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This is Why I Can’t Get Into VR Right Now

There are plenty of small reasons why VR bugs me, but none of them really matter when compared to the biggest reason of all.

VR tech is evolving too quickly.

Right now we starting to see a surge in VR. Suddenly it went from being that gimmick that 12 people owned to being super hypy and all over CES. Now it's growing even more as VIVE announces their "Pro" headset... as if the $600+ price tag of the non-pro wasn't discouraging. 

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The new resolution on this VIVE pro is 2880 x 1600, which is a 78% improvement over the original. That right there should scare you away from buying a pro because you know they're going to quickly innovate again.

It's the same conundrum I find myself in when I go to buy a graphics card. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the minute I buy that graphics card a newer and better one will be announced. That's tech in general, I get it, but this is the newest shiny in the industry. It's the toy everyone wants, the tech everyone is experimenting with, and it's ripe for innovation.

Absolutely none of the above is a bad thing if you have a million dollars.

I will be sitting on the sidelines until this tech stabilizes and then either becomes mainstream or fizzles out. Either way, I think I'll win.

As for games, unless you like tech demos, ports, or perverted anime crap there's still no major reason to drop the big bucks on this tech. We're on the verge of this changing, which is yet an even bigger reason to wait. Better tech = more tech demos = more games = perfected games over time.

Waiters will win here.

    • AR is certainly going to be the tech of choice because of its mainstream accessibility. But that’ll happen on a mobile device level, not via a computer or console headset.

      • VR isolates the gamer. When I game I have netflix on, espn on my tablet , surfing on my laptop…4 or 5 screens and I know I’m not alone in that…VR takes that away. Maybe in the after i’m dead future all of that will exist but an AR headset allows the possibility for me to remain social while gaming.

  • “As for games, unless you like tech demos, ports, or perverted anime crap there’s still no major reason to drop the big bucks on this tech”
    Yeah, or racing games/ simulators, or flight/ space games and simulators, genres where the current generation of VR gear actually gives the player a completely new level of immersion that no other upgrade on the planet can compete with…
    VR might not make sense for you, but that’s not the same as it being in a bad place for everyone else.
    Also, if you bought the current gen headset at launch you will have had two years of use before an upgraded version hits the shelves, that’s not bad at all imo. If you keep waiting for the next upgrade before buying you’ll never get on the train, development on this had merely started and we’ll see massive upgrades to it for years to come.
    And, it’s not like a new version coming out makes your old one unusable, if you enjoyed it yesterday you can enjoy it tomorrow.

    Lastly, I have zero interest in AR, I think the tech is cool and it’ll have it’s applications in many fields I think, but for gaming it’s just not interesting for me. I don’t want to have the game displayed on top of my livingroom, I want to be visually taken away from my livingroom into another world.

    • Totally agree with proximo. Playing elite dangerous in vr every evening while listening to podcasts and exploring the galaxy was such a unique gaming experience.

      I’m not worried about the vr resolution increases because it’s really consumer pc limited right now. It’s nice to have a variety of resolutions available, since very few consumer pcs can even run the current vive resolution.

      I’ve said it before here, but even if another vr experience never came out, I absolutely got my value out of the vive. Way more time in vr than on my PS4, and demoing to friends is priceless.

    • Sure, there are a couple of neat experiences and even a game or two. Elite Dangerous is the one most people will tout.

      Having one or two games to play really doesn’t make sense to me with a $600 headset, though.

      Despite a complete lack of games, it’s the tech purchase that scares me. It’s only going to get better. So, for someone like me, the biggest reason to wait is so that I can benefit more later.

      If you have the money to buy a VR headset and don’t mind the tech evolving quickly after your purchase — and we’re now at that point — then awesome, you can enjoy the couple of games out there. Nothing wrong with that.

      • Having spent $2000 on wheel and pedals to drive my racing simulators I don’t find the price of the headset to be that off putting. But then again racing was all I did for three years straight, no other games or hobbies.

        Is VR worth the investment? Yes I think so, unless you rarely play games that work in VR.
        Is it ready for mainstream adoption? No not yet, I can agree on that.

        I don’t think I’ll ever be interested in playing mmos like wow or guild wars in VR, doesn’t make sense to me.

      • If you enjoy it and spending $2k on peripherals and tech makes sense, that’s awesome.

        I was never able to get into driving/racing games. I don’t like cars or driving in RL, either.

        MMOs in VR are probably 15 years away. The tech is too restrictive, and the experiences are too shallow even outside of VR, so adopting the technology early would be a stupid idea for that genre.

        Driving/racing games are probably the best route. Sit in your chair and drive. As soon as you have to stand up and move around, VR starts to suck.

      • Orbus (a KickStarter MMO) has really opened my eyes to what’s possible. Based on what it’s doing I think 15 years may be a bit pessimistic. You should take a look.

    • Yep agree with all this.

      And AR seems great for casual, social gamers. VR is for serious, immersive gaming. When I game I get into the game, so I am more interested in VR. I don’t play games with 5 other screens and netflix as someone else here said, AR is perfect for them.

  • Honestly I’ve just been waiting for VR to get to the point that it replaces a monitor. Imagine kicking back in a recliner, or bed or a comfortable couch and gaming that way. Even with mouse and kb – just being able to replace the constant need for sitting at the proper position/ angle to see your monitor perfectly and not incur arthritis – VR is the way out of that restriction. I have my PC hooked up to a 4K tv and games look awesome in that resolution. But I’d be happy for a 1080p non-pixellated no screen door effect monitor projected onto my face – VR games as a secondary distraction.

    • Wearing the heavy headset — esepcially with glasses — is a huge detractor for me. I’d rather look at a monitor than wearing 5 pounds on my head. I’m eagerly awaiting the day when the headsets of weightless and fit me like my glasses.

  • Hmds should really be considered a specialty monitor rather than a gaming console. The monitor tech is always evolving too, but I don’t mind buying a 4K now knowing 8k is coming.

    It’s the gaming rig that’s the biggest purchase. If you want to go to a much higher res hmd at 90fps you need a monster that will run you at least 2k. 600 bucks for a niche monitor that enables a bunch of new experiances is reasonable
    IMO.

    In regards to there only being a few really cool long games to sink your teeth into with vr I have two responses (I also don’t think vr will ever be a non-stop multi hour experience type thing). First, the same could be said for many Nintendo consoles (how many people bought a console just for botw and a Mario game)? Second, all the short garage dev games are often cheap/free and really interesting to try. I have a blast checking out all the different unpolished ways people are experimenting with gameplay mechanics. Feels like the Wild West of entertainment right now.

    Just shedding some light on the things I enjoy about having one, and I totally get that I’m in the minority of people that appreciate it. I wouldn’t recommend that my mom go run out and buy vr.

    • I raced for about 3 hours non stop on the Rift DK2, so multi hours is not a problem at all imo.
      But ymmv, some feel eye strain, some feel a bit claustrophobic, nauseous or just tired after a short while.

      • Sorry I should have said long stretches of standing VR for the average consumer. Because you’re right, I also have spent hours and hours in elite.

      • Even long stretches sitting, I am nauseated and get a headache pretty bad. Obviously unique to each individual. I think it’s also related to wearing glasses.

      • It is indeed highly individual. I wear glasses too but the only issues I had was the headset lenses fogging up.
        Didn’t feel the weight of the headset was an issue and newer designs are lighter and more comfy.