gaming Virtual Reality Surprised Me

[Guest]

I suppose this falls under "gaming" since these devices are mostly being targeted towards gaming, but it could be argued that VR is a technology that will benefit a lot of different mediums and even sciences. So I apologize if this feels like it's in the wrong category in advance, there really isn't a specific place where it falls just yet.

 

Some people know me to be a big naysayer of VR and saying that I didn't really feel it was a big improvement over the concept of 3DTV.

 

Well I work at Best Buy currently and I got a chance to try out the brand new Gear VR. The Gear VR is intended as an entry level headset at only $99, it uses your Galaxy S6 or Note 5 to power the device to create a virtual reality experience. This was the first time I got to see virtual reality myself in person and not through some video reviewing it or some journalist assuring me it was the future of gaming. The problem with VR is more or less getting people on board when they can't see it for themselves. It's difficult to show how VR looks or works without putting on the headset yourself.

 

Well I got to do just that.

 

And I have to say: I was wrong about VR. Dead wrong. First of all, VR actually works quite well, and even for an entry level device, I can definitely see this becoming a big thing of the development scene is there. I got to experience sitting in a Star Wars pod racer where I could literally look all around me and see an entire environment around me in real time. It legitimately felt like I inside this thing, and going at these insane speeds. 2D options actually even look nice and Samsung has done a clever little trick with with the Gear VR for when you are trying to do something that isn't in 3D to keep the 3D feel.

 

Let's say you're watching a movie and the movie isn't in 3D. No problem, the movie will appear on a screen in front of you, and if you turn away from the film, you're actually sitting in a theater. You can legitimately have the theater experience in your home.

 

Now I can see this feature being expanded to increase the social scene of things like Netflix. Netflix could do the following: Make it so you make a little avatar character for your Netflix account and when you are watching shows, have other people who are watching appear in the audience with you. Then you can chat with them directly and it will turn something like just watching a movie into a social experience.

 

Now it is worth saying that obviously the games that will benefit the most are ones with a first person or top down "God view" perspective. So not EVERY game will benefit from VR as much as other games, but even third person games will benefit in that you will feel like an actual observer in this world.

 

Honestly after playing with this thing in reality, I am VERY excited for Best Buy to get the Oculus Rift next month so I can go and try it out, and this makes me that much more hopeful for the Playstation VR and even the Microsoft Hololens. I'll point out some info for the uninitiated:

 

• The Gear VR WILL require you to have a Galaxy S6 family phone, or Note 5. While $99, it will not be useful if you don't have those phones.
• Oculus Rift will start at $599 and will require a fairly beefy machine to run (GTX 960 or better for starters), so if you're not a hardcore PC gamer, you will have to wait.
• Console players will be glad to know a VR headset will be pumped out this year as Sony is preparing to unveil the release date for the Playstation VR this year. A price tag has not been set but I imagine it'll be a bit cheaper than the Rift.
• Xbox fans may have to frown a bit in knowing they might be a bit late to the VR experience. While the Microsoft Hololens is in development, the project is still fairly new and the development kits for the device still sit at around $3,000 meaning the project is still fairly early in its stages and Microsoft has not promised a release this year.
• Nintendo has stated they are "looking into" VR, but no real confirmation of what that means or if we'll see a VR headset with the NX release. Chances are probably not due to the fact that it takes years to develop these headsets so if the NX will get one of these headsets it'll be down the road.

[Thermonuclear Kitten 70]

Ello! I love VR as well, and if you have ever seen Sword Art Online, then the hype is real.

I use a VM with my galaxy to see videos in a theater, and I just love it. 

You did a great job with this post.

[Jonny Music 3,494]

I certainly want to get an Oculus Rift as soon as I am able to build my own (very-first) high-end Gaming and Workstation PC Rig.

 

I have seen some pretty cool demos (including open-source VR demos, inlcuding PonyVRVille! ) and it got my interest in VR even more higher than expected.

 

I too have also tried out the Gear VR, even tho that experience doesn't do other VR experiences any justice.

[Guest]

 

 

I too have also tried out the Gear VR, even tho that experience doesn't do other VR experiences any justice.

 

Oh agreed. This is just an entry level headset so it doesn't even show you how insane it can actually get. 

[Megas 28,156]

I'll definitely try it out when it comes out. It shows a lot of promise but I still have my reservations for VR

[CaptainDoubloon 857]

Did you experience any motion sickness at all? That's my biggest concern with the upcoming VR headsets, I can get motion sick easily although I can still play most games just fine.

[SilverStarApple 850]

The hype is so, so real right now.

[Mesme Rize 15,692]

I am also kind of a critic about VR, because i don't know if VR is going to be successful in the long run. But reading this, actually made me hopeful.

 

But i guess we have to see where VR stands in like 2 or 3 Years.

[Guest]

Did you experience any motion sickness at all? That's my biggest concern with the upcoming VR headsets, I can get motion sick easily although I can still play most games just fine.

 

No actually! Though your mileage may vary.

 

 

I am also kind of a critic about VR, because i don't know if VR is going to be successful in the long run. But reading this, actually made me hopeful.

 

But i guess we have to see where VR stands in like 2 or 3 Years.

 

I was super critical of VR because I felt like it was just going to be 3D television all over again, but I can now see it's a real thing. In 2-3 years I am expecting VR to get a lot more advanced and bigger.

[Shift 4,275]

I've never experienced VR, so i'm fairly skeptical that it'll work or will take off, but if it does work, god i'm hyped. If what OP said is any indication, maybe it's one of those things that you have to experience to get on board with.

[Jonny Music 3,494]

This recent video from PewDiePie actually shows how cool VR actually is (especially SteamVR):

 

 

I actually think VR has gotten to a very cool stage of acceptance because of the advancements that were made.

Though I still don't really like that they are wired for the moment. I'd love to see cordless (wireless) versions come out soon.