Eball sports simulator goes mobile and inflatable

You may recall our enthusiasm last year when we reported on eballgames and its development of an interface between a real ball and ball games – think of it as a CHI (Computer Human Interface) for any real world ball game and you’re close. Motion and speed sensors take your kick, throw or golf swing and play out the results on the big screen, for better or worse. The crowd will roar or express their disappointment, and the commentator gives you a pat on the back or a serve for missing. The ball goes into a net and is ready for the next player to have a go. It's simple, quick fun and it continually breaks records for drawing crowds wherever it is installed. Now the company has taken its VR sports simulator and developed it into a number of inflatable structures so the promotional killer-app can be quickly set up anywhere, indoors or outdoors. Eballgames is already working on many different sports and is keen to discuss development opportunities with interested parties. We see it as the ultimate Wii peripheral for kids that want to play ball games. Indeed, there’s plenty of opportunity for the development of remedial and skills development games using this technology.

The Eball mobile sports simulator lets you recreate famous moments in ball sports and experience the thrill of lining up to kick the winning goal. Eball Games has recently released the portable version of this great video game attraction, and it's been a real hit outside major Aussie sporting events.

The Eball sports simulator is a virtual reality video game that can be adapted to pretty much any ball sport with a few software tweaks. Players line up and get into the action at a critical point - say, lining up to kick for the winning goal after the siren, teeing off against Tiger Woods, kicking a penalty around a wall of defenders, or pitching the vital ball at the bottom of the ninth. You test your skill using a real ball.

Motion and speed sensors take your kick, throw or golf swing and play out the results on the big screen, for better or worse. The crowd will roar or express their disappointment, and the commentator gives you a pat on the back or a serve for missing. The ball goes into a net and is ready for the next player to have a go. It's simple, quick fun and it certainly draws the crowds.

Now that the technology has been made easily portable with a 7x5 metre, 3 metre high inflatable housing that can be loaded through standard doors and set up in any large-ish room, the Eball is starting to pop up at major sporting events around its home country Australia. It's been a very popular attraction outside Aussie Rules Football, Soccer and Golf events, and Eball Sports are looking to expand its capabilities to support more international sports and move overseas.

Nice 3D graphics, a growing range of supported sports, fun gameplay, big-event portability... We can see the Eball Sports Simulator going a long way.