Fool me, this is real good shit ! [the VR thread]

[pogo]

I appreciate how they are trying to do something different. But there are two problems with that. First the more unlike existing motion trackers they are the harder it will be for developers to adapt software. Second the delay will further discourage developers from supporting them ahead of traditional controllers. If developer support is limited, and games work fine with the Xbox controller, then what’s the point of buying them? Sony have the Move and Dualshock controllers already shipping.

[Jamesac]

While those are problems, sure, neither of them are related to anything I said. I wasn't excusing the lateness of the shipping and the effects it will have on software development, but rather clarifying that the controller is more than what it was perceived as.

[gravy]

It's a shame it's not going to be ready for release though it does look like Occulus are going to be first to market which is kind of important.

Right now though it's not clear what is and isn't important for VR as there's no killer app and not a lot of differentiation between the different systems. From what I've seen of the different systems they've all nailed the display technologies and the killer app may well come from a unique controller technology coupled with VR.

Sony's kind of at a disadvantage because it's going to ship with old controller tech that's been used with VR a bit but hasn't, as yet, delivered something stand-out.

[pogo]

I don’t know: the real potential of the Move controller might be with the Playstation VR, with the VR headset for look/bearing and Move controllers for interaction/aiming/gestures. That not only lets you reproduce most of the functionality of a Dualshock but do so much more immersively. Oculus I think have missed a trick here, not releasing something simpler (and cheaper) at the same time as the Rift.

[Jamesac]

I'm still not sure which will end up first to market. Hopefully both Vive and Rift will have launch dates and prices by the end of the week thanks to CES. It's well past time to stop waiting for real information.

[Mqark]

First to market is the Gear VR which I have sitting at home. A genuine, full VR headset that is commercially available now.

If people mean first to market as in it's attached by a wire to a PC or console then sure, Gear VR doesn't count.

However, I've sat at home enjoying exactly the same sorts of experiences on the Gear as the early VR demos and experiments with my DK1 and DK2.

I will be buying a consumer Rift for the deep, complex experiences that a high power games machine with masses of storage can deliver - but for casual gaming and experiences the Gear VR is fit for purpose.

[Bod]

Pre-order countdown has commenced.

JANUARY 6'TH

(4pm BST) I think

[pogo]

More like 4pm GMT. No more delays then on the price, they can hardly take orders without it.

[Sir_LANs-a-lot]

Seems a bit telling that they haven't announced the price...

Place your bets...

[gravy]

Wonder if they've even decided. Bit of a weird situation with Sony and Valve waiting in the wings.

In the old days you take a hit on the HW to make money of software sales but it hasn't been that way for a while.

Exciting though

[pogo]

They are not a software publisher, and certainly can’t ask developers for a hefty share of revenues, as with consoles, to make money back that way. They do have Facebook’s resources to draw on though, and Facebook having supported it this far aren’t about to let it fail because of a couple of quarters of losses.

[Dio]

Interesting statement.

[Whiteball]

Well, I shall be waiting, card in hand for the countdown to finish*





*Unless it really is a totally over the top stupid price

[Sir_LANs-a-lot]

Be interesting to see if the pre-order site gets /.'d or whether people will hold off until they can at least try it before slapping down their monies.

[OX mkII]

Wonder if they've even decided. Bit of a weird situation with Sony and Valve waiting in the wings.

In the old days you take a hit on the HW to make money of software sales but it hasn't been that way for a while.

Exciting though

It's back to the old - old days like in 8 bit times when you had to pay for the privilege of everything, they'll need a bloody good ad campaign and some killer titles ready for release for the launch. I know the last wave of VR in the 90's doesn't compare but I'm wondering just how many people will hold off due to thinking it will be another failed and largely unsupported fad, this is where the likes of Sony can step in and do bundle deals with their current console.