Virtual Reality. Is it the next big thing in gaming? Most within the industry seem to think so. and now, EA’s CEO Andrew Wilson thinks that it could well be – but that doesn’t quite mean that EA”s jumping on the VR bandwagon just yet.
EA’s more concerned about how people consume games, than the technology with which they do so. They’re focused on the “modality of play.”
What on earth does that mean?
"When we think about making games today, we think less about the technology or the means of experiencing the game, and we think more about the modality of play," Wilson said to Polygon at SXSW. "So, how are you trying to interact with that game?"
It comes down to how you physically interact with the games you play.
"There’s the ‘lean back’ modality, which is, I’m sitting in my living room across from an 80-inch TV, 7.1 surround sound, and I want high-def, high fidelity, highly immersive entertainment," Wilson said. "That’s the first modality that we have to sort of fulfill for games. The second is the ‘lean in’ modality; that’s kind of the PC type, where you have a lot of drive for shooters, RPGs and RTS-type games. Irrespective of what computer is driving it, there’s this proximity you have to the experience and that’s the style you want to play that.
"The third is the ‘lean over,’” says Wilson, talking about being hunched over a phone or tablet. “…that mobile modality, whether it’s a phone or a tablet, but this idea of ‘I’m here and I’m playing like this,"
Virtual Reality, says Wilson, would be the “fourth modality.”
"When I look at any of the VR devices, I look at that not in terms of ‘What is that device going to deliver,’ but a desire for gamers to have a different type of modality — the ‘Get In’ type of modality, right," Wilson said. "That might be delivered to you through a headset, or through some hologram that evolves out of your living room floor.
"The thing I challenge my team to right now is, ‘Listen, there’s clearly a desire to add a modality of play to the three we’re currently focused on. I don’t know who the technology partner is that’s going to deliver that modality for us, but let’s start thinking now about the experiences […] so that we can deliver experiences that make sense for you; experiences that deliver on the promise and the fantasy of being inside a video game."
What I understand from all of that, based on what little I know of EA..is that they’ll start seriously looking at Virtual Reality as a way to make games once they’re convinced they can make enough money from it. Fair enough, really.
Last Updated: March 10, 2014
MakeItLegal
March 10, 2014 at 07:56
I think Ea should focus on finishing games , perfect example , had to reload my system yesterday , couldn’t play battlefield 4 cause of this web plugin that downloads and downloads and you install and install but nothing happends ( Adobe flash player ) sorted it for me , but no one had a fix online all sorts of people suffering the same thing with no offical comment
Seriously probberly the last time I get something from ea …
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:14
EA can’t finish things because they have ADD as well as OH LOOK A SHINY!!!
Brenz
March 10, 2014 at 08:22
EA release tactic:
Release game once playable but not necessarily for a long time before a problem.
Promise for fixes while keeping a keen eye on the bank balance.
Once target bank balance reached, stop all work on fixes and ignore the community.
Start next project.
Profit.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:25
And it just keeps getting repeated because they found out gamers are gullible & have the memory span of goldfish.
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:30
Have you heard about this great new game called Titanfail? Apparently its a metaphor for the entire of EA’s business practices.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:43
Funnily enough I don’t have a problem with Titanfall. I don’t give a crap about it because it doesn’t interest me, but I don’t want to see it fail. It actually looks a pretty solid game, for people who like online MP only.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:27
And then you get gamers actually defending that. Idiots. All because they can’t live without one stupid game. One game won’t change your life.
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:36
Unless its COD. That’ll change anyone’s life. Either through the forced suicide, or through the brain malfunction that occurs, resulting in the annual purchase of the same game.
Brenz
March 10, 2014 at 08:37
Sometimes I walk into the shop and buy a game that I already have, just so I can feel normal.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:23
And the shiny thing distracting them is all the money being thrown at them for unfinished products.
MAKE IT RAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN!
hillbilly gamer
March 10, 2014 at 08:18
I stop buying EA games since the Origin privacy debacle.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:07
Okay I just finished my coffee. Screw VR. I play games to escape reality, not to be dumped into a different type of reality that I know is fake. If I want an illusion I’ll get married, have 2.5 kids & live happily ever after.
This will not makes games better or more fun, if anything it’ll make them less so for one simple reason. They’ll spend more time playing with their shiny new VR tech than building a good game. Add to that you WILL have to pay a premium for whatever peripherals you’ll have to have to play those games, and of course games prices WILL go up even further because reasons, even though they’ll say it won’t happen. We’ve heard this story before & Vaas already explained the definition of madness.
Screw VR. More coffee.
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:16
The price of gaming is pretty ridiculous already, so VR + more price increases? Yeah, coffee’s good. Upvote for you sir.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:24
I’m contemplating mug no.3 – but I’ve only been here an hour.
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:28
I’m yet to have my first. I should probably get on that right now. lol
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 10, 2014 at 08:37
How can one have 2 and a half kid? O_o
Think I need a cup of coffee 1st before reading this shit 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:38
The half-kid is in a wheelchair. That way I get to park in front @ the shopping centre. WIN!
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 10, 2014 at 08:40
I was thinking more of a vertical split than a horizontal split… I told you I need coffee O_o
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:44
If it was split vertically I’d have to get a Segway instead of a wheelchair.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 10, 2014 at 08:45
Half a Segway 😛
Brenz
March 10, 2014 at 08:40
Thats what we like to call: looking at the brighter side of life.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:39
Or I got bored half way through making one. I can do this all day, but I probably shouldn’t.
Brenz
March 10, 2014 at 08:41
Thats happened to me before, except I wasnt trying to make one, and I was very drunk. Not really alike after all I suppose.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:42
lol
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
March 10, 2014 at 08:53
He was talking about the world average where the average is 2.5 kids per couple
*Captain obvious to the rescue!*
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 09:07
lol. Who was that masked man?!
RinceThis
March 10, 2014 at 08:43
Wow bro, good start to the week!
oVg PAYNE
March 10, 2014 at 08:49
2.5 kids? shame, I hope you get to keep the top half 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:52
No ways. I’d have to talk to it & feed it. I can rent out the bottom half to the poo protesters.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
March 10, 2014 at 09:11
Move to Canada. The fertility rate there is only 1.66 children per woman.
As per your comment, I think this smells of someone who is genuinely disheartened by the current state of gaming affairs globally and who no longer trust the big wigs in the industry to do naught more than make a few dollars off your “gaming experience”.
While I understand this position, I prefer to look at the addition of new technology as an avenue for change. It is only with wild new paths for visionaries to undertake will our gaming experiences as we know them now be changed. EA won’t be leading us down that road. But a new big name in the industry could. And they could have standards higher than those currently entrenched in the industry.
Have hope. There is light. Somewhere. 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 09:25
I’m too old & cynical for hope.
I’m all for new technology, I just like it to come with realistic expectations.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 10, 2014 at 08:09
I’m not against VR in all honesty, Rift looks amazing and I would totally buy that shiz! I don’t think it’s the next BIG thing though. Just another pass fad like 3D
JustAnotherGamer
March 10, 2014 at 08:25
Virtual Reality is a fad and worse an excersise in money-grabbing. It’s like the kinect and the whole motion gaming nonsense – filled with promises on the back of pillaging our wallets.
Brenz
March 10, 2014 at 08:30
Hence why EA has taken notice all of a sudden.
“Did someone say theres wallets to be pillaged, well then, lets have a look shall we.”
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:31
Only problem is that unless you’re in consumerist America, you won’t have the 12 credit cards to pay for the thing, or its games. Trevor said it all below.
Brenz
March 10, 2014 at 08:32
Luckily I think I will be able to manage without it, only just.
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:32
Damn your quick edits. >_>
Brenz
March 10, 2014 at 08:34
hehe, I did a quick edit cos I thought I might be misunderstood 🙂
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:37
Yeah, had to refresh and edit myself. 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 08:35
Only PC Vikings are supposed to be pillaging. FREEEEEEEEEEEEEDOM2P!
Kromas
March 10, 2014 at 08:32
Oh god EA found out about VR. Incoming $20 DLC to enable it on every game.
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:33
And then the 5Gb patches to stop the game from crashing after having bought the DLC.
Kromas
March 10, 2014 at 08:38
you mean the 5 Gb patch that first breaks it and the 5 Gb patch 2 months later that “fixes” it.
ToshZA
March 10, 2014 at 08:39
That’s the one, yeah.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
March 10, 2014 at 08:41
What about the primary modality? Wanting to enjoy a game because gameplay is good? Serious? I’m not trying to troll. But EA seems so focused on what medium they are using to push the games on but don’t seem to be taking a step back and going “But what about how enjoyable it is regardless of where it’s being played on?”
oVg PAYNE
March 10, 2014 at 08:53
GOOD, my lawn needs a trim.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2014 at 09:06
tee hee. I’m not going there.
JustAnotherGamer
March 10, 2014 at 09:48
Anyone know how titanfail is doing? Is it bombing in sales?
Brian Murphy
March 10, 2014 at 17:18
Well, look at it this way, VR could be to video games, what monitors have been to PC gaming for the past several decades. If you hadn’t known that monitor resolution was ahead of TV resolution for ages, well, you do now. Monitors have been kicking ass and taking names for ages….if the VR headset provides that kind of resolution to a console for a moderate price (when compared to say…a 4K ready TV), and of course, provided it’s comfortable, usable with glasses, doesn’t strain the eyes etc…. who knows?
Granted, it won’t be cost-effective from a local MP (Imagine a local MP game though, where each of your friends has one of these on…no more having to share for games where split-screen takes up space/gives unfair info into positioning etc…), or family point of view. But, if you’re flying stag…it seems logical.