Seems like there will be a new ButtKicker that will be released this year.

looks the fan has been removed and a remote control added, i may get one.

click here for info

Just got a reply from Buttkicker:

"The ButtKicker Gamer2 is expected to be shipping around the end of Nov. / beginning of Dec.

The ButtKicker Gamer unit itself is unchanged - it's the amplifier that is completely new. The new digital amplifier is much smaller than the original, comes with a wired remote control and is built rock-solid.

Utilizing the existing bass is really the optimal way to reproduce the tactile sensations in a sim or game because it's completely musically accurate. Force feedback devices can only produce a sensation in one frequency since they are just offset motors. Also, they must rely on preprogrammed queues from the game to operate. The only potential down-side of using the existing low frequency audio signal is that for some games where the audio engineers didn't put the time and effort into creating full-range audio effects, the ButtKicker has very little to respond to and therefor doesn't do what is expected.

If a stronger tactile experience is required you can try a few things, including boosting the volume of the low frequency audio, or adding a second ButtKicker system.

Thanks again - let me know if there's anything else I can help you with."

This sounds interesting. Any games it is actually useful with?

Any game thats has sound one would guess.

Haha... seriously though. I mean, I know if you're playing a race sim, it would "kick" your butt depending on the car's RPM, but how does it work on shooter games? It vibrates when you fire your gun? How about RPG games? RTS games?

Only problem will be to actually get one. Here in Europe, you can't use the US version, as we have 220 Volts here. The EU Version is so rare that getting one is like winning the lottery.

Ice read this "This is a “must have” tool for all avid gamers and PC users. Superb for Flight Sim, car racing, platform, fighting and shoot 'em up games.

The ButtKicker Gamer is a chair-mounted (single post type) bass shaker that lets you really “live the game”.

Feel explosions, gun-shots, car crashes, rumble strips, engine vibration, aeroplane landings etc when playing a computer game or watching a movie - and Feel the bass frequencies when listening to music!

The ButtKicker is a small linear motor that reacts to an audio signal sent by an amplifier (the ButtKicker Gamer comes with its own 100-watt amplifier). It is similar to a loudspeaker, but instead of a moving a cone and transferring sound waves through the air, the ButtKicker Gamer is attached to your seat and sends a low frequency directly into your body. The effect is amazing."


VF-2 John Banks you can buy it from the UK we also use the same A/C like you www.shakecentre.co.uk

Thanks for the link pal!

I have one and rarely bother turning it on. Part of the issue is the loud fan, which it seems they have improved in 2.0.
Also, even though it isn't a speaker, it makes a lot of noise shaking the chair, which others near you will may find annoying.

But for me the 'tactile' response is wrong for everything except 'shooters'.
It's really just a bass speaker unit that shakes more while making less noise, so it is very dependent on amount of bass in the game sounds. In sims this is usually pretty low.

In a racing game, unless you are driving a low rpm v8, there isn't enough vibration from the engine revolutions. There are no road noise effects on gravel, etc because they are also too high pitched to trigger the buttkicker.

In flying games there is no shudder due to stall. you might get a few thumps from your guns, if they are cannons, but not much from your MGs. you will get thumps from flak, but not from bullet hits.

On the plus side, the company that makes them has good customer service and quickly replaced a defective amplifier I had.

pakfront feed back yours is very important to us becuase you have actualy used the older unit.
I am only interested in some sort of feed back device for Black Shark FFB does not work for BS unless you use it for trim. Then you have the Ivibewhich is not very obtainable this only leaves ButtKicker gamer2 so there is very limited choice of what to use for some kind of feed back from BS.

SimHQ reviewed the original Buttkicker Gamer:
http://www.simhq.com/_technology2/technology_107a.html

Roger that Joe I have already read that review.

Rapid, I have BS but never bothered to try it with the buttkicker. I'll give the combo a whirl and let you know my thoughts.

pakfront that would be most helpfull indeed.
Any information you can supply will be crucial to me as I intend to buy a unit.
all i can say is "getherdone"

thoughts - much as I describe above. Some feedback on startup sequence at low rpms and when turbo is running - very subtle. Almost none during flight or during maneuvering (I should explain - it does rumble, but there isn't much difference with varying blade RPM and torque ranges) EKRAN warning betty makes slight rumble. Cannon makes a nice thud as do missile and rockets.
Basically adds a little ambience but does not add anything to awareness or immersion.

Thanks pakfront,nice review on using Buttkicker with BS.
Would be nice to feel "something" as opposed to nothing at all.
Question is will you leave it connected?

Heh, I have it all nicely wired in now so I guess I will!

Good call pakfront. Im looking at ButtKicker and the Ivibe the project is coming back to life again.

Definitely gonna get another one now. My original BK died on me almost a year ago and I've been missing it ever since. Like the wired remote feature as my number one complaint was having to get up out of my simpit to tweak the settings on the unit.

Well worth the money, but be warned you have to spend some time tweaking the sound to get things set up right. But the tweaking is very subtle and easy to figure out.

question how high do you have to have the volume on your system for ButtKicker to register?

Had an email a few days ago from Craig at Ivibe but no reply so im not going to rule out Ivibe just yet.

Any more info pakfront as you have been using it a while now? Have you found a "sweet spot" to set the cut off at?

bump!

Rapid, I've mostly kept it off as it is rattles enough to get evil looks from the-other-person-in-the-house. I had some better results in IL2 with one of the sound mods that adds more rumble to the crusing engine speed; may push that a bit farther. Does DCS have sound mods?

Hi pakfront, thanks for the intel.
I dont think DCS BS has sound mods.
You say the Buttkicker rattles to much is it your chair that rattles and if so surley that would mean securing the loose bits on the chair?
Also do you have yours set high and what would be the effect if you turned the unit down a bit.