Posted on Monday, January 05 2015 @ 13:58 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
A couple of days ago SteelSeries introduced Sentry, an $199.99 (199.99EUR) eye tracking system for gamers that promises to deliver new ways to connect with views and improve the community experience. While it may offer some advantages for regular gamers, it seems this device is primarily intended for streamers and pro gamers.
For the first time ever, SteelSeries will bring the excitement of their CES experience to fans around the world via Twitch, the leading video platform for gamers. At this groundbreaking event, popular streamer personalities will show their global audiences the impact that the SteelSeries Sentry eye tracker can have on viewers with games like Counter-Strike: GO, DOTA 2, League of Legends, and more.
“Today, with our Sentry Eye Tracker, we are announcing an entirely new way for streamers and viewers to see the game,” Ehtisham Rabbani, SteelSeries CEO. “This is just the tip of the innovation iceberg for Sentry, and we could not be more excited to realize all the possibilities that emerge when your game knows where your eyes are looking.”
“Eye tracking also provides an entirely new way for streamers and eSports competitors to entertain their audiences and use their eye tracking data to train and enhance their gaming strategy, said Oscar Werner, president of Tobii Technology. “We are thrilled to partner with SteelSeries to realize the impact our eye tracking technology can have across different audiences throughout the video game industry.”
The Future of Streaming
Powered by Tobii, the global leader in eye tracking, the Sentry delivers a new way for audiences to see the game exactly as the streamer sees it — literally through the streamer’s eyes. By tracking eye movement, in real time and overlaying that directly onto the real-time screen, the streaming gamer can show viewers where the he or she is looking at all times. It brings an entirely new dimension to the viewer experience, and the relationships streamers are able to build with their viewers.
The Impact on eSports and Games
The Sentry also brings emerging professional-level players an entirely new way to train for competitive gaming, by allowing the player to analyze a wide range of statistics based on where and how long he focused, or fixated, on different parts of the screen during gameplay.
In order to provide gamers with a standard for their eye-tracking stats, SteelSeries is working with some of the world’s top-performing professional gamers to establish peak performance goals. Through these benchmark comparisons, average competitive gamers will be able to gain deeper insight into how to use their eyes to improve their game.
Eye tracking technology also has the capability to enhance gameplay by using eye movement as a new type of in-game control. SteelSeries and Tobii Technology are working together with game developers to offer this functionality in the future.
Beginning today, the SteelSeries Sentry Eye Tracker is available for $199.99 / €199.99 at http://steelseries.com/sentry. To check out the ‘Future of Streaming’ event live in Las Vegas throughout the weekend and more please visit http://steelseries.com/seethefuture!
