I believe that VR headsets should be platform agnostic peripherals, like monitors, or controllers, and I really dislike how Facebook is trying to take it the exact opposite direction. I realize...
I believe that VR headsets should be platform agnostic peripherals, like monitors, or controllers, and I really dislike how Facebook is trying to take it the exact opposite direction. I realize that many people don't have PC's, so are unable to play non-standalone headsets, but I think it's still possible to make standalone headsets that are platform agnostic. Possibilities for this could include connecting to a mobile device, like a phone or a compute unit, and having a separate way to hook up the headset to a PC, as a generic SteamVR/OpenXR device.
Another issue I have with Oculus that ties into this is the need to log into Facebook to use your headset. While some compare this to needing to log into steam, or Microsoft to use the index or WMR headsets, personally I think that's a bad comparison. The primary reason I think that's a bad comparison is that unlike Steam or Microsoft, Facebook's TOS requires you to create an account with a real identity, and will periodically disable accounts until the user provides them with some proof of identity. Also, I'm pretty sure it is possible to run SteamVR and install apps from the Microsoft Store without an account, if you're willing to jump through some hoops.
I think that VR has a lot of potential, but the direction it's going in is decidedly subar, and a bit dystopian. I feel like if monitors were invented today, you'd have to make an account to use them, and there'd be Dell/HP/... monitor exclusives.
Reviews are starting to come out as well, I'll add more if I come across good ones: Ars Technica - Review: We do not recommend the $299 Oculus Quest 2 as your next VR system The Verge - Oculus...
Reviews are starting to come out as well, I'll add more if I come across good ones:
It strikes me particularly strange that the Verge thinks to put "socially awkward" on it's list of bad points. The entire point of virtual reality is that you are not in the shared reality. VR is...
It strikes me particularly strange that the Verge thinks to put "socially awkward" on it's list of bad points. The entire point of virtual reality is that you are not in the shared reality. VR is never going to be not socially awkward. Except maybe when we develop Star Trek style holodecks.
I do think it is a factor though. I have a headset, and both my wife and I enjoy playing VR games, but we've talked about how neither of us actually wants to play them very often because it...
I do think it is a factor though. I have a headset, and both my wife and I enjoy playing VR games, but we've talked about how neither of us actually wants to play them very often because it effectively cuts us off from each other while playing.
If I'm just playing a normal game we can still talk with each other whenever, she'll come watch me play for a bit in between whatever else she's doing, sometimes we'll play single-player games "together" where we take turns while the other person watches, and so on. None of that really works with a VR game, and it feels more isolating for both of us.
Honestly, I think my best experiences with VR so far have been multiplayer. And the only person I've played multiplayer with was playing on a standard PC without VR. I'm far too socially awkward...
Honestly, I think my best experiences with VR so far have been multiplayer. And the only person I've played multiplayer with was playing on a standard PC without VR.
I'm far too socially awkward to go through any of it personally, but it seems that a really popular VR meta-genre are glorified get-togethers (think VR Chat). So while VR games are going to isolate you from people in the actual reality, it can still be used as a tool to connect people.
I believe that VR headsets should be platform agnostic peripherals, like monitors, or controllers, and I really dislike how Facebook is trying to take it the exact opposite direction. I realize that many people don't have PC's, so are unable to play non-standalone headsets, but I think it's still possible to make standalone headsets that are platform agnostic. Possibilities for this could include connecting to a mobile device, like a phone or a compute unit, and having a separate way to hook up the headset to a PC, as a generic SteamVR/OpenXR device.
Another issue I have with Oculus that ties into this is the need to log into Facebook to use your headset. While some compare this to needing to log into steam, or Microsoft to use the index or WMR headsets, personally I think that's a bad comparison. The primary reason I think that's a bad comparison is that unlike Steam or Microsoft, Facebook's TOS requires you to create an account with a real identity, and will periodically disable accounts until the user provides them with some proof of identity. Also, I'm pretty sure it is possible to run SteamVR and install apps from the Microsoft Store without an account, if you're willing to jump through some hoops.
I think that VR has a lot of potential, but the direction it's going in is decidedly subar, and a bit dystopian. I feel like if monitors were invented today, you'd have to make an account to use them, and there'd be Dell/HP/... monitor exclusives.
Reviews are starting to come out as well, I'll add more if I come across good ones:
It strikes me particularly strange that the Verge thinks to put "socially awkward" on it's list of bad points. The entire point of virtual reality is that you are not in the shared reality. VR is never going to be not socially awkward. Except maybe when we develop Star Trek style holodecks.
I do think it is a factor though. I have a headset, and both my wife and I enjoy playing VR games, but we've talked about how neither of us actually wants to play them very often because it effectively cuts us off from each other while playing.
If I'm just playing a normal game we can still talk with each other whenever, she'll come watch me play for a bit in between whatever else she's doing, sometimes we'll play single-player games "together" where we take turns while the other person watches, and so on. None of that really works with a VR game, and it feels more isolating for both of us.
Honestly, I think my best experiences with VR so far have been multiplayer. And the only person I've played multiplayer with was playing on a standard PC without VR.
I'm far too socially awkward to go through any of it personally, but it seems that a really popular VR meta-genre are glorified get-togethers (think VR Chat). So while VR games are going to isolate you from people in the actual reality, it can still be used as a tool to connect people.