Hardware Will Sony's Virtual Reality Headset be a GAMING success ?

[osirisjem]

This week during a Game Developers Conference session in San Francisco, Sony will give a presentation on "innovation at PlayStation and the future of gaming," it was announced on the event's website.​

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Leading the presentation will be SCEA senior director of R&D Richard Marks and SCEA senior software engineer Anton Mikhailov, also of the company's R&D department. PlayStation president of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida will also speak during the session, which will be held Tuesday, March 18 at 5:45 p.m. PDT.​

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No other details about the GDC session were revealed, but its announcement comes as Sony is expected to officially announce its long-rumored PlayStation 4 virtual reality headset during the show. An "inside source" speaking with TechRadar said last month that Sony's Oculus Rift competitor is coming along nicely, noting the "quality and resolution are really, really good." [source]​

Articles:
http://www.coolage.in/2014/02/27/virtual-reality-the-game-is-on/

I'm not sure if VR games will be a gaming hit ... maybe other than some sort of great paintball game, etc. VR glasses + wiiMote could make for some crazy games mind you.

I think Rule 34 applies. Oculus Rift is certainly going there. I'm not sure Princess Peach will bare all anytime soon, I figure Daisy is probably more adventurous anyway.



Obviously FPS games might benefit from it. Maybe call of duty will give some edge to players with VR glasses. Like pseudo short distance Xray vision ?

 

[Gahars]

First Nintendo makes a virtual console, now Sony has to go and make a "virtual" console. Typical, just typical.

 

[GameWinner]

How original!
Sony copies Nintendo yet again!

 

[CompassNorth]

If it's at a low affordable price, then maybe.
Sony's line of head mounted display are very costly.
The HMZ-T3W costs $999.99 and does 720p the Oculus rift however will be at 1080p about 1/3 to half the costs.

I don't think it'll be much of a success (at start anyways) compared to the Oculus Rift.
Sony again is riding on the popularity train and even though they have had head mounted display in the past they're trying to market it bigger because of the popularity of the rift which is a shame because Sony could have been the first company that could have made successful consumer friendly head mounted displays.

 

[K3Nv2]

First Nintendo makes a virtual console, now Sony has to go and make a "virtual" console. Typical, just typical.

Competition is healthy.

 

[GameWinner]

Is this it?

 

[osirisjem]

Is this it?

I think so. [Google Images]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2014/03/18/sony-announces-virtual-reality-headset-for-ps4/

It’s the perfect mix of old and new — it allows the user to experience old-style games from a different perspective, as well as entirely new experiences.

Interesting idea.
If this proves successful, it could be a cash cow for developers.

I guess reviewers will get a Hands On ... tomorrow.

 

[Hydrazine]

The HEADSET itself is well specced and looks good design. Problem is that the PS4 isn't powerful enough to drive it at a high enough framerate. Low framerate in VR cause motion sickness, valve said in Dev Days that you need 60fps in VR minimum. A 1080p stereo 3D image? The PS4 might handle 30fps like that. I get sick playing 30fps on a TV/monitor. I'm not getting sick using this.

 

[Gahars]

The HEADSET itself is well specced and looks good design. Problem is that the PS4 isn't powerful enough to drive it at a high enough framerate. Low framerate in VR cause motion sickness, valve said in Dev Days that you need 60fps in VR minimum. A 1080p stereo 3D image? The PS4 might handle 30fps like that. I get sick playing 30fps on a TV/monitor. I'm not getting sick using this.

Of course it's powerful enough to run games at that framerate. The graphical fidelity of the games might have to take a backseat, of course, but still. It all depends on what developers prioritize.

 

[Hydrazine]

Of course it's powerful enough to run games at that framerate. The graphical fidelity of the games might have to take a backseat, of course, but still. It all depends on what developers prioritize.

The fidelity of the games HAVE to take a backseat. PS4 can barely do 1080p 60fps in current non-stereo3D games. Rendering stereo3D cut framerate in half. The result is that PS4 can barely do 30fps in that headset. So do double the frame rate to the needed 60fps, a decrease of fidelity is required.

But that decrease in fidelity is NOT marketable. Publishers and devs don't want to have the game to look bad. The unintelligent masses won't understand the high frame rate requirement, but they'll certainly understand games not looking as good visually.

 

[osirisjem]

If the Sony VR is a hit, they'll probably be the most successful in the latest console war.
Lots can go wrong though .... ideas like this flop alot.
As well ... the FPS crowd probably isn't keep on wearing the VR visor for a 6 hour gaming session.
It'll worsen their acne with the heat and the rubbing.

I see the Microsoft PR has been on the offensive ... "we are making one too !!".

 

[osirisjem]

It'll be hard to make a VR headset for Nintendo's core audience.
The head grows alot from age 4 to age 20.
Sony and M$ have an easier job.

 

[WiiCube_2013]

If people liked this sort of technology then 3D wouldn't have been a double failure.

Just let me play games on the TV without any additional accessories and I'm good.

 

[osirisjem]

I don't see how the Kinect enhances pre-existing games (games that weren't designed for it). You can replace control of one of the actions with waving and wiggling but with a VR headset you leave the existing controls in place, the "looking around" bit is an extra.

The major difference here is that Kinect and the Gamepad are input devices, whereas a VR headset is a display. The "enhancement" it brings is way closer to the enhancement color or higher resolutions brought to games. The headtracking is not a control scheme. VR is there parallel to the controls. Replacing the main controls with headtracking would be idiotic. And while I know some developer is bound to make a game for it controlled entirely by vigorous nodding, it's primarily an output device and should be treated as such. Ultimately, all it brings is immersion.

Unfortunately that means the improvements it brings to games are nothing essential, and it would be very very difficult to make a game that absolutely couldn't be played without it. Is there a game that absolutely demands, say, HD resolution? A few might, but the majority play just as well in 720p.

It's not a holodeck, true, and it doesn't give you complete freedom, but you can't deny it's more immersive than a static unresponsive screen.

Important point (s).

Degree of Input-ability of console Peripherals: lowest to highest.

• VR headset (very low, mostly view only)
• Kinect / Gamepad
• WiiMote
• "Typical console controller"

Seems like the best use for VR headsets is virtual ProN. Rule 34.

Veho's point is important. It's hard to be a "Gaming Success" with a device that has limited control over the game, because of the design.
Limited Control = Limited impact.

 

[WiiCube_2013]

Important point (s).

Degree of Input-ability of console Peripherals: lowest to highest.

• VR headset (very low, mostly view only)
• Kinect / Gamepad
• WiiMote
• "Typical console controller"

Seems like the best use for VR headsets is virtual ProN. Rule 34.

Veho's point is important. It's hard to be a "Gaming Success" with a device that has limited control over the game, because of the design.
Limited Control = Limited impact.

People who watch porn tend to do it for free but to make it more realistic I suppose some would buy a Virtual Boy for their own privacy and enjoyment.

Oh wait it's not called Virtual Boy it's Oculus Rift, Virtual Reality or Xbox Reality oh dammit just do something universal that's functional for all.

 

[Cyan]

• VR headset (very low, mostly view only)
• Kinect / Gamepad
• WiiMote
• "Typical console controller"

you forgot the power glove

 

[coolmario]

The headset is going to be like $249-299 I heard or maybe more. That's like the price of a wii u! I want to see the games made for this, i'm kinda interested.

 

[Gahars]

you forgot the power glove

Every Nintendo fan's nightmare.

 

[driverdis]

Now that Facebook owns Oculus, yes I do believe Sony's headset will be a success. especially for games where the developers dislike Facebook (like Mojang's Notch) who will not make Oculus compatible with Minecraft as he dislikes them.

 

[nando]

long answer, No.