Razer(TM) and Sixense(TM) Collaborate to Bring Motion Sensing Controls to PC Gaming

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Electronics Show -- Razer(TM), the world's leading brand in gaming hardware, announced today a co-development partnership with Sixense Entertainment to develop a revolutionary true-to-life, next-generation motion sensing and gesture recognition controller for PC gaming.

"Razer is extending its vision for PC gaming by partnering with Sixense on this exciting new endeavor," said Robert "Razerguy" Krakoff, president, Razer USA. "The magnetic motion sensor technology combines precision and speed with the freedom of other motion sensing technologies to fill the gap between consoles and PC in terms of human interface devices."

Marking the next step in user interface technologies for gaming on the PC, Razer and Sixense scientists and engineers along with select PC OEM partners have been working on ultra-precise one-to-one motion sensing controllers that use electromagnetic fields to track precise movements along all six axes for use in current and future generation PC games. The absolute controller position is tracked to within a mere millimeter for positioning and to a degree for orientation.

The multi-year technology partnership between the companies have been in the works at Razer's design innovation centers in San Francisco as well as in Singapore, where Razer recently announced a US $20M investment in the Razer-MDA IDM Lab for the research into next generation user interfaces for gaming.

"We are really excited to be working with Razer to bring motion gaming to the PC world. This technology collaboration will allow PC gamers to experience true-to-life gaming in a different dimension," said Avi Arad, chairman and cofounder, Sixense. "This is a strong partnership that will not only enhance the entire gaming experience, but will truly revolutionize how games are played on the PC."

Working together with Valve, Razer and Sixense will be presenting a first glance into the future of PC Gaming with Left 4 Dead 2, a co-op team based tactical FPS game that is available on the Steam network, with a technology demonstration of what is slated as the first true one-to-one motion sensing and gesture recognition platform for the PC, which adds a totally new dimension to the Left 4 Dead 2 experience. Technology demonstrations with prototype motion sensing controllers will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 4, Meeting Room #S215. Products utilizing the motion sensing technology showcased at CES will be launched later in 2010.

"With this controller, Razer and Sixense have created the most immersive way to play our games," said Chet Faliszek, team lead on Valve's recent best-seller Left 4 Dead 2. "For us and for our customers, this release represents motion-enabled gaming that's more integrated and visceral than any platform has so far achieved."

Game developers and independent software vendors who are interested in porting their current games or developing future games based on the new Razer/Sixense motion sensing platform are advised to write to [email protected]. Currently the SDK is available on Steam(TM) and will be updated as new content becomes available.

About the Razer Group:

Razer(TM) is the world's leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming products and peripherals that are designed "For Gamers. By Gamers(TM)". Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Razer's award-winning lineup of products includes desktop speakers, headsets, keyboards, mice, software, and gaming surfaces. Since 1998, Razer has collaborated with leading professional gamers to develop, manufacture and market cutting-edge gaming peripherals using proprietary technologies that give gamers the competitive edge. Razer products offer the best in precision, sensitivity, usability and distinctive product design and have a reputation for being leaders in gaming peripheral technology.

For more information, please visit www.razerzone.com.

About Sixense(TM) Entertainment:

Sixense Entertainment is a Los Gatos, CA 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.

For more information, please visit www.sixense.com.

About Valve®:

Valve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Bellevue, Washington. Valve's portfolio of entertainment titles also includes Half-Life® 2, Counter-Strike®, Day of Defeat®, Left 4 Dead®, Team Fortress®, and Portal(TM). This portfolio of titles accounts for over 30 million retail units sold worldwide, and Valve games account for over 80% of the PC online action market. In addition to producing best selling entertainment titles, Valve is a developer of leading-edge technologies including the Source® game engine and Steam®, a leading platform for digital content with over 10 million registered users.

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