'Throw Trucks with Your Mind' Harnesses Real Mind Control

Throw Trucks with Your Mind is an indie developed, multiplayer combat game that allows the player to control their surroundings with their mind... I don't recall being so psyched about a new technology idea since I saw the Leap Motion a while back. You are using your BRAIN powers to affect the in-game actions. You are a Jedi!

The explanation of your change into an X-Men here is actually kind of simple (In the neuron mapping way of simple). Throw Trucks with Your Mind firstly requires a special headset that can read EEG results in real time. Those brain signals are then thrown into the game. Basic computer layout remains the same, WASD is the primary move function. The objective of Throw Trucks with Your Mind is exactly what you think it is. (But not just limited to trucks.)

The technology harnesses the power of your brain by using an EEG (electroencephalography). EEGs are in no way new, founded about a hundred years ago by a Russian guy with an incredibly long name. It's primary function is to map the neurons of the brain by placing small electrodes on the head of the subject.

I've had an EEG recording, the only real conclusion I came to was 'I probably look like River from Firefly right now'.

Thankfully you don't have to pull off the electrode squid-head look, a much less disruptive sort of headset has been created by a company called NueroSky.

Another new generation graphics student (an alum of DigiPen) by the name of Lat Ware (yes, a game developer with the surname Ware) grabbed two NueroSky EEG headsets when they were released in 2011. While initially only working with them as a hobby project, Ware took the jump and quit his programming job to work on this technology and building a bare-bones version of Throw Trucks With Your Mind.

You can only go so far when you're a couple years out of college and you've dropped your job for what could either be a dream or a way of the future. With a basic project in hand, Ware turned to everyone's favorite internet helper, Kickstarter. The internet responded positively: $47,000 dollars were raised to fund building a team.

Ware has announced that the Oculus Rift will be compatible with Throw Trucks with Your Mind. As of this publication, the Oculus Rift can be pre-ordered for $300, estimating a July 2013 shipping date. NueroSky's headsets can be purchased at their website for around $100.

In the meantime, all we can do is wait. Follow the game at its twitter account @throwtrucks.