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[StuBurns]

With all the talk about if there should be a sequel to TLoU or not, I've been wondering about teams about to ramp up for two/three year cycles, and wondering where the industry will be when we get to the time those games ship.

I've heard nothing but unanimous praise for the Rift. Some people criticizing it's current technology, but conceptually, it seems to be beloved. It's not going to be ubiquitous, and who knows if it'll even come to consoles, but assuming the retail version hits next year, and is technologically inline with it's aspirational goals, how do you see it affecting game design? Are we looking at a first person only future for AAA releases? Slower paced experiences more focused on world exploration?

Virtual reality is coming, how's it going to affect games?

 

[Raide]

VR Porn.

 

[Sinatar]

I think we'll see a big rise in simulation style games with a heavy emphasis on immersion.

Space Sims, racing games, flight sims etc...
Lots of first person games as well.

Also the first company to put together a well made virtual tourism game is going to make major bank.

 

[zomaha]

even more FPS's

 

[orioto]

Bad change >> Everything was first person
Good change >> Everything is 1:1 scale.

 

[FloatOn]

First person everything.

 

[eot]

Personally I hope it'll be the catalyst for a move away from games about nothing other than shooting men.

 

[thesuperfunk]

VR Porn.

Assuming you've already seen this ...

http://www.wickedparadise.com/

 

[nkarafo]

More immersion.

Hopefully, the "cinematic" games fad will disappear.

Better horror games because even Doom 3 would be scary with this thing.

 

[Bsigg12]

Too many first person things. Until we can get a good use out of it that is not in first person and doesn't make you sick, then its going to be limited on what it can achieve.

 

[Currygan]

FPS, FPS, FPS

 

[RoyalFool]

I think it'll bring about the re-birth of the old point-and-click genre.

Half of the charm of those games was exploring the worlds, but as 3D took over it became very hard for them to make any kind of meaningful transition - first person pretty much always implies first person shooter these-days.

Hopefully with the Rift people will make games that are more about exploration again, discovering secrets etc. Not to mention I'd give my left ball to be able to walk around a virtual re-creation of historic events or exotic locations.

 

[Business]

We will need 4k for real

 

[Ingueferroque]

We will no longer be tethered to our monitors or TV's... this is a good thing.

 

[Raticus79]

We need an updated version of that song (NSFW audio maybe?)

The Oculus is for porn!

Edit: Actually, a better question might be "How will the Oculus change porn?". The gaming benefit is a side show in comparison.

 

[Exploding8]

I think we'll see a big rise in simulation style games with a heavy emphasis on immersion.

Space Sims, racing games, flight sims etc...
Lots of first person games as well.

Also the first company to put together a well made virtual tourism game is going to make major bank.

Especially if its MMO style; that is, all the other people touring the area are also there and you can talk with them and such.

Really the first person to make The World from .Hack wins in my book xD

 

[WolvenOne]

Hard to say.

I mean, it's just BUILT, for first person games. It looks like it'll be great for those, but of limited utility to everything else.

So it's nice, but, I'm not sure I want to buy a peripheral just for one single game genre.

 

[Lord Error]

Only a selected few will be able to enjoy, the rest of us might as well have a bucket for throwing up nearby.

More immersion.

Hopefully, the "cinematic" games fad will disappear.

Ironically, the cinematic concepts in which you sit, look around and do nothing else, work by far the best with this thing. That's about the only thing you can expect your average person to enjoy on OR.

 

[BrokenEchelon]

 

[Coconut]

It would change games the same way 3D TVs would change games. Honestly I think we would see more First Person games come out, and not just shooters.

 

[-SD-]

There will be less PC games with mouse+keyboard controls

 

[epmode]

It would change games the same way 3D TVs would change games.

I feel like people who compare OR to 3D televisions are missing the pont entirely.

 

[BigDug13]

The push for open worlds seems to be a nice fit as well. Nothing more immersive than to truly be able to walk around and do anything you want in a huge world.

I feel like people who compare OR to 3D televisions are missing the pont entirely.

I agree. 3D TV's aren't this immersive to the point where your brain can't comprehend that it isn't real. Guys are falling down due their brain's inability to process what is happening.

http://youtu.be/J2N01yvONw0

 

[Durante]

Ideally, we'll see more simulation games, and more games with a focus on environmental storytelling and exploration.

There will be less PC games with mouse+keyboard controls

Why? Mouse/keyboard works just as well with the Rift as it does with a monitor.

 

[StuBurns]

There will be less PC games with mouse+keyboard controls

That's an interesting point. I can type without looking at the keyboard though, and I think most people can. As long as it's simple WASD + Mouse, I can't imagine it's any more difficult than now for anyone at all.

 

[Baleoce]

I got to try it this weekend at Rezzed in Birmingham. And I can honestly say I believe in the tech now. I probably wouldn't try the low res kit again because the res and refresh made some people feel a bit iffy. But just seeing the concept and possibilities, it felt so.. intuitive. Can't wait to see a big studio get their hands on a finalized 1080p kit and start working on something.

 

[nkarafo]

So it's nice, but, I'm not sure I want to buy a peripheral just for one single game genre.

Many genres can be played in first person. For instance:

Racing games (inside the car view) and any game where you control vehicles.
Platform games (Metroid Prime platform sections, Jumping flash)
Point and click adventures and adventures in general.
RPGs (Eye of beholder, Skyrim).
Sport games. Imagine playing the game and feel like you are in the stadium watching it.

 

[muu]

I think it'll bring about the re-birth of the old point-and-click genre.

Half of the charm of those games was exploring the worlds, but as 3D took over it became very hard for them to make any kind of meaningful transition - first person pretty much always implies first person shooter these-days.

Hopefully with the Rift people will make games that are more about exploration again, discovering secrets etc. Not to mention I'd give my left ball to be able to walk around a virtual re-creation of historic events or exotic locations.

I had a chance to play with the Rift this weekend and I'd have to agree. HL2 wasn't exactly optimized in the set I played around with, and it certainly induced some nausea -- one because we weren't used to it, but two because we're running around furiously or driving a boat or whatever. A modernized version of, dare I say it, Myst, would certainly be in the direction that I would not mind seeing.

 

[galvatron]

VR Porn.

First post: nailing it.

 

[Oneironaut]

Little details will be much more appreciated. The Rift makes it really enjoyable to just walk around the game world and look at little things. I was playing TF2 and looking at these cans on a shelf things like that.

It will also make sprites look worse than they already do. With the 3D effect you get from the Rift, it's painfully obvious when something is a 2D object without any depth.

 

[StuBurns]

A modernized version of, dare I say it, Myst, would certainly be in the direction that I would not mind seeing.

The Witness, is it going to support it?

 

[syko de4d]

i hope we get more exploration, interacting with the world and NPcs etc. instead of just shooting, shooting and shooting.
Games like Dear Esther will be on a whole new level in VR.
But OR will not replace normal Games, it will add more variety to games

At the end of 2014 we maybe play games like Star Citizen, DayZ, the Gallery, Minecraft or pCars in Oculus Rift, will be an interesting time

 

[-SD-]

Ideally, we'll see more simulation games, and more games with a focus on environmental storytelling and exploration.

Why? Mouse/keyboard works just as well with the Rift as it does with a monitor.

It does, but I'd bet most games will be made with gamepad controls in mind.

 

[Coconut]

I feel like people who compare OR to 3D televisions are missing the pont entirely.

I felt like I just had a tiny 3d TV strapped to my head is all when I messed with a Rift. The head tracking stuff is just disorienting.

 

[Thrakier]

It would change games the same way 3D TVs would change games. Honestly I think we would see more First Person games come out, and not just shooters.

So, not at all?

 

[Gintoki313]

Assuming you've already seen this ...

http://www.wickedparadise.com/

Umm... how much does an Oculus Rift cost again?

 

[War Eagle]

Imagine something like Google Maps with this. A program where you could literally go anywhere in the world you felt like going for a nice stroll.

 

[newsguy]

VR Porn.

Yep. It's what made the VCR a success.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Imagine something like Google Maps with this. A program where you could literally go anywhere in the world you felt like going for a nice stroll.

This is what excites me the most for OR. To be a 'virtual tourist' to just about any where in the world. A World Cup match, the running of the bulls, Carnival in Rio, tomato throwing festival, white water rafting, etc The possibilities are endless.

 

[Exploding8]

Many genres can be played in first person. For instance:

Racing games (inside the car view) and any game where you control vehicles.
Platform games (Metroid Prime platform sections, Jumping flash)
Point and click adventures and adventures in general.
RPGs (Eye of beholder, Skyrim).
Sport games. Imagine playing the game and feel like you are in the stadium watching it.

Yeah, plus I'm sure people will come up with creative ways to make other genres work with the Rift.

I can just imagine a strategy game for instance, where you're a commander looking down at a board or something where the actual strategy game is going on, but if you look around you're in some kind of high tech command post

That's the easiest way to make it work with any genre really; the game is centered as usual but if you look around you're in a different environment that the game is being played in (think Mr. Game and Watch's stage in Super Smash Brothers Melee)

 

[Mindlog]

More FPS is not going to happen. Any increase in FPS can be attributed to statistical noise given current market saturation.

More COCKPIT games. Finally.
Imagine QWOP from a first person view over El Camino del Rey.

 

[syko de4d]

This is what excites me the most for OR. To be a 'virtual tourist' to just about any where in the world. A World Cup match, the running of the bulls, Carnivale, tomato throwing festival, white water rafting, etc The possibilities are endless.

i just read about an architect team, which ordered 40 dev kits because it´s make their work so much better xD

That is one thing VR will change too, more interactive experience that are not games. Listen Music in a crazy world, virtual tourist, virtual cinema, education, architect stuff etc.

 

[GraveHorizon]

FPS will be the new third-person cover based shooter. So basically returning the crown to the rightful king.

Too many first person things. Until we can get a good use out of it that is not in first person and doesn't make you sick, then its going to be limited on what it can achieve.

A third-person virtual experience that won't make you sick and kill you.

I think it'll bring about the re-birth of the old point-and-click genre.

Half of the charm of those games was exploring the worlds, but as 3D took over it became very hard for them to make any kind of meaningful transition - first person pretty much always implies first person shooter these-days.

Hopefully with the Rift people will make games that are more about exploration again, discovering secrets etc. Not to mention I'd give my left ball to be able to walk around a virtual re-creation of historic events or exotic locations.

I agree that first-person games don't need to be all about shooting, which is why I really liked Portal and Mirror's Edge. They took the perspective and gave you other things to do that weren't immediately obvious when describing the gameplay. "First-person puzzle platformer? First-person parkour?" They breathed new life into first-person games for me.

And as for exploration, I'm looking forward to The Gallery: Six Elements. It's awesome that someone already had plans for a great looking game to essentially be a showcase for the Rift (not just a demo).

 

[War Eagle]

This is what excites me the most for OR. To be a 'virtual tourist' to just about any where in the world. A World Cup match, the running of the bulls, Carnival in Rio, tomato throwing festival, white water rafting, etc The possibilities are endless.

Exactly! Gaming will be cool and all but this is exactly what will make VR a true success to the masses. Great minds think alike, my friend.

 

[Valnen]

More first person platformers.

 

[Dylan]

VR Porn.

Trying to figure out how exactly this would work and it just doesn't compute.

 

[Dylan]

I think something like Bioshock Infinite's skyrails would be amazing in Oculus Rift.

 

[StuBurns]

I agree that first-person games don't need to be all about shooting, which is why I really liked Portal and Mirror's Edge.

Those are the go to things for most people, Portal, Mirror's Edge, but those seem like the worst ones, because they're all about momentum, and I'd imagine it would create quite a dissonance to be sitting at your PC while bounce from building to building.

 

[Valnen]

VR Porn.

Will never be realized until you can have the sensation of actually being touched.

 

[BrettWeir]

If?

Oculus will soar, launching the gaming world into epic proportions.