting for a couple days after this, glad it was worthwhile!

LGR

Thank you! Yeah my curiosity about these has been killing me for years, happy to finally share the experience.

I remember seeing the psx version in EB back in the late 90s. Always wondered how it worked. Loved the mini-tech tales episode you snuck in there too. Nice work!

LGR

Would love to see that as well! I'm sure there are some things to be learned.

Raymond Nichols

Oh man, that was one of the pinnacles of 90’s tech. They took so many more risks back then, it was great. Such a great video, thank you for risking life and limb (emphasis on limb) to bring it to us.

The sporb! One of my online friends used to play Quake with this way back when and we used to make fun of him constantly for it.

Deckard Games

Balls! You gotta get a grip on those. Welcome to the carpal tunnel society :) "It functions a little better than you can expect". That's a t-shirt right there. I kind of can see the appeal. On paper it seems like a cool idea and it kind of works... The ergonomics of the thing are a downer. This was a more slow paced video 😁 Balls!

perkindo

I wouldn't mind seeing some modern footage of someone that's part of the "cult following" of this device actually playing a game. Or maybe an interview with on of them to see what they are actually doing with this thing

Chris Rogers

I still have my SpaceOrb 360. Got it for $60 bundled with Forsaken, in 1997 or 98. You were right about Descent and it being tiring to use. I did get it working with Quake and Quake II pretty well. My secret was using the buttons for jump/duck rather than the orb. The main problem is that it was pretty much impossible to get it to move independently on one axis, so pressing the ball forward means you'll also go a bit left/right/wherever. Eventually, I just decided to use the KB/mouse for shooters.

Robert Launder

Man if you want something bizarre and useless like this, check out the Microsoft Sidewinder Dual Strike. Instead of a ball or analog stick, you bend the controller.

Thomas Petersen

How about an episode on Dennis "Thresh" Fong someday? "We think Thresh will do for our product what Michael Jordan has done for Nike sneakers" was what Spacetec were saying about him when he signed up to push the SpaceOrb. Didn't wuite work out like that, but he was as cool as Jordan at the time.

now that's eh something

Cyclone

That promo, I really miss the old Macromedia entertainment that game with various games, demos, etc. It really had it's own kind of unique look that I found pleasing.

Peter Metzger

the packaging for that ascii sphere 360 is amazing

Myles MAN

That is one ugly ass controller

Jeremy Abel

OOOORRRB!

Marnix

This oddball technology mainly reminds me of my trusty old beige trackball from the mid 90s (either Trust or Logitech, I think). Except that that device was actually comfortable to use, even for a longer period of time.

Julien Goodwin

I have one of the modern USB connected Spaceballs (HP branded), they're wonderful as an input device for Google Earth, a very fun way to waste hours

ogspeace

welcome back lazy green giant!

ogspeace

deadly tide would've been great with this controller.. too bad most movements in DT were done by the computer..

I have the flu at the moment and I swear this thing is just weird stuff my brain is thinking up while the fever is cooking it

Joon Choi

Wow man. Interesting product and tech and all, but seriously uncomfortable to watch the game demos. I kept feeling a little dizzy and my wrist hurt in some kind of phantom sympathy carpal tunnel. Oof. 😭

Adam Christensen

Vaguely reminds me of the Gravis Firebird. It uses the gamepad and keyboard port to map its 17 programmable buttons. My friends wouldn't play Decent deathmatch with me when I used it. 😅

It's probably been done, but I feel like it would make a pretty expressive midi controller and one that can be manipulated with one hand to boot.

Steve Lovelace

Never heard of this, or the "Spaceball" technology, though I kinda want one of those CAD Spaceballs now.

Tanner Schultz

If you had told me that intro video was a parody I would have believed you.

Aldranis

Hey Clint! Really enjoyed this video! I actually live about a mile away from where this place used to be. Let me know if you’d like me to venture out and snap a picture of the outside of their old building.

ChrisFratz

Also, am I the only one that wants to see that map that was included in the trainer program ported/recreated in unity so that we could walk around it in a VR space.

ChrisFratz

I actually saw a review of the PS1 version oh, but I forgot who viewed it. I think it was Kevin kenson who took a look at it, or it could have been my life in gaming. Either way they said it was actually pretty good and they used forsaken on the PS1 to try it.

avfusion

This makes me think it was designed by a packaging designer. It just looks painful to use.

LGR

It has a Tomb Raider configuration but I couldn't make myself sit through the pain to try, ha. I imagine it'd be as finicky as the others.

Zem Hysong

I have to wonder how this would work for a "tank" control game like Tomb Raider or Alone in the Dark...

LGR

I've used a couple of the later ones and they're far more usable, yeah. Helps to have the ball mounted on a large base where you can rest your hands and wrist

Rudo de Jong

The spaceball devices this one “descended” (ahaha) from, like the one from/for Silicon Graphics systems, meant for CAD, were probably usable without cramping your hand(s) as much as this one seems to do.

LGR

Yeah I was surprised to see the NASA stuff in their press briefings, it sent me down a rabbit hole of history! This really would make much sense mounted in a larger shell or an arcade stick-style cabinet or something.

LGR

They really were trying SO HARD, haha. Go figure that's what you get from a company that mostly just did CAD/CAM products before.

Rob Caporetto

In a way, I'm ultimately not surprised to see it's as uncomfortable to use as it is to look at. Really enjoyed the dive into its history, certainly didn't realise it had that kind of pedigree in terms of devices, and it's a bit of a shame that their foray into gaming resulted in this. I do like the idea of that style of controller - but certainly not in an awkward gamepad!

The Enforcer

Good thing you brought up the PS1 controller as that's the one I remember from back in the day. Also, that hype video for the controller. So much cringe.

This has happened to a few of his videos recently, not sure if he ever figured out why.

LGR

Yep, just changes the default XYZ orientations. I'll add a note in the video.

zephyrmo

Ha. I work for an 'Orbis' so this made me chuckle. What did the Vertical vs Horizontal do by the way? does it change the orientation of the ball?

Did you have too only let us watch the video in 360p Great video:-)

Phil Sowers

Bought one back when I was working at Computer City to play Descent with it but returned it quickly.

LGR

No kidding! Cracks me up that they even trademarked RealLife 3D

Robert Butler

Oh my god- do you think they threw enough words into the product name? Perhaps they figure it'll sound edgier or more worth your money if they did? 😒

LGR

Thanks, I hope you enjoy! Yeah I've been hoping someone would do a deeper video on Spaceball devices for a long time myself, figured I may as well do my part :)

Amazing - I've wanted to see a proper video on one of these for a long time, glad its you doing it and not even seen the video yet. These were advertised heavily in pc gaming magazines back in the day but never got to use one or knew anyone that had one. Stuck to my trusty Sidewinder. Looking forward to watching this! Keep up the good work.