Virtual Reality, like stereoscopic 3D, comes back every decade to try and convince us that staring at a 2D screen just isn’t good enough. The 90’s saw a number of head-mounted Virtual reality units that were meant to take gaming to a new level – including the iGlasses from Virtual IO.
Check this out, from 1995.
Considering roughly none of you have ever heard of these, it’s safe to say that they just didn’t take off. the biggest problem with these sort of things is that they’re pretty expensive, heavy, unwieldy – and make people want to throw up.
Lately, we’ve been hearing a heck of a lot of noise about a Virtual Reality revolution, thanks mostly to the Oculus Rift, which looks to address these issues and make consumer-level Virtual Reality a viable platform. Pretty much the very things that Virtual I-O promised in 1995.
The Rift has high-res screens, lower latency, better head- and positional tracking, low persistence and importantly, support from Valve. It’s also got tech people like John Carmack excited enough to leave the company he founded, id, to concentrate entirely on VR.
Having used the Rift, I have to say that it really is impressive, and could potentially lead to some incredibly immersive experiences (possibly too immersive, but that’s a different argument). It’s undoubtedly an exciting bit of technology – but will it actually revolutionise games, or is it all a novelty gimmick, with history set to repeat itself?
Last Updated: January 17, 2014
ElimiNathan
January 17, 2014 at 10:31
I think it USED to be a gimmick, with things like Oculus Rift coming out its becoming more and more of a revolution IMO
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 10:47
Good point
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 17, 2014 at 10:50
IF the game devs adopt if, and IF it works without you developing massive neck muscles (from the strain of the heavy equipement), and IF it is affordable etc
ElimiNathan
January 17, 2014 at 10:51
Of course 🙂
RockMossel2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:32
LOOL! I started playing this game about 3 weeks ago! Those neck muscles from headbanging!
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 17, 2014 at 11:58
That game has me in stitches permanently
Spathi
January 17, 2014 at 10:34
Way of life… Can’t wait for the first working holodeck!
Hammersteyn
January 17, 2014 at 10:45
Holodeck yes, Wearing a helmet or goggles no.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 10:47
Aye aye
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 10:38
It’s a gimmicky gimmick for gimmick lovers, that’ll never be more than a gimmick right now. GIMMICK! Say NO to giant gimmick headsets.
Which isn’t to say it’s a cool piece of technology, just that it’s a… erm… gimmick.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 17, 2014 at 10:41
I reckon it will still be more successful than 3D has been.
From what I’ve seen, it seems like it will make the jump from gimmick to main stream once it hits consumer level
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 17, 2014 at 10:42
Vaporware…
ALKi1234
January 17, 2014 at 10:43
What version Rift did you try Geoffrey?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 17, 2014 at 10:47
HD Prototype. Would /love/ to give the Crystal Cove a bash.
ALKi1234
January 17, 2014 at 11:55
Lucky bugger….I still believe playstation move Tech would work better with the head tracking instead of the Crystal cove prototype.but hay if it works why not.
BacchusZA
January 18, 2014 at 11:50
The number of LEDs they’ve plastered all over the Crystal Cove suggests to me it’ll be *very* precise & work very well. I mean, my TrackIR with just 3 LEDs works extremely well, so I can’t help but think something with 10+ is going to be something special.
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 10:44
Better than 3D, still a gimmick….What will revolutionize gaming is the destruction of CoD
Hammersteyn
January 17, 2014 at 10:44
G G G G G G G G G G G G Gimmick
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 10:45
T T T Tim Tim Timmeh!!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 10:47
LOL
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 10:45
M M M M Monstrous waste of time 😉
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 17, 2014 at 10:57
And of M M M M M Money
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 10:47
I’m not sure, whatever it is, I just hope we are not milked
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 10:49
Chances?
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 10:49
Chances = EA level
BacchusZA
January 18, 2014 at 11:48
It’s not going to be cheap, especially with the way the Rand is in free-fall against the dollar, but it likely won’t be “expensive” in context. Palmer Levy has said since day one that the device is aimed at the the average gamer, & will be in the $300-400 region. So yeah, it’ll sting, but we’re talking mid-upper range graphics cards prices rather than R10k+
Kensei Seraph
January 17, 2014 at 10:50
I’m looking forward to trying it out for myself but there’s a good chance it’ll go the way of it’s predecessors.
That being said I’d be one of the first to jump on should they get true VR gaming, even though if there is a SAO incident I wouldn’t make it past the first week.
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 10:54
ROFLOL!!!!!! I would die in the first hour!….That is partially why I’m afraid of VR
Kensei Seraph
January 17, 2014 at 13:13
I’d stay in the city for a few days, hence surviving nearly a week.
Anon A Mouse
January 17, 2014 at 10:54
I think it is a gimmick at the moment, but with the fact that there are actually a few heavy weights behind this product, I will not be surprised if you get VR contact lenses in a few year’s time. I think some technology needed to make this truly mainstream isn’t available yet but companies are starting to take note.
Take Google Glass as an example, I’m sure someone in already trying to incorporate that into some sort of 3D / VR kind of application. But for now it’s good technology, just not very user friendly.
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 17, 2014 at 10:54
LOL! I upset some people already the other day with my views on the current state of VR – or as I see it “a rehashed 90s fad”.
It’s bulky and impractical, just like in 1995. It’s popular now because most people raving about it were too young to remember it last time around.
*prepares for many down-votes*
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 17, 2014 at 11:00
What this Cheesey fella said!
Hammersteyn
January 17, 2014 at 11:05
What we need is VR contact lenses, to really really immerse us in the game
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:09
Pfff implant to direct brain streaming
Hammersteyn
January 17, 2014 at 11:20
Johnny Nemonic!!!
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 17, 2014 at 11:09
Not necessarily contact lenses, those are a bit too invasive. I’m happy for Google Glass-style equipment that is light-weight and portable. Not a permanently-worn gadget though, I still feel that is as silly as those stupid Bluetooth earpieces. 😛
Heck, with Bluetooth it could pair with our phones and we could play our mobile games / browse net etc. at any time. If it’s portable enough it could be taken out and worn anytime and anywhere.
Brady miaau
January 17, 2014 at 11:14
Have an upvote instead.
I too remember all that crap from the early 90’s. Lawnmower Man indeed. I was so tired of the phrase “Mind Blowing” in relation to the movie.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 11:33
I refuse to read or watch anything that has been described as a “tour de force”. It’s critic-speak for utter crap.
Rags
January 17, 2014 at 11:31
You got downvotes because you said their has been no innovation for the device in the last 20 years 😉
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 17, 2014 at 11:38
Yup, and in my opinion apart from the stereoscopic support there still hasn’t been; it’s still bulky and runs on a cord.
Supporting higher resolutions and the latest graphics engines isn’t innovation, it’s the same thing that was used to market it 20 years ago. 😉
Rags
January 17, 2014 at 11:56
By your criteria there cannot be any innovation of anything since it is still the same thing. Its like saying there has been no innovation in cars over the last century because you still sit in it and have to drive from point A to B. Never mind all the new technology, safety and things that make it better, it is still a car. What you really want is a teleportation device. 😛
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 17, 2014 at 12:09
Not really, bud. 🙂
I understand your point that cars are still driving on four wheels with
you in it getting from point A to B, you’re absolutely right. Innovation though has caused cars to be faster, more economical fuel-wise, safer in a collision, have better sound systems and are more comfortable drive. They’re designed to play part of our way of life, not *just* a form of transport.
I’m not seeing that innovation with these VR headsets. Evolution, yes. Revolution, no.
geelslang
January 17, 2014 at 13:10
Maybe they had the right idea back in the 90s but not the technology to implement it correctly, and now the technology exists?
geelslang
January 17, 2014 at 13:18
Not really, I just couldnt understand your negative attitute towards it. I dont like Justin Bieber, but I dont hate him, I just ignore him.
Actually, most people agree with you that it will fail so dont expect too many downvotes.
BacchusZA
January 18, 2014 at 09:03
Heh I’m sure you’ll agree that I’m anything but too young to remember the original VR stuff from the ’90s, and I’m **very** excited about the direction the OR & things like the Leap Motion can take us 😉
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 10:56
Give me this
http://backgroundhdwallpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sword-Art-Online-Kirito-Background-HD-Wallpaper.jpg
Minus the death penalty
@Kensei Seraph:disqus
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 17, 2014 at 12:22
Okay, now *that* is an uncomfortable VR headset. 😉
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 17, 2014 at 10:59
Thing is, I’m old enough to remember the VR craze of the 90s, so I honestly can’t see it as something other than a gimmick. We’re still essentially taping two TV sets to our eyes.
I can see some potential in VR (from Flight sims, to car sims to even an interactive detective game), but Kinect has taught us one thing, the promises of true innovation and revolution are never guaranteed. Even to this day, developers struggle to make sense of Kinect, because of the control issue. Of course, VR is not Kinect, and the control issue isn’t an issue, but the buck stops with how developers will use the system and how it’s to be implemented. In that regard, I have very little faith in VR. I also have very little faith in VR units that will be cost-effective – which as you’ll remember was one of the many reasons it failed 15 years ago.
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 17, 2014 at 11:05
Showing your age Banana Man! lol
Don’t worry, I remember it a bit too… even though I was quite young.
RinceThis2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:31
You’re also probably old enough to remember being inside the Apple 2 *runs
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 17, 2014 at 11:33
Inside an Apple 2? Mmmm… SCSI ports were so sexy!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:34
O_O
Also lulz since of the flatness of your *ahem* “member” required to fit in scsi…
Devourer of Small Bunnies
January 17, 2014 at 11:01
Biggest gimmick on the planet. Lets face it, who is going to sit and play all their games with a sunglasses case strapped to your face? I mean honestly?
some of you knwo the woes of setting up an Eye/Wii/Kinect. Other than being a plain pain in the ass it was slow, innaccurate, cumbersome and needlessly complicated. Do you think this will change now that its an output device? Certainly not. Fucksake, the thing is still wired??
Give me something useful and relevant to the market. Why not a multilayer LCD screen for proportionally better depth? 180 degree curving/bendable screens? Fuck, Holograms. We are at the peak of human techonological prowess but all they can come out with is a pair of glasses that would make Steve Urkel look like Chris Hemsworth with contacts.
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 17, 2014 at 11:01
Wii was the best working device of said peripherals
Willem Swanepoel
January 17, 2014 at 11:05
Gimmick…Oculus is a waste of money…
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 17, 2014 at 11:06
It’s a gimmick for those people that have nothing better to do with their money… and have too much space in their house
Uberutang
January 17, 2014 at 11:10
The Rift and Valves new prototype is going to change things dramatically in the gaming space.
I have put all screen buying in my house on hold, I would rather get a few of these for tv and movies (and games!)
Oculus founder Palmer Luckey on stage, he’s doing this session
Palmer says Valve’s VR experience is the best VR tech demo in the world right now
http://steamdb.info/blog/
http://garry.tv/2014/01/16/steam-dev-days-day-1/
http://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/1vc9gz/im_a_dev_that_got_to_try_valves_vr_demo
Ricardo Harvey
January 17, 2014 at 11:12
REVOLUTION and I cant wait!!! bye bye big screen tv’s
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 17, 2014 at 11:23
hello, tiny but massive eye googles and constant orthopaedic and optometrist fees and appointments 😛
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:26
And chiropractor for incorrect postures etc
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 11:29
EA Medical Services. Fake doctors fixing fake reality injuries.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:33
O_O
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 17, 2014 at 11:39
I can see the lawsuits already!
Billy Bakey and co vs EA, SONY, Microsoft, Carmack Industries etc.
It will make the tobacco lawsuits look insignificant.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 11:41
He’ll lose because he didn’t read his EULA which gave them ownership of his body 😛
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 17, 2014 at 11:42
Muahaahahahah! “Your Spleen belongs to us Now!” EA’s EULA
Ricardo Harvey
January 17, 2014 at 11:36
Still cheaper than a 4k TV.
RockMossel2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:39
You know what you are doing know? Sounding just like my mom did when I sat infront of the TV for hours all those years ago. And my eyes are perfect! lol no, they are actually quite shit. But I blame that on genetics! But seriously though…has there been studies done on the effect this will have on ones eyes?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 17, 2014 at 11:41
Not that I know of, but that’s definitely going to be an issue.
Rags
January 17, 2014 at 11:49
Probably the same effect as looking at an LDC screen. Some temporary eye strain. Otherwise harmless.
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 17, 2014 at 11:50
If it’s the same stereoscopic tech behind the one used for 3D movie glasses then I’m in for one HECK of a headache using these headsets. Studies aren’t required, ask anyone that gets a headache from 3D movies. 😉
Uberutang
January 17, 2014 at 13:15
Yes. You can sit as close to a screen at any age without any damage at all. Urban myth that people take for gospel.
If you do it 24×7 you might get under developed eye muscles, but your eyesight will be the same.
CrasH
January 17, 2014 at 11:13
Is that a gimick on your head or are you able to see me…
Brady miaau
January 17, 2014 at 11:13
What is VR?
Can someone give me a solid definition? I think not really.
Will it be cool? yes. Will it be practical? not so sure. Try playing a game with VR helmet on with your wife / husband home? Yeah, that sounds interesting.
Seems to be in the hands of marketers now.
LollyDaLolDragon
January 17, 2014 at 11:17
VR.. next step in porn.. whooohoo
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 11:19
If there’s anything that’ll stop it from being a gimmick it’s porn, not games.
RockMossel2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:41
It’s like you’re there! Participating! lol better not let Lardus learn of this.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 11:44
There was an article posted a while back, I think by Darryn (because who else), with a prototype 3D porn setup with various… peripherals. :/
RinceThis2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:46
I saw that. Horror 0-O
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:48
heh, “peripherals”
Jikes
RinceThis2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:32
Where is OVG when you need a rant about VR?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 17, 2014 at 11:34
You mean OVRG?
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 17, 2014 at 11:35
lolz!
RinceThis2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:44
lulz
RockMossel2014
January 17, 2014 at 11:34
Actually I dont know if you guys have experienced 3D in the new Digital cinemas from ster kinekor…it’s absolutely fantastic! I used to hate 3D, but you can actually see depth this time and I found myself ducking for arrows in The Hobbit!
SheHulkNigri
January 17, 2014 at 12:03
I have not had the same experience, honestly. From where I sat, it was still crap.
RockMossel2014
January 17, 2014 at 12:05
Damn that sucks. Maybe the one I went to had a higher resolution? Also I was sitting in the middle, it might make a difference…dont know.
geelslang
January 17, 2014 at 12:41
I saw avatar in 3d on Imax and still dindt like it. It always look blurry to me. Dont know it the tech have changed since then.
RockMossel2014
January 17, 2014 at 13:20
The new cinemas (in Tyger Valley) are basically HD. I was quite impressed. Like I said, you can actually se depth, and I don’t mean you can see that a guy is standing infront of a tree. I mean you can see that the tree is about 3m behind him!
Rags
January 17, 2014 at 11:35
The Ouya is a gimmick. This is the real deal. It’s totally going to change how we experience many games. And you are going to ditch your xbox, ps with GT6 game and instead get project cars, steam machine and an OR after experiencing it. 😉
Ricardo Harvey
January 17, 2014 at 11:38
Its so simple to integrate with current gaming. simply configure the right analogue stick to the players actual head movements and boom, its a much greater experience. Based on the feedback of EVERYONE that has tried out the rift it actually works
SheHulkNigri
January 17, 2014 at 12:02
If that is all that VR will do, why would I want to pay thousands of rands for it?
Ricardo Harvey
January 17, 2014 at 12:07
Why do you pay thousands of Rands for TV’s
SheHulkNigri
January 17, 2014 at 12:10
So my family can all watch movies/tv together.
Uberutang
January 17, 2014 at 13:15
Do what I will do: Get a VR set for each family member.
geelslang
January 17, 2014 at 12:45
Technology is not cheap, and being the first adopter even more expensive. I cant wait so Ill get one, you can buy the better cheapr version in 5 years time.
Kromas
January 17, 2014 at 12:27
Then the first car came out it was thought of as a gimmick.The telegraph company of america told Alexander Bell that his telephone was a gimmick. I think we should stick to a wait and see approach.
matthewlake182 .
January 17, 2014 at 17:24
Lazygamer? Lazy article… The new oculus rift demoed recently has blown away everyone that have used it. You’d have to be a fool to think this is a gimmick. They HAVE addressed issues that VR had before! The issues with VR before was that the technology was never there to make it real enough and not make you feel sick. Only in the last 2 years has real VR been a possibility. Years before were unfounded ‘hype’.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 17, 2014 at 17:51
Sorry for the confusion; this is FFD – our weekly flamebait thing, where the community lets /us/ know what they thing, based on a question. It’s not an “article” as such.
BacchusZA
January 18, 2014 at 09:22
Personally I think VR / AR could be the next big leap forward, in line with the jump that came with the first 3d cards way back when. I hear what G & others are saying that it’s an evolution rather than a revolution, & there’s certainly merit to that. But it also doesn’t automatically mean it’s a gimmick and doesn’t have the potential to be ZOMGAWESOMESAUCE!!!. It could also be crap, sure, but it’s looking like the tech has caught up to the idea, & it’s something that can actually work properly now. And it’ll only get better.
I do have an idea it may be something of a niche product though, as for some kinds of games it’s going to be phenomenal, while for others it’s going to be completely pointless. Things like simulators, driving games, and FPS stand to get the most out of this, but I really can’t see it being more than a gimmick for RTS, things like Sims, and a lot of action adventure games.
From my perspective, given the kinds of gaming I do, I cannot wait to get my hands on one of these. I’ve spent a fair amount of time (and a metric fuckton of money…..) on the DCS simulators, and I cannot overstate how big a difference just good head-tracking makes in those, with a TrackIR. Do yourself a favour & look up some videos on youtube to see what I mean.
Now combine that with an HD screen with 110′ FOV? About the only thing that could excite me more is winning the lottery, or having Kate Beckinsale return my calls.
We’re talking “I’ll be in my bunk” levels of excitement here 😉
My *only* concern with the OR is the way it completely covers your eyes, though it’s pretty much required by the design. It will mean that using the keyboard may be a challenge in games that need it though, unless you can touch type & are *very* familiar with your keyboard layout.
TL:DR Your mileage will very likely vary dramatically depending on the kind of gaming you do.