While new technology like the Morpheus and Oculus Rift headsets are primed to set the virtual reality world on fire, some in the industry are less than enthused.
In a recent interview, Trip Hawkins (founder of legendary gaming giant EA) had very little to say in regards to the positive aspects of introducing VR technology into our home gaming experiences. “Personally, I’m not really a big fan of goggles. I don’t really think that it’s necessary. Having to put on glasses is kind of annoying and alienating. If I’m in my home, playing games, I don’t want to knock my beer over, I don’t want to not be able to find my phone if it rings; I don’t want to not be able to make eye contact with other people in the room…” he states.
While it might be difficult for some gamers of an older generation to shake their traditional gaming conventions ( IE : a simple controller and couch) Hawkins does acknowledge the advantages a tool like the ‘Rift brings to help immerse players into their virtual worlds. Hawkins admits, “If we’re talking about an immersive fantasy where you’re trying to project yourself into the equivalent of an interactive movie, I think it’s actually one of the better use-cases for technology like Oculus Rift. If I really want to be immersed in a sophisticated, real-life situation, then it makes the most sense.”
As you’ve likely heard, Oculus is making good use of their newly acquired development money (with the Facebook buy out netting them $2 billion big ones).