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Did Facebook Buy Oculus To Counter Google Glass?

Posted by timothy on from the magic-8-ball-says-looks-likely dept.

Nerval's Lobster (2598977) writes "In a statement soon after Facebook announced the acquisition of Oculus Rift, CEO Mark Zuckerberg suggested that the bulky Oculus headset had the potential to transform VR into the "most social platform ever." Whatever his reasons for shelling out $2 billion for the company, it's clear that Facebook is now a player in the augmented-reality space, which Google is also exploring in its own way. Yes, Google Glass serves a different function—overlaying maps and text over the wearer's view of the real world, rather than immersing people in a virtual environment—but the potential customer base for both devices is basically the same, and now Google has some real competition if it wants to transform Glass into some sort of gaming device. And despite some blowback from Markus Persson, it's likely that developers will continue to explore Oculus as a gaming platform, Facebook or no. Zuckerberg might be talking a good game about virtual realities far into the future (does he have to pay to promote his own posts on Facebook? Joke.), but this acquisition was likely a short-term play, as well."

7 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Does it matter? by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Virtual reality games and augmented reality tools, in spite of both using your eyes, are so far apart in functionality, that if this were the explanation, the shareholders would be justified in a lynching.

    1. Re:Does it matter? by bobaferret · · Score: 5, Insightful

      this. Augmented reality is about interacting with the real world. Virtual reality is about being cut off from it. The market segments are so different I can't believe this article even came into existence..... Oh wait, this is from news.dice.com..... It's that who owns slashdot.... ah! I believe I see what your trying to do there..

    2. Re:Does it matter? by paulpach · · Score: 5, Funny
      Next Nerval's Lobster article:

      Winzip vs Microsoft word vs C++, which one is right for you?

  2. real answer by slashmydots · · Score: 5, Funny

    Everyone who uses Facebook seems to be in their own little self-centered world anyway. That's why they bought Oculus. It simply matches.

  3. No. Next question? by gelfling · · Score: 5, Interesting

    fb's user growth flattened out as fb less cool to its own target demographic. It's just randomly looking for the next cool thing it can use to be cool. And trust me, google glass is not cool. Google glass is something your douchebag fratboy older brother uses to be cool to HIS boss. It's this year's bluetooth earbud.

  4. Beautiful by Anrego · · Score: 5, Funny

    One of those oh so rare moments in this community, which most days won't agree on anything, can all come together around a unifying understanding that the author is a complete idiot.

  5. Incredible logic by janoc · · Score: 5, Funny

    This argument really goes like: "Oculus Rift is targeted at gamers, most gamers like bacon too, ergo Oculus Rift is competition for bacon."

    WTF, people ... Why the most clueless idiots have to be the ones getting published at Slashdot ...