I want VR to take off, but I can't help but feel with the PS4's limited power, it'd be nothing but gimmicky implementations and games that don't look very good., Then I wonder, since that would likely be the most visible form of VR to the layman due to PlayStation's popularity, if it might not do more harm than good. Hopefully they have a killer demo to show it off with.
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EDGE: Sonys VR tech will be revealed at GDC
- Thread starter stryke
- Start date
But it is... in the "provable mainstream demand" box we have Wii and Kinect... they did sell well. 3D is in there at least in the cinema. These are two major components of VR
The rest of the components are small, high quality screens and accurate, fast sensors... now both cheap, mainstream products due to inclusion in other technologies.
But all of these together and you get VR. It is built upon solid foundations, utilises cheap and effective technology in new an interesting ways.
The Smartphone did exactly the same. Most new technology products to be a runaway success it needs to be:
- reasonably priced (but not necessarily cheap)
- being greater than a sum of it's parts (even better if those parts are tried and tested)
The smartphone was nothing more than a combination of improved touch displays coupled with improved low power computing power. The new bit was putting them together with an innovative and easy to use UI.
VR always failed in the past for 3 reasons:
- bulky, expensive, low quality video screens
- bulky, expensive, low quality positional sensors
- 3D hardware able to churn out decent graphics at 60fps was too pricey
All of these are "solved"
PS4 is going to keep selling no matter what.
If Sony plays their cards right like they did with PS4 (affordable for the average joe), VR on it could be enormous.
googleplex
Member
When I went to MAGFest this year in MD, the line to try the Oculus Rift was constantly full the entire weekend. The interest is there, but developers have to make unique experiences that will justify the price and that onus is on Sony, Valve, MS, and others. I'm interested, but we need to see more info first before I can get truly hyped.
redblack85
Member
if I was not sure how I would never have written the facts, I know that the risk ban, and it is right since you do your job
but total share for 20m is not the same as one of them doing 20m... lets say each does 7m after several years, thats not really hugely successful.
I am not saying it wont be cool, heck I will get one for sure. But does it change the gaming landscape or will it be fading to irrelevancy like Move and Kinect?
Sidewinder
Member
I said it before, but if they manage to bring these VR goggles at a decent price (under 300$) and some simple but very effective demo software à la Wii Sports, they'll have their next PS2 on their hands. Not only will the PS4 cater to the hardcores, but the casuals will be all over it too.
Indeed.
I think it's easy to say VR has failed, so it will, and you can compare it to stereoscopic 3D too, it had come and gone before, and people cited the limitations of previous iterations had now been solved, but 3D came and went again, like it had twice before. And that's true, but 3D gaming did the same thing.
It's easy to just look back and not appreciate the fact the industry has actually taken a long time to arrive at the place it is. There are a lot of different answers, but I'd say OXO was the first video game, that was 1952, it then took twenty years before the first consumer ready video game experience shipped, it was another four years before the first real 'console', then it was another twenty years before meaningful consumer grade 3D.
The argument that if people wanted it, it would have happened is just contrary to our experience of the industry. People would have wanted Zelda OoT in the fifties, but we weren't there yet.
thunder_snail
Member
PS4 VR may not change the landscape, but it will start the change along with OR.
VR didnt work well in its first few iterations, but the demand is there (not only gaming, but medical fields, driving schools, psychological institutes etc) and people continued to work on it and improve on it until it now works.
The thing is, in the past (and kinda still is) VR is a hard concept to sell to people that mainly deal with money, because for it to work you had to advance allot of technologies like display technology, you had to advance tracking solutions (magnetic, optical etc.) you had to be able to manufacture on much smaller scales then what was possible 10 years ago to be able to make it fit into a product that's lightweight. You had to be able to rapid prototype which is only recently become way cheaper because of 3d printing.
All these technologies where needed to be able to make VR hardware work.
Those people that you say should have worked on it constantly need to deal with people lending them money, which gives you a budget that doesn't pay for all these technologies to evolve to a point where it not only works but is affordable so it can be commercialized.
So what we saw was iteration upon set ideas; small low resolution screens, lenses and poor tracking units in bulky designs and this went on for years. There was no financial drive to progress those needed technologies because things like computer entertainment wasn't on a level that it is today, where CPU's and GPU's didn't even came close to the computational power that we can use now.
So what drove those technologies? big budget movie projects for tracking solutions to be used for special effects. Mobile boom for small high definition low power displays, again movie entertainment for HD and now UHD tv screens.. So instead of needing to advance those technologies themselves, which was an impossible task in the past since investors lack imagination to see the benefits in VR and the tech then really wasn't all that convincing, the world caught up with the concept of VR and only now are things moving into place.
I believe its roughly 12 hours from now.
I can see at least one Gaffer being happy tonight
boredandlazy
Member
Skuba game for PS4 confirmed.
This is going to be fun.
Oppo
Member
I can very easily see PSVR mall demos that would have a similar impact to the Wii mall demos (which I believe went a long way to creating its buzz). If people can see this thing in action, see the reactions, and they have the dual screen monitor to show what is going on to the onlookers.. yeah. People will be very curious.
thats it! *jumps on hype train*
Sickboy007
Member
Quote this post if needed, I'll try to keep it updated.
Liveblogging feeds:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/17/gdc-sonys-innovation-at-playstation-panel-live-blog
http://b-ten.com/liveblog-testing/
Liveblogging feeds:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/17/gdc-sonys-innovation-at-playstation-panel-live-blog
http://b-ten.com/liveblog-testing/
I think, even if we're in a situation where it is very niche this generation, that it'll keep evolving.
Speaking of which, Move and Kinect will keep evolving too. Move will probably have a new relevance again after tonight. In the same way (I believe) Sony is still interested in Move as part of an evolving puzzle, I think VR will continue to be relevant into the future - even if its profile has highs and lows over the years. In looking back, Move had highs and lows, but I think it may turn out to be viewed in hindsight as part of a longer term picture than just its PS3 life.
This is supposing Sony's VR attempts work, of course. I think Move may have renewed relevance because it was technically sound and incorporated some forward thinking. If VR here is not technically sound, is a massive disaster and developers believe its potential is exhausted in a short time etc. then maybe it would drop off the radar entirely. But I'm fairly hopeful it will at least meet a minimum bar for contemporary VR.
what draws me to VR is the same thing that draws me to 3D. while motion controls, be it move, Wii, or kinect, is a gimmick in which you control the game, which by default fundamentally changes the way a game plays and "feels". 3D and VR are gimmicks which improve the way you SEE and absorb a game world. i'm still a big fan of 3D, and i want more games to support it, and i'm sure the same will be true in regard to VR too. i was an early adopter of a 3D tv and i have no doubt i'll be an early adopter of VR. it's the forward step i'v been waiting for in gaming that doesnt change the way we actually play, and for me that's key.
Nah I've got you a red pill and blue pill... take your pick
thunder_snail
Member
Shark Attack. Will come bundled with diapers.
boredandlazy
Member
Mix'em together and make a purple pill.
justsomeguy
Member
Sorry for the dumb question, but I'm assuming you have an inside line on Sony's plans from the way your posting - is that a correct assumption? (For all I know you're "head of Sony VR"
).Dark_AnNiaLatOr
Member
Are we all in the PSVR machine as we speak?
*grumbles*Quote this post if needed, I'll try to keep it updated.
Liveblogging feeds:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/17/gdc-sonys-innovation-at-playstation-panel-live-blog
http://b-ten.com/liveblog-testing/
*sets alarm to 1:30am CET*
LukasTaves
Member
Isn't he the guy that demoed the move controller for the first time?
Edit: Yup, it's him... He might just as well present the VR then.
Yes, you've all been in it for a very long time since...
PSVR is actually PlayStation Voice Recognition
Crimson_Gold
Member
Next time gadget. Next time
I find Carrie-Anne Moss' muscular build sexually intimidating.
EDIT: I wish I'd have gone for an Aquanauts Holiday joke instead of the lift ticket, dammit.
FunkyPajamas
Member
Oh my.
cjp
Junior Member
Doesn't it start near midnight in the UK...?
I wonder if TheVerge will be live-blogging it, too. I tend to enjoy theirs.
QuicheFontaine
Member
Uhh, it's like 1am in the morning GMT...
Edit: I'm in the UK too, debating whether to stay up for it (hypehypehype).
i guess if Sony has clear and consistent message that gets pushed 100% to all of their teams and parts, and for 4-5 years, then yeah, we could have something going on.
I just hope that the pricing they put on the thing wont be too prohibitive.
Has this been in Kimmel or Conan? I'm Britgaf so don't watch the shows, but I know was it Kimmel(?) who was very excited about the Playroom demo...get a PS4 VR headset no there, job done.
Oppo
Member
If it goes anywhere it'll be Fallon, who is very into demo'ing video games on his show, because he can act like such a goofball
It's ok, I got you: twice.goomba said:
Hasn't be been more 'professional' (conservative?) after getting his new show? Due to the demographic differences.
IncandescentPrecept
Banned
Really. It seems like something that came out of the blue to me.
My thoughts on this entire VR thing.
- The VR on PS4 seems like it is coming, all rumors and sources point to it, when we will have it in our homes we don't know but I bet it is between late this year and early 2015. You don't
- It will be affordable, Sony knows this is the only way to go. Otherwise it will flop.
- Technically it should be fantastic. As everyone said the technology exists and the PS4 is more than capable. The question is, will it be wireless?
- I don't see why games can't be adaptable to this. Play X game at 30 FPS with all filters on and big draw distance, cool shaders etc. or play it at 60fps for VR with none of this.
- The Move is supported by the PS4 and we have a camera already, it should be a no brainer the possibilities that open up.
I can already imagine people on stores lining up to try it out.
It will sell PS4s even if people can't afford the VR gizmo right away.
And what about a pack that includes PS4 + VR + X game?
Awesome times. Really wish I was at this GDC conf.
- The VR on PS4 seems like it is coming, all rumors and sources point to it, when we will have it in our homes we don't know but I bet it is between late this year and early 2015. You don't
- It will be affordable, Sony knows this is the only way to go. Otherwise it will flop.
- Technically it should be fantastic. As everyone said the technology exists and the PS4 is more than capable. The question is, will it be wireless?
- I don't see why games can't be adaptable to this. Play X game at 30 FPS with all filters on and big draw distance, cool shaders etc. or play it at 60fps for VR with none of this.
- The Move is supported by the PS4 and we have a camera already, it should be a no brainer the possibilities that open up.
I can already imagine people on stores lining up to try it out.
It will sell PS4s even if people can't afford the VR gizmo right away.
And what about a pack that includes PS4 + VR + X game?
Awesome times. Really wish I was at this GDC conf.
Nightengale
Member
I always tell myself to expect nothing... but I can't help but get hyped. Damn you EDGE/Guardian/WSJ for your 'sources!"
If this turns out to be real, someone should do a shop of Shuhei, Richards and Anton on the Daft Punk set, all wearing VR headset.
If this turns out to be real, someone should do a shop of Shuhei, Richards and Anton on the Daft Punk set, all wearing VR headset.