LGR - HTC Vive at PAX Prime 2015
Added 2015-09-03 23:54:54 +0000 UTC
Comments
The space does become an issue really quickly. I have had several thoughts about this stuff over the last year or so and for those that want real movement, I see the omni-directional treadmills a becoming a very do-able thing. You can just keep one of those in the closet when you aren't using it and plop it down right by your computer. I had a dream about another strange system where somehow you were harnessed to something and walked in circles around it and the input system would use how far around you moved to give you directional movement in game. Somehow because it was VR, it felt like an unbroken straight line. I have no clue if it would actually feel like that in real life or not. It seems too complex and that it would break the illusion, unfortunately omni-directional treadmills aren't the best solution either because you actually have to harness yourself into the thing and that is quite a bit of hassle. But this technology is still in its infancy. It's so amazing to see people thinking so outside of the box on how to make it work. But before washing machines and dryers were a common technology, laundry rooms weren't a thing. Maybe as this technology grows, in time, there might just be rooms dedicated to it built into people's homes.
Kevin
2015-09-07 07:27:25 +0000 UTCI agree about having an arcade hall where to play with this system.
Teemu Pekkanen
2015-09-06 06:53:59 +0000 UTCRequiring the space certainly does make it sound awesome - and it's great to hear that it actually did help in terms of queasiness. The room and potential scale limits worry me a bit - in a way, it feels like it's the next level in terms of the experiences which the Rift offers. But I think like a lot of other folk, there's no way I'll be able to have a set up for it :(
Rob Caporetto
2015-09-05 09:37:24 +0000 UTCVirtual reality will always have its limits until we have the technology to build full-fledged holodecks like in Star Trek. :B Me personally, I'm more interested in augmented reality; applying computer imagery to an existing environment for productive or entertainment purposes. Imagine an augmented reality version of Pokémon... :o
Kris Asick
2015-09-05 00:33:00 +0000 UTCLike you said this looks amazingly cool, but as a lazy gamer myself I don't like all the movement needed. An ideal VR would be a mind-machine interface like the Matrix. Failing that, at least let me sit in a comfortable chair with a headset. I do not want to have to actually walk around. Might as well just stop playing games and go outside.
Zabe
2015-09-04 17:34:42 +0000 UTCI've got this sinking feeling this project will sadly fail to sell because of that. If it's on a console people may have the space for it, if the rest of the family would agree with installing two sensors on the living room ceiling. As for PC gamers.. well I don't know many that have that much space around them in their computer area. That's where the oculus rift wins in terms of practicality. I do hope I'm wrong though, this thing seems pretty nifty.
Marnix
2015-09-04 07:05:04 +0000 UTCMe too lol. Looks like we will be renting storage spaces once we get it.
Pow3rh0use
2015-09-04 03:07:11 +0000 UTCYup, space needed is a huge hurdle with this. But I want it SO BAD ANYWAY
LGR
2015-09-04 02:56:00 +0000 UTCThe only problem I see with this is the space requirements. I wonder how much it will cost at launch and when it'll be fully implemented.
Pow3rh0use
2015-09-04 02:55:16 +0000 UTCYeah, when they said the demo would "change your life forever," I laughed. Afterward, I just stood around slack-jawed. Really hoping they figure out the cable management, it's one of the very few flaws I experienced
LGR
2015-09-04 01:24:39 +0000 UTCJapan arcades also have interconnected "multiplayer VR" game machines where you pilot giant mecha. (rather than a helmet you are inside a box with screens all around)
Zabe
2015-09-04 01:20:10 +0000 UTCI tried it for the first time at PAX as well. It was definitely life changing. I really hope they work out some type of wire management solution (overhead pulley system?). I can't wait for the release and the tons of cool games and concepts to come out for it... even though we now have to wait until 2016 sometime.
Vaughn
2015-09-04 01:11:58 +0000 UTCThat is true about it being isolating, especially since it seems very easy to get totally absorbed in the virtual world you're playing with. I can see multiplayer VR being totally possible at some point, though. But right now I want to try this VR since you talked it up so much, haha. :D
Lindsay Michelle
2015-09-04 00:39:28 +0000 UTCGood point with the karaoke and bowling lanes! I know I'd pay to go enjoy some virtual reality. Although VR is, as of now, inherently antisocial. I think it'll take off even more when you can easily join in on this stuff with your friends. There are a few demos with multiplayer, but it's proving difficult to sync everyone up.
LGR
2015-09-04 00:31:57 +0000 UTCWow, I didn't realize they had so many demos out for this VR... I thought it would only be 2-3 at most -- awesome that they had so many! I wonder if this technology is ever going to be as commonplace in homes as PCs and consoles are. It does seem difficult to solve the space issue unless some company makes rooms where someone can pay per hour and play around with the VR to their heart's content. It's kind of like you were saying about getting a dedicated storage unit just for this, but this would be like, an arcade but with private empty rooms for VR... haha. I mean, it does sound kind of silly, but in Japan you can rent rooms per hour for karaoke, and people generally find it acceptable to go to a bowling alley to bowl instead of having their own private bowling lanes. This wouldn't be too much different from that, IMO.
Lindsay Michelle
2015-09-04 00:26:32 +0000 UTC
