Over the past few months there has been quite a bit of hype about the 3^rd Space Gaming Vest, I’m sure you’ve read it all, but I haven’t seen a review yet… till now that is. I’ve got it, I’ve tested it, and to provide you with the best possible review of this product I took the 3^rd Space Vest to the Pittsburgh Cyberconxion LAN center to let actual gamers use it, and to get their honest reactions and opinions of this very cool gaming product.

Believe the hype folks, this is the real deal… everyone who tried this product absolutely loved it!

So, continue on to learn more about this great product, see the movies of gamers using it and check out a few interviews I did with a couple of them to get their reactions… oh and of course you’ll see all the cool pictures and get my opinions as well…

I did a bit of Googling and I believe this is the first official review of the 3^rd Space Gaming Vest! Check it out….

3^rd Space Gaming Vest -Full Review

Author: Kristofer Brozio

Sponsor: TNGames

With help from: Pittsburgh Cyberconxion

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:

3^rd Space Gaming Vest from TNGames

Video game characters live in a three-dimensional world, but gamers have only been able to experience two dimensions… until now. The 3rdSpace Vest from TN Games takes gameplay beyond sight and sound, creating spatial awareness of the world your characters inhabit. Unlike traditional force feedback devices that rumble or buzz, the 3rdSpace Vest gives you precise impact where it happens, as it happens. Get pounded with body slams, crushed with G-forces, and blasted with bullet fire.

TN Games computer hardware and software revolutionizes the way people play video games and redefines the concept of interactive entertainment. Get dialed in with the patented 3rdSpace technology.

For review today: FPS Vest/Game Bundle (black)

-also available in Camo style

Price: $189.00

This kit includes the FPS Vest and 3rd Space Incursion game for the PC. The FPS Vest is an impact-generating device designed to enable you to feel the game’s action for the ultimate gaming experience. It contains eight active zones that simulate the direction and forces of bullet fire, crushing explosions, and fear-inducing finger taps as they occur in the game. The FPS Vest is bundled with 3rd Space Incursion, a futuristic first person shooter game embedded with 3rd Space technology and developed to showcase the FPS Vest.

System includes FPS Gaming Vest, air compressor, USB cable, power supply and 3rd Space Incursion game disc.

Minimum System Requirements:

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP or higher

CPU Processor: Intel or AMD

CPU Speed: 1.0 GHz or Faster

Memory: 512 MB or higher

Video Card (ATI): Radeon 9600 or better

Video Card (NVidia): GeForce FX 5200 or better

Video Memory (VRam): 64 MB or higher

Multiplayer: Internet (TCP/IP) and LAN (TCP/IP) play supported. Internet play requires broadband connection.

Sizing: Use the sizing chart below to select your fit. The FPS Vest offers an ample range of adjustability so there is overlap between the two available sizes. If you are on the borderline between S/M and L/XL, get the S/M. The snugger the fit the better and more realistic the effects will feel.

Height Chest Size

S/M 4’10" to 5’11" 30" – 49"

L/XL 6’0" -UP 36" – UP

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Package Dimensions: 16.25" (W) x 12.5" (H) x 3.25" (D)

Package Weight: Approx. 5.5 lbs

*Game ESRB rating T for Teen.

* Shipping Weight: 7lbs

* Manufactured by: TNGames

A Better Look at Things

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The packaging for the 3^rd Space Vest is actually kind of plain, I expected something a bit more flashy actually… but then again, it’s what’s inside that counts right?

The front of the box has a picture of the vest, while the back has specs and more information about it.

Everything is packed tightly inside the box, with a separate compartment for the air compressor, USB cable, user manual and Incursion game disk.

Once unpacked we can get a good look at everything included, user manual, USB cable, power supply, game disc and the vest itself.

The compressor is small, one one side you’ll find the air outlet to plug the air hose into.

On the back is the on/off switch, power connection and an air inlet.

On the side you’ll find a small cooling fan, and the bottom has four feet and the identifying label.

The first thing I noticed about the 3^rd Space Gaming Vest is the excellent quality and construction of it, it’s very well made and it’s rather heavy. I can say it weighs about as much as a bulletproof vest actually, so it’s not lightweight by no means, but you’re sitting when using it so weight isn’t that much of an issue. (and yes I have had first hand experience with wearing a bulletproof vest so I can honestly compare the two)The air hose is permanently attached to the vest, I would have liked to see the hose removable for transportation purposes, and easily replaceable if need be. The hose itself is thick and rather stiff, it seems durable and tough so it should withstand a bit of abuse.

The vest is very similar to a tactical vest with several compression straps to allow for a perfect and comfortable fit. There are chest, abdomen and shoulder straps that can be adjusted for fit, and the zipper is high quality. The odd thing is that the zipper is backwards, it closes on the opposite side as you would normally find, it’s a bit disconcerting at first… Normally you’ll find the closure on the right side, but it’s on the left…

Installation, Testing and Comparison

As for installation, well you put it on! The vest needs to be tight to get the best performance and feeling from it, the first time I put it on it wasn’t that tight but you need to wear it as tight as is comfortable to really feel things.

Included of course was TNGames own Incursion FPS game, and I downloaded the mods for Doom3 and Quake4 as well to be used with the 3^rd Space Vest.

My impressions would be that it’s a great product that adds quite a bit to your games.

The compressor that’s used is a bit loud actually, but when you’re wearing headphones you don’t hear it so it’s not a real concern. Of course you can just stow the compressor under your desk to help muffle the sound as well.

One thing that bugged me, but can’t be helped, is the hose and USB cable aren’t quite long enough and they get tangled easily, again though this can’t be helped, hopefully with a new revision they will add longer cable and air hose.

Gaming with the 3^rd Space Vest is just wild, there are several air pouches located on the front and back of the vest that ‘explode’ when your a hit. I noticed also that depending on how you get hit in the game the vest reacts differently with the amount of pressure used. It doesn’t hurt you, it’s like someone is poking you. The first time I got hit in the back while playing DOOM3 it actually scared the hell out of me and I jumped a bit as I really wasn’t expecting it at all, but I soon realized that this can be a great asset in games as you’ll know when someone gets you from behind, you feel which direction the attack is coming from.

Getting shot with an automatic weapon is cool, the air pouches go off numerous times as the bullets hit you, of course I put Doom3 in ‘god mode’ and went around experiencing things with the vest. Everything that happens makes the vest react differently, an explosion will set off more than one air pouch so you really feel it, as opposed to getting shot where only one pouch will go off relative to where you got hit…

TNGames Incursion is not a bad games but kind of on the ‘cheap’ side, the graphics aren’t the best but the game is fun to play, after all it was made for the vest specifically. Playing Incursion you get the full effects of the vest like the recoil of a gun, you’ll feel it hit your shoulder, where as in Doom3 that didn’t happen. One thing that annoyed me about Incursion is that when you die you go all the way back to the beginning of the level and have to travel back to where you were when you died, very annoying and time consuming…

Well, I think it’s a great product that might be able to use a few small improvements, but I’m picky and I’m a reviewer, it’s my job to look at things critically….

On a side note, my wife, who doesn’t play games besides minesweeper and mahjong, thought the vest was really cool. My kids also think it’s one of the coolest products I’ve reviewed yet…

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…but as I mentioned I took the 3^rd Space Vest to the Pittsburgh Cyberconexion LAN center where I let ‘real’ gamers try it out and they all felt that this thing was just great… So, don’t take my word for it, continue on to see the videos of people playing with the 3^rd Space Vest and a few interviews after they were done playing…

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Movies, Real User Experiences:

Here’s a few still shots of some of the gamers using the vest:

These first three movies are the interviews to get reactions and opinions:

These next five movies are gamers using the vest, check out their reactions when they get hit for the first time…