Time for a quick check up on the world on STEM, the next-generation VR motion controller from Sixense. The company is running a Black Friday / holiday sale and recently showed their first mechanical prototype along with the system’s final color scheme.
Sixense STEM is the evolution of the highly regarded Razer Hydra motion controller. The STEM brings lower latency, larger tracking range, up to five tracking points, and wireless to the table. Sixense ran a highly successful Kickstarter for STEM which ended in early October and raised $604,978 (241% of its goal).
Sixense STEM Now Available for Pre-order and Black Friday Sale
Now that the Kickstarter is over, Sixense has made pre-orders of STEM available through their official store with prices a bit higher than the equivalent Kickstarter tiers. However, Sixense is getting the ball rolling with a Black Friday / holiday sale which offers 10% off any STEM package. This deal is good from November 29th through December 31st. Just use the code VRHOLIDAY2013 during checkout. Sixense expects STEM pre-orders to ship in July 2014.
New Color Scheme and Mechanical Prototype
We’ve seen STEM concept renders in white and black, but Sixense has now settled on a final color scheme which combines the two.
Previously Sixense has shown 3D printed models of STEM but they were only form-factor mockups with no working parts. Late last week the company showed a cutaway version of their first functional mechanical prototype of the controller where you can see the battery, charging and input circuitry, and the (impressively small) tracking board in the STEM module itself on the right):
We’re looking forward to getting our hands on STEM and its wireless five-tracker functionality! Stay tuned for more.
