PlayStation VR, I'm Sold!
So...
Like I mentioned last night. I tried PS VR yesterday afternoon, and I'm sold! Though, maybe not at launch, I'm notorious for straying away from early adoption of virtually anything (non pun intended ;)).
http://i.imgur.com/VNX9HE3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/RRETeBm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AKYTTbV.jpg
I tried Battlezone and EVE: Valkyrie. Both games played excellently; but man, oh man, did Battlezone have spot-on controls. The rep even went on to agree that Battlezone indeed had the best controls. In my opinion, it is these games with cockpit view that will provide the best and most immersive gameplay. These are also two examples of full games (not just short and quick VR "experiences") that will be coming out. Games, on the other hand, where you'll find yourself "warping" from point to point in order to traverse the play field just feel like they will not be as immersive. Maybe I'm wrong. But so far these VR games I've seen so far with "warpy" gameplay (yes, I coined it bitches) don't look like they'll provide a full experience (as in, a full blown game). Which sucks, because it's most of what you see out there now; and they tend to give this aura of "try-this-new-fad" a la Wii motion controls that has put a great many off (including myself).
But, like I said, after playing Battlezone and EVE: Valkyrie demoes on PS VR, I am completely sold. I think this is not going to be just a fad for games. It has a very strong chance of catching on as long as the price becomes affordable and the types of games featured provide a full gaming experience in the long run. I understand at first some casual shovelware will be required to latch onto said casual market; but what will make it stay is going to be core gameplay, IMHO. And, don't get me wrong, even though I am 100% sure that this "necessary" shovelware will flood the market at first, there will also be games coming out with fully immersive experiences that will provide core gameplay that can withstand the test of time. Battlezone, for one.
The headset did, indeed, feel very light. I have headphones at home I use all the time for my PS3 that weigh the same if not more than the PS VR headset. That was a plus. None of the controls felt "gimmicky" like you would find with many Wii or Wii U motion-controlled games. The experience was not disorienting at all (but then again, I only tried cockpit view games
). Your head is the right analog stick (camera-wise, not for aiming). But I won't lie, even though this is supposed to be 1080p per lense, it still felt very transitional. To put it simply, textures aside, the resolution felt almost like playing a Virtual PS2 game (perhaps even a PS1 game). And, where I used to think of this a detractor for me, I want to share with you folks that this is by no means a bad thing. The experience is so immersive, that you will quickly forget about the resolution. Heck, the resolution gets better as your eyes adjust too. Just think of the 3DS 3D top screen. Sure, the resolution is not the best, but damn does it look good in games. Especially in colorful games. And, like with the 3DS, I can totally foresee this starting-off a bit slow, mainly deterred not by technology but by price and the initial small library at first, then taking a life of its own as more and more awesome games start coming out for it.
All in all, I am very excited about the PlayStation VR. Sure, VR is what ever 90s geek has dreamed of; but unlike even the HTC Vibe or the Rift, I truly see PS VR as the foray into mainstream VR. It is far more marketable; and I can see way more games being developed for it and being able to reach out to way more folks via the PS4 venue. The casual games I'll probably try if they're free or super cheap (as in, less than $5). But the core games are the kind I'm truly sold upon and very much excited for. I can't wait to see what the two games I tried will look like in full production. And I can't wait to see what more games like it will be coming out.
I took some photos and a video, but I think the photos will do. This was at a local GameStop and there was a lot of excitement going around. There were questions being thrown around, so I tried my best to take note. The PS VR rep was very cool and very helpful, actually. 'Very down-to-earth kind'a dude. I'll start with the Q&A. It actually cleared-up a whole bunch of rumors as well as cemented some of the basics of the technology:
Q: "So, all these photos of the PS4 slim model... Are they real?"
A: "Oh, man, that's the first thing they told us not to comment on. They even gave that guy a lot flak in the company for even mentioning the Neo at E3. But I think it's safe to say no one at Sony is denying that the photos of the slim are real. The current PS4 and the Vita are already discontinued from production. And the new model will come with a new redesigned Dual Shock controller."
(I don't know which person in particular he meant. Not sure if it was Shawn Layden on stage, off-stage, or even someone else).
Q: "But all they said at E3 [regarding the Neo] was that they weren't going to talk about it".
A: "Yeah, but even that was too much. It kind of confirmed its existence".
Q: "Yeah. Everyone was saying Microsoft should've waited until after the Xbox One S came out to announce the Scorpio.
A: "It's true. They rushed it. They should've waited until at least six months after the 'S' was out."
Q: "So, what can you tell us about the PlayStation Neo?"
A: "Come September 7th, Sony is going to make a big announcement. But I can't confirm or deny if they'll even mention the Neo".
Q: "I read some rumors on the new PS4 firmware update 4.0 regarding full support for a 4TB hard drive. As in, "sleep mode" or any of the other features will not be affected with 4TB. Is this true?"
A: "I'm not sure about the capacity, but I heard from our executives that it will add external drive support ".
Q: "For media storage or to play games?"
A: "To play games".
Q: "What is this thingamajig?"
http://i.imgur.com/Gj29PoW.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DvLB9Vh.jpg
A: "That's the processor unit. You'll need it to run VR on your PS4."
Q: "Why two HDMI cables?"
http://i.imgur.com/UB9j4zA.jpg
A: "One for each of the lenses on the headset. Each runs at 1080p. One cool feature is that it will allow for 'cinema mode'; which will allow you to watch videos, movies or even play regular games using your headset like a monitor."
Q: "Can you use 'cinema mode' with any game console or media player? Or does it only work with the PS4?"
A: "It will only work with the PS4".
Q: "Is the cable long enough?"
A: "Yes, the cable set is very long. It comes with an extension".
Q: "Can you play all the games sitting down".
A: "Yes! One thing we don't want at Sony is for the customer to trip and fall, and then sue the company".
(This was a huge sell for me. It completely distinguished shitty juggling motion controls like you'd find in many Wii games, to complete immersion in the safety of your own couch. It may just be me, but all I really want in a console-based VR game is the ability to move my head and arms while still sitting back comfortably).
Q: "What kind of accessories do I need to buy?"
A: "Right now, they sold out on all the bundles. So you'll need the core headset, the move controllers and the PlayStation 4 camera. The basic set will also come with ear pieces like the PS4 came with, but in stereo."
Q: "So, I will need two move controllers for all the games then?"
A: "No. Some of the games like Battlezone and Eve: Valkyrie can be played with just the regular Dual Shock."
Q: "For the games that use the 'Move' controllers, do both of them need to be the kind that have the ball at the end?" (I forgot wtf you call it)
A: "Yes. Both will need to be like that so that the camera can see it". (I'm not sure if that made complete sense or if he was just brushing my answer away. A lot of people were asking questions at this point).
Q: "Then this is probably the time to get the 'Move'. I remember the Wii-mote was going for much cheaper until the Wii U came out and Nintendo decided to also use it".
A: "Yup. And I'm not sure about the 'Move' design, but the PS4 camera will also get a new design like the Dual Shock 4. The new camera is going to be smaller and a lot more sleek."
Q: "How many headsets will work with the PS4 at once?"
A: "Only one headset will work with a PS4 at a time. But some developers are already talking about features that will allow the headset to be used as a second monitor for couch co-op and things like that."
Q: "So, basically one processor unit per console".
A: "Yes".
Q: "But, if no more than one headset can be connected to a single console, will there be multiplayer available? (I was really asking about couch multiplayer, though)."
A: "Yes. Devs are working on several games that will feature multiplayer."
Q: "Are these games 'online' multiplayer, or can you at least do 'LAN' gameplay if you were to have two PS4s side by side".
A: "I think you would still need to be connected online."
Q: "Do you still need to wear prescription glasses with the VR headset?"
A: "Yeah. It works the same way as in real life. Your eyesight will need to adapt to the settings that are already featured".
Q: "How much are the games going to cost? And can you explain the cost?"
A: "The games will range from $15 to $60. The ones like Batman VR will only cost $15 because it's just two hours. Games like Eve: Valkyrie, Battlezone and Until Dawn will be full games and they will cost $60. Games in between will have features in between."
Q: "So, who is your target demographic?"
A: "Right now, Sony understands not everyone is going to go out there and buy this on day 1. Right now, they are shooting for the same kind of people who bought the PS4 on day 1. You know? The early adopters."
Q: "That makes sense. So when will we see a price drop? Or at least in bundles?"
A: "Maybe in about six months to a year after launch, you'll start seeing more affordable deals. Like, at GameStop, you can probably buy it used by then; maybe even get deals like 'buy two PlayStation Move controllers, get one PS4 camera free'. 'Depends on how the market responds".
Q: "Is this the barf bucket?"
http://i.imgur.com/1uJXmXg.jpg
A: "Yes"
Q: "Has it been used?"
A: "No"
