PlayStation VR May Have Already Won Virtual Reality War

[Mark Spoonauer]

A new survey shows that consumers are a lot more interested in purchasing the PlayStation VR than the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.

PlayStation VR May Have Already Won Virtual Reality War : Read more

 

[seb_breton]

Great!

 

[Daekar3]

I hope for all of our sakes that Sony got it right if it's going to be popular. If not, they might set consumer interest in VR back years.

I'm going to reserve judgement. My first impression is that first-gen console VR is going to be a mediocre experience, but when my local Best Buy gets a demo unit I'll give it a try. VR is not something that I will jump into without a good length demo first, since I have reason to believe it will mess up my eyes or make me nauseous.

 

[Double44]

I wear glasses, this VR tech only accommodates those who do not have pre-existing conditions, which is already cutting right into their profits. Then there's the whole dizziness factor, which people are pretty much unanimous about. The games that are being made aren't even worth the money for all the gadgets required.

It's kinda funny how Sony whipped out the PS Move sticks again, back when motion control was the fad. If those sticks are any indication of the VRs future, VR is pretty much doomed. That's not to say that the technology couldn't be used for other purposes, I think it's a great new way of presenting things, but there's a pretty wide barrier of entry.

 

[Tri23]

The world of VR is divided into people of hope and despair.

>> whole dizziness factor, which people are pretty much unanimous about.
This problem is resolved by high frame rate and giving the players a point of reference. Most game devs have stopped making people fly-around while not in a vehicle. Roomscape also REALLY helps that, as you keep your perspective.


>> The games that are being made aren't even worth the money for all the gadgets required.
You can't quite think of VR as a gaming platform, as that sort of limits what it is used for. I like to think of it as an experience / interaction medium.

For example... Google Tilt Brush.
It isn't really a game, but an experimental art-program that works.

In the future, I see VR being adapted to overcome limitations of the monitors. Think of 3D modeling programs in VR? Autocad, etc.
Think of having a virtualized desktop with as many screens as you need! think of video editing, where all your tools are perfectly laid out. There are so many possibilities!


>> VR is pretty much doomed.
Sony VR? Maybe this iteration, but remember, VR has been on the consumer market for 6 months now with the HTC Vive being released in April. Also think of this.. Steam, Facebook, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo(?) and others are all pushing forward with VR. These are pretty big companies with REALLY smart people. It is really hard to say it is doomed, because you are betting against some big tech giants. You don't want to be the guy who looks at the first Windows Phone, and goes "Nobody will ever want a PC and a phone in one! It will never take off!" Sure the window phone flopped, but people still paid $800 for the first Iphone.

(and for the record.. I thought people were crazy when they purchased the first Iphone.)


As for Playstation.. I think the release of their VR and in the state it is in is a move against Microsoft. That gives them a little edge against Xbox, and just in time for the holiday season. Ya gotta pick a side in the console wars.