QOTW: Are virtual-reality headsets the next big thing?

[EndlessWaves]

As a gamer I tend towards the game side of things rather than immersion, and stereoscopic head mounted displays just don't seem to have much potential to add new mechanics. I'd take a 3D haptics controller and standard display over VR goggles and a gamepad any day.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Yep,they are considering how flipping big they are!!

[iggy]

I do see it as something that would be fun to have, but the obvious issue would be Battery life

Wouldnt be as much of an issue as you might think. A phone today can go a day and a half, between charges, and the screen accounts for maybe half of the usage. anything complex the headset needs done can be offloaded to a base station connected to the pc.

[Dareos]

im not really into the total immersion thing, I dont even like wearing earphones as I feel half my senses are impaired (yes i know its only a 5th of them, or a 6th if you believe in esp, but it feels like half ) Gaming for me is as good whether its multiplayer COD or Halo on an xbox, or if its an RPG on the PC with mouse and keyboard. In some circumstances such as CoD I dont want a bigger screen etc, it works against you.

Anyways, still to try an OR or similar, and I look forward to doing so, but like 3D movies, i think its a niche crowd

[TooNice]

"VR" has been tried and failed in the past so I am not going to get my hopes out. But I will reserve judgement until I have actually tried. It would be pretty awesome if lives up to the hypes though.

[The Hand]

I'll be indulging in Sony's Project Morpheus next year, so it could well be the big thing in gaming at least.

[aidanjt]

Naw, the display technology has a considerable way to go before they match 'retina' pixel densities or better. And the the software will have a lot of work to do to appear seamless.

[Otherhand]

Yeah, I hope so. I'm just worried about the danger of too many competitors, especially low-end competitors, leaving customers either too confused about which model to buy or underwhelmed with the one they get. There are a lot of potential Betamaxes out there this time. I hope the industry has the sense to make VR/AR media friendly to as many platforms as possible.

[shaithis]

Are they the next big thing?

Only if they can't sort the nausea out. If a lot of people feel sick using them, they aren't going to sell very well and if they don't sell well, they won't be supported for long.

[cheesemp]

I'm taking the wait and see approach. I won't be spending my very limited hardware budget on tech I haven't tested. Will wait until I can try one out first.

[davesom555]

After buying and oculus dk2 (have now sold it on) - I'd say they're ok... Elite was good but in the current state there's some things that need sorting (no doubt will be by commercial release). I'd say maybe a year or so to go before they are really viable.

View fogs up too easily.
Not very good integration with windows.
Resolution needs to be better.
Less bulk.
Possibly would be a good idea to have head phones; perhaps removable for people who want speakers.
Less sickness inducing for those who feel sick (having used it for hours on end I never had the issue - wonder what causes it?)

[MustardCutter]

Fad, just like 3D, IMO

[Shordes]

Fad, just like 3D, IMO

I certainly hope VR to be the next big thing, but if not, what's the next step? Higher resolutions? More motion tracking? (Motion tracking definitely is a fad IMO)

Either way, I'm eager for Oculus' Crescent Bay!

[abaxas]

The next 'big thing' is the death of discrete graphics.

[crossy]

For home use, I'd think that VR is still in the "gadget freaks" category - I just can't see a "must have" application for it.

On the other hand, I'd be excited about the availability of relatively inexpensive, relatively good VR for business. No, I'm not thinking "total immersion PowerPoint", but for various CAD and other CAE uses.

[GuidoLS]

More like the next over-hyped thing. There's already a substantial population that cannot tolerate it in any fashion, as it causes immediate motion sickness. Couple that with the likelihood that this tech has NOT been tested for extended periods of use, and the potential effects that can cause (call it VR or not, it's still sensory deprivation, not enhancement, and can cause real health issues, both physical and mental).