CES 2008: Electric-Spin Targets Game Consoles, Set-Tops

Golf Launchpad Tour Compatible with Xbox, PlayStation 2 and 3, PC, Macintosh

By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/7/2008 7:53:00 AM

Las Vegas -- Woodbridge, Ontario-based Electric-Spin, manufacturer of the popular Golf Launchpad golf-simulator device, will release a new version that works on Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation 3 game consoles, as well as PCs, Macintosh computers and the PS2 platform, at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show here.

Electric-Spin -- which teamed up with interactive TV developer NDS Group at last year’s CES to demonstrate a set-top-based golf game called Golf Launchpad/XTV Experience -- said the new Golf Launchpad Tour product will also work with set-top boxes, although it didn’t provide technical details.

Launchpad Tour links to computers and game consoles via a universal-serial-bus connection. It features a golf pad equipped with sensors and a regulation golf ball attached to a double ball-bearing mount. The setup lets golfers take real swings that create simulated ball flights on a computer screen or game-console display, via EA Sports’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour or Microsoft Links game software.

Electric-Spin said Launchpad Tour has a new, low-profile design, wireless remote caddy and enhanced signal processing and features a swing analyzer with increased accuracy and 3-D shot visualization.

For complete coverage of CES, click here.