Bizarre/Interesting Tech on Crowdfunding Platforms: MSI Liberator Gaming Foot Pedals

[VSG]

Some of you may have noticed I recently covered a Kickstarter keyboard, the Marsback M1, and there's another one just round the corner too. While looking at the Kickstarter link for more details, I went down a rabbit hole and found some fantastically bizarre items that maybe are worth a short series on. First up, and from MSI themselves, is the Liberator! What it liberates you from, or at least aims to do so, is the use of a keyboard+mouse combination for directional movement by instead offering foot controls in the form of a pedal. The tech in itself is not new, with several ergonomic designs come out over the years for those physically challenged or even just wanting to make better use of legs and improving circulation while sitting down for hours. This take, however, is my first introduction to a gaming foot pedal, because why not slap gaming on everything in addition to the mandatory RGB lighting?

MSI has been quiet about the Liberator, despite a supposed debut of March 16 (today!). There is a dedicated Facebook page for the product which is chock-full of hilarious marketing that you need to use, albeit in Mandarin, and Google Translate does not do it much justice either. This in turn leads to the Typeform page which, again in Mandarin, walks you through some of the salient features including three large pads with Omron-branded switches, game/macro compatibility with some AAA games including the Far Cry series in addition to some racing games, and localized pricing information that leads us to believe this will be a relatively expensive product (~$100 discounted on the crowdfunding platform, ~$140 otherwise) with the usual caveat of how directly converting foreign currency prices is best for an estimate only. What do you think about the MSI Liberator? Share your thoughts in the comments section and let us know if this is something you want to see announced globally.



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[Gungar]

I already thought about keybindings for the feet but i managed without it. If you are someone that has problems with mmo mice, this can be a good alternative but very expensive.

 

[Mark T]

Hi, you have converted Taiwan dollars incorrectly. The pre-order price is equivalent to GBP£70 or US$100. Later price goes up to £100 or $140ish. That seems more reasonable doesn't it?

 

[VSG]

Hi, you have converted Taiwan dollars incorrectly. The pre-order price is equivalent to GBP£70 or US$100. Later price goes up to £100 or $140ish. That seems more reasonable doesn't it?

Ah see my confusion was whether it was Chinese Yuan or TWD, but yes that latter part is more logical. Let me update the article.

 

[Snafu_za]

Dedicated grenade button. YEAH BOOOOYEEEEE

 

[nguyen]

Next I'm gonna need some dedicated insert that goes into my a$$ for the crouch quick-key

 

[silentbogo]

Foot pedals are cool, but I wouldn't go as far as call it "bizarre". In the age of dedicated macro keyboards and gimmicky streaming trinkets this is the least strange product.
Back in a day I'd do weirder things, like playing HL2 on Wiimote, while using MoMo pedals for running and jumping. Or worse - TF2 on Novint Falcon anyone?

 

[ZoneDymo]

having a footpedal represent running/walking and crouching seems a pretty logical idea.

 

[Animalpak]

Its great for taking screenshots during gameplays.

 

[Nater]

First thought - I'd get a pair and bind them to "Lean" left and right in FPS shooters.

 

[nguyen]

First thought - I'd get a pair and bind them to "Lean" left and right in FPS shooters.

I have the HyperX Orbit S headset and it can detect head movement, so naturally I use head movement for peek left and right, that was totally useless

 

[Nater]

I have the HyperX Orbit S headset and it can detect head movement, so naturally I use head movement for peek left and right, that was totally useless

Because it's only for sound right? Not motion or key bind triggers?

 

[nguyen]

Because it's only for sound right? Not motion or key bind triggers?

For sound and key bind triggers also, both are equally useless feature.
For sound it create confusion where the sound is coming from when you turn your head.
For keybinding it make you lose concentration when you bend your head left and right

 

[Valantar]

For sound and key bind triggers also, both are equally useless feature.
For sound it create confusion where the sound is coming from when you turn your head.
For keybinding it make you lose concentration when you bend your head left and right

It also moves your eyes away from the centre of the screen, so unless your monitor tilts along with you that seems like a pretty bad idea. Looking around corners in-game ≠ looking around your monitor.

Have to say I'm intrigued by this though. I wouldn't get one myself, but I can definitely see the use, both for accessibility and enthusiast uses.

 

[mouacyk]

Get two, so both legs/feet can sync up.

 

[ComedicHistorian]

Get two, so both legs/feet can sync up.

Done, got a Razer Tartarus under each foot.

 

[micropage7]

oh, just make it double pedal

 

[sneekypeet]

Had a Stinky Footboard nearly a decade ago. Nothing revolutionary here, and tbh, they go unused pretty quickly in my experience.

 

[Turmania]

Initially when seen the pictures, I thought it was for racing simulation controller.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

I could actually see this being good for people who maybe can't use their arms for whatever reason ( ie amputees and such) but not so much for able bodied people. But that's OK! I'm all for accessibility, being partially blind in one eye.

 

[InhaleOblivion]

Initially when seen the pictures, I thought it was for racing simulation controller.

I thought the same. I was literally looking in the pictures for the steering wheel controller.

 

[elghinnarisa]

We used pedals for work for years, it used to simply be for the age old band listening devices during transcripts, but since its digital recordings now its just a glorified media button pedal instead, play/pause, fast forward, reverse. Makes transcripts so much easier when you can keep your hands on the keyboard.

Though, one of those fancy RBG clad things they talk about are significantly cheaper, thats for sure.