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VR

blog.ycombinator.com

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311–320 of 568 posts

Re: VR

#311

Post by xigency » 

    Because VR games are so physical, gaming will no longer be 
    perceived as an unhealthy activity. I could have used this 
    growing up.
I don't see this panning out ever. If "virtual reality" went beyond being room based, then it doesn't really seem like the same idea as virtual reality. And I don't think anyone thinks it's healthy to bump around a small office room.

Harkens back to the 'playing Wii is exercise' movement.

    Because VR is so immersive, I can imagine myself spending 
    significant amounts of time (hours) with a headset on, 
    every day.
While there's plenty of room for improvement, this doesn't sound particularly healthy. It's eerily similar to taping lightbulbs to your eyelids and expecting good results. Even if the light level were healthy, the close screen and lenses could do damage to focus. I would definitely talk to real eye doctors before planning around this idea. But then again, I'm nearsighted just from reading books and using the computer.

This is also a naïve attitude as anyone who has or has developed for VR knows that a little time goes a long way.

    As a result, gaming will not be the only significant use 
    case for VR. My headset will steal time time from other 
    screens (tv/laptop/phone) and as a result there will be an 
    explosion of VR consumer apps, entertainment apps, 
    developer tools, and more.
The virtual office concept is nuts. There is never going to be a time when the cost per pixel of virtual monitors outperforms real monitors. VR is inherently selfish, so there's very little room for opening up collaboration. A dry erase board gives a better sense of community.

    If I am right, over the next five years we will see the 
    following: 100 million devices distributed.
That's certainly possible but I don't understand the leap from, "this device is cool," to "this is a necessity." When I first saw 3D TV's I thought, "hey, this is great!" but they aren't sold in my local electronics stores any longer.

I do think VR is cool. I think it's great that Oculus was able to kickstart all the way to Facebook, and I think the Vive is an even better product. The smartphone VR is a neat way to get rid of wires. And there are plenty of great games and applications, where the community is just getting started.

But I don't think this is the revolution that people are pinning on it. In ways, VR devices are glorified view masters. Everyone loved those as a child but they are a toy. (The armed forces pay a lot for 'serious games' as well, so it isn't a discount.) I think if many people who tried VR tried a Nintendo 3DS they might also love it. And if you tried head tracking on a normal display it might also be exciting.

I don't like the infatuation with VR. It's not healthy and it's only going to make things more disappointing when the bubble bursts. It also rings hollow.

Re: VR

#312

Post by romaniv »

sarreph wrote: post #120

I feel like a lot of the comments here blasting the technology are related to its ability to output at the hi-fidelity we are now used to on the web / mobile 3D experiences. This level of immersiveness/naturalness/fidelity will obviously come in due course. Michael Siebel is here talking about the opportunity (obviously) — which is IMMENSE. This is basically the iPhone/App-Store bandwagon all over again. If you can j…

>This is basically the iPhone/App-Store bandwagon all over again. If you can jump on it, do so.

The reason iTunes/AppStore took off and became profitable has more to do with their monetization models rather than the technology involved.

Re: VR

#313

Post by kc10 »

I really want to get Oculus, but the requirement of high performance windows machine is keeping me away. I am a mac user and I don't intend to spend about $1500 for a windows machine that I would use only for VR.

I don't mind spending $1000 on an oculus which can work with a regular macbook pro.

Re: VR

#314

Post by wvenable »

callmeed wrote: post #216
sixQuarks wrote: post #115

I can't believe some people are saying VR is a fad, that it's not going to work, etc, etc. Are you kidding me? The only real question is how long it's going to take before it's fully integrated into our daily lives, there is absolutely no doubt this will happen (unless we somehow go backwards technologically, due to world war or some other unforeseen event). It may not happen for another 10-15 years, but it WILL happ…

I'm hugely bearish on VR, I think its a fad (again), and I'm not kidding you. You talk in such absolutes that I wonder if you've ever done any research on past technology endeavors. LaserDiscs, interactive TV, VRML (yes, "VR"), 3D TVs, Google Glass, and (probably) smart watches. VR doesn't even replicate reality, let alone do more. While I can appreciate your enthusiasm, there are always doubts.

> VR doesn't even replicate reality, let alone do more.

Why does that make any sense? That's like arguing Pac Man doesn't replicate reality so video games are bad.

It's funny LaserDiscs are on the list when DVD and Bluray took off like crazy -- LaserDiscs were just ahead of their time once the technology was right, it took off. The same is true for VR -- the question is not whether or not it will take off but whether or this is the point it's viable.

I just got a Gear VR last week and while it's not perfect it feels like the right point and that's just powered by my cell phone.

Re: VR

#315

Post by lfuller »

ktRolster wrote: post #196
evo_9 wrote: post #12

I bought a Vive the week of Thanksgiving and have been using it roughly 2 hours a day. Every other day is my workout day most of the week (unless I'm playing hockey that day/night) and the VIVE has become part of my workout now too. After I complete my normal workout - a mixture of hockey specific training, free weights, aerobic and of course tons of pull-ups - I now spend an additional hour+ in VR. I typically play…

How do you deal with sweat getting all over your device? Doesn't it start getting dirty quickly?

I own an Oculus Rift and find that you only really get sweaty with very physically active games (AudioShield, Space Pirate Trainer, etc.). When it starts getting sweaty I'll usually just go do something else for a few minutes until it dries.

Re: VR

#316

Post by goatlover »

brycethornton wrote: post #68

I've been reading "Ready Player One" over the past few weeks and it's description of a VR-filled future is blowing my mind. It's really a great look into the possibilities for VR in the next 30 years. Highly recommended!

RP1 It's not any sort of world you would hope for. I'd rather the technology be banned than end up with that kind of world. But the story itself was fun.

Re: VR

#317

Post by jbpetersen »

JabavuAdams wrote: post #273
thenomad wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Get it into a playable state and up on Steam in Early Access, sir or madam. There are a LOT of people looking for a good VR giant mech game right now.

Going to SteamDevDays 2016 convinced me that this is a viable strategy, as long as you keep your scope small and costs low. ... and then I got side-tracked by machine learning and finance...

Please tell me you're making a game about being a quant.

Re: VR

#318

Post by RangerScience »

carlosdp wrote: post #275
RangerScience wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Were they in VR headsets (or glasses), or were they the desktop bars? (Last time I tried a bunch of eye tracking, the desk-mounted was amazing and the head-mounted wasn't)

They were inside the headset, lining the lens, such that you couldn't tell between a normal Vive and an eye-tracking Vive unless you cracked it open.

Amazing!

Re: VR

#319

Post by wj »

callmeed wrote: post #216
sixQuarks wrote: post #115

I can't believe some people are saying VR is a fad, that it's not going to work, etc, etc. Are you kidding me? The only real question is how long it's going to take before it's fully integrated into our daily lives, there is absolutely no doubt this will happen (unless we somehow go backwards technologically, due to world war or some other unforeseen event). It may not happen for another 10-15 years, but it WILL happ…

I'm hugely bearish on VR, I think its a fad (again), and I'm not kidding you. You talk in such absolutes that I wonder if you've ever done any research on past technology endeavors. LaserDiscs, interactive TV, VRML (yes, "VR"), 3D TVs, Google Glass, and (probably) smart watches. VR doesn't even replicate reality, let alone do more. While I can appreciate your enthusiasm, there are always doubts.

I wouldn't include LaserDisks on that list. It was replaced by DVDs which I believe are close enough in practice to not consider it a failed technology. More of a first iteration.

3D TV didn't last long. I never got one and didn't really see the appeal but I wonder if widespread use of VR headsets would make that technology mute anyway.

Re: VR

#320

Post by Taek »

ktRolster wrote: post #196
evo_9 wrote: post #12

I bought a Vive the week of Thanksgiving and have been using it roughly 2 hours a day. Every other day is my workout day most of the week (unless I'm playing hockey that day/night) and the VIVE has become part of my workout now too. After I complete my normal workout - a mixture of hockey specific training, free weights, aerobic and of course tons of pull-ups - I now spend an additional hour+ in VR. I typically play…

How do you deal with sweat getting all over your device? Doesn't it start getting dirty quickly?

The Vive at least has an removed gasket. You can get the waterproof ones, and have a few on hand when playing with a group.

Overall it's pretty manageable if you are prepared but pretty gross if you are using it out of box

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