Oculus Rift

[Frogacuda]

We've never had a brain trust like this working on VR together. Of course Oculus largely had access to the fruits of Abrash's research already but it can't hurt to bring him into the tent especially because Valve isn't going to make their own consumer VR anyway.

Thing is, even if Oculus goes the wrong way at some point, others will follow and they'll likely at least be able reproduce a lot of what they did. I think it's going to become a very competitive space. It might take others a while to catch up, just like it did with the iPhone, but it'll happen.

[Error]

The thing you're missing Frog is they have one shot at making this work. Occulus is the big name right now, and if they fuck it up it won't matter how good Sony's rig is. This gimmick has been tried before, and it went bust. People are waiting on this bubble to burst as well. So no, there won't be anyone else to pick up the pieces if they fuck up. Not for a while anyway. Just look at 3D and how many times that's been around.

[Drewbacca]

I strongly believe Oculus Rift will fail to become a big trend—it is a part of a new wave of startup technology that is really really cool but lacks practical application to give it legs.

[James]

I believe 100% differently than you. The immersion of VR will be huge, with plenty of room for practical application in the sim genre alone.

James

[Frogacuda]

I strongly believe Oculus Rift will fail to become a big trend—it is a part of a new wave of startup technology that is really really cool but lacks practical application to give it legs.

It's a technology that has sparked the public's imagination for decades, the inspiration for countless novels and movies... it IS the application. The mere sensation of being somewhere impossible is appealing enough that people will want it, and it's doubtless that once the medium is better understood, there are quite a lot of more practical applications as well.

The barrier of entry will probably be high for a few years, especially because of the need for high-end graphics processing power, and early products might leave a lot to be desired, but I really think it's going to be the true starting point this time. It's not going to fade away or be a fad like last time.

[Diff-chan]

Everyone always says that.

[icarusfall]

I just don't see the masses strapping on that big thing to play the Nintendo tapes.

[arjue]

There are so many applications for this outside of games, you're crazy if you think this will be a gaming fad that doesn't pick up.

[Frogacuda]

The thing you're missing Frog is they have one shot at making this work. Occulus is the big name right now, and if they fuck it up it won't matter how good Sony's rig is. This gimmick has been tried before, and it went bust. People are waiting on this bubble to burst as well. So no, there won't be anyone else to pick up the pieces if they fuck up. Not for a while anyway. Just look at 3D and how many times that's been around.

All the more reason that a better-funded, more aggressively specced and priced product is going to be the right choice. Luckey hinted yesterday that the consumer Rift is going to be specced well beyond Abrash's guidlines for presence (which he said were 2 years out). Compare this to another scenario where investor's need for returns forces them to put out an underbaked product and sell it at a profit.

[Mzo]

I strongly believe Oculus Rift will fail to become a big trend—it is a part of a new wave of startup technology that is really really cool but lacks practical application to give it legs.

Yep, no practical applications for VR you guys.

This is the level of vision that makes him wildly successful.