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[Khalifa Jayy]

He said he doesn't want it to take off but it's because he's afraid that if it takes off, that the next generation of consoles will be built around the idea of VR which would basically be like telling him "Hey do VR or abandon gaming" so at that point it wouldn't just be something for some people to do and others to ignore. So he doesn't want VR to fail, he just doesn't want it to become this huge thing that every developer focuses on.

One of the few people in this thread who can read properly and infer the intended message. Bravo, good sir.
Matter of fact, no inference is necessary. I've outright stated the same exact thing time and time again in this thread lol.

 

[system11]

Naysayers are going to look so shortsighted and foolish. This is going to be the equivalent of saying "I don't want the Internet"

It's this level of evangelism and hyperbole which gets peoples backs up about the whole subject.

If VR does turn into the standard way of playing first person games, then you can count me out of playing those games too. I spend too long in an office staring at a screen a few feet away to even vaguely consider wanting to strap two smaller screens an inch away from my eyes while entirely blocking out my family.

I don't want it to fail, but I don't want it going mainstream either. Then again I don't think they'll ever fix the motion sickness problem for a good percentage of people anyway, there's no way to fool all the senses at once.

I suppose if all games still support falling back to a standard display mode (and lets face it if they have the power/speed to do VR they certainly have the power to render a single display) then there's no problem.

 

[Feep]

It's this level of evangelism and hyperbole which gets peoples backs up about the whole subject.

If VR does turn into the standard way of playing first person games, then you can count me out of playing those games too. I spend too long in an office staring at a screen a few feet away to even vaguely consider wanting to strap two smaller screens an inch away from my eyes while entirely blocking out my family.

I don't want it to fail, but I don't want it going mainstream either. Then again I don't think they'll ever fix the motion sickness problem for a good percentage of people anyway, there's no way to fool all the senses at once.

I suppose if all games still support falling back to a standard display mode (and lets face it if they have the power/speed to do VR they certainly have the power to render a single display) then there's no problem.

They already have fixed the motion sickness problem for a good majority of people.

"Blocking out your family". Look, if you want to look at your family, take the damn thing off. You use VR when you want to be immersed in games. It's such a silly argument.

 

[Cheesemeister]

Again, I'm 1000% for VR to be the new niche product for all the people attracted to it.

Yeah, fuck that shit. Niche is a nice euphemism for failure. Everyone who wants VR to be the next big thing wants to have the biggest and best experiences with it possible, which will be impossible if it's niche and fails to get the mainstream support it needs.

Nobody's saying it'll be a forced pack-in right away, but there may come a time when you can't imagine gaming without it. Even if it does become the de facto standard, feel free to simply not buy it. What's pointless is trying to piss on everyone's parade, like every other luddite in history.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

They're in the same room as you. Did you see the demo? Ideally in the same seating position as in the game for immersion, I'd imagine. I don't see how you think local VR co-op is impossible.

I saw it. Here is an image of two people playing together.

Can you see how local co-op fundamentally can't work with the Oculus?

 

[system11]

You use VR when you want to be immersed in games. It's such a silly argument.

And that's fine if it's optional. If it's not, gaming becomes highly exclusionary and starts to mostly suit your classic sitting alone in the dark stereotype gamers.

I'm all good with optional.

 

[soxinthebox]

I saw it. Here is an image of two people playing together.

Can you see how local co-op fundamentally can't work with the Oculus?

Um no? It'd be the same as playing on two TV's set up next to each other.

 

[Dead Man]

So you stare at your controller when you play games?

No, I meant with a keyboard. You don't need to stare at something to be aided by an occasional glance at it. I also meant initially finding whatever controller you are using after you put on the headset.

 

[border]

Can you see how local co-op fundamentally can't work with the Oculus?

The PAX East Oculus demo was local multiplayer. It was competitive instead of co-op, but there's no technical reason it can't work.

Practically speaking, I don't think many people in the next 5 years will want to hook up two beefy gaming rigs on a LAN. Once graphics chips are powerful enough to have two or more VR headsets attached to the same machine though, local co-op becomes more and more likely.

 

[YuShtink]

I saw it. Here is an image of two people playing together.

Can you see how local co-op fundamentally can't work with the Oculus?

Actually, since the game demo takes place in a single room, if you were playing in the comfort of your own home you could easily play without the headphones and talk to eachother, which could be pretty awesome. Like AR table games that spill out into the world around you, without even needing a table. Think Jumanji kind of stuff.

 

[Fallout-with-swords]

I saw it. Here is an image of two people playing together.

Can you see how local co-op fundamentally can't work with the Oculus?

I don't get that. I can play a co-op game with my friend while we both stare at the screen, its not like we are constantly looking at each other and there is some fundamental exchange going on that makes it possible to have fun. At the very worst it will be like playing online co-op.

 

[The Illiterati]

I don't have any desire to take any of the FPS games of today and make them more immersive and realistic. Which is ALL you're going to see happening with Oculus or VR for quite a while. So yes, I do think as it stands it is a gimmick. You think making Skyrim more immersive is magically going to make that combat model suck less? No, the dissonance will just be stronger. Attempts at motion controls brought us exactly zero better solutions in controls and immersion for games, unless you really like Wii Sports, the pinnacle of the technology.

VR won't make the writing higher quality, the puzzles more thought out, the choices more expansive. It'll just bring it to your face in huge graphics. So yeah, at this point, I don't care one single bit for it.

 

[Roshin]

I don't need 3D polygons. I don't need two analogue sticks. I don't need internet gaming.

All of these things were declared by people like you.

Color graphics? Fuck 'em.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Um no? It'd be the same as playing on two TV's set up next to each other.

The PAX East Oculus demo was local multiplayer. It was competitive instead of co-op, but there's no technical reason it can't work.

I don't mean local co-op is impossible because two people can't physically be in the same location playing. I'm saying that using the Oculus is a solo experience no matter what. You can't look over and talk to you're friend, unless you want to see this:

Has anyone played anything locally recently? Do you think it would be the same experience if you couldn't see or hear the person you are next to?

 

[Brofist]

I don't mean local co-op is impossible because two people can't physically be in the same location playing. I'm saying that using the Oculus is a solo experience no matter what. You can't look over and talk to you're friend, unless you want to see this:


Has anyone played anything locally recently? Do you think it would be the same experience if you couldn't see or hear the person you are next to?

You can't talk to a friend without looking over at them? I do it all the time.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

You can't talk to a friend without looking over at them? I do it all the time.

You talk to friends without being able to see or hear them?

 

[Astral/H3X]

I don't mean local co-op is impossible because two people can't physically be in the same location playing. I'm saying that using the Oculus is a solo experience no matter what. You can't look over and talk to you're friend, unless you want to see this:


Has anyone played anything locally recently? Do you think it would be the same experience if you couldn't see or hear the person you are next to?

Honestly, I think it's better. Or at least, going to be. I love me some good ol local multiplayer, I thrive off that shit. But if I could physically look over and physically see my friend, decked out in crazy ass video game armor that doesn't look awful, and him wave hi at me, that'd be really fucking awesome.

 

[border]

Has anyone played anything locally recently? Do you think it would be the same experience if you couldn't see or hear the person you are next to?

To say that it "fundamentally can't work" is a little different than saying it won't be the same.

I gotta assume you'll still be able to hear your friends, but you won't be able to see them.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Honestly, I think it's better. Or at least, going to be. I love me some good ol local multiplayer, I thrive off that shit. But if I could physically look over and physically see my friend, decked out in crazy ass video game armor that doesn't look awful, and him wave hi at me, that'd be really fucking awesome.

See this is EXACTLY what I want!

That's not what the Oculus offers though, as it is now. Right now we have to simulate a living room to pretend you're sharing the same virtual space. Once we go beyond VR and get into AR then we can do all that stuff.

Imagine this but with glasses instead of a phone:

This is the future.

I'm not hating on Oculus. It'll do what it does well. But I see it as nothing but an intermediary technology for AR.

I'm excited for Oculus, but only because of the promise of what comes after it.

 

[senahorse]

You talk to friends without being able to see or hear them?

Open headphones? Most closed cans you can hear someone when they are sitting beside you.

 

[Brofist]

You talk to friends without being able to see or hear them?

Why wouldn't you be able to hear them? You don't have to use headphones with it.

 

[bj00rn_]

My main problem with VR, the current form factor is the way I consume my media and entertainment. When I play a video game, I sometime do one or two things. Having to remove the VR device each 15 mn or so is going to piss me sooner or later

I'm pretty sure that 3D cameras with a "see-through" functionality is going to be one of the first additional features to be added to VR-goggles.

With that said, even on my DK1 there is enough open room under the eyes to peek and do basic stuff without having to take the goggles off.

VR will take off whether people like it or not right now, it's unique and it gives an unprecedented alternative way of firing up the synapses without having to leave your home. It needs a lighter form factor before it takes off, and it will. It will take many many years before we don't need displays though, and traditional gaming will survive for as long as we need it to.

 

[Exuro]

I'm pretty sure that 3D cameras with a "see-through" functionality is going to be one of the first additional features to be added to VR-goggles.

With that said, even on my DK1 there is enough open room under the eyes to peek and do basic stuff without having to take the goggles off.

It's even in their v1 concept.

 

[Feep]

I saw it. Here is an image of two people playing together.

Can you see how local co-op fundamentally can't work with the Oculus?

Holy shit, that's me. Where did you find this?

And for reference, your example image totally fails, because Chris and I there were having a blast, catcalling to each other and trash talking the whole time. We could see the others' body movements reflected in their in-game avatars.

 

[Tricky I Shadow]

And I hope it does take off, and guess what?

Spoiler

It will.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Holy shit, that's me. Where did you find this?

And for reference, your example image totally fails, because Chris and I there were having a blast, catcalling to each other and trash talking the whole time. We could see the others' body movements reflected in their in-game avatars.

lol, oops. I just did a google image search for "Couch Knights Oculus Rift" and it was one of the first results. I guess I have to try it for myself before I dismiss it. So you think Local multiplayer has a future with the rift?

By the way, I just found this... really weird video, but it sort of shows what AR gaming might be like and why I'm so excited about it:
http://youtu.be/kuF8wllPKcM?t=49s

 

[IrishNinja]

as a horror fan, i'm really quite excited to see where it goes. worst that could happen is the tech either doesn't deliver or more likely, the software support doesn't, it's perceived as a gimmick & goes away for another decade or so again.

but as an optional input device, why be opposed, especially before trying it? it's an even weirder stance than just hating motion controls, at least you've had a chance to give them a go in varying forms.

 

[Valnen]

My only problem with it is it will only really be good for first person titles. And those are a very small minority of games I enjoy.

That said, I welcome any advancement in technology, as EVERYONE should.

 

[Phediuk]

Somehow it feels like it's 2006 all over again with people complaining about motion controls

Those people were right.

 

[EVIL]

You didn't understand my point. I said that any fear is pointless because you can play the whole existing gaming canon in addition to VR exclusive improvements. The cinema sized screen is just VR's backwards compatibility.

Gotcha, English isn't my first language, sometimes I have trouble.

 

[Nexus Zero]

Are people stupid? You wouldn't look over to see your friend simulated on a bloody couch, their level 18 thief would be rendered in the game world. This thread is a gold mine of claim chowder

 

[Sandy Nipples]

Think it will really take off when 1:1 control non-invasive (Don't have to cut a hole in your dome) neuro interfaces finally hit the commercial market, which is in about 15 years from now I'd guess.

 

[Valnen]

Think it will really take off when 1:1 control non-invasive (Don't have to cut a hole in your dome) neuro interfaces finally hit the commercial market, which is in about 15 years from now I'd guess.

15 years seems a little soon for something like that. Are we really that close?

 

[Sandy Nipples]

15 years seems a little soon for something like that. Are we really that close?

Yeah, lots of patents flying around, there are working non-invasive kits out there, but due to the thickness of the skull, it doesn't have a perfect mapping of activity and can't "listen" to specific areas responsible for specific actions, guess once they "crack" the skull issue, we'll see it pick up speed.

If I were Facebook I'd pick up one of these neuro interface companies too, alongside their juicy patents.

There's a kit that you place on your throat, regardless if you're able to talk, the brain still outputs to it, the device can essentially listen to those signals, so I guess you could chat in-game without having to use your vocal cords, which is a pretty smart way of simulating "psychic" communication.

Though I imagine it's going to take practice getting used to it, volume control, etc, especially when speaking with a different voice you're used to, people are going to sound like complete muppets the first few weeks of release.

 

[Kura]

Bad troll. -10/10.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

I guess I have to try it for myself before I dismiss it.

Who would have thought?

 

[Kura]

To say that it "fundamentally can't work" is a little different than saying it won't be the same.

I gotta assume you'll still be able to hear your friends, but you won't be able to see them.

It transforms on online multiplayer. You can hear your friends, but you only see them in game.

Still, you can pause the game, take your VRs off, talk, laugh, and have some beers.

 

[Cizeta-Moroder]

Eh, I'm not particularly interested in it, but I wouldn't want it to fail.

What does scare me though is Palmer's dystopian view of the future where there's no television, no shared space and everyone's just viewing their own thing in a room. I feel like cellphones make us drone-like enough as it is, imagine your SO putting on the shades at the dinner table and viewing a feed instead of connecting.

Isolation.

That scares me. A lot.

Yup. I haven't seen this concern addressed.
Just the standard knee-jerk stuff flying around: accusations of luddism, "i don't like thing" comic, "deal with it"...

 

[MisterAnderson]

Coming from someone who has tried Occulus, please let it take off and never look back.

 

[Waveset]

The variety present in gaming today? VR will add to that, not take away.

 

[-SD-]

There will be made-for-VR games and there will continue to be made-for-monitor games. Just choose the latter ones. Problem solved.

 

[Acheteedo]

Ah yes, the old "I don't like <new thing>, in my day we listened to the wireless with the family and that's the way I like it". I guess it can't be avoided when things change.

Make way for the new generation, gramps.

 

[Atuin]

I, for one, welcome our new VR overlords.

Seriously, though... Do you actually believe VR is going totally destroy normal gaming? In the same way that movies erased theatre, TV replaced radio, or E-books destroyed all the physical copies of every book on Earth?

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Who would have thought?

I... wouldn't have? Do you really think it's strange that someone would doubt that a device designed to be used by one person would be fun in a group? Especially a device made for blocking out the outside world. The OR is going to revolutionize a huge variety of games, but it's not going to be better than a TV for playing together locally with friends. I'm not bagging on the Rift. There's a place for it and local co-op games, like Mario 3D World for example.

 

[Damigos]

How about you let the people who want it enjoy it, and you can continue to ignore it. Even in a world where VR takes off, it won't make sense for every game to use it or be exclusive to it.

Even if they wanted to, surely not all developers, especially indie ones, would follow. So, OP, don't worry. It will always be only an accessory, nothing more. (I hope)

 

[Lord Phol]

I love immersion and technology so this is something I've been wanting for a long time. I'm hopeing this takes off for sure! Not too sure about the facebook buy-up thing though.

 

[E-Cat]

VR is inevitable.

"Not impossible... inevitable."

There will, eventually, not be a single activity for which real life is preferable to VR. It will take a very long time before this is even a "concern", but the concept is not hard to understand. Perfect VR will recreate reality without its limitations.

Even co-op will someday be better in VR than IRL. #mindblown

 

[Always-honest]

I'm sure they'll stop investing tima and money now they've read this.

I'd like to experience it. But i doubt it will be as widespread as motioncontrols and kinect and 3D.

 

[E-Cat]

I'm sure they'll stop investing tima and money now they've read this.

I'd like to experience it. But i doubt it will be as widespread as motioncontrols and kinect and 3D.

You're right. It will be much more widespread. Gaming might even become a niche segment of VR (but not initially).

 

[Hours Left]

People can't be fussed to wear stuff to watch movies or play games, especially at such an hefty expense, so it'll be niche for a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time.