DIY VR

by Super Cameraman

24K5038

Intro: DIY VR

Every been to DisneyQuest and rode that crazy VR comics ride? No? Okay lemme explain.

You put this ridiculous helmet over your head that has these 3D TV goggles, and when you move your head, it's like you're actually moving your head in the game.

Here's how to do something like that for under 100 bucks.

Materials:
Camcorder with Viewfinder and video input
Gyro mouse (More on that later)
Normal wireless mouse (optional)
Duct Tape


STEP 1: About the Gyro Mouse

I happened to have one lying around. You probably don't.

I got mine for 40 bucks at Circuit City. I've been looking around online, and that was a really good deal. You can use any kind of gyro mouse, but it needs to be able to do these things:
Pointer is based on tilting and rotating, not actually pointing at the screen. AKA no sensor bars or things like that.
It needs to be wireless.

If you don't have one try to find one here.

If you can't find one, this instructable will be impossible.

STEP 2: The Camcorder

For this, I used an old Sony Handicam. You can use another kind, but make sure:

It has a viewfinder
It has video IN
It's not crazy heavy. You need to be able to hold it.

STEP 3: Putting It Together

Your gyro mouse should have a button on it that turns it on. You need to hold this down to be able to actually use it. This way, the battery doesn't die as fast. On mine, double clicking the button will make it stay on, but that wasn't working so I duct taped it.
Then, duct tape the mouse right side up on the camcorder. Make sure it doesn't fall off.
If you have trouble pressing the mouse buttons, duct tape another mouse in a better area on the camera.
Connect the camera to the computer with an S-Video cable or RCA cables, or whatever you have on your computer. (If you have nothing, put everything away, because you can't go any further.)

STEP 4: Using It in a Game

Now the fun part. Actually using it.

In the game (Which should be a first person shooter. I can't imagine why you'd want to use it for anything else) you need to mess with the settings to your liking. I like having to actually turn my head 180 degrees to look behind me, but if you don't, that's okay. If there's a setting for mouse sensitivity, change it. For more lifelike movement, make it less sensitive. For lazy movement, more.

If the pointer isn't right (Like, you're looking up in real life, but the game is looking foward) take the duct tape off the activation button on the mouse, center the camera, and put it back on.

Making it better. (Yes that's right, it can get even better!)
I know this setup is okay, but it's hard to control because you still need to use the keyboard. If you have a wireless keyboard, try that. I don't have one, so I can't.
Also, actually using video glasses would be awesome, but those are expensive.
My viewfinder is black and white. Color would be much better.

Maybe someday I'll upload a video of it's awesomeness.

37 Comments

mistercrazy 14 years ago

 That's kinda.... PRIMITIVE?
just go get a G sensor..

mdgnys 14 years ago

 Circuit City Is gooooonnneeee!!!!  Aint that a magic trick!!

AT 14 years ago

Nice............

sjoobbani 14 years ago

ok, so I've got the gyration-mouse, I've got the other mouse, and I've got a camera, I've got the  Panasonic PV-GS2000
I have an S-VIDEO cable, and a svideo input/output on the camera, that's exactly what it says on it, but when I plug the cables in @ both ends, the computer doesn't recognize, so I fool around with it, and it recognizes, so I put it so it sends the comp image to the camera, but the camera doesn't display, i've gone into menu briefly, and couldn't find anything. Please help.

sjoobbani 14 years ago

 I have a trigger mouse, where its for presentation, wit the trackball on top, and the left click is a trigger, so I might use that for the trigger of the gun, and then I'm going to secure the trackball so It doesn't move.
also
where can I get a cheap gyro-mouse, cause I'm on a super cheap budget.

zimmemic25 15 years ago

whats that game called, what the video shows us on the left part of the screen? is it free? if yes, where can i download it? if not, where can i buy it?

Super Cameraman 15 years ago

It's Tribes 2. I think it was free at some point, but I don't know where. I bought it years ago. You can probably buy it now for around 10 dollars or less. I heard that the company had it as a free download once, but I don't know. Google it.

sypher 15 years ago

they are making something like this for the wii, if I am not mistaken a silent scope game

Super Cameraman 15 years ago

That would be really cool! I've played the arcade game many times, it's a lot of fun with that scope added on.

Ph3nomin0n 15 years ago

This is awesome man, just one question? Why hasn't this been featured!!

JohnnyMelo 15 years ago

Here I was wondering... What about getting a small lcd and making a gun mount with reflex sight that u put the lcd in it like a view finder, then mounting the giro mouse so that u can fire using de real fire button on the gun?? that would trully be awsome;) playng cod4 with that??:P I imagine myself it movement sensors just running arround the house with the laptop on my back xD

FrenchCrawler 16 years ago

Now to mass produce these for Halo 3.... though they need to be head mounted. I was thinking of doing something similar to this using glasses like these though I'd bargain hunt to spend less money :P

zachninme 16 years ago

Ironically, all we need is for Microsoft to release Halo 3 to the Wii (or Playstation 3) , but thats never ever ever gonna happen. Then just strap on those glasses, and a Wiimote to your head and away you go! (It would also be cool to use 3 wiimotes, 1 for your head, and 1 per hand ;-) Get working on that WiLii people for the PC version!)

Super Cameraman 16 years ago

I problem with that is that you need a game that needs three mice! I would love to have one on the head for moving the camera, and one on a gun for aiming a gun, but the game can only use one.

zachninme 16 years ago

Not necessarily. You could map "Wiimote #2 Up" to "a" or any other key , for that matter. Heck, you could probably do some cool things with 4 wiimotes and their numchuck counterparts + TV goggles ;-)

Super Cameraman 16 years ago

How would you hold 4 wiimotes and 4 nunchucks!?
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