Head Tracking with Cliffs of Dover

[Wolf_Rider]

as mentioned earlier, the download link draws up a site's security certificate warning from my A/V, GHarris.
Always asked was "how does the INTERFACE work?"

Always stated was if the FT uses its own software and doesn't draw from any other company's software against thier wishes, I don't have a problem with that.

In the software (manual) however is a section tick box to select TIR interface, which means the FT draws from another's interface (software) This http://forum.free-track.net/index.ph...ic=1560&page=1 admittedly, is from 2009, but take a special note of post #7 and #11

you are also, as others have done, confused between copyright and patent, they are two different items.

now GHarris, its quite obvious that you and your two mates before you have no base for your points... so now the insults start well, knock yourself out. Let's see if you can outdo Blaster.

[robtek]

Here is a excerpt of the Freetrack Homepage:

FreeTrack can output head tracking data directly using TrackIR™, SimConnect and FSUIPC interfaces, programs that support these interfaces are regarded as having FreeTrack support. General input devices can also be emulated, specifically mouse, keyboard, and joystick (via PPJoy).

Seems to be that FT is still using NP software.

[swiss]

Originally Posted by robtek

Here is a excerpt of the Freetrack Homepage:

Bro, it's not like this is gonna stop him.

[Korn]

Originally Posted by GHarris

I initially thought that Wolf_Rider's posts were genuine questions. But by the time I came to write my post on the 10th page I suspected he was just trolling on Naturalpoint's behalf.

Yup exactly my thoughts.


Anyway. Cutting deals with publishers in order to remove the competition IS illegal. That's what anti-trust laws are for. Just a few years ago Intel ate a 1 billion euro fine from the European Commission for making deals with the likes of HP, Dell and other integrators so that they will not use AMD parts. In the US they just settled with nVidia and will be paying them 1.46 billion USD, after they just payed AMD (in the US, after a Federal Trade Commission settlement) 1.26 billion USD.

More info (chronological):
AMD and Intel Settle Their Differences
Intel Settles With the Federal Trade Commission
Intel Settles With NVIDIA: More Money, Fewer Problems, No x86

So, to sum things up:
- Natural Point has made and is still making deals with publishers in order to not allow any other head tracking devices to work in those respective games;
- while this may sound as legitimate bussiness practice, it is in fact a monopolistic behaviour and illegal in the European Union as well as in the United States, as exemplified above.


As i said in another thread, the reason Natural Point does not have (as yet) any legal problems as a consequence of these issues is the fact that they are activating inside a very young, small, niche market, a market with low visibility and they haven't come (yet!) under scrutiny.

[Wolf_Rider]

Originally Posted by Korn

- Natural Point has made and is still making deals with publishers in order to not allow any other head tracking devices to work in those respective games;

cutting out the competition... anti-trust laws? I totally agree

as for the quote.. that's a rather loud accusation you're making there, do you have anything you can back that accusation up with?

[swiss]

Antitrust - competition?
FT is opensource, to operate in a market you'd have to make money by selling your product.
FT is more like a club than a company.

Imho none those arguments are valid.

[Korn]

Originally Posted by Wolf_Rider

cutting out the competition... anti-trust laws? I totally agree

as for the quote.. that's a rather loud accusation you're making there, do you have anything you can back that accusation up with?

I'm making no accusation, i'm simply stating the facts as i know them. Bohemia Interactive had such a deal with Natural Point, as stated as one of their guys on the official forums and as it was well known inside the community. Their forums were also haunted by a bunch of trolls and even NP employees extremely vocal and aggressive when there was any Free Track talking. They went away when BI shut down the deal and included Free Track support with a patch last year.
Natural Point has another such deal with Eagle Dynamics (LOMAC & DCS developer and publisher), however i got to be honest, i don't know if either part has admited to that (it is possible they did, i don't read their forums much).

The Bohemia Interactive story is easy to check. And everybody knows about the other one, just ask... I'm sure there are others, but i don't know anything about the driving sims, maybe someone else is more knowledgeable.

[julian265]

Originally Posted by GHarris

I initially thought that Wolf_Rider's posts were genuine questions. But by the time I came to write my post on the 10th page I suspected he was just trolling on Naturalpoint's behalf.

http://naturalpointofview.blogspot.c...t-archive.html

Possibly. More fool me for responding.