Virtual Reality,

The idea of immersing yourself within a virtual environment is amazing, and I had always wanted to do something like it ever since I was young, but now with inexpensive Virtual Reality coming out like Google Cardboard and PlayStation V.R. will a simple headset with controllers become a new console like the Nerve Gear? I want to know if it is possible that it could happen because V.R. is still a new technology that is usually quite pricey, such as the HTC Vive being a full-immersion V.R. kit for $800 that requires an expensive computer to operate. 

Will this new idea of immersing yourself in an environment become a new "normal" for consoles? I know for PC gamers it is already quite mainstream along with the PlayStation headset (which is about $400) yet in a cheaper way?

Do any of you guys on here think that it could truly be the next generation that everyone is talking about?

No, I doubt it'll become mainstream. It'll stay a luxury for many gamers, even with the introduction of Playstation VR. Mostly because of the fact that it's almost a luxury to own a PS4, as far as I can tell.

I'm very much interested in VR, but no, I don't think it'll define a generation since it's more just gimmicky in some situations. It'll have a following, it'll be good, but it'll never be the most popular thing solely because it's a luxury.

I do not think so. VR is still a bit expensive and cumbersome. It would be nice but I can see it leading in other directions. One is the Pokemon GO route,where gamers are not aware of  their surroundings and harm themselves or property. The other is not family-friendly.

Virtual Reality?

Honestly, I'm not that enthusiastic about it. I hear that motion sickness is an issue, and I prefer to relax when I play most of the time. Otherwise it can be hard to dedicate certain time to it.

However, the thought of having a fun way to exercise indoors is kindof appealing. Not that I expect it to be anything amazing when it starts out. Like the Wii.


I'm neutral on it, but I tend to think about other things when it comes to games.

While it's early to say if VR is really the future, I must say I'd like it to be the future.

Right now, it's still in development, so I'm sure it can get a more slim design and, over time, be not as expensive as it is now. Of course, it will only evolve if gamers show they like it, and I'm sure it'll get enough following to justify investing into its development.

A few months ago, my oculist said that he's in fact happy the VR is coming out for videogames. The surrounding environment enable your eyes to not focus in a single place, and it's this focus on a single screen what's causing the loss of vision in youngsters, so VR would allow us to have access to videogames without having to worry about the damage to our eyes.

I'm fully aware it may have its negative aspects as well, but for the first time we're capable of playing videogames bypassing the main side effect to our health. At the very least, this deserves some investigation.

Sword legion : Did you accidentally post that in the wrong thread? I don't understand what you might mean with that in regards to VR.



DragonSlayer22 - This is a hard question honestly. There are just so many variables at play in the future of VR.

Basically here's how I see it:

IF
•VR games hit and maintain the same scale and accessibility (gameplay wise) as other modern games
•VR becomes less cable ridden
•They manage to stop motion sickness and other VR related issues that are hampering the enjoyment of so many people
•Lowers in price (even PSVR, the budget solution is too expensive for many people) OR replace consoles entirely

Then yes, VR could definitely be the next step in gaming. And again, PlayStation even alluded to something similar years ago just before the PS2 launched when they aired a commercial for "PS9" which was depicted as a small ball that when held actually played the game in your mind. Obviously this wasn't to be seen as an actual advertisement, but rather a way of saying they were leading game development into it's future and to say what could eventually be possible.

My issue with VR is that right now it's really limited. It's like handheld gaming: it embraces new freedoms that console gaming cannot, while at the same time limiting itself with restrictions that console gaming doesn't have. So you gain some and you lose some. VR games right now are far too simple in comparison to say, Arkham Knight, or Shadow of Mordor and the like. At least the games I've seen have been limited. If we never manage to make VR games at least as big and immersive (gameplay and story wise) as other games, then no it'll never be able to become the next step and will always be a novelty at worst and a luxury at best.

PSVR - The cheapest serious VR option costs $399 for the headset and unit alone if I recall correctly, and $499 for the bundle that includes the move controllers and a game or two, plus a PS4 which granted most hardcore modern gamers already have, though there are many that don't. In the end, our cheapest serious VR solution is roughly $500-$600. Most people can't afford that so either VR will have to drop in price, or become the entire console. Otherwise yes, it stays a luxury.


In the end I may give in and embrace VR, but currently I don't like the idea of wearing a headset and looking like an idiot to anyone who might see me looking around at things that aren't there, or jumping when something that isn't even there seems to be in my face. Besides, as long as I can't actually feel what's going on, like say when my character picks up an item if I don't feel it in my hand, there will always be a serious disconnect in my mind that ruins it for me.

So yeah VR could be cool but it'll never be immersive enough to catch on as true VR. It could work as a "next best thing" though. I'd say give it ten years to develop before expecting it to revolutionize anything, and that's only if the developers play their cards right.

Eirinn :

Yeah, thanks for saving me. XP

I agree a lot with what you just said. The fact that it's 400$ more can hurt a lot. I mean, if we were honest, aren't mobile games making the most amount of money? And that's because of availability.

It is pretty limiting right now, and I think that it needs a few more years. I have no idea if I'll ever like it, but I do know I tend to lean towards classic games as if if that counts for anything. Been planning to play Megaman X, so we'll see what comes of that. I hear it's going to be a real treat. ^^

Honestly, I am not taking sides here.

In ways, you are all right, in others some are wrong, but I am not trying to start a war in the thread here.

I wanted to express my feelings on the subject of Virtual Reality and it was of for the most part, I think that in the next 20-50 years the Virtual and Augmented reality will have a new kind of turn to it I guess. As you can have top-of-the-line equipment now for $800 (HTC Vive) or around $500-600 with the Oculus Rift and touch controls coming in the future.

Still, the future can be a controversial topic as no one knows what's next to happen. Eventually what may happen though, is that Virtual and Augmented reality may have a new device for it, as there may be a combination of the Microsoft Hololens and the V.R. headsets to create googles that are put on and the user can interact with the internet with A.R. by default, but with the push of a button, the lenses darken and V.R. mode is activated with mini kind of wrist band controls. The idea of immersing yourself in another world is very experimental and is often regarded by others when talked about. 

Others have a fear that Virtual Reality and Reality may become too real, meaning that if you die in a game,you will die in real life over how intense it is. I honestly think that this will never happen as I tried it a couple of times and got killed in the game, nothing happened. The experience was very interesting however, as I forgot that I was in the real world trying it, taking full-immersion into the game and focusing on the enemies coming at me. 

The only affordable headsets that I can think of are the Google Cardboard, in which are about $50 with a controller. The amount of realism the game has depends on the phone that you are doing it on. 

So in all, I just wanted to express personal opinion and not wanting to start wars in the comments, I hope you guys don't get mad at what I am saying because it is just what I think on the matter.

I hope it does become mainstream because if it does, more effort and technology will Be put into the future of VR, which can make it so much better. If it doesn't mainstream then it will probably level out at the place it is, which isn't bad but it can be so much better.

I predict everything from cars to hospitals will have it. Heck, the next generation of defibrillators will require virtual reality to work.