Valve CEO: 'We're comfortable with the idea that VR will turn out to be a complete failure'

[Elixer]

I really don't see the current gen of VR being that good, still needs 2-4 gens more to be adequate for most people.

"Vive is the most expensive device on the market. It's barely capable of doing a marginally adequate job of delivering a VR experience," Newell said. If that sounds rough, it's because Newell isn't one for parsing words — lest you forget, this is a man who's made billions by doing things his way. Valve isn't a public company, so there aren't shareholders to outrage, or even marketing plans to abide by.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/tec...e-comfortable-with-the-idea-that-10935960.php

Hmm, not 100% gaming related, dunno what forum section best fits for this.
Mods, feel free to move it.

 

[Rifter]

It will not be a failure, it will be the future, there is no doubt in my mind of that.

However as mentioned in OP the hardware has a LONG way to go, i expect 5-10 years until its up to mainstream use.

 

[Stuka87]

I think it will always be a very niche market. Most games do not lend themselves to VR headsets. The ones I have played are cool, but I have yet to find one that I can play for hours without some sort of side physical effect.

 

[Rebel_L]

I think before VR can get out of a niche position it has to either incorporate the whole body or be able to fully isolate the mind so that you can have an extended experience that doesnt feel disjointed.

 

[Rifter]

I think it will always be a very niche market. Most games do not lend themselves to VR headsets. The ones I have played are cool, but I have yet to find one that I can play for hours without some sort of side physical effect.

I dont think gaming will be VR's main use. And the physical side effect are why we need a few more years to fine tune the hardware, i think when we figure out the optics to eliminate distortion it will help alot with the side effects.

 

[Skel]

I guess it really goes to what is defined as VR. If you're talking about things like Oculus or the like then I would agree it's going to be a niche thing. I do see things like MS' Hololens becoming more main stream. There needs to be a blend between virtual and reality. Otherwise you end up in two problems. One being what's going on around you, or if you go full immersion with the body then the space/cost of that kind of thing.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

I haven't used VR yet, mostly because I have other things to lay out the cash for, but it's on my list.

However, I guess what would really make it take off is if it went from headsets to a personal VR sphere that's coated with similar tech to foldable OLED and you just enter it and can look in any direction except through your seat and/or the spot you stand on. Like a personal holodeck except you can't physically interact with anything. That would probably be 50 years down the road just solely due to the resolution of such a thing...

 

[ronbo613]

If I buy a VR rig now, it will soon be in the box in the garage with the $350 120G SSD I bought a few years ago.

 

[HitAnyKey]

VR Gaming needs a better delivery method. I am not a fan of the current technology. In its current form it will remain very niche and probably not generate the demand people (mostly investors) were expecting. How long until we don't need a ridiculous headset to wear?

 

[Stringjam]

VR Gaming needs a better delivery method. I am not a fan of the current technology. In its current form it will remain very niche and probably not generate the demand people (mostly investors) were expecting. How long until we don't need a ridiculous headset to wear?

 

[KB]

I think VR is already a success, albeit a small one right now. Some games lend themselves well to VR and are an incredible experience. BattleZone for the playstation VR is way better in VR than on screen and it didn't make me sick. Thats a success.

 

[rivethead]

Whether he's right or wrong, I find it refreshing that Gabe can (and does) speak his mind freely. There is a lot of value in being a privately-held company.

 

[Murloc]

VR will survive for videos and come back for games once it all becomes cheap and interaction is natural (i.e. you see your hands in-game with no delay and have haptic gloves).

 

[BFG10K]

VR will fail just like 3D TVs and curved screens (“hey, let’s intentionally distort everything so a straight line is no longer straight”).

Remember how nVidia’s 3DVision was touted as the second coming? Yeah, we don’t even hear about that now, and those glasses weren’t even the Darth Vader monstrosity required for VR.

 

[Ichinisan]

I feel sorry for people that played Resident Evil 7 without VR. It was really made for it.

 

[Imp]

Not a great analysis, but I think VR will fail or succeed based on two things:
- If it's a success, thank pron.
- If it fails, thank people not liking to wear head accessories like goggles, glasses, or a helmet. See 3D televisions.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I dont think gaming will be VR's main use. And the physical side effect are why we need a few more years to fine tune the hardware, i think when we figure out the optics to eliminate distortion it will help alot with the side effects.

It's going to be a lot longer than a few more years. Not only are there a vast amount of gamers who get motion sickness just from head bob, but there's the whole aspect of once you're immersed, it's still going to feel disjointed with you sitting at a computer holding a mouse and keyboard or controller. Even if companies find a way to give the person motion controls and freedom of movement, they will need to come up with a 100% wireless setup that doesn't rely on blutooth technology because something as simple as an old microwave turning on can interrupt blutooth connections. Then there's the battery life of 100% wireless technology which will throw everything out of whack. However, with all that taken into account, none of it amounts to still being restricted to a small platform that allows you to move around in place (stationary treadmill) to give you the feeling of actually moving, but you will still feel disconnected from the game world since your movements will be restricted.

VR is, and always will be, a niche market. It could be outstanding if done right, but I believe the cost to perfect VR in conjunction with the cost on the consumer's side will far outweigh any practical application in your average gamer's life.

 

[moonbogg]

I thought about VR for a bit, but I don't want that thing attached to my face. Just don't want it. I bought an ultrawide monitor instead.

 

[renz20003]

My buddy and I borrowed an oculus before the controllers came out, it sucked.

I'd like to try a vive or use the oculus controllers with the headset. You really need intuitive hand tracking for VR to be truly immersive IMO.

The 3D paint app looks sweet

 

[ImpulsE69]

I think peoples view of what they want VR to be vary widely. I for one, have both, and am perfectly happy with what I have. This IS a game changer. This is NOT a gimmick. That being said, if you can sit there and judge something because you can see "screens" or because a game isn't 40 hours long, you are just never going to be happy. The kind of tech needed to get 8k for the average person is a LONG ways off and at this point too many game devs are trying to push normal game-making into VR, which for the most part doesn't work.

Right now we are still in the experimental phase, and honestly gaming just isn't at the top of my wants. Sure, there are some great game experiences, but the REAL VR is not gaming, at least not yet.

VR could 'fail' from a game devs perspective, but it is good enough now to not fail completely. It is here to stay, at least in some form.

 

[Stg-Flame]

It is here to stay, at least in some form.

That's why we've been saying it's a niche.

 

[Elixer]

Have you guys tried the VR demo they have setup in some BestBuy stores?

It really is unimpressive, and really limiting on what they let you do with it.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I'd rather not stick something to my face that hundreds of other people have slapped on their greasy mugs, but I've seen "real time" videos of what it looks like as well as watched some people try it out. From my experience watching people, they tend to get off balance really quick.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i wouldn't put all my money into VR right now either, but i also think it's foolish to completely ignore it

 

[clok1966]

VR will fail just like 3D TVs and curved screens (“hey, let’s intentionally distort everything so a straight line is no longer straight”).

Remember how nVidia’s 3DVision was touted as the second coming? Yeah, we don’t even hear about that now, and those glasses weren’t even the Darth Vader monstrosity required for VR.

it sounds like sony has pushed almost a 1 million units out, while not massive, I would say modest success. As somebody who has used the old shutter glass 3d that came with some old TNT cards, the Arcade units of the 90's, etc.. The new stuff with the right game/app is damn impressive if the hardware behind it can keep up. it will live or die on apps/games, the tech is there ( a much lower price point would help it alot also), but when everybody has been making non VR games, its going to be a bit till something truly fantastic shows up. the old catch 22, nobody is going to invest huge money into a game till the hardware is out there, nobody is going to buy the hardware till some killer games are out there.