Etee SteamVR Controller Hits Kickstarter Fundraising Goal, Demos Half-Life Compatibility
TG0 launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign for the new finger tracking controller known as etee at the beginning of the April. The campaign has already realized its funding goal of raising goal of $57, 670 from 200 backers and the team is now going for the first stretch goal. TG0 has also released a number of videos of playing the Half-Life: Alyx to showcase the controller’s SteamVR compatibility.
The company has two versions of the etee controller available. There is the three degrees of freedom (3DoF) edition that has been built for developers and the 6DoF SteamVR version for which the company set up the Kickstarter fundraising campaign. The campaign now sits at $59,862 from 205 backers and the next goal is for the company to hit its first stretch goal. This will see TG0 release the step file that will enable the community to freely modify and build custom handles for the etee controller. The company will introduce subsequent stretch goals as each one is accomplished.
TG0 is also showcasing two new videos demonstrating how its etee controllers work with Half-Life: Alyx (See below). The company will be replacing the bulky Vive trackers on the controllers with integrated sensors in its final version of the etee controllers.
The SteamVR versions are yet to be built so TG0 is using the 3D0F etee controllers with the Vive Trackers to provide the full range of movement. While the thumbpad is used in teleporting around environments, the full finger capability enables users to grab items just as the user would when using a Valve Index controller.
The etee controllers have a buttonless design with the trackpad for the user’s thumb at the top and also on the ‘menu button’ as well as TG0 tactile interface that is wrapped around the main body. This offers users a fully tracked input for every digit as well as the ability to sense pressure.
The early bird funding tier has been priced at £239 as the estee SteamVR version is now sold out. New backers now have to pay a standard Kickstarter price of £259. There is also the estee SteamVR Ghost edition that is built with a translucent body and costs £349. With the fundraising goal achieved, the delivery of the estee controllers is now set for the beginning of December 2020.
There are still 26 days to go before the closing of the Kickstarter campaign so there is still sufficient time for etee to hit its stretch goals.
Features of the etee Controller
- An open palm gesture sensing for all the fingers
- Free hand design
- The etee Dev Kit weighs just 75g/etee SteamVR will weigh 120g
- Has a thumb trackpad for simulating a joystick
- Improved hygiene and reliability that is sweat, dust and waterproof.
- Full LED Color
- A longer battery life (up 16 hours standby and up to 6 hours active)
- USB port Type C
- Next-gen haptic feedback
- Bluetooth BLE along with Wi-FI communication
