Leap Motion is preparing to launch its 3D motion controller in May with an $80 price tag.

Customers can pre-order the controller online now; it is expected to begin shipping on May 13, and will exclusively hit Best Buy stores on May 19.

Leap introduced the 3-by-1-inch controller in May, and it quickly garnered interest from more than 40,000 global developers. It includes a 150-degree field of view and the ability to track individual hands and all 10 fingers at up to 290 frames per second.

"We know people have been eagerly waiting, and today I'm happy to announce we're bringing the Leap Motion Controller to the world less than a year after we introduced our technology," CEO Michael Buckwald said in a statement.

While most gamers will have to wait until May, Leap will be demonstrating its new controller during next month's SXSW event in Austin, where attendees can get a hands-on look at the device.

The Leap Motion Controller will work on the Windows 7 and 8 and Mac OS X 10.7 and 10.8 operating systems, complete with access to Airspace, an exclusive Leap application store. A number of applications are being designed specifically for Leap Motion, including plug-ins for 3D design software Autodesk, Corel's Painter apps, Disney Interactive's Wreck-It Ralph: Sugar Rush Speedway racing game, independent game maker Double Fine's music game Dischord, The Weather Channel app, and ZeptoLab's optimized Cut the Rope game.

The company started taking pre-orders for the device last year for $69.99 — $10 cheaper than its current sale price of $79.99. According to a company spokesman, that cost was a special introductory price for those brave customers who ordered the device before a specific ship date was announced. Anyone who placed an order before Feb. 27 will only be charged the initial base price of $69.99.

Earlier this year, Leap announced that it has partnered with Asus, which will bundle the Leap Motion controller with select new computers later this year.

By: DocMemory
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