Comment by bee_rider
5 days ago
VR games are actually kind of neat and fun. But it’s too much of a hassle to set the thing up every time and, I dunno, the association with Facebook is too icky.
It would have been really interesting to see what Oculus could have become without getting bought. I do think they were a little neat idea, not at all ready for Facebook sized projects.
As I've heard and said elsewhere -- VR Games are absolutely like a day at the fair. But no one wants to go to the fair EVERY DAY.
This is a fantastic way of putting it.
When I was 20, I preordered a pixel 2 after watching the launch presentation from my university library. One of the "bonuses" for doing so was Google's new headset you put your phone in for a VR experience, along with a new controller.
This "Daydream" only lasted a few years (in software support), but it was a pretty good physical implementation of the "strap your phone to your face for budget VR" concept. I used it more than I'd care to admit for watching movies on a virtual big screen. It'd always give me a big headache between the eyes after an hour and a half, but it was fun every now and again.
A day at the fair.
It even convinced me to buy an Oculus CV1 when those were being heavily discounted!
I never ended up using the CV1 as much as my Daydream, which is saying something. The appeal of VR just isn't that great to me. It's something I find myself wanting to do maybe once or twice a year. Now, never, since the CV1 only ever worked well with Windows, and I can't be bothered to keep a Windows install exclusively for VR (I've tried and failed multiple times with the Linux runtimes).
Not nearly enough drive to deal with base stations, wires, or controllers. And even with the newest headsets that do away with all those, not worth the cash or effort to put on, or the space the headset takes up. Not for "once a month" trips to the fair.
It's insane to me that Meta dumped so much cash into VR. Their fever dream of working in VR gives me a sense of dread and migraine just thinking about it...
I use mine pretty much daily though
The Nintendo Wii was like this too.
Yes, but also I often argue that the Wii is better "VR" than VR, because you can play with your friends, which is probably the real "killer app" of gaming?
Love the way you put it, spot on.
No one but children aka Gen Alpha. Meta failed to pivot their marketing.
It's almost hard to tell even if I'm right about this because Meta's marketing was side-splittingly hilariously awful.
"Put on your headset and go into an office meeting!"
It really boggles the mind.
With modern inside out tracking headsets (basically camera based SLAM) the setup us none to minimal (clear up some space on the ground so you don't trip over things if not playing seated).
PCVR is a hassle. Meta VR is simple convenient, and instant by comparison. I was able to use it everyday to workout.
The problem with VR in general is that only children, Gen Alpha, are into it as a demographic. Meta failed to take this into account to reposition Meta VR as either their NES or Roblox into their marketing. They were marketing something only children appreciated to adults who couldn’t see the potential. All adults see is a giant bucket that they don’t want to put on their face.
PCVR is awesome with Steam, even using meta headsets once it's all setup its very straightforward.
PCVR is great for flexibility and freedom, but it really sucks for convenience. There’s too much hassle and too much to turn on and setup even if you’re using Quest headset. I don’t think it will change until Valve Frame, but you can also argue that it’s not really PCVR