Canis lupus
Member
Cant wait to hit those Like buttons in VR and see what friends are up to in VR.
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Facebook has acquired Oculus VR for 2 Billion US Dollars
- Thread starter ShogunDarius
- Start date
Cant wait to hit those Like buttons in VR and see what friends are up to in VR.
Yeah I got carried away... but this is an understandable move. VR is no small time gimmick. This thing could be as big (culture-shift wise) as the television if used to it's full potential. That's why facebook swooped in and bought it. I love games but there is a bigger picture to look at here.
StoppedInTracks
Member
Exactly.
That is true as well. Good point.
VR is mainstream now, dudes. Can you believe it? After all those years where it was branded "for mega nerds only".
You know who is the real loser here?
MS and Nintendo. There. I said it.
stufte
Member
I agree. VR is the future and Facebook knows it.
GhostTrick
Banned
What's the problem with that ? I mean, what's wrong with the Oculus allowing more and more stuff to be possible ? Do you have a problem with your TV also allowing you to watch sitcoms ?
Do you own a current gen console? Because they all have this.
Looking forward to all those moms enjoying VR on their crappy laptop.
At least from a hardware point of view, the average Facebook user probably doesn't have access to the kind of hardware needed to render 1440p/90Hz.
Maybe this will lead to huge growth in custom SFF PCs. Maybe Steam Boxes will be irrelevant, and outsold by 'Rift boxes'?
kitschykitty
Member
They have to have seen the recent excitement in VR and wanted to get in early, their comments of letting OR operate independently implies to me that people at Facebook anticipate VR getting popular and at this point buying the most recognizable name in VR will be worthwhile in say 10 years when they expect VR becoming more matured and lower cost and can target the mainstream. For now I guess we'll see but I can't imagine that facebook branded rumor is real and if it is it's probably a long term goal.
stufte
Member
And there is a "share to facebook" button in everyones beloved steam.
I agree with this so much...
My first reaction was confusion and fear....but now I see the potential in this deal.
While this doesn't eliminate the fears it gives me a hopeful view on the future of VR.
casinoman921
Member
The courtside seating aspect would piss off so many sports owners. The at-home experience is so much better nowadays, and VR would be icing on the cake.
It's less a problem of "PC has lost VR gaming" it's more of a problem of, "Other mediums will fully use VR before PC gaming does." PC will get its VR gaming, for sure.
It's not necessarily a problem either. I've heard VR devs say that they predicted VR would strike through to mainstream via non-gaming media anyway.
It's because they're looking at this technology in the space of 5-10 years from now, like Oculus always were. The end goal is having mobile hardware within the Oculus itself, during these early years it'll be a high-end device, there's no getting around that.
Ok so after being initially upset, as Oculus Rift has been my number one most anticipated piece of hardware for at least the next few years:
1.) The acquisition: As it's been stated numerous times in this thread, I don't feel as though people understand the difference between Facebook the website and Facebook the company. Farmville VR has been brought up several times, sharing the same virtual room with crappy friends and family, etc. I have to appreciate the fact that such a large company would, hey, well fuck it why even bother, this stuff isn't happening. Farmville is a niche game for aunts and uncles, they're not going to sell a $200 (minimum) piece of hardware to these people. They're going to let Oculus run independently (as sourced), and continue with regular development, just funding and taking a piece of the delicious VR pie.
However. That delicious VR pie goes well beyond gaming, this is where Facebook sprinkles handfuls of soggy $100 bills on some 7/10-9/10 strippers.
2.) VR Expansion: We've already heard Sony talk about virtual tourism and aiming towards strictly VR experiences, well take it to the next level. Take Facebook's bank account and add in a thousand employees who span the globe wearing a silly helmet with two cameras, or a car with two cameras, and you've got an experience that can be purchased by anyone with an Oculus Rift for a mere $??.??. Sports events, let Zuckz rain cash on the NFL and add one of those fancy cable-dangling cameras but instead a dual camera that adds 3D. Boom, you've got yourself a product that in reality would cost you thousands if not tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and sell it to people for $5. Fuck it that's less than my Quarter Pounder meal I had today why not. Yes, head tracking will obviously be something to consider for a "true" VR experience. But let's be honest, how many people own a 3Dtv? How many people will buy an Oculus at $200 if it has 3D 1080p with all these crazy VR experiences (sans head tracking)? A lot. And that's only IF they can't find a tricky way around head tracking.
Oh, hey also this thing:
3.) Market Share: With Facebook planning Apple-esque Oculus exclusive experiences at a premium people will be eager to experience, I would think they will sell units at a low cost, especially if it makes games grab them like crazy. $200 is the magic number for me and I feel like if they drop to $150 in the next year or two they'll still be shitting out turds made from rolled Benjamins coated with Dogecoin. All the hardcore PC gamers will have one (maybe not some indie-only folks, until indies go VR that is). That's an incredible install base. Start offering microtransactions on Facebook or wherever to offer an unforgettable experience to someone at the cost of a fast food meal, and you're golden.
The best part is, the Oculus Rift gets better with tech, unlike Morpheus which is great but unfortunately bound to proprietary hardware (minus the 40 Sony fanboys on GAF that mod it out of pride)
I don't work for Facebook but I'm open for employment opportunities.
1.) The acquisition: As it's been stated numerous times in this thread, I don't feel as though people understand the difference between Facebook the website and Facebook the company. Farmville VR has been brought up several times, sharing the same virtual room with crappy friends and family, etc. I have to appreciate the fact that such a large company would, hey, well fuck it why even bother, this stuff isn't happening. Farmville is a niche game for aunts and uncles, they're not going to sell a $200 (minimum) piece of hardware to these people. They're going to let Oculus run independently (as sourced), and continue with regular development, just funding and taking a piece of the delicious VR pie.
However. That delicious VR pie goes well beyond gaming, this is where Facebook sprinkles handfuls of soggy $100 bills on some 7/10-9/10 strippers.
2.) VR Expansion: We've already heard Sony talk about virtual tourism and aiming towards strictly VR experiences, well take it to the next level. Take Facebook's bank account and add in a thousand employees who span the globe wearing a silly helmet with two cameras, or a car with two cameras, and you've got an experience that can be purchased by anyone with an Oculus Rift for a mere $??.??. Sports events, let Zuckz rain cash on the NFL and add one of those fancy cable-dangling cameras but instead a dual camera that adds 3D. Boom, you've got yourself a product that in reality would cost you thousands if not tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and sell it to people for $5. Fuck it that's less than my Quarter Pounder meal I had today why not. Yes, head tracking will obviously be something to consider for a "true" VR experience. But let's be honest, how many people own a 3Dtv? How many people will buy an Oculus at $200 if it has 3D 1080p with all these crazy VR experiences (sans head tracking)? A lot. And that's only IF they can't find a tricky way around head tracking.
Oh, hey also this thing:
3.) Market Share: With Facebook planning Apple-esque Oculus exclusive experiences at a premium people will be eager to experience, I would think they will sell units at a low cost, especially if it makes games grab them like crazy. $200 is the magic number for me and I feel like if they drop to $150 in the next year or two they'll still be shitting out turds made from rolled Benjamins coated with Dogecoin. All the hardcore PC gamers will have one (maybe not some indie-only folks, until indies go VR that is). That's an incredible install base. Start offering microtransactions on Facebook or wherever to offer an unforgettable experience to someone at the cost of a fast food meal, and you're golden.
The best part is, the Oculus Rift gets better with tech, unlike Morpheus which is great but unfortunately bound to proprietary hardware (minus the 40 Sony fanboys on GAF that mod it out of pride)
I don't work for Facebook but I'm open for employment opportunities.
Which was always going to happen anyway, just with the big boys now behind it.
All in all this will a great thing I tell you.
It's interesting to me that people in this thread want Sony to save them from Facebook integrating this into all of its products and services... when the only thing Sony has discussed for the last several years is how it can integrate all of its products and services together.
Save you from ads? Because PlayStation Home doesn't have ads and sponsored content, right? And that's worked out so well.
edit: also, the people insisting they should've sold to Valve instead. yeah that would've worked out fabulously, like it did with Jeri Ellsworth.
...
I don't know if going with Facebook is the best thing for Oculus, but pretending these other companies don't have bad histories is ridiculous
Save you from ads? Because PlayStation Home doesn't have ads and sponsored content, right? And that's worked out so well.
edit: also, the people insisting they should've sold to Valve instead. yeah that would've worked out fabulously, like it did with Jeri Ellsworth.
...
I don't know if going with Facebook is the best thing for Oculus, but pretending these other companies don't have bad histories is ridiculous
Wonder how this will affect valves relationship with oculus? They seemed pretty open with assisting them get to this point, presumably on the basis of making the PC a stronger gaming platform. This might still do that, but you can't help thinking the focus will be diluted now.
That would get you basic stuff, like the VR cinema or maybe a virtual desktop. But games will need more power than could be realistically built into the headset
stufte
Member
I don't think you're using that particular word correctly in this instance.
StoppedInTracks
Member
Zuckerberg is sleazy but can't deny this man the power to get what he wants. I wonder what Carmack really thinks about this deep inside.
disastermouse
Banned
Boingboing just captured my feeling perfectly (I hope it's not a banned site).
http://boingboing.net/2014/03/25/oculus-vr-could-have-changed-b.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/03/25/oculus-vr-could-have-changed-b.html
mercenar1e
Member
You think the crowd that has a few clicks on farmville and the like is going to run out and buy and expensive add on? 3d movies didnt sell to these types of people for a little more than a normal movie at the cinema good luck selling them vr headsets.
In the near future, you're definitely right.
If you look at how Facebook is being used, and how VR is going to be used in the next years, there is not much commonality. I could think of many other companies for which it would have made more sense to buy Oculus, I guess they just did not offer that much money. Remember, in all likelihood its the investors who call the shots at Oculus, not Palmer.
Also, its Facebook we're talking about. That company is not exactly known for its technical achievements. Its reasonable to be sceptical.
unempLLOYD
Member
that a bunch of stuff you imagined ended up not happening? sounds disappointing.
I'm not sure why it would be more emotionally fulfilling for this guy if Oculus had an IPO instead of a sale. The money doesn't go in his pocket either way, and Oculus still gains a ton of suits saying what happens to its future, either way.
Eh? a sony headset designed for use on a sony console has no use now facebook has bought oculus? thats some twisted thinking..
Oh yes. I really enjoy how facebooks way of making pc games mainstream turned developers of good AAA games into programming farmville shit games.
I can't wait for mainstream trash to be conquer VR. It had the chance of being revolutionary in more than a technical way. Now I see this vision darkend.
True enough. What insane levels of invasion of privacy will be possible with VR though?
brain_stew
Member
VR in the mainstream means:
Graphical horsepower becoming much more important to your average Joe.
Low latency becoming a huge focus for the entire PC and display industry.
High refresh rate, low persistence displays with high pixel densities becoming much more important.
The PC once again becoming the focus of future innovation because mobile won't be a feasible platform for VR in the next 5 years.
More VR content.
Whatever happens to Oculus in the long term, there's a lot of long term benefits to PC gaming if Facebook make Oculus a mainstream success in whatever form they decide. If they drop the ball on the gaming side it will be infinitely easier for someone else to come in and deliver the product gamers want once Facebook has already blazed that trail.
Graphical horsepower becoming much more important to your average Joe.
Low latency becoming a huge focus for the entire PC and display industry.
High refresh rate, low persistence displays with high pixel densities becoming much more important.
The PC once again becoming the focus of future innovation because mobile won't be a feasible platform for VR in the next 5 years.
More VR content.
Whatever happens to Oculus in the long term, there's a lot of long term benefits to PC gaming if Facebook make Oculus a mainstream success in whatever form they decide. If they drop the ball on the gaming side it will be infinitely easier for someone else to come in and deliver the product gamers want once Facebook has already blazed that trail.
StoppedInTracks
Member
You aren't thinking big enough about this man. The moms and casuls do not require to have Doom 4/ Uncharted 4/ Halo 6 rendered in their VR. They will want and Facebook will sell them a VR Cinema, VR Shopping Center, VR Make Up Studio etc. All with PS2-era graphcis but the "VR Experience" does not require PS4 level graphics (as being told in Morpheus threads).
The biggest point and pro of this deal is that Facebook will be able to PUT the hardware, the Oculus in their hands. Let them "waste" this hardware on a shitty VR Mall - we as gamers do not care. We will be running it not on cheapo laptops but Titans equipped machine. But we will be happy that the install base for Oculus is in millions now.
With a huge install base indies will follow. And big name pubs as well.
The future is bright for VR @ Home.
Yea i know.
I was referring to the competition between the two vr tecnology.
Not on where they are going to compete
What? I hope that's a joke of yours.
stufte
Member
VR Panty raids.
Canis lupus
Member
I don't want FB to do anything with my VR headset, I dont want to see notifications, I dont want to have ads, I dont need the social interaction which is the reason FB bought them.
I dunno what possible benefits this could bring to me, other than that it could possibly go mainstream which could possibly mean more VR general apps but still doesn't mean AAA money flowing into VR games.
Yes, indeed, what? Because an Oculus Rift is basically just some screens and motion sensors. It's less privacy invasive than the average camera-and-microphone riddled smartphone or laptop.
mercenar1e
Member
If Facebook's press release is anything to go by, we can expect to be our very own account-locked VR 3D models: "But this is just the start. After games, we're going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences. Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face -- just by putting on goggles in your home."
StoppedInTracks
Member
The Incredible Muffin
Member
I am being a bit dramatic.
My concern is though that Facebook has never done anything with regard to the ''hardcore'' gaming audience...
Facebook buying Oculus for 2 Billion is a little troubling to me, as i fear it will forget which audience is most excited about it.
stufte
Member
It hasn't. It's been less than 24 hours and people have just been making up crazy conspiracy theories about what may or may not happen. Nothing has changed, trust me.