With the recent release of Sony’s PlayStation VR headset, everyone seems to have something to say about virtual reality. Whether it be positive or negative, gamers and non-gamers all want to give their opinions on the potential success or failure of the technology. And we here at BagoGames are no different. Read on for our thoughts on Sony’s journey ahead when it comes to VR gaming.
The argument that PSVR will go the way of PlayStation Move has been made one too many times. This time it’s different. The Move was a response to the motion-control successes realized by Nintendo; PSVR is a response to something much greater. The VR movement is much grander than motion control because it has practical applications outside of gaming. Virtual reality will be used for performing procedures in the medical field or to act as your window into concerts, plays, and other live events without actually being there.
PlayStation Move wasn’t perfect, and PSVR isn’t either. The difference this time around is that Sony promises to iterate on the technology. The shortfalls are obvious: processing power and resolution. A device to replicate your exact motions onscreen is much more nebulous; that, and the fact that Sony had no intentions to make new, improved versions of the Move, mean that it was somewhat doomed to underuse.
Besides, have you seen the price of PS VR? Clearly, it is positioned as a new piece of hardware instead of an add-on peripheral. Virtual reality, unlike motion control, does not change the way we interface with games—it changes what games are, it challenges the idea of immersion, and, with the right equipment, it works every time.
Because of these distinctions, I have a hard time believing that VR will be an all-out failure. It certainly is in its infancy, and there are some reports of poor resolution or elementary capabilities of the PlayStations VR headset, but these can and likely will be resolved. In fact, resolutions already exist, as seen by the existence of premium headsets made for PC. Can you think of any motion devices outside of Nintendo’s Wii remote, Sony’s Move, and (in some respects) Microsoft’s Kinect that actually bring 1:1 motion to gaming? I can’t. There is certainly room for improvement when it comes to motion controls, but no better device than the three mentioned existed, and even if a more accurate one could be made, I don’t think motion control is comparable to the gargantuan shift in gaming provided by virtual reality.
I am confident that PS VR will be a success, at least to some. Others may have to temper their expectations. Though it’s fair to say that there aren’t many launch titles worth mentioning, the concepts are there. Think about the poor launch titles for new consoles—they’re often atrocious. Virtual reality is a whole new method of play with far different philosophies than a simple controller-and-screen setup. Soon enough the small, shining concepts boasted by the launch titles will bloom into experiences that will convince you that the technology is here to stay.
Angelo De Bellis
PSVR offers the most affordable “high-end” entry point for VR. By all accounts, it seems to be one of the comfiest as well, which is a huge selling point. But what matters most is what matters to any other platform—the games. PSVR’s launch lineup seems solid with games like Rez Infinite and EVE: Valkyrie offering unique VR experiences. But, we’ll need far more for VR to catch on for gaming audiences.
The other major issue seems to be the motion tracking of VR. Using 6-year-old PlayStation Move technology was a gamble, and it seems like it’s mostly working. Having only used it briefly, I can say that PSVR’s tracking seems okay, but I can’t wait to spend more time with it in the coming weeks to see how it holds up in most games. There are plenty of complaints about its motion tracking so far though, and hopefully that is something that can be patched through firmware and not exclusively in hardware upgrades.
However, this is the first iteration of something that will be iterated upon. The PSVR will evolve in terms of technical specifications, as well as the requirements for it. I look forward to the changes, but if you’re looking to get into VR for large gaming experiences, I’d say you’re still kind of out of luck. This will be a niche market for a while and will hopefully catch on as it evolves.
Christopher Cross
I believe Sony will create a compelling experience on PSVR because they’ve had plenty of time to learn what doesn’t work with Playstation Move, Playstation Eye Toy, and Microsoft’s Kinect. They have also had time to watch the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift to see what we’re expecting, what works, and what doesn’t work. Furthermore, I think we’ll have some of the best experiences on PSVR, as compared to Oculus and Vive, because of how involved Sony is with the hardware and software development. I think at first we may see smaller experiences on PSVR but over time, and as the attach rate increases, we will see bigger and deeper experiences on the hardware. I believe in the PSVR and think we will be the ones to really help that sector of gaming grow and thrive.
Josh Nichols
You’ve heard our thoughts, but of course that isn’t enough. Let us know what you think in the comments below!
