Novint Falcon Game Controller (White)

by Novint Technologies

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 9 inches ; 14 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000UTH19Y
• Item model number: NF1-L01-004
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #32 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Game Hardware > PC Game Hardware > Controllers > Joysticks
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 6, 2007

Product Description

The Novint Falcon lets you control a game in three dimensions and also lets you feel high-fidelity three-dimensional force feedback. The Falcon controller moves right and left forwards and backwards like a mouse but also moves up and down.You feel texture shape weight dimension and dynamics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Blowing!, January 1, 2008

By 

P. Adams - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Novint Falcon Game Controller (White) (Personal Computers)

First off, this thing is NOT a Wii type controller. What it is, is something completely new with enormous potential. The company is still in it's early stages in terms of games and "grips". The grip is the ball at the end of the 3 arms. There's a lot of development going on right now with creating new grips that are more ergonomic and useful, and there are about 40 games in development too (some of which look to be AWESOME btw).
The device does come with some mini games bundled, some are good, some aren't so good but really show off the Falcon's potential. My favorite is the snowboarding, the feedback and the gameplay in this one are awesome.
It comes with a tutorial, which will leave you giggling and your jaw on the floor. One part of the tutorial has a globe in the middle of the screen; you have a hand that you control with the Falcon and the Falcon won't move when the on-screen hand comes in contact with the edge of the globe. You can feel the contour of the globe, in THREE dimensions! The globe demo has about 8 or 9 different "textures"; one is "bumpy" where you can feel the hand bouncing over the bumps as you run it along the globe, another is "molasses" where you can put the hand through it and you feel the give...and it pops out the other end. Another is "magnetic", where you get your hand close to the globe and it pulls you toward it. It's completely realistic, you will NOT believe it until you try it. It also has a few other tutorials, like catching a baseball where you feel the ball from whichever direction you catch it from; swinging a ball around on a rubber band, the ball's momentum swings you around as it goes; and a slingshot where you feel the give as you pull it back.
One thing I was worried about when I saw a picture of this online was that it didn't look like it would hold up. There are motors in this thing, and most motors in electronic devices don't hold up very long. But, I gotta say, I'm impressed. This device is VERY sturdy. It looks cheesy, but the thing weighs about 30 pounds. It's built to last, don't worry about that.
PLUS, the customer service seems to be top of the heap. I had one minor problem with a game not working, and the CS rep asked to call ME to resolve the issue. Not only that, but the CEO of the company makes it a point to answer any question asked on the official Novint BBS.
Only a few gripes. First, the controller takes up a lot of space. It also needs more games and a better grip, but these ARE in development, so I'm excited to see how it plays out. There's a mod for Half Life 2, if you have this game; I don't, but heard it's amazing with the Falcon. The base is also a little bit of a concern because the Falcon can move due to the strength of the internal motors; again they're working on new bases to attach to the Falcon. The only other gripe, is that the games are download only; games have to be programmed to work with the Falcon due to it's revolutionary capabilities. Another thing that's in development now is a mod to use the Falcon as a mouse, so you could use it with anything that you would use a mouse for. Check out this device, you won't be sorry!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Play an FPS without a Mouse!, January 14, 2008

By 

J. Schoen "ka_tet19" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Novint Falcon Game Controller (White) (Personal Computers)

The FPS genre has been using essentially the same controls since the start. Flying games, driving games and so on have adapted and allowed gamers to approach an otherwise typical driving or flying game with new immersion with the advent of steering wheels and joysticks. After having played the Falcon with Half-Life 2 (called Haptics-Life 2, a mod of HL2) I truly feel that the FPS genre has found a legitament contender to replace the mouse. The force feedback his astounding. The first time you feel the recoil of your gun, or trying to drag a heavy object with the gravity gun just forces this big grin on your face. The overall feel is sturdy and durable, this baby weighs a solid 14 pounds. The foot print is approx. the same size you need for a mouse pad, so it fits perfectly where your mouse did. A great product that just needs some more games supported by it (there is a growing list of good games, and big announcements in the future are coming!)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product, can't wait for additional games and support, January 15, 2008

By 

Ryan "H2O Rip" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Novint Falcon Game Controller (White) (Personal Computers)

The device itself is incredibly well designed, that much is clear from the first time you get to use it. It works beautifully, and while it takes a little bit of getting used to, its really changes the experience of any game you can use it in. The downsides currently - obviously its a pricy product for the current uses, tack on the cost of several new games and enthusiasts are the most likely to buy. Also its still in the early stages of game development support, but the Novint team does actively involve themselves and the community in their work, so its good to know progress is continually being made. I definitely enjoy mine, and have a blast showing it to family, friends - anyone really.