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Virtual Reality is going to change the world

notch.net

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Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#71

Post by ekianjo »

bps4484 wrote: post #65
ekianjo wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The deal was made in 5 days, it does not mean they were not in touch before.

They were almost certainly in touch before, but the deal being done in 5 days means that the sony announcement could have been the event that pressed the oculus team at look at an acquisition more seriously.

I think it's the other way around. Because of Sony's involvment, I'd say investors from probably many large companies were pressed to buy stake in Occulus Rift ASAP to make a dent in the VR market should it become big. Facebook probably had the biggest offer on the table and that's the end of the story.

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#72

Post by ekianjo »

GBond wrote: post #30
skore wrote: post #4

For a guy who is otherwise rather easy going, Notch can be incredibly pragmatic and strident. Here, he has cut to heart of the issue. > And I did not chip in ten grand to seed a first investment round to build value for a Facebook acquisition. > Don’t get me wrong, VR is not bad for social. He is right - "social", especially in the way Facebook is doing it at the moment, is terrible for VR. Terrible for any technolog…

> And I did not chip in ten grand to seed a first investment round to build value for a Facebook acquisition. The Kickstarter angle is interesting. I'd be peeved as well if I was a supporter and this happened. Aren't KS Projects by implication a "Project for the People" first and foremost? Should KS Backers at least get a small return for making a $2 Billion exit possible?

> Should KS Backers at least get a small return for making a $2 Billion exit possible?

No. You know exactly what you buy (or try to buy) when you support a Kickstarter project. There's no equity in the companies you support. Not at all.

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#73

Post by neolefty »

kamkazemoose wrote: post #55
bduerst wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My guess is that when Oculus Rift found out about Sony coming to market, they knew they needed someone with deep pockets to speed up their implementation. They were probably in talks with a number of other companies, but Facebook jumped the gun and made an offer they couldn't refuse, in order to prevent their "competitor" from getting it. I wonder if FB is going to use OR to rebirth Facebook games, or maybe make thei…

I'd be surprised if the Sony news had anything to do with this. These sorts of acquisitions don't happen overnight, they've likely been talking for months, doing due diligence and other research into the deal.

Normally yes. But wasn't the Instagram deal done very quickly too?

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#74

Post by qq66 »

ekianjo wrote: post #70
skore wrote: post #4

For a guy who is otherwise rather easy going, Notch can be incredibly pragmatic and strident. Here, he has cut to heart of the issue. > And I did not chip in ten grand to seed a first investment round to build value for a Facebook acquisition. > Don’t get me wrong, VR is not bad for social. He is right - "social", especially in the way Facebook is doing it at the moment, is terrible for VR. Terrible for any technolog…

> He is right - "social", especially in the way Facebook is doing it at the moment, is terrible for VR. Terrible for any technology that has such an incredible potential to change the world. It's not just that. VR is not going to be a product that appeals to masses. I don't think it will change the world. It could impact the world of gaming, potentially, and only CERTAIN areas of gaming only. There are several reason…

Your characterization of VR applications seems limited to near-term applications of current or immediate-term technologies.

What about when the device is $20 instead of $400? When it doesn't make you nauseous? When it's so close to face-to-face contact that you can replace 10 or 20 percent of your business travel?

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#75

Post by ekianjo »

qq66 wrote: post #74
ekianjo wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> He is right - "social", especially in the way Facebook is doing it at the moment, is terrible for VR. Terrible for any technology that has such an incredible potential to change the world. It's not just that. VR is not going to be a product that appeals to masses. I don't think it will change the world. It could impact the world of gaming, potentially, and only CERTAIN areas of gaming only. There are several reason…

Your characterization of VR applications seems limited to near-term applications of current or immediate-term technologies. What about when the device is $20 instead of $400? When it doesn't make you nauseous? When it's so close to face-to-face contact that you can replace 10 or 20 percent of your business travel?

> When it doesn't make you nauseous? When it's so close to face-to-face contact that you can replace 10 or 20 percent of your business travel?

That's what I am saying, we are FAR from being there. If we even get there.

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#76

Post by [deleted] »

bps4484 wrote: post #65
ekianjo wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The deal was made in 5 days, it does not mean they were not in touch before.

They were almost certainly in touch before, but the deal being done in 5 days means that the sony announcement could have been the event that pressed the oculus team at look at an acquisition more seriously.

[deleted]

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#77

Post by mcphage »

smacktoward wrote: post #27
skore wrote: post #4

For a guy who is otherwise rather easy going, Notch can be incredibly pragmatic and strident. Here, he has cut to heart of the issue. > And I did not chip in ten grand to seed a first investment round to build value for a Facebook acquisition. > Don’t get me wrong, VR is not bad for social. He is right - "social", especially in the way Facebook is doing it at the moment, is terrible for VR. Terrible for any technolog…

> And I did not chip in ten grand to seed a first investment round to build value for a Facebook acquisition He really puts his finger on one of the reasons why this deal feels so weird here, I think. Nobody who contributed to the Oculus Kickstarter did so because they were hoping Oculus would get flipped to a mega-corp. They didn't do so because they wanted the Oculus team to have a big, splashy VC-style exit. They…

> Everybody wins in this deal -- except the people who donated to the Kickstarter. Those folks... well, they kind of end up looking like suckers.

It's kinda a twist to the normal Kickstarter warnings—if you back a product, it might not ever succeed, jut disappear. This was a product that people backed, that was too successful, and looks like it's about to disappear.

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#78

Post by waterlesscloud »

hackinthebochs wrote: post #62
interpol_p wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you are suggesting that most people will strap on a headset to consume social information of the type they currently consume on Facebook? (Photos of real life events, the thoughts and feelings of others, commentary on recent news, memes.) Edit: just because social is a bigger area than gaming, does not mean VR is more likely to take off in that area. It entirely depends on how you actually use it and what experien…

>So you are suggesting that most people will strap on a headset to consume social information of the type they currently consume on Facebook Why do you think it would look anything like what we currently consider social networking? Why are people so painfully short-sighted? I have said many times that facebook won the social network wars long before google even released google+. Anything that comes along to kill face…

HN is a profoundly conservative community. It's not always obvious, but the horizon here is often very close.

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#79

Post by mcphage »

to3m wrote: post #59
smacktoward wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, just as every CEO of every big company that has just acquired a smaller company has ever said, back unto the dawning of the world. Nothing is ever going to change, until suddenly it all does.

See, for example: http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2013/02/27/our-incredible...

That is a seriously depressing tumblr.

Re: Virtual Reality is going to change the world

#80

Post by hawkharris »

Virtual reality has existed for thousands of years.

It began with performed and written stories. When storytelling through film became popular in the 20th century, proponents marveled at its technical potential: the ability to control viewers' eyes and to immerse them in a dream world. There were also critics who suggested it might be too immersive: detracting from face-to-face conversations.

Over time the technical "Wow" factor of film mostly faded. In its absence, viewers started to remember what made virtual reality feel real all along: the quality of the content. Sure, some people still marvel at 3D screenings and similar technology, but we mostly focus on the narratives rather than the medium.

If history is any guide, there is no medium for virtual reality. After the initial "Wow" factor of a new viewing experience subsides, we'll realize that the content is responsible for carrying us into a dream world.

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