Your thoughts on Virtual Reality

[VideoGameCritic]

I've been seeing a lot of articles about Virtual Reality lately, especially related to the Playstation.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/12/p ... r-line-up/

Having been through previous VR busts (remember the 90's?), I'm skeptical. Am I the only person who thinks people look so stupid in those goggles?

What do you think? Has VR's time finally arrived? Is this going to transform gaming or is it a novelty item that will fizzle out?

[eneuman96]

Since the gaming industry is obsessed with making games more and more immersive, I wouldn't be surprised if VR finally catches on this time. I played an Oculus Rift game called Dreadhalls a long time ago, and it was surprisingly effective at being both scary and enjoyable. Hopefully most developers will follow that example and implement VR in games appropriately.

[Shapur]

I'm actually a bit optimistic about it. It seems hard to imagine it adds up to more than a really nice 3D display but that's something right.. The headsets definitely looks stupid. I have my concerns over comfort but at least it would finally give the PS4 something the PS3 couldn't do.

Ehh, what am I saying. They won't figure out how to use it right and it will end up another overpriced, underused peripheral with a couple of glorified tech demos.

[Retro STrife]

My perspective on VR is heavily influenced by my own experience spending an hour in a giant 30'x30' virtual reality lab at Brown University back in 2010. Before then, I didn't know what to think of VR--it was such an abstract concept and my "visual" of it was based more on science fiction than reality. But my experience in a true VR lab changed my thought process.

Now, here's what I think... in the next 20 years, I do think we'll have limited forms of VR in games. Specifically, I think the technology will exist to wear goggles and/or a headset where you will be able to look around the environment with the movement of your head. So, rather than using the Right analog stick to control the camera in Halo 5, you will be able to use your head. To see behind you, you will literally be able to turn around to do so. I think that concept will be possible (although, watch out for motion sickness--I think this may inhibit VR from fully catching on for a long time). HOWEVER, I do not think during our gaming lifetimes we will see a mainstream VR system that allows you to have fully immersive VR (i.e., walking through the environment). I think we will always need a controller device to control movement. I don't think affordable technology--not to mention, physical space within your home--will exist to do it suitably without a controller. And, even with just a headset, you have to consider that the same problems that plague Wii/Kinect motion controls will exist with VR as well...for example, controllers will be more precise or easier to use than VR, so hardcore gamers will prefer controllers for their games, and VR will be relegated to a nice novelty.


For more details on my VR experience and thoughts, I think my old post about it from 2010 is still informative and worth a visit:

viewtopic.php?f=5084&t=7619

[shootingstar]

Personally, I just want to play video games.

It is worth noting that no matter how good technology gets, the method of playing a video game on a traditional controller with a TV is the only method that continues to retain popularity with consumers year after year. No need to fix what isn't broken.

[Rev]

I'm really excited to actually give this a try when I see a demo somewhere. I don't think I'll end up picking one up but I really want to see how much technology has evolved since the last round of VR. This could be really interesting. I'm not 100% sure if it'll catch on, but it could at least dig out a niche market if the technology is very good.

[scotland]

Personally, I just want to play video games.
It is worth noting that no matter how good technology gets, the method of playing a video game on a traditional controller with a TV is the only method that continues to retain popularity with consumers year after year. No need to fix what isn't broken.

Good point.

Not only is a traditional controller and a television not broken, but modern television technology is still improving.

[Tron]

Lawnmower Man

[MoarRipter]

I'm interested to see how first person style games, and especially shooters, implement it in the future. I demoed the Oculus at PAX a few months ago and the demo I played (running through some frozen glacier) was pretty neat, even with having to use a controller to move around. Also no motion sickness at all, at least not for me. It could be the next hit for shooters and adventure games. The style of games that would benefit most from VR at its current state of development are single-player and multiplayer online games, games with a first person view. As far as the headsets looking stupid, well, local co-op is pretty much dead, at least for shooters and the majority of other popular games that Xbox gamers play, so the appearance of it doesn't really matter at all. Besides, when you're playing a game do you really care what others think you look like while you're playing? How many of you are playing Xbox sitting there in front of the Kinect (or your S/O) looking like Baron Harkonnen with your gut hanging out, snacking on junk food and beer, maybe sitting in your underwear? Wearing a goofy goggle headset is worse than that? Hah, nobody cares and you shouldn't care, as long as you're having a good time with the game that's what matters. I'm looking forward to seeing what developers will do with VR in the next few years, it's exciting stuff.

[LoganRuckman]

I'm personally excited for it as it could add a whole new level of immersion in gaming. However, my optimism is cautious, as simulation sickness is a very real issue, and it's an unproven format.

Also, I find the whole "it failed in the '90s so it'll fail now" argument ridiculous. That was 20 years ago, and technology has evolved by leaps and bounds since then. There's no reason to believe that things couldn't change.

Overall, if VR takes off, it could very well be the future of gaming. If not, then perhaps we could at least consider the launch of the Rift, Hive, Playstation VR, etc. the unofficial start of the 9th generation of gaming.