Razer and Sixense launch full motion gaming support for Valve game titles and software integration with Steam

Game Developers Conference, San Francisco, Calif. – March 5th, 2012 – Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, together with Sixense Entertainment, the leader in precision motion technology, announce fully integrated motion gaming support for Valve’s game titles including Left 4 Dead 2, Half-Life 2, and Team Fortress 2 using the Razer Hydra motion sensing controller. Future Valve titles Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will also support full motion play with the Razer Hydra.
 
Additionally, Sixense and Valve have now integrated Sixense MotionCreatorTM 2.0 software with Valve’s Steam gaming platform, enabling backward compatibility for motion gaming with the Razer Hydra for over 250 of the most popular titles on Steam. Now, Steam users will receive automatic motion control updates for current and future game titles, and a new in-game overlay allows gamers to view control maps for the Razer Hydra as they play.
 
“The Razer Hydra’s magnetic motion-sensing technology is the fastest and most precise to deliver a level of gaming immersion other motion-sensing tech in the industry right now can only dream of. Gamers are going to experience Valve’s new and legacy games in an amazing and fun way,” said Robert ‘RazerGuy’ Krakoff, President, Razer USA.
 
“Sixense is excited to bring the Razer Hydra motion gaming experience to the Steam community,” said Amir Rubin, CEO and Co-Founder, Sixense. “By wrapping Sixense MotionCreator inside Steam, the PC and Mac gaming platform of choice for both gamers and developers, we are able to provide plug-and-play functionality for the Razer Hydra to showcase our innovative motion gaming modes across game genres.”
 
The Razer Hydra is the world’s first PC gaming-grade motion-sensing peripheral to use an electromagnetic field to track your hand movements as you hold two ultra-precise motion sensing controllers. Because the Razer Hydra tracks the position of your hands down to a millimeter and degree, saving the world in Half-Life 2, cutting down zombies in Left 4 Dead 2, and pushing the cart in Team Fortress 2 will be a highly intuitive and immersive affair.
 
In response to significant demand from developers, Sixense has created Mac OS and Linux versions of the Sixense SDK (Software Development Kit) for the Razer Hydra. The Mac, Linux and Windows versions are now available for download from Steam. The Sixense SDK allows developers to quickly and easily create immersive gaming experiences that take advantage of the Razer Hydra’s full six degrees of motion freedom.
 
Game developers and independent software vendors who are interested in porting their current games or developing future games based on the Razer Hydra and Sixense motion sensing platform are invited to write to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 23, 186); text-decoration: none; "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 
About the Razer Hydra Motion Sensing Controllers
The Razer Hydra is the first gaming-grade motion-sensing controller to bring a whole new dimension of gameplay and immersion to the PC and Mac. With compatibility for over 250 games out of the box and future support for gamers to self-configure controls for any PC or Mac game, the entertainment possibilities are virtually endless. Built to deliver ultra-low latency and location-orientation tracking exact to the millimeter and degree, the precision and speed of the Razer Hydra make it unrivalled amongst its kind.
 
Price:
Razer Hydra standalone (via RazerStore):  € 99.99

Availability: 
Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Half-Life 2 and Sixense MotionCreatorTM2.0 – Available March 2012
Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – Available at title release
 
Product features:
(Per controller)

• Thumb-ergonomic analog stick for fluid control
• 4 Hyperesponse action buttons
• Rapid-fire trigger and bumper for faster in-game response
• Non-slip satin grip surface
• True six degree-of-freedom magnetic motion tracking
• Lightweight, anti-tangle braided cable

 
(Base station)

• Low-power magnetic field, low power consumption
• Ultra precise sensor for 1mm and 1 degree tracks
• No line of sight to controllers required
• Low latency feedback

For more really interesting information about the Razer Hydra, please visit
www.razerzone.com/hydra
 

About the Razer Group:
Razer™ is the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware. Founded in 1998, with its headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., the company has offices in nine cities around the globe. Used by the most demanding professional gamers who compete in global tournaments, Razer provides gamers with the unfair advantage of cutting-edge technology and award-winning design. We live by our motto: For Gamers. By Gamers.
 
Learn more at www.razerzone.com
 
About Sixense™ Entertainment:
Sixense Entertainment is a Los Gatos, Calif. based company founded in 2007 with the goal of bringing high precision motion tracking technologies to gaming and other mass markets. Founded by a team of experts in the visual simulation and entertainment industries, Sixense recognized that the full potential of motion gaming could only be achieved when the computer could recognize the player’s every movement. The fundamental high performance of its magnetic tracking technology along with its easy to use software development platform has allowed Sixense to partner with hardware and software companies to commercialize superior gaming and digital media solutions.

Helps Families Stay in Touch and Track Whereabouts Across Personal Safety Zones

BlueSprig™, the fresh alternative to software, today announced the launch ofAirCover, a new personal security app and location tool for iOS and Android devices. AirCover protects users from loss, theft, viruses, malware and other threats to mobile devices, while ensuring the safety of family and other loved ones via GPS tracking, user check-ins and emergency alerts. The app is available for free download from the iTunes App Store and Android Market.

"Smartphones have become integral tools to everyday life, allowing people to go new places and do new things while staying closely connected with family and friends," said Jason Johnson, CEO of BlueSprig. "AirCover is a powerful personal security app that helps you protect all the important information you have on your phone while giving you the peace of mind that loved ones are safe as well."

AirCover features include:

• Family Safety – helps locate and confirm the safety of others with GPS tracking; issues emergency alerts when someone needs help; and notifies when a user moves beyond a pre-defined area.
• Battery Doctor – helps monitor and maximize device battery life with real-time visualization and metering tools.
• Cloud Backup – provides backup, access and restore of contacts and photos in the event of a lost or damaged device.
• Device Found – tracks down a lost device from any PC or smartphone and activates an alarm; includes customizable instructions for a safe return, or the ability to remotely wipe a device to protect it from unauthorized access.
• Mobile Anti-Virus (Android only) – provides real-time protection from malware attacks when downloading a new app or unknown file.
• Privacy Protection (Android only) – shows you which apps can access your personal data and lets you set individual access controls.
• System Optimization (Android only) – offers system tweak tools such as cache clean, memory release, task kill, and others, and provides full system information.

AirCover can also track users across iOS and Android mobile platforms for the ultimate personal safety and convenience. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad with versions iOS 4.0 or later, and Android versions 2.1 and above.

To celebrate the launch of AirCover, attendees of SXSW Interactive are invited to attend the Do512 & AirCover Epic Interactive Party at The Belmont on Friday, March 9th, 7pm to 1am. To RSVP, click here.

About BlueSprig

BlueSprig puts the 'personal' back in personal computing. With powerful, lightweight, easy-to-use utility apps, BlueSprig is the fresh alternative to software, at home or on the go – your one-stop shop for security, privacy, performance and efficiency. Led by successful entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and China, BlueSprig has offices in San Francisco and Chengdu, China. For more information, visit: www.bluesprig.com.