Gryzemuis on 18/6/2015 at 13:32
I agree with RPS.
It's a gimmick. It will go away.
I didn't see the appeal of 3D-tvs.
I thought they were a gimmick. And that they would go away.
I was right.
Just a matter of time.
ZylonBane on 18/6/2015 at 13:44
It's always going to be niche, durr, but it's only going to become a more accessible niche. Display technology is always getting lighter and cheaper, and wireless communication is always getting faster. Eventually a VR "headset" will look like nothing more than a set of goggles or oversized sunglasses.
Renault on 18/6/2015 at 14:23
I think Facebook is counting on it being more than a niche thing.
Pyrian on 18/6/2015 at 16:04
3D was a fad that went away. Then came back, much improved. Then...stayed. Now most spectacle movies are filmed in 3D and offer 3D showings.
VR was a fad that went away. It's coming back, much improved. It'll stay.
Frankly, I even think motion controls are going to come back at some point, preferably when they've got the lag and accuracy problems under control.
Thirith on 18/6/2015 at 16:43
Quote Posted by Gryzemuis
It's a gimmick. It will go away.
I didn't see the appeal of 3D-tvs.
I thought they were a gimmick. And that they would go away.
I was right.
Just a matter of time.
Translation: "I don't see the appeal in X, therefore X has no appeal."
henke on 18/6/2015 at 16:44
Quote Posted by Brethren
I think Facebook is counting on it being more than a niche thing.
Indeed. I liked, and agree with, MrUimport in the RPS comments section:
Quote:
Back when it was first announced, the Rift was just to be relatively affordable, working VR: not a magic wonder helmet that did all things for everyone. Some barrier to entry was to be expected, especially for a first-gen device. Now they’re chasing a mainstream demographic with all the attendant buzzwords, praying that the masses, who (as John said) just want to sit down and play games, are willing to put up with the clunk and the inconvenience that inextricably goes with VR.
Vive and the Rift are great technological advances and will be rapturously received by hardcore gamers and sim fans, but it does sound like Facebook wants more than that. Feels like the Facebook aquisition was a double edged sword. All that money likely resulted in a better end product, but what's gonna happen when the Rift doesn't live up to all the impossible expectations that have been put on it?
Quote Posted by Fafhrd
GearVR is pretty 'eh.' It works pretty well, but interactivity is limited to either the touch pad or a USB controller, and screen door is pretty bad (even on the S6).
Hmm, alright. I just got a new S6 from the company, and we've ordered a Gear VR, so I'll get to play around with it myself before long. :D
Gryzemuis on 18/6/2015 at 21:08
Quote Posted by Thirith
Translation: "I don't see the appeal in X, therefore X has no appeal."
True, it is only my opinion.
There's lots of stuff I don't like. But I see why it has appeal to others. With VR, I see why others are interested. But I don't see why it will have appeal to them in the long run. I thought that was the definition of gimmick. You like it at first, but in the end, you realize you don't like it much after all.
RPS has lots of arguments.
For me the argument is about input. For true VR, it's not only about visuals. It's also about being able to walk around, pick up stuff, etc. But I don't see how that is possible. You have glasses on your head, you walk around, you'll bump into stuff. I really don't see a way how to fix that. So in the end, VR will just be like having a monitor, only this time you wear the monitor on your head.
Renzatic on 18/6/2015 at 21:43
You should be all for Hololens then.
Pyrian on 18/6/2015 at 21:56
Quote Posted by Gryzemuis
So in the end, VR will just be like having a monitor, only this time you wear the monitor on your head.
A 360 degree monitor for a lot less than such a device would otherwise cost. Pity about the resolution, I suppose, but I imagine that will get improved.
Thirith on 19/6/2015 at 08:15
Quote Posted by Gryzemuis
There's lots of stuff I don't like. But I see why it has appeal to others. With VR, I see why others are interested. But I don't see why it will have appeal to them in the long run. I thought that was the definition of gimmick. You like it at first, but in the end, you realize you don't like it much after all.
Because you're reducing this to novelty, which isn't all there is. I don't think that the Oculus or any of the upcoming VR devices will go fully mainstream, and I don't think they'll ever *replace* regular screens, but they definitely have a niche. I've read lots of posts from people playing
Elite or racing games, saying that they *only* play these in VR and don't want to go back. Obviously that's anecdotal only, but they show that there's more there than mere novelty. The VR devices may fail for many reasons, but I don't see why they should be any more gimmicky than joysticks, HOTAS setups, steering wheels or the like are gimmicky.
