Thought I'd start a new version of this thread since the previous one was so poorly titled. Especially since there doesn't seem to be any way to simply edit in a new title to the old thread. I hope this one is clearer and achieves the discussion goal. So here goes..
As stated before, this thread is for showcasing VR games only. My only caveat is...I'd like to keep discussion centered on the games more than the different platforms. Tech talk is decidedly fair game, as it relates to the specific genre of games (or a particular game). Since I really think the gold mine for VR is in AAA remakes of the most popular last generation classics with addition of new enhancements and DLC...this should be a no brainer for game developers. They shouldn't go the new IP route until significantly increasing their experience curves with classic IP that game enthusiasts are hungering for in VR IMO. That...more than risky new IP can and should drive the VR category for the next 2-4 years. Cancelled or mothballed IP like Prey 2, Fable, Advent Rising 2, HL3 should be immediately repurposed to VR to help ignite the exciting new genre. I think that is the cheapest, safest and most popular and responsible path for Game developers to take to guarantee financial success with early stage VR. Here are my top 3 for 2017-2019:
1.PC VR-Mass Effect Trilogy with new DLC & ME Andromeda; Half Life1-3; Portal 1-3
2.XBox One+-Halo VR series with new bridging DLC & multi platform MP; Prince of Persia VR series with all DLC embedded in the stories.
3.PS4+ VR-God of War VR series with a new mini installment about South American or Norse God mythology
So..what VR games & genre are you playing-liking-hating-want to Play?
I pulled your comment over here as the opening talking point after the OP. I will be asking the moderator to close & delete the other thread to avoid any confusion.
I like the thread idea, even if the topic/subject line is off point.
I'm very interested in the Fallout 4 version that is pending, although I don't like Fallout in general. It being in VR may make me run through it. I have a Vive and I've been playing some of the Oculus exclusives via Revive. Personally, I'd settle for some of the AAA games just to have a VR mode so that I can play it in 3rd person like Lucky's Tale and Chronos (are there more games like this. I'd love a final fantasy or other turn based RPG?)
As a gamer going all the way back to Atari, I'm simply wow'd by VR 3rd person games. I don't think everything in VR needs a first person perspective to be enjoyable. I certainly want those games, I want the novelty wii motion experiences (audio shield is great), I want sit down passive experiences, I want 3rd person experiences.
My point, is that there is a long list of existing software, IPs, and code out there that could be ported from existing AAA 3rd person games. I'd imagine, due to the controls, that taking COD or Battlefield would be a challenge. A God of War VR should be relatively straight forward from a design/execution perspective. You tether the camera to the HMD position with a leash and keep all of the controls the same. Probably have to build some off-camera rending that doesn't currently exist because the cameras couldn't pan over there in the "flat" version.
These AAA devs have the muscle to do it, moreso than random joe developing in his parent's basement.
I honestly can't even keep up with so much stuff coming out. I mean the Steam list of games/content with VR support is at 439 for Vive and 197 for Rift (and of course Oculus has its own store as well).
Sure, some of that is absolute garbage, but it's still crazy how fast new things are coming out.
Yeah, it's really hard to keep up with everything. Seems like every single day 2 or 3 new VR games are being talked about on Reddit. Some of them are extremely amateur and are somewhat "cash grabs", but some of them appear to be serious efforts, but the prices are all over the map, and there really needs to be some kind of clearing house that examines all of this stuff to determine which games people need to take a closer look at, and which games can be totally ignored.
I wish there was a website that really specialized in keeping track of all these VR games and reviewing them, and kind of helping steer VR gamers in the right direction to avoid a lot of the shovelware crap.
I agree Anthony1. But if the already existing game media like IGN, PC Gamer and others really did their jobs...instead of being cheerleaders for the status quo...they would already be doing what you suggest. It should be nothing for them to create focus review areas for VR games only. The game media is so far behind the VR movement (especially with the games) it borders on sheer incompetence and neglect. On the other hand...there is a very low tech approach that Developers can do kick start the media into the future IMO. Plus it would self expose many of the cheap cash grabs out there in VR. And that is mount an aggressive Remake campaign of their best sellers in VR format. That would drive people to VR "en masse". And they would resell their libraries of classics & winners all over again. This is just to simple to ignore. EA, MS, Sony and others need to get off their complacent behinds and force this to happen with devs...if for no other reason...than to grow their stagnant industry. VR is the brightest light shining in it right now. And they already have the game IP to explode it into super nova.
I'm not sure if re-making games for VR is the way to go. Sure, Bethesda is doing it with Fallout 4, and they seem to be doing "something" with Doom, but if the vast majority of companies tried to port their stuff to VR, it would probably be half-assed jobs that would turn people away from VR if anything. That's one of my biggest fears. You know how Final Fantasy had some PS VR thing that was supposedly absolutely God awful. Unfortunately, you just can't trust a lot of these bigger publishers. They don't know what the hell they are doing if they try to just force their stuff to work with VR. Bethesda is making it work, but they are putting in a ton of effort and they aren't going to half ass it.
EA seems to be pretty indifferent to VR at this point. Otherwise, they would be making a golf game in VR. Or a Madden VR Quarterback Experience game. Of course, EA will say that once the market is big enough they will be there. They're just not true believers yet. Microsoft isn't going to do anything about VR until they have their Scorpio system available.
Sony is going to be bringing VR to the masses this Fall which will be super interesting. Unfortunately, PS4 owners won't be able to try out roomscale, and the tracking solution Sony has is less than desirable, but hopefully they will have enough polished experiences to get things started off on the right foot.
Did you get Blasters of the Universe for 3 bucks in that indiegala thing on Monday ? I was able to grab that, even though my Vive is currently on the shelf. (3 in 1 cable died on me and I'm currently waiting a replacement from HTC. Haven't been able to enjoy my Vive since Wednesday August 24th)
I already had that one in my library I think from the big VR sale on Steam, but I admittedly haven't even touched it yet. That's another one that I keep reading good things about.
I also have been seeing on Reddit that some people are now getting a slimmer 3-in-1 cable, hopefully you'll get lucky and get that one.
I've got my fingers crossed that I get the new cable. That would be a nice stroke of luck, but if I get the old one, oh well... I just can't wait to get whichever cable they send, because it's been about 10 days since I've played my Vive. It's honestly been hard to not have the thing for 10 days. I've heard stories of some people not playing their Vive for a month or whatever because they weren't that into it, but for me, not playing the thing for 10 days, it's been pretty brutal.
I just don't have any interest in games on a flat screen anymore. For me, VR is so much more compelling and powerful. I'm not saying I can never play a game on a flat screen anymore, but I'm saying that when the desire hits me to play a game, I want to play a VR game.
I think you mentioned you tried Battlezone. That was the same one that I tried, and I was super impressed. It's one of the reasons I'm going to try to grab a PS VR if I can (didn't pre-order). I just preordered a PS4 Pro, with the hopes that VR experiences on the PS4 Pro will be a wee bit better than standard PS4. I don't currently own a PS4, so I figure if I'm going to jump in, might as well get the Pro.
Let me say right up front that I fervently hope that any and all comments about this development nuke stay totally out of political conversation. And instead center around the potential impact that may occur in the VR gaming world at large. That's what the main body of the article focused on anyway. It's already having major impact in the game developer world as the article states. As some Devs are already moving to Vive and PSVR platforms because of it. IMO it could affect what Microsoft and other big enterprise developers/partners plan to do in the future if its not handled properly by Facebook & Zuckerberg. There is a lot of meat to discuss here without delving into stupid politics. None of us care how the other votes or swings so let's make sure we sheath any talk of such. Instead I am somewhat disappointed that a very promising new platform is now functioning under a cloud because of youthful inexperience and bad judgement. And by that I only mean that, politics always seems to a pathway to ruining fun and excitement in new discoveries, missions, adventures and markets. One thing is clear though. Consumers will go where the best games are. And they'll go where the best price/value relationship exists in products. If right now was 2017 (when I plan to buy VR), It's Sony and Vive. And I was heavily leaning that way before this S..tstorm with Oculus Rift hit. I was only waiting to see what emerged from OR/MS/Game Dev alliances. Now it really doesn't matter.
Hardly a bombshell, and not appropriate for this forum. (IMHO, this is one of the few places where people seem grown-up enough to keep their religious and political opinions to themselves).
Oculus needs to ship it's hands, I believe that happens in a few weeks. But then both systems need to really light a fire under developers asses. The last "VR Big Deal" I've read about is some group that released a City Browser so you can walk around 3D google maps....you know, "Wow, so neet!". And then 10 minutes later you never touch it again. Fallout 4's official VR support is the last big-deal I've heard about, I'm wondering if games like Forza and such just can't pull-off VR without significantly more GPU and CPU power under the hood.....I kinda expected to be here, however, so I'm not disappointed. Just patient
I agree with your opening statement HeadRush. And in fact that was exactly the point I was attempting to make. Especially the grown up & politics part of it. But it looks like actual VR game development could be impacted by it. I personally don't think by much (if even measurable). Palmer is a young precocious guy with a lot of money. He was ill equipped in many ways to deal with the vultures that swirl in the "Billionaire's Club". But the discussion about the tech itself and adjoining development partners is very interesting to me. And worthy of discussion here. Because it actually goes to whether Facebook itself is a long term, viable player in the Game Development community. I know that when I go VR in 2017, I want IP's like Mass Effect Andromeda to launch in VR...along with a back tow of "VR ready" ME trilogy releases with DLC available to play on Win 10 PC, XB1-S and/or PSVR. If those kind of links are at risk here...then Facebook needs to move fast to fix things. Because if this immature kind of behavior risks convergence kind of deals with Microsoft. That could be a game changer for Windows 10 gaming potential and Xbox 1-S/Scorpio. People will just move to alternatives to Oculus Rift who Devs are platforming games for/with.
We're all friends here, man. No worries. Looks like that fallout seemed to last about 2 days, the world has bigger things to be outraged about it would seem. Facebook, to me, is like every other tech-driven "Parent Company"......they have tons of cash, and want to spend it on "cool stuff". Facebook wants integration in your phone, your TV, your toilet, they want it in your car. No Doubt they are busy working on Facebook VR for OR users, after all the app is supposed to be about social interaction, and what screams "Social Interaction" more than sitting in your room by yourself with a blacked-out mask on your face and controllers in your hands......
I think the main thing is that Palmer Luckey should have been muzzled by Facebook a long time ago. He's been causing trouble for them for basically a year straight, from the 'ballpark of $400' stuff to this new garbage. I don't know why they keep letting him talk to the press at all.
Anyway, I'm not at all feeling like I'm waiting for new games, I'm feeling like there's too much for me to ever possibly keep up with. And I think you Rift users who get Touch and the PSVR users are in for a great experience soon - seriously, having hands in VR is an absolute game changer. I had the DK2 and the resolution increase pales in comparison to the experience of tracked controllers.
I have all of my fingers crossed that this one will launch in VR, Since I'll be onboard early in 2017 with one or more of the headsets (PSVR seems for sure). But I still love the idea of having a Xbox One that is tightly wound with Oculus Rift & Windows 10. And this game right here is one that can move me in a specific direction. Either way, Prey reboot is a day 1 buy for me, that I'll be just as happy playing on PC in front of my 43" curved monitor (Christmas present). Here is the exciting link. I can't wait for it!
My one problem with golf games (well, I'm more referring to Cloudlands Mini Golf but I'm sure it'll be even more so with actual golf), is that unless I tighten the headset to be a bit uncomfortable, it can slide around a bit when the primary view in a game is constantly looking down at the ground.
IMO VR Golf will be one of the very best simulations of all time for the Genre. It won't happen until VR matures more...Treadmills are made specifically to synch and simulate with VR. And as you suggest...the headsets get much more comfortable, lighter and better. But I can truly foresee a time whereby the very best courses in the country are linked and synched with VR...whereby a person can "walk" the equivalent of 18 holes on a VR treadmill...exit the TM like one would a golf cart...and swing away from their bag of clubs...something akin too a variable weighted version of the PS wand/move. Golf is one of those sports/activities that really lends itself to VR if executed properly. It could fuel a wide variety of innovative VR business models. And for all of you avid golfers out there. Just imagine playing with the celebrity foursome of your choice...with zero waiting times...and a ton of exercise value to boot. It could be a ton of fun whizzing through 1-2 hr VR rounds at Pebble!
barrellbelly - Did you see the Oculus Connect 3 thing ? Reason being, Michael Abrash, their top VR engineer, had this long talk about the future of VR. Like the next 5 years, and what has to happen etc, etc... It's a good watch if you want a decent prediction on what might happen in the next 5 years.
As for Golf games in VR, it makes a ton of sense. Especially if you could get special holders for the controllers, so that it truly feels like you're swinging a real golf club, with the weight of a real golf club (maybe a wee bit lighter), just a much shorter staff, so we don't destroy our rooms. With 4m x 4m roomscale, when you're on the green, doing a put, it would really seem like you're on a green doing a put. Stuff like that will be super cool. I'm hoping now that Sony is going to have VR that maybe they will do a Hot Shots Golf PSVR game. I think the cartoony style of Hot Shots would work well with VR.
Just saw the video of Golf Club, it actually looks really good.
@Anthony1:
No...I did not see the Oculus connect 3. I'll look it up. I agree with the Golf comments. I think PS is almost already there with the Move. It just needs to be weight adjustable to properly simulate a series of clubs. Maybe its even an entirely new accessory that is specifically designed for VR Golf (embedded with Move or Kinect technology).
Anyone planning to view it on their Headsets? Or play a much less physically invasive version of the game? Because somehow I have a feeling that it is a dry run for a real VR game. Sorta like how Dead Space went from movie to game classic.
Do not miss 'Motorbike VR' on Oculus if you're a 'Trials' fan. It is practically a carbon copy of that game, but, the 3D aspect takes it to a whole other level. Grabbed it on the current sale for five bucks (I would gladly have paid the regular ten.) 'A hundred tracks and there are many more online. The just-one-more-time game from hell (and heaven.)
In the end VR success will be determined by affordability...widespread availability...wireless untegration...and most importantly, the games and movies. In regard to the latter...the announcement above highlights precisely what will move people. And I mean repurposing and bringing Halo and like kind franchises like Mass Effect Trilogy to mixed reality.
Now MS just needs to realize that console based VR is every bit as important as VR on a PC. The vast majority of consumers do not want to deal with the work, not to mention the cost, involved in getting a PC based VR solution up and running. Sony's PSVR has outsold all the PC based solutions combined largely on the back of being relatively affordable and far easier to set up. Phil Spencer really poured cold water on console based VR viability with the regard to the Xbox One X and I think he and MS are making a big mistake and missing a real opportunity. Untethered VR, which is what Spencer seems to view as the ultimate goal for consoles, is a great idea but I'm sure plenty of people would be happy with a tethered solution this generation. It definitely hasn't seemed to hinder Sony so far.
Know what I'd really love to see...to truly ignite VR/AR/MR? I'd love to see a vision forward developer house with serious skills, like Saber Interactive finally negotiate a co-op (cooperative business) vendor partnership with other dev houses & publishers like EA, 343, Square Enix, Sony and Nintendo and a few others. Whereby Saber would focus exclusively on updating, modernizing and adapting all of the classic/legacy titles from Halo-FF-GOW-ME Trilogy to VR/MR/AR. And roll them all out for their respective console formats (with 100% PC availability on Steam & Origin) over the next 3 years. Everyone would profit from the old classics, while moving bravely into the new world. By making this kind of partnership centered on old legacy IP...it would enhance the value of the investment portfolio of all concerned parties IMO.
I just bought an Oculas Rift ... and without ever witnessing VR before, I'm blown away. I've had to buy a new PC as well, so now it's very playable. Question for the VR vets: does the monitor have anything to do with VR?
Reason I ask is that my old monitor (a 43" 720p non-smart Samsung) doesn't give me the resolution needed. Sometimes I have to take off the headset and manually pull windows left or right in order to navigate.
I'm considering a new 4k 55" (for some reason, BB has them very cheap). Would this help?
I...for one...hope Game developers don't fall into the rabbit hole of trying to make the VR experience all about motion and room space/scale games. I think there is a place for that type of new experience. But I also believe that the vast majority of people who are curious about VR gaming, want to experience it sitting down and/while pretending to move...run...jump...leap...fly...swim all over the place.
IMO gamers do not want to experience super immersive gaming in a format that leaves them exhausted and sweaty...unless it is some kind of simulation, whose purpose is to challenge them physically & mentally. Games Devs have to get this right. Or they could sink the format before it gains real legs. Auto racing...biking...rowing simulations and competitions from a VR calibrated, recumbent exerciser (with wheel/pedal accessories) will eventually happen in the VR space for Club and home use IMO. The trick for the game developer will be how they incorporate these kind of segments into VR games.
Take Mass Effect or Halo type games for example. Those kind of games could be hybridized in VR to play like completely new IP's. If one uses a VR recumbent device to play segments with the "Mako", tanks, Warthogs, flyers...creative cut scenes will have to be deployed while players move and shift from a seated position to a piece of equipment...in a way that does not disrupt the flow of a game (or seem artificial). Because...for the most part...the majority of users will want to just experience the full VR game sitting in a chair. But for those who have the new VR machines...in their homes...a whole new world of gaming and simulations will arise.
Bottom line...if they get the game & peripheral equipment development part of this VR/MR/AR equation right...I believe they can double the size of the gaming industry in 10 years. Get it wrong and the industry can stagnate and decline IMO. The beauty is they don't have to reinvent the world on the gaming front. They will just need to reimagine how they want to revisit known classic stories in VR...while adding in unique VR/MR experiences and perhaps new DLC that expands or enhances the plotline.
I...for one...hope Game developers don't fall into the rabbit hole of trying to make the VR experience all about motion and room space/scale games. I think there is a place for that type of new experience. But I also believe that the vast majority of people who are curious about VR gaming, want to experience it sitting down and/while pretending to move...run...jump...leap...fly...swim all over the place.
I couldn't agree more. This point has become a sort of pet-peeve of mine. I frequently argue that most people can't dunk a basketball in real life. We can't do a double backflip while swing blades like Kratos. We can't jump 3x our own height like Mario. At some point, we are going to need artificial locomotion elements for VR games to offer some creativity. I get that roomscale and VR is a new thing and it allows things in software that has never been available before, but I'm also sensing that it can be limiting from a creativity standpoint.
Agreed. Especially because room-scale VR still doesn't allow for unlimited movement; to get beyond your 8x10 area, you still need a teleport mechanic or something like it.
Your typical game controller is a pretty remarkable piece of hardware design; sixteen or more inputs in a compact form factor, and useful for every genre of game. It would be foolish for designers to throw that away and go purely to gestural input. VR will offer new possibilities for UI design, and it will probably take a few iterations before we see designers take full advantage of the opportunities, but I expect that controllers will still play an essential role in VR games even when the segment has matured.
Agreed. Especially because room-scale VR still doesn't allow for unlimited movement; to get beyond your 8x10 area, you still need a teleport mechanic or something like it.
Your typical game controller is a pretty remarkable piece of hardware design; sixteen or more inputs in a compact form factor, and useful for every genre of game. It would be foolish for designers to throw that away and go purely to gestural input. VR will offer new possibilities for UI design, and it will probably take a few iterations before we see designers take full advantage of the opportunities, but I expect that controllers will still play an essential role in VR games even when the segment has matured.
Exactly! The major market VR & MR has to win over in games is the Console gaming mass market. All others will follow IMO. And the overwhelming favorite in that space is the ubiquitous and fascinating handheld controller. That is the part that needs to evolve first. Something akin to a hybrid of the Xbox and Nintendo switch system...whereby it can clamp together for most Xbox like uses...and conveniently separate apart, exposing more keys and versatility. Even gaming synched wristbands...with 1-2 big extra buttons/band could be huge additions to the VR controller based arsenal. The buttons could be placed on opposite sides of the band peripheral device for game devs to program in really cool running, jumping, sliding, swimming type in game actions...just by tapping the outer wrist or bottom button against the thigh while playing...while maintaining full grasp of the controller. I can even imagine the PC centric gaming KeyPad/M being redesigned to fit in a new triage of controller devices like this. The limitations are all in the imaginations of the game developers and device makers.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
AVS Forum
34M posts
1.5M members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, TVs, projectors, screens, receivers, speakers, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!