Skip to main content

Kor-FX Haptic Vest: Our first take

Kor-FX's haptic feedback vest will make you quiver, not quake

Kor-Fx’s vest is a rumble pack for VR, but it’s not for everybody

Treadmills, motion controllers, force feedback –  there are a lot of ways to bring more than just your audio and visual senses into play when it comes to gaming, and there’s no shortage of brands trying to do so.

The Kor-FX haptic vest places a series of specially tuned speakers at strategic points over your chest, so you can really feel the game you’re in to your very core. Kor-FX has been around the block already, with a successful Kickstarter campaign in June of 2014, and a loyal community of owners and optimizers.

It’s hard to say whether there’s mainstream appeal for such a device, but virtual reality has shown there’s no shortage of enthusiasts willing to throw down for fun new toys.

How does it work?

Though it’s a vest, the Kor-FX is basically an audio device. It replicates a specific set of frequencies in game and movie audio, which are translated to the vest’s vibrations, before passing the audio off to your headphones or speakers.

Shooting a gun is sure to cause it to shake, but getting hit might not always cause a loud enough noise to register.

The best part of this arrangement is that the Kor-FX requires no software, and very little setup. Simply plug the adapter box into an audio port on your system, and connect the USB port for power. Connect your headphones to the other side of the adapter box, and you’re ready to go.

The downside is the Kor-FX can’t always respond to specific events as it should. Shooting a gun is sure to cause it to shake, but getting hit might not always cause a loud enough noise to register. That’s why game choice is important when considering the Kor-FX.

For best results, turn it up

The Kor-FX is most effective in games with a lot of loud audio. The over-the-top weaponry and heavy soundtrack in Gears of War 4 made a great example for showing off the vest. As the ground shook from the violent windstorms, and pieces of buildings came crashing down, they were accentuated by a rumbling to the chest.

That said, the Kor-FX isn’t a game-changing experience, even in the best of situations. It’s more effective at adding immersion than a rumble pack, but reactions in the office were mixed. Some users said the vest didn’t do much for them in terms of immersiveness or long-term appeal, while others felt it added an audio element that wasn’t there before, like the shaking you feel at a live concert.

It’s particularly ineffective in games without dramatic explosions and gunfire. If you’re playing Hearthstone or Minecraft, you might as well leave it on the shelf. That’s to be expected, and there are other peripherals, like high-end gaming headphones or a high-resolution screen, that won’t be used to their full potential all the time.

The VR difference

The Kor-FX shines when paired up with a virtual reality headset. In a field where immersion is the name of the game, anything that brings you closer to the action is worth its weight in gold.

We also observed a similar effect to what we felt with Adr1ft for the Oculus Rift. The fact the in-game character is wearing a helmet helps the headset feel more natural — you’re in space, so of course you’re wearing a spacesuit. The same is true in racing games with the Kor-FX. Because you’d be strapped in with a heavy seatbelt, the extra padding on your chest and shoulders feels more natural.

On the other hand, it doesn’t feel as natural in games like Hover Junkers, where you’re moving quickly and dodging often. Combined with a headset, motion controllers, and headphones, and it starts to feel like you’re carrying around a lot of stuff while you play – because you are.

Something new

There’s a lot to like about the Kor-FX, but its appeal has limits. It’s only a solid offering for those who play loud games – racing simulators, over-the-top shooters, and confrontational action games. If you’re more of a MOBA fan, or you mostly play quieter, more subdued games, the Kor-FX isn’t nearly as impactful.

The good news is that Kor-FX isn’t done, and work has begun on a new vest that will improve on the current model’s functionality. It’s still in the very early development phases, but the second iteration of the haptic vest will build on critical user feedback, and target second-generation virtual reality headsets that are no doubt coming down the pipeline later next year.

For now, the Kor-FX remains a fun addition for the enthusiast who already has a full virtual reality setup, or a full racing wheel and pedals. That’s a great position to be in as virtual reality begins to take on the mainstream.

Highs

  • Uniquely immersive
  • Comfortable, lightweight fit
  • SteamVR support
  • Easy setup

Lows

  • Works best in loud games
  • Mixed reactions
Kevin Wellard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I, Robot.
All new weapons in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty DLC
Two gangsters looking at a row of guns on the floor.

CD Projekt Red is known for adding tons of content any time it releases an expansion to one of its games, and Phantom Liberty is certainly no exception. The biggest addition is obviously the entire new zone called Dogtown and the storyline it contains, but there are plenty of other additions that add even more reasons to take a trip back to Night City. Aside from the new Relic skill tree to experiment with, there are a handful of new guns you can get your hands on and test out against the improved enemy AI. These new guns are mixed in with all the rest, so if you're jumping back into the game after a while, you might not recognize them. Here are all the new weapons introduced in the Phantom Liberty expansion.
Every new gun in Phantom Liberty
Grit - Auto Pistol
Looking like a smaller, yellow UZi, the Grit is a rapid-firing pistol with a huge clip.
Hercules - Special
The only special weapon introduced is the Hercules. Considering special weapons are always a treat to find, we'll leave this gun's function a secret for you to discover yourself.
Order - Shotgun
Looking like a Frankenstein's monster of a shotgun, the Order is an illegal double barrel that doesn't play around.
Osprey - Sniper
This sniper comes with a massive clip and bulky design that indicates just how much punch each shot will pack.
Rasetsu - Sniper
A more sleek sniper, the Rasetsu also can use a mounting attachment to pull off tough shots.
Thermal Katana - Melee
While you can't get a lightsaber in Phantom Liberty, this burning blade is the second-best thing.
Warden - SMG
Like the big brother of the Grit, this yellow SMG is also illegal and built for an insane rate of fire.

Read more
The best P Organ abilities in Lies of P
Lies of P customization

The jokes just write themselves with Lies of P and its choice to include P Organ abilities. The game almost avoided any further snickering past its odd title by sticking to mostly normal names for things like weapons and Legion Arms, but just couldn't resist in this one area it seems. Putting the name aside, this is a mostly familiar skill tree system that you can slot Quartz into and unlock new abilities for your puppet character. The further down the tree you go, the more Quartz you will need to unlock said skill, so it pays to plan ahead on what skills you want to invest in. Here are the best P Organ abilities you should invest in in Lies of P.
Best P Organ abilities

P Organ abilities are separated into different categories, which we will note next to the skill name so you know where to locate them, as well as in different phases that must be unlocked by investing Quarts into enough synergies in any category. You can also only have one ability from each type equipped from the same phase, so you do need to do some planning based on which skills you want from which phase.
Increased Pulse Cells - Survival
If you don't automatically pick this ability first, you're either purposefully making the game harder on yourself or have made a dire mistake. Pulse Cells are your healing items in Lies of P, and it goes without saying that even getting one additional heal can mean the difference between just barely beating a boss and being sent back to the last checkpoint. If you invest further into this P Organ you can get up to three additional Pulse Cells.
Increase Staggered Duration- Attack
The stagger gauge is another system that will be familiar to fans of Soulslikes where, by breaking an enemy's stagger, you can leave them vulnerable to a powerful critical strike. Enemies won't stay staggered forever, though, so you can miss your chance for free damage if you're not quick enough. This skill gives you a few extra moments to realize what's going on and press your advantage, especially against challenging bosses.
Enhance Fatal Attack ATK - Attack
Pairing perfectly with the previous ability, this skill makes that critical hit you can pull off on a staggered enemy deal a huge chunk of damage to really make that moment count.
Enhance Pulse Cell Recovery - Survival
While not quite as immediately necessary as getting more Pulse Cells, eventually you will level up and notice a single heal won't bring you back to full. This skill makes your Pulse Cells restore more of your HP to keep you as healthy as possible. This can also be upgraded in the same way as Increased Pulse Cells.
Quick Cube Activation - Ability
Your Cube is what you slot your Wishstones into in order to activate them, but it isn't applied instantly. Odds are you will want to pull these buffs out in critical moments, and this simply speeds up the animation so you won't get caught unprepared. Considering each Wistone costs you Gold Coin Fruit, having them go to waste can be a major setback.

Read more
Take a break from September’s loudest games with this cat-filled indie charmer
Villagers fish on a pier in Mineko's Night Market.

September has been a high-octane month for video games. We got a loud multiplayer shooter in Payday 3, a tense spy thriller in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and a whole lot of gore courtesy of Mortal Kombat 1. Doesn’t all that just make you want to chill out a little? I can only take so much blood and noise before curling up on the couch with my cat and smoothing my brain over with something a little gentler.

Fortunately, September is ending with a perfect chaser. Mineko’s Night Market, the latest title from publisher Humble Games, is a laid-back adventure filled with crafting, cats, and commerce. It’s a cozy social simulator that’s all about gathering up resources and turning them into auction-ready trinkets. Slow pacing and repetitive crafting hooks may not be everyone’s speed, but those looking to zone out with a cute game will find plenty of charm in this endearing indie.
Sell high
The adventure begins when the young Mineko moves to a small Japanese town on an island near Mount Fugu. She gets a bit of background in the form of a feline-filled folktale before settling into her new routines. Each day, she’s able to scour the island for resources and increase her friendship levels with the locals by giving them specific gifts. On Saturday evenings, she participates in a weekly event dubbed the Night Market.

Read more