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Razer Hydra motion controller gets summer release, Portal 2 bundle

brian heater
Updated ·7 min read

Remember the Razer Hydra controller that let you materialize portals with a real electromagnetic orb? Those motion sensing sticks will be available for pre-order in May and will go on sale in June, two months after this week's release of Portal 2, the game it was first demoed with. However, Razer'll still charge you for a copy of the murderous robot game if you want the fancy gizmo, as it's pricing the bundle at $140 -- understandably more expensive that the "below $100" price that it was targeting for the controller alone. Two months is a pretty long time to wait to play the already-available title, and Razer isn't offering any info on a standalone version of the Sixense-based magnetic peripheral. On the upside, though, Joystiq got its hands on a list of compatible titles, which includes 122 games on top of the aforementioned sequel. That list and the official press release after the break.

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THANKS TO THE RAZER HYDRA, NOW YOU'RE THINKING WITH MOTION-CONTROL

Razer unleashes the Razer Hydra motion sensing controllers, available standalone or bundled exclusively with Valve's Portal 2

Carlsbad, Calif. – April 21st, 2011 – Razer, the world's leading high-end precision gaming brand announces the Razer Hydra, the world's first gaming-grade motion sensing controllers powered by Sixense, built to draw you deeper into your PC games.

Razer worked closely with Valve and Sixense to create exclusive Portal 2 content to showcase the power of the Razer Hydra in enhancing game immersion. Portal 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to 2007's game of the year. The full version of the game plus the exclusive Portal 2 content will be available in a special edition bundle with the Razer Hydra.

"The Razer Hydra is a significant step forward for the PC gaming industry because it not only affords an almost-physical experience for gamers, but also presents developers an opportunity to innovate and significantly push the boundaries on new forms of gameplay and entertainment," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve.

The Razer Hydra lets you extend your natural body motion directly into your PC games. With Portal 2, this means a breathtaking new way to play when you can intuitively reach out, interact with physics puzzles, shoot portals and leap across wide chasms in complete three dimensions. With Razer's trademark ultra-low latency and highly precise one-to-one tracking to the exact millimeter and degree, experience maximum portal testing immersion.

"We are excited to finally bring full motion control to the PC," said Min-Liang Tan, CEO and Creative Director, Razer. "Gamers will be blown away by the pinpoint tracking precision that mirrors every move in-game. They'll also enjoy the exclusive new Portal 2 content created specifically for the Razer Hydra, giving them more bang for their buck."

On top of Portal 2, the Razer Hydra is optimized with over 125 popular PC games out of the box, including titles like Left 4 Dead 2 and World of Goo. Gamers no longer have to wait for scarce motion-compatible games. With the future possibility for more downloadable game configurations and the ability to self-configure motion mapping to your specifications, the Razer Hydra plays virtually every game.

"By working with Razer and Valve, we have established the PC as the best platform for motion gaming," says Amir Rubin, CEO, Sixense. "We developed and optimized 6 Sixense TrueMotion levels for Portal 2 to allow gamers to fully experience the possibilities of motion gaming. Definitely an exciting time to be a PC gamer."

About the Razer Hydra Motion Sensing Controllers
Razer Hydra Motion Sensing Controllers

The Razer Hydra is the first gaming-grade motion sensing controllers to bring a whole new dimension of gameplay and immersion to the PC. With compatibility for over 125 games out of the box, and future support for gamers to self-configure controls for any PC game, the entertainment possibilities are virtually endless. Built to deliver location-orientation tracking exact to the millimeter and degree, along with Razer's trademark ultra-low latency, the precision and speed of the Razer Hydra is unrivalled among its kind.

About the Razer Hydra and Portal 2 Bundle

The Razer Hydra is the first gaming-grade motion sensing controllers to bring a whole new dimension of gameplay and immersion to Portal 2. Shoot portals, throw the Weighted Companion Cube, and avoid death traps as easily and intuitively as eating cake. The Razer Hydra is bundled exclusively with the game and comes with six additional levels specifically designed for more portal testing fun with motion control.

Price:
Razer Hydra and Portal 2 bundle: US$139.99 / EU€139.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com, North America, South America, Europe and most countries in Asia.
Steam support required for Portal 2.
Pre-orders start May 2011.
Razer Hydra to ship in June 2011.

Product features:

(Per controller, 2 included in each Hydra set)

* Thumb-ergonomic analog stick for fluid control
* 4 Hyperesponse action buttons
* Rapid-fire trigger and bumper for faster in-game response
* Non-slip satin grip surface
* True six degree-of-freedom magnetic motion tracking
* Lightweight, anti-tangle braided cable



(Base station)

* Low-power magnetic field, low power consumption
* Ultra precise sensor for 1mm and 1 degree tracking
* No line of sight to controllers required
* Low latency feedback

1. A Reckless Disregard for Gravity
2. Alien Swarm
3. Altitude
4. Amnesia
5. And Yet It Moves
6. Assassin's Creed 2
7. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
8. Audiosurf
9. Batman Arkham Asylum
10. Battlefield Bad Company 2
11. Beat Hazard
12. Beyond Good and Evil
13. Bioshock
14. Bioshock 2
15. Bit Trip Runner
16. Borderlands
17. Braid
18. Bulletstorm
19. Chains
20. Chime
21. Civilization 4
22. Civilization 5
23. COD: Black Ops
24. COD: Modern Warfare
25. COD: Modern Warfare 2
26. COD: World at War
27. Cogs
28. Company of Heroes
29. Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
30. Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor
31. Crysis 2
32. Darksiders
33. DeathSpank
34. Defense Grid
35. Deus EX
36. Deus EX: Invisible War
37. Dog Fighter
38. Doom 3
39. Eversion
40. Fallout 3
41. Fallout 3: New Vegas
42. Galcon Fusion
43. Grand Theft Auto 3
44. Grand Theft Auto 4
45. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
46. Half Life 2
47. Half-Life
48. Hitman
49. Hitman 2
50. Hoard
51. Just Cause 2
52. Kane & Lynch
53. Kane & Lynch 2
54. Killing Floor
55. Larva Mortus
56. Left 4 Dead
57. Left 4 Dead 2
58. Lego Starwars 3: The Clone Wars
59. Lego: Batman
60. Lego: Harry Potter
61. Lego: Indiana Jones
62. Lego: Star Wars
63. Lucidity
64. Machinarium
65. Magicka
66. Mass Effect
67. Mass Effect 2
68. Max Payne
69. Max Payne 2
70. Metro 2033
71. Mirror's Edge
72. Monday Night Combat
73. Mount & Blade
74. Mount & Blade: Warband
75. Oblivion
76. Obulis
77. Oddworld: Abe's Exodus
78. Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
79. Osmos
80. Painkiller
81. Painkiller: OVERDOSE
82. Peggle
83. Plain Sight
84. Plants vs Zombies
85. Poker Night at the Inventory
86. Portal
87. Psychonauts
88. Quantz
89. Red Faction 2
90. Red Faction: Guerrilla
91. Resident Evil 5
92. Return to Castle Wolfenstein
93. Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
94. Rush
95. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
96. Sam and Max 101
97. Serious Sam HD
98. Shadowgrounds
99. Shadowgrounds: Survivor
100. Shatter
101. Sims 3
102. Singularity
103. Splinter Cell: Conviction
104. Super Laser Racer
105. Super Meat Boy
106. Swarm Arena
107. Team Fortress 2
108. The Ball
109. The Void
110. The Wonderful End of the World
111. Titan Quest
112. Titan Quest: Immortal Throne
113. Toki Tori
114. Torchlight
115. Trials 2
116. Trine
117. Warhammer 40,000
118. Windosill
119. World of Goo
120. Worms Reloaded
121. Yosumin!
122. Zeno Clash