We're all used to controlling games with our fingers and hands, but what about controlling games with our feet? That's the premise behind Stelulu Technologies' latest product, the Stinky Footboard.
The Stinky Footboard was created with the idea of increasing players' speed in real-time strategy (RTS), first-person shooter (FPS), MMO and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) titles by giving them the option of activating specific triggers and actions using their feet, rather than their hands. This, in theory, frees the player's fingers to control other actions at the exact same time, saving time and improving their performance.
For instance, by using the Footboard to throw grenades or change weapons in an FPS, players can constantly keep their fingers on the WASD keys, never being forced to actually stand still as they move their fingers to other keys.
Stelulu looked to the public for support of the Stinky Footboard, launching a Kickstarter campaign for $75,000 that ended successfully at over $79,000 in total pledges. Now, the peripheral is headed into production, set for a launch later this year.
"To be honest, we weren't sure our Kickstarter would be successful. I mean, using your feet to control a computer sounds crazy the first time you hear it," says Stelulu Technologies Co-Founder and President Stephane Rivard. "We've been overwhelmed by the response from the gamer community and their support during our campaign."
The Stinky Footboard is being constructed out of heavy duty materials, including steel and aluminum, so that it can put up to the strain of heavy feet and the pounding actions that may result in heat-of-the-moment battles. With an ergonomic design, Stelulu hopes that gamers will feel comfortable using the device over long periods of time without fatigue.
Each of the Stinky Footboard's switches can be customized with soft, medium or hard springs, and can be adjusted by the player for their own desired level of responsiveness. Just like a gaming keyboard, the switches can also be assigned to different keystrokes, depending on the game that's being played.
The Stinky Footboard will launch on the market in June at a price of $119.