The Future of Gaming - Virtual Reality

A Meme of TIME's Virtual Reality Magazine Cover

With the recent announcement of the Oculus Rift pricing of US$599, virtual reality (VR) quickly became the talk and craze once again since E3 2015. For those you do not know, Oculus Rift is a virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Oculus VR.

The newness of the current technology, the price and the shovelware of virtual reality games have somewhat made me leery. All that said, I personally had try out the more affordable Samsung Gear VR and enjoyed quite a bit but I am still cynical about virtual reality as a concept. That doesn't mean I dislike it nor I think it will fail. I just can't envision virtual reality as the future of gaming in its current form.

Of course, the manufacturing cost is the most prominent huddle with Oculus Rift, costing as much as a PS3 did back in 2006. Consumers would also have to afford a high-end gaming PC that will be needed for the Oculus Rift work. The mass-market most likely would not want or able to spend that much money for something that is essentially a gamble right now. The first batch of the Oculus Rift pre-orders being sold out in 15 minutes doesn't mean that the market is ready for it because scarcity of tech products is very common and it is not a guarantee for mainstream potential.

Prohibitive issues faced by 3D TV can be found in virtual reality as well. Health problems such as eye issues, strain, migraine and motion sickness stand between customers and virtual reality. The Gear VR disclaimer even says those under age of 13 shouldn't even use it and warned against prolonged use for any age. The need of calibration, tech requirement and space requirement also make the Oculus Rift less simple to use and therefore less enticing to a mainstream audience who just want something to pick up and play.

None of this is to say that virtual reality isn't cool. I really do like the experience I've had with it. Although it gave me motion sickness for using too long, I cannot deny that I had a lot of fun.

The expensive price tag is not that shocking as new tech will always be sold at a premium price and targeted at early adopters. If Apple managed to sell smart watches for £299, the Oculus Rift will probably do okay. Even if it's not the future of gaming, it doesn't mean it can't be part of future gaming like motion control once was.

For those who cannot afford an Oculus Rift, there are other alternative products launching later this year such as Sony Morpheus, HTC Vive and Microsoft Hololens. Their launch price have not been announced as of writing. Hopefully they will be cheaper and more affordable for the mass-market.