I recently got a PS4 VR headset and cam. For someone who is institutionally broke, it was an irresponsible move. Furthermore, for someone who tends to be a recluse it was an even worse buy.
Admittedly, I only bought it because of my love for Star Wars and the Battlefront franchise. I've been a fan of the new BF game despite all the negative backlash on lite-content etc. It's simply mindblowing to have that world rendered so well, with such varied loadout options and the last DLC - the Death Star - was outstanding. But, a free DLC of a short X-wing mission was made available late last year and although it was showing on my roster, I obviously couldn't play it without the VR equipment.
I can't put into words the enjoyment I have had in that short mission. Often I log in just to be in that environment. Even though the definition is not as crisp as on a usual 1080 TV/game it's sharp and where it isn't, forgiveable. But more than that is the extraordinary freedom and learning curve that comes with realising you can look physically instead of changing camera with the right joystick. And the little touches! Being in a screen-accurate cockpit with functioning buttons is awesome. I even turned around in my seat mid-flight and my R2 unit beeped at me from behind. I'm a particular fan of the space battle/flying misions, so making this proof of concept mission in space was a dream come true. Being able to fly around a Nebulon B, Blockade Runner or even Y-wing gives you a sense that Star Wars is 'real' and it's great fun until the Star Destroyer arrives. But that's awesome, too.
I was so impressed that I ordered David Attenboroughs Early Life in the Oceans video which, although short is quite nice. A few Wii-like games are free with the Playroom and they kept me interested for a bit but are very short (as are all VR games right now).
But then I bought my first proper VR game, this Friday. It is called Farpoint and although it's had outstanding reviews (mostly) I have not been able to play it a lot because it is perhaps too-hardcore.
At this point, I should say, the PSVR head set can be used on any PS4 game, but the only effect you will get is that it is like playing you game on an IMAX screen. This worked well for Assassin's Creed: Syndicate, and Journey, but not so good on Need for Speed or hectic quick-perspective-change games, or ones where you need to see everything at once. For example, when I play Battlefront in the VR headset, it is often easy to miss things in the side gauge HUDs as you literally look left and right like in a tennis match.
Additionally, it's great to watch movies on as it is just like being in the theatre, and the headphones isolate you in a wonderful way.
Going back to Farpoint, though. I found it quite hard to maintain a level of calmness. Without going into spoilers, you're crashlanded on a rocky planet like an extreme Geonosis, trying to find your crew, and walk quite a way before the first thing skitters out and jumps at you.
I got the shivers and then became ridiculously cautious and moved very slowly as I was so scared. Yes, I was scared, even though this is a scifi FPS, and I am a horror afficionado who doesn't get scared.
It made me think of what the next gen of VR will be like - esp when wireless - and when more AAA games like Dead Space or other survival horror titles are released.
I'm one of those people who bemoan the plugged-in generation of smartphone social media addicts, but am honest enough to realise that I could quite literally lose myself in a VR world and become a shut in.
My friends and I were discussing it and a non-gamer, asked me 'Yeah, but doesn't it mean you'll miss real life? You know, it's not real, so...' and my reply shocked myself. I said I didn't care. I said that I could quite happily waste the rest of my life working to pay bills and living in the VR world.
As far as the thread title is concerned, I think the biggest hurdle we have to get over in the improvement of these VR techs is to be able to make them much smaller like the holobands in Caprica, as the set needs its own processor. Once that is done, and it can be coupled with Augmented Reality, I seriously think I'll check out of Real Life.
pH
Admittedly, I only bought it because of my love for Star Wars and the Battlefront franchise. I've been a fan of the new BF game despite all the negative backlash on lite-content etc. It's simply mindblowing to have that world rendered so well, with such varied loadout options and the last DLC - the Death Star - was outstanding. But, a free DLC of a short X-wing mission was made available late last year and although it was showing on my roster, I obviously couldn't play it without the VR equipment.
I can't put into words the enjoyment I have had in that short mission. Often I log in just to be in that environment. Even though the definition is not as crisp as on a usual 1080 TV/game it's sharp and where it isn't, forgiveable. But more than that is the extraordinary freedom and learning curve that comes with realising you can look physically instead of changing camera with the right joystick. And the little touches! Being in a screen-accurate cockpit with functioning buttons is awesome. I even turned around in my seat mid-flight and my R2 unit beeped at me from behind. I'm a particular fan of the space battle/flying misions, so making this proof of concept mission in space was a dream come true. Being able to fly around a Nebulon B, Blockade Runner or even Y-wing gives you a sense that Star Wars is 'real' and it's great fun until the Star Destroyer arrives. But that's awesome, too.
I was so impressed that I ordered David Attenboroughs Early Life in the Oceans video which, although short is quite nice. A few Wii-like games are free with the Playroom and they kept me interested for a bit but are very short (as are all VR games right now).
But then I bought my first proper VR game, this Friday. It is called Farpoint and although it's had outstanding reviews (mostly) I have not been able to play it a lot because it is perhaps too-hardcore.
At this point, I should say, the PSVR head set can be used on any PS4 game, but the only effect you will get is that it is like playing you game on an IMAX screen. This worked well for Assassin's Creed: Syndicate, and Journey, but not so good on Need for Speed or hectic quick-perspective-change games, or ones where you need to see everything at once. For example, when I play Battlefront in the VR headset, it is often easy to miss things in the side gauge HUDs as you literally look left and right like in a tennis match.
Additionally, it's great to watch movies on as it is just like being in the theatre, and the headphones isolate you in a wonderful way.
Going back to Farpoint, though. I found it quite hard to maintain a level of calmness. Without going into spoilers, you're crashlanded on a rocky planet like an extreme Geonosis, trying to find your crew, and walk quite a way before the first thing skitters out and jumps at you.
I got the shivers and then became ridiculously cautious and moved very slowly as I was so scared. Yes, I was scared, even though this is a scifi FPS, and I am a horror afficionado who doesn't get scared.
It made me think of what the next gen of VR will be like - esp when wireless - and when more AAA games like Dead Space or other survival horror titles are released.
I'm one of those people who bemoan the plugged-in generation of smartphone social media addicts, but am honest enough to realise that I could quite literally lose myself in a VR world and become a shut in.
My friends and I were discussing it and a non-gamer, asked me 'Yeah, but doesn't it mean you'll miss real life? You know, it's not real, so...' and my reply shocked myself. I said I didn't care. I said that I could quite happily waste the rest of my life working to pay bills and living in the VR world.
As far as the thread title is concerned, I think the biggest hurdle we have to get over in the improvement of these VR techs is to be able to make them much smaller like the holobands in Caprica, as the set needs its own processor. Once that is done, and it can be coupled with Augmented Reality, I seriously think I'll check out of Real Life.
pH
