With gaming peripherals being pretty off-the-rails compared to regular input devices — controllers shaped like guns, full flying configurations, insane controller setups for Steel Battalion, tons of extra buttons crammed everywhere (hell, I can't operate with a mouse that has less than 15 buttons...)- the concept of turning anything into a controller isn't too far fetched. Even so, controlling GTA V with a bike while in VR still manages to strike innovation.
We've heard enthusiastic fans try to mod GTA V into becoming VR compatible with third-party motion controls, though as far as an official GTA Vr edition is concerned, it's probably never happening. These fan efforts however are pretty inspirational, especially when taking into account that they for a good cause. Cycler's Hub, for example, wants you to get fit while playing GTA V.
Yep. Not only are they combining fitness with video games, something not even the Wii was able to do successfully, but they're combining the concept of health and physical well-being with the single most controversial video game in the history of the industry. Let's see pasty old white conservatives twist this into the leading cause of violence.
We’re in an engineering competition right now and are in the quarterfinals — Vito Lugo, Virtual Nomads
Virtual Nomads, a team of engineering students came up with the Cycler's Hub, a device which easily converts any bicycle into a VR controller for GTA V. When using the device, the in-game bike reacts just like the one you're actually sitting on, while you're observing the world of Los Santos and Blaine County (with a non-violence mod running) in first-person.
The controller also features some slight mods to GTA V, allowing the user to significantly increase their speed, to slow down time and to teleport wherever they want in the game world. The team have some further features in plan, such as tactile rumble feedback for when you're on a bumpy road and increased incline. The team is planning to eventually release the device commercially.
Of course, that would lead to some legal issues with Rockstar in it's current form — and they've got their hands full with those -, so the team is planning on developing the device in a way that makes it compatible with multiple games, not focused on just GTA V. Virtual Nomads are also considering developing their own "game" for the device to ship with, making it a standalone exercise device for non-gamers as well.
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The system essentially turns your bike into a game controller, so theoretically it should work with any game. Though, if we pursue the idea after the competition finishes, we want to develop a standalone game, where we’d have a lot of different landscapes to choose between
