EmailBest Reviewed
Game Controllers
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- Best motion-control controller NaturalPoint TrackIR 4 Pro *Est. $100
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Best motion-control controller
- Motion-sensitive
- Enhances game immersion
- Frees up other controllers for complex commands
- Easy installation
- Not compatible with all games
Although not all games are compatible with its motion-sensitive capabilities, reviewers consider the NaturalPoint TrackIR 4 Pro (*Est. $100) a must-have for total game immersion and realism. The TrackIR is essentially two devices -- an infrared device that you connect to an earpiece or hat and a sensor you set above your television or monitor -- that together sense the movement of your head, allowing you to swivel, zoom, change views and perform a number of other functions through natural head motions. This capability frees up buttons on a gamer's other controllers for quickly swapping or reloading weapons or locking in on an enemy target. Most of all, it creates a newfound depth of game immersion. Reviewers also like how easy the TrackIR is to install and use.
The most in-depth review of the NaturalPoint TrackIR 4 Pro comes from FileFactory Games, which provides multiple pages of extremely detailed unpacking, installation and testing analysis. DriverHeaven.net and HubPages.com complement this review with generally glowing perspectives. Amazon.com does not have many reviews currently, but all are overwhelmingly positive.
Our Sources
This site seems to save its reviews for the best of the best, as nearly every device receives a high score. Spanning five pages and including a detailed discussion of hands-on testing, its review of the NaturalPoint TrackIR 4 Pro is the most comprehensive available.
Review: TrackIR 4 Pro, James Nonamaker, Aug. 3, 2006
DriverHeaven.net provides detailed reviews of several game controllers that mainstream sites have yet to cover, including the Natural Point TrackIR 4 Pro, which receives a fairly detailed, tested-based review, a number of helpful pictures, and an Editors' Choice award.
Review: Track IR, Arush Kochhar
3. HubPages.com
This overview of flight simulation controllers is good for a broad introduction to the best peripherals, but it is not based on testing or critical comparisons. The author is particularly excited about the Natural Point TrackIR 4 Pro, calling it the "biggest single innovation in simulation technology this decade."
Review: Flight Simulator Controls, "ojkershaw", Feb. 2008
4. Amazon.com
Most of the reviews of the Natural Point TrackIR 4 Pro are generally positive; complaints are generally about set-up and tech support, but most users are blown away.
Review: TrackIR 4 Pro Ultra by NaturalPoint, Contributors to Amazon.com
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