Virtual reality has finally become a reality — and its cooler than we imagined.
Large technology companies like Oculus, Valve and Sony are trailblazing this illusory path and behind them are an entire network of inventors, designers, and visionaries looking to capitalize on the bright, shining future of virtual video gaming.
While virtual reality technology isn’t totally brand new, it hasn’t been until now that game developers have given it its just due. Video game behemoth Sony is planning to launch their virtual reality apparatus for their PlayStation 4 system as early as this October.
The new virtual reality experience goes by the alias PlayStation VR and it will allow its users to experience gaming on a unique level. Retailing for $499.99 USD, gamers will be able to pre-order the headset as soon as the end of March. Containing everything that’s included in the PS VR “Core” bundle (the headset, cables, stereo headphones and demo disc), the limited “Launch” bundle will also contain a PlayStation Camera coupled with two Move motion controllers and the game PlayStation VR Worlds.
The future of virtual reality has been clouded by uncertainty. First introduced in the late 1980’s, VR flourished as educational and military applications, with a brief stint in the commercial world through peripherals like Nintendo’s Virtual Boy, Morton Heilig’s The Sensorama and VRML. Recently, however, achieving a viable and sustainable virtual reality model came closer to fruition thanks to the creative efforts Palmer Luckey, the California native that created the VR gaming device called Oculus Rift.
Also, with Google Cardboard and Samsung’s Gear VR apparatuses looming on the horizon, developers have actually reached a level of efficiency earlier than many expected — leaving many customers salivating over the perspective of owning a affordable and aggressive VR platform very soon. When people look at what VR has accomplished in such a small span, they will see why these economical friendly mobile VR systems have quickly mesmerized over 5 million users since their inception.
Among the 200,000 developers involved, and a minimum 700 startups globally, and of course the tech titans cited above, we are way past the “if” phase of Virtual Reality and on to the “when” aspect.
Not only have Oculus, Valve, and Sony made VR cost efficient, but they have also produced a quality of devices that move simulator sickness from a technical trial and error issue to one that good design can probably answer. Undoubtedly, there is still ample space for technical improvement for things like retina displays and haptic feedback issues, but even in the first iteration of these proper VR systems (which are bound to desktop computers or gaming consoles) are dominant by comparison.
Get ready, folks: your dream of total video game immersion is virutally a reality.