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Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

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Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>I doubt the issue is Facebook 'creeping [him] out' I think that's very much the issue. Seriously, "virtual reality" and "Facebook" are two things I don't want to think about in the same context. The former is an extremely promising piece of technology that can change the way people work, talk and play. The latter is a gigantic online advertising engine. Put them together and there's only one direction virtual reali…

Okay, let me play devil's advocate: Perhaps Facebook are thinking "What's the one thing that could truly set us apart from all other social media sites, and place a prohibitively high barrier to entry on this otherwise very easy to enter field?", and perhaps the conclusion they've reached is to take social media to the next level, and have it simulate life in virtual reality. Perhaps Facebook are going to aim to have…

This is a play by Facebook to create a unique App Store to compete with Apple, Google, and Microsoft using a unique piece of consumer electronics.

Facebook can't find a cheap smartphone manufacturer with a homegrown OS to buy, so they go with the next best thing that's also got a screen. I think the VR aspect is accidental/a nice to have.

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>I doubt the issue is Facebook 'creeping [him] out' I think that's very much the issue. Seriously, "virtual reality" and "Facebook" are two things I don't want to think about in the same context. The former is an extremely promising piece of technology that can change the way people work, talk and play. The latter is a gigantic online advertising engine. Put them together and there's only one direction virtual reali…

Okay, let me play devil's advocate: Perhaps Facebook are thinking "What's the one thing that could truly set us apart from all other social media sites, and place a prohibitively high barrier to entry on this otherwise very easy to enter field?", and perhaps the conclusion they've reached is to take social media to the next level, and have it simulate life in virtual reality. Perhaps Facebook are going to aim to have…

I think anyone that was even mildly creeped out by Secondlife or Playstation Home will be about 10x more creeped out by VR versions (not even adding in the Facebook angle).

VR "Presence" cuts both ways.

Yes it massively amplifies virtual experiences but disruption, incongruities and annoyances are amplified to the same or perhaps a greater degree...

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#53
post #8

I can't honestly blame him here. I doubt the issue is Facebook 'creeping [him] out', so much as it is that it's uncertain what exactly Facebook is going to want out of the deal. Facebook isn't primarily a games company, and it's even less a 3D/desktop games company. There doesn't appear to be any obvious motivation for Facebook to use this tech for its intended purpose, so the question becomes what exactly they do wa…

> There doesn't appear to be any obvious motivation for Facebook to use this tech for its intended purpose Facebook gets their hands in the less-casual game industry and also gains control over a platform for virtual experiences, I can see many reasons why Facebook would support continuing to build the Oculus for its originally intended purpose. At least it's not Microsoft.

Frankly, I'd have preferred Microsoft. At least they seem to have some ability to build platforms.

Facebook acquiring Oculus doesn't just creep me out, it also means the platform will fail. They don't have the experience, and developers won't be lenient with their failures.

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#54
post #8

I can't honestly blame him here. I doubt the issue is Facebook 'creeping [him] out', so much as it is that it's uncertain what exactly Facebook is going to want out of the deal. Facebook isn't primarily a games company, and it's even less a 3D/desktop games company. There doesn't appear to be any obvious motivation for Facebook to use this tech for its intended purpose, so the question becomes what exactly they do wa…

>>I doubt the issue is Facebook 'creeping [him] out' I think that's very much the issue. Seriously, "virtual reality" and "Facebook" are two things I don't want to think about in the same context. The former is an extremely promising piece of technology that can change the way people work, talk and play. The latter is a gigantic online advertising engine. Put them together and there's only one direction virtual reali…

Ah yes, HN. Where Facebook ads are both highly ignorable and therefore worthless, and at the same time incredibly intrusive and everywhere.

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There doesn't appear to be any obvious motivation for Facebook to use this tech for its intended purpose Facebook gets their hands in the less-casual game industry and also gains control over a platform for virtual experiences, I can see many reasons why Facebook would support continuing to build the Oculus for its originally intended purpose. At least it's not Microsoft.

Frankly, I'd have preferred Microsoft. At least they seem to have some ability to build platforms. Facebook acquiring Oculus doesn't just creep me out, it also means the platform will fail . They don't have the experience, and developers won't be lenient with their failures.

Sorry, did I miss the part where Luckey and Carmack left Oculus?

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#56

'Within the last hour EVERY friend I know was developing a rift game has canceled. That's around 11 projects just gone.' from a Reddit comment

The backlash is phenomenal. And completely predictable.

And ridiculous.

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#57
post #46

It's great to see some people maintain their integrity even while others are selling out.

Apples and oranges: Notch is made $100 million, just in 2012 [1]. That being said - I am truly thankful that he is taking a stand, I certainly hope others will follow. Either way, Zuckerberg will learn his lesson; you do not fuck up a crowd-funded project. [1] http://venturebeat.com/2013/02/01/minecrafts-notch-on-earnin...

Notch hasn't had a shortage of offers for Minecraft.

Oculus took roughly as much in VC as Notch made in 2012, and they didn't even get to the point of selling a real product before they sold to Facebook.

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#58

Facebook buys WhatsApp - hundreds of thousands creeped out, go to Telegram app. Facebook buys Oculus Rift, Minecraft creator cancels talks, creeped out. Feels like that Facebook brand has taken a hit or two with all the privacy violations, huh?

Facebook is modern times AOL, negatively contaminating everything they buy.

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>I doubt the issue is Facebook 'creeping [him] out' I think that's very much the issue. Seriously, "virtual reality" and "Facebook" are two things I don't want to think about in the same context. The former is an extremely promising piece of technology that can change the way people work, talk and play. The latter is a gigantic online advertising engine. Put them together and there's only one direction virtual reali…

Ah yes, HN. Where Facebook ads are both highly ignorable and therefore worthless, and at the same time incredibly intrusive and everywhere.

I don't think that's actually a contradiction as you imply.

The better people get at ignoring ads, the more effort you have to put into getting people to see them if your business is built around them. You can get into a bad feedback cycle where people try ever-harder to ignore your ads as you try ever-harder to make them un-ignorable.

Re: Minecraft creator says he’s canceled talks for Oculus Rift version

#60
post #18

http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/25/5547584/facebook-buys-oculu... > Mojang's Notch was more direct in a tweet. "We were in talks about maybe bringing a version of Minecraft to Oculus," he said. "I just cancelled that deal. Facebook creeps me out." > We reached out for further comment, and he clarified his position. "Well, VR has huge potential in many fields, including social. I can see why Facebook would want to get i…

The Android version of Minecraft is very nice. Looking forward to more and better. (My son would love more raising sheep/pugs/cattle game options--he's a rancher at heart)
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