So virtual!
The Oculus Rift; a “virtual reality” device that one affixes to their head. It shows a parallel image to each of the wearer’s eyes, utilizing the way we process images to present stereoscopic 3D view. It is an interesting piece of technology, even with its current limited usage, though some herald it as “the next step in gaming”. So, to those who place such faith in the Oculus Rift, it came as a terrible surprise that Facebook had bought out Oculus VR for a whopping two billion dollars. Immediately the outcry screeched throughout the internet, screaming at how dare Oculus VR sell out. Their future of gaming, bought out by Mark Zuckerberg!
In truth, the Oculus Rift is not the future of gaming. It is a niche peripheral suited for those interested in playing 3D compatible games with a screen inches from your eyelids. In fact, it is perhaps the buying of Oculus VR that will enable this peripheral to see the light of day. John Carmack, CTO of Oculus VR, tweeted about how the deal with Facebook will allow the company to handle the kind of growth required to release the Oculus Rift as a final product, instead of falling flat on its face. Indeed, perhaps this is preferable. Oculus VR required funding through Kickstarter to send out its first batch of developer kits, and it would be madness to continually rely upon crowd-funding to push along a quality piece of technology.
Of course, none of this matters to the masses of the internet, most of who do not, nor probably ever will, own an Oculus Rift. Never mind the fact that it is now in Facebook’s best interests to make sure the VR headset is successful, but Facebook’s healthy relationship with Microsoft nearly ensures compatibility on the Xbox One software as well as PC. Sony, revealing their Project Morpheus virtual reality system, will be out of the running on Playstation 4. The loudest cry of professional dissent has been from Minecraft creator Markus ‘Notch’ Persson, stating “We were in talks about maybe bringing a version of Minecraft to Oculus. I just cancelled that deal. Facebook creeps me out.” on his Twitter account.
Pictured: Innovation!
The greatest issue presented in the case of the Oculus Rift is perhaps the fact that it is hailed as “the next level of innovation”. Previous innovations, while often extremely successful at their narrow, desired tasks, have proven that there is little utility within the gaming hobby. The Nintendo Wii’s motion sensor was, and is, completely suited to its application. But did this “innovation” change gaming? It may have spurred Sony’s Playstation Move and Microsoft’s Kinect, but in the end much of gaming resumed its standard setup of dual analog controllers. Even Microsoft, packaging the Kinect with every Xbox One, has largely ignored application in gaming proper, instead using the camera for such things as instant sign in using facial recognition, or various voice commands.
That is not to say that innovation is a bad thing. Without the exploration into different levels and applications to enjoy gaming, the industry would be a tragic, bleak place. It is, however, not something that deems a product as revolutionary, or good. As stated before, the motion sensor technology was certainly an innovation, but it did not change the face of gaming. The Oculus Rift is an interesting piece of hardware that may provide for an exciting experience when a retail model has been made, but it will not change the face of gaming. Just as the Wii introduced motion control, completely going against the the dual analog model of Sony and Microsoft, failed to sway gaming, the extra immersiveness of the Oculus Rift will fail to rile the gaming community as a whole. Nobody will forsake their monitors and televisions.
There is also the fact that the original development kit for the Oculus Rift was known to cause motion sickness, an issue claimed to be solved with the new Crystal Core Prototype and the Oculus Rift DK2 (Development Kit 2), which is now available for pre-order. Such nauseating, or simply jerky camera work poses a personal risk for buyers and an obvious financial risk for Oculus VR. If the Oculus Rift becomes another gimmicky piece of cheap hardware then they will surely fail as a company, something Facebook will make sure does not happen.
What is your opinion on the Oculus Rift? The essential gaming peripheral of the future? Worthless trash? Whatever it is, comment below!
