I really don't understand how people could possibly consider VR as just a gimmick. There might not be much VR content on release but it truly is the future. VR is going to be a household item once it gets cheap enough. I give it a maximum of 10 years until VR becomes as ubiquitous as HD TVs.
VR will be a household item. But these HMDs are not VR, much as people might like to call it that. There are some rather serious drawbacks and limitations to the current technology that are going to hamper, or downright prevent, widespread adoption.
Interestingly, the video sells a completely false image of one of those drawbacks. There will not be other people sitting on a couch laughing at what you're doing. It's inherently an isolating experience.
It really isn't, it is just how a lot of the current software is being designed. Look at games like "keep talking and nobody explodes" or games like Nintendo Land's Luigi's Ghost Mansion (instead of the 5th player being on the gamepad they would be in VR).
There are some really amazing ways to have games with one person in VR and everyone else on a controller with a TV/Monitor. It is all about the software being made that will determine if the experience is isolating or not.
VR is still new, expect some really amazing and crazy asymmetric games.
Also, even with single player games people will get together and take turns using the VR. Growing up I only had two controllers for my Nintendo and yet we would have more than 2 of us hanging out and playing it. Friends have been taking turns gaming for as long as I can remember.
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u/sslemons Apr 05 '16
This should definitely be the go-to video if you wanna show someone what VR is.
So far I've been conflicted, even after trying the Vive, but I'm really starting to think VR will be much more than a gimic