Today, I'll be talking about VR, and what I think will happen with it in the future.
So, it's worth pointing out that I've never actually tried virtual reality. Everything I say here will be entirely based on past experiences I've had with technology, as well as footage of VR I've seen on YouTube and Twitch, as well as what I heard from my best friend and brother (who went to a VR place together a while back).
Honestly, I can't see VR being too successful long-term, in its current state. It's expensive, and in terms of the controls, not user-friendly enough. Everyone I've seen using VR has at some point struggled to pick up an object- whether that's a fault of the games, or the hardware, I don't know- and both turning and moving feel a bit jarring, since there are usually just a few directions the player can face, and a checkerboard-like grid on which they can teleport around. Of course, all of these problems could be solved with relative ease- the movement would probably be the hardest, since fluid walking supposedly causes motion sickness, but I'm sure there's a workaround.
There's a more pressing issue though, and it's one I've had experience with in the past. When a new technology comes out, like the Nintendo Wii, or the Xbox Kinect, there's a rush to create games for them. I don't know if it's because developers enjoy playing with the new technology, or because there's a lot of players looking for games, but it quickly becomes a fairly saturated market. The problem is though, they're not just games that make use of the new hardware; they're games made entirely to play with it. This isn't an issue at first- it might actually be a good thing, since it introduces people to the technology quite effectively- but it means that after the initial hype dies down, the only games available for the new consoles are a bit shallow and gimmicky. Most of the games I really like on the Wii either barely use the Wiimote, or would work just as well with a Gamecube controller (though I do have to make an exception for WarioWare: Smooth Moves).
All that said- I've heard lots of good things about VR. Both my best friend and my brother insist that it's extremely fun, and quite immersive. I don't think VR is an inherently bad idea. I just think it needs a lot of work to be really worthwhile, and not just a fun gimmicky thing to try a few times. If I get the chance, I'd be happy to try VR, and don't doubt that it will be fun. I just think that with the current price of a VR helmet, along with the awkward controls and excess of cheaply-made games, it's not in a state that can live up to the expectations a lot of people seem to have for it.
Anyways, that's it for today- hopefully you enjoyed this post! If you've tried virtual reality, let me know what you thought of it, and how you feel about the points made here.
