Kickstarter News: Sinister, and the future of gaming hardware

Evolution will create the next controller, but what will it be?

For the last decade there hasn't been a large jump in video game controller technology. Many of us either use the classic keyboard and mouse, or the more ergonomic console controller. There hasn't been a major evolution since the original XBOX and PS2. Even modern day PC controllers imitate console controllers since their inception. There have been attempts at left-handed gaming devices that allow for WASD and hotkey commands to be mapped to keys that conform to the palm while you play your favorite MMO/FPS but they haven't turned out to be all that popular, except with the most eccentric and hardcore of PC gamers.

This is just one of MANY configurations that are possible.

With stagnation and demand just waiting for the right tool, Tivitas Interactive, a hardware deveoloper in Canada, has decided to pounce. Right now there is a Kickstarter campaign funding a new technology called Sinister. It is a fully customizable left handed gaming device, that allows for seamless integration into your current setup. It has haptic feedback and is designed to evolve as new modules are created. So you can truly create your own experience, and then upgrade it as the company creates more modules for future games. I truly support this controller, as its the first gaming device that is designed to evolve as time wears on instead of forcing games to conform to a single standard.

Think about it, games releasing modules to be attached to your Sinister device so you can use their exclusive control to make the game more interactive. I'm not saying that Sinister is THE device that will change gaming, but it's a step in the right direction. No new technology has really captured the market, and had the opportunity to change the way we play.

The thing is, that visual information can only evolve a bit further and then we will have true-to-life resolutions and then where will we go? Hardware is where we turn to make the next big step. Virtual reality with the Oculus Rift, or possibly new input devices is where we turn to change the way we interact, and bring us closer to a visceral, tactile experience. Being interested in hobby electronics I'm truly excited for this technology, as hardware improvements have been slow over the career of gaming. 

The new age of gaming will truly depend on hardware choices, as software reaches it's peak. I want to be on the side of progress and evolution here, so I'll be supporting the Sinister gaming device as much as I can, if only a meager amount. Right now Sinister is only at about 10% of their goal, but they've still got a month to go -- it's not too much of a stretch to imagine them attaining their goal before that time.

What do you think will be the future of gaming? The Sinister or something like it? Or does the controller represent the ultimate in gaming interaction?