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Oculus Rift Review: Virtual Reality is Almost Here

Posted by msmash on from the virtual-reality-is-here dept.

In what can be seen as a major milestone in the nascent, but fast-evolving virtual reality technology space, Facebook-owned Oculus on Monday began shipping the commercial version of the Rift. Several technology publications have posted their reviews of the Oculus Rift. The Verge, for instance, says: The high cost of buying and running high-end VR headsets makes them inaccessible to many people, and the Rift in particular is relentlessly focused on gaming. Within these limitations, though, the Rift makes a good case for seated VR, and it lays a solid foundation for what's to come. The headset you can buy today is not Oculus' most ambitious vision for virtual reality -- but it's a vision that Oculus has successfully delivered on. The publication has given the Rift a score of 8 out of 10, noting that the retail price of the Rift, and the accompanying gaming PC, is a tad too expensive. It also found the lack of motion controls a weakness. Cnet writes: You simply must try the Oculus Rift. It's breathtaking. I just wouldn't buy one right now -- and there's no reason you should feel the need to, either (especially with its arch-rival, the HTC Vive, also just days away). The longer you wait to buy, the better it will get. This is just day one for Oculus -- and for the future of virtual reality.

6 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. The longer you wait... by gweihir · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...the better the chance this hype will have fizzled and that you will not have to buy anything! VR is about as "ready" as 3D television, which is completely over because it does not really work at this time. The same is true for VR.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    1. Re:The longer you wait... by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But Oculus wants you to believe it's ready because they're already a couple billion dollars in the hole and would need to a few million units just to break even.

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      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:The longer you wait... by WaffleMonster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      ...the better the chance this hype will have fizzled and that you will not have to buy anything! VR is about as "ready" as 3D television, which is completely over because it does not really work at this time. The same is true for VR.

      Disconnect between those who've tried it and commentary from peanut gallery is striking.

      Those with crappy dev kits are saying they won't go back to playing on monitors. Spend some time on the Elite forums or any of racing or flight sims with VR support... it isn't just one person it is virtually everyone.

    3. Re:The longer you wait... by PCM2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's possible that VR will fizzle out, but to compare it to 3DTV is showing the extent of your experience with the technology (i.e. zero). The biggest problems VR will face are applications and costs, not whether the technology actually works.

      Which was ... the exact same problem with 3DTV? I have a 3DTV. Trust me, the technology works quite well. But people didn't want to buy in because it was costly and they didn't see a reason for it. Audiences were already getting bored with 3D movies in theaters by the time the costs of the sets came down. Then they were told they'd have to buy extra sets of battery-powered glasses if they wanted to be able to watch with their families. The 3D sports content never really materialized. The 3D Blu-Rays cost more than the regular ones. Etc.

      Similarly, I have tried some of the VR technology -- not Oculus, but a couple others (some still in development). It's impressive. The first time you put one of those headsets on, you will go, "Whoa!" If you're like me, you will proceed to tell many of your friends about it and how neat the experience was. But you will not buy one.

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      Breakfast served all day!
  2. As George Orwell said by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Virtual reality has always been almost here.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. WTF by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Okay what the hell has happened to the internet? Both of the linked articles were unreadable, unsearchable, and psychedelic garbage that looks like it was coded on LSD.

    I do appreciate the summary though. 8 out of 10, verdict: not recommended.