It Might Be Time to Admit the Great VR Experiment Has Failed - HowToGeek
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Wonko_C
Member
We're far behind in tech for AR glasses to be as good as AR via Passthrough on Quest 3 is. The most advanced ones like Meta Orion are at least 10 years away and it costs more than 10000 Dollars to make. And even those pale in comparison to what Q3 Passthrough is able to do (We get a primitive, vector-based Pong-style game with Orion while on Quest 3 with passthrough we can play an online match of table tennis with a virtual table in our rooms). Now that's what we can actually say is "not there yet".
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mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
I agree with this! But it's too early to say VR failed.
Nickolaidas
Banned
As long as VR induces nausea to the majority of its players, it will never take off. Who the fuck wants to play a game and almost immediately feel like throwing up? Gaming is all about comfort, not discomfort.
It's like asking for people to have sex with a supermodel, but at the same time someone is going to be pushing a 10-inch needle in the back of their neck.
It's like asking for people to have sex with a supermodel, but at the same time someone is going to be pushing a 10-inch needle in the back of their neck.
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SportsFan581
Member
Quest seems high on the Amazon gaming chart for 2024, how many units did it shift?
Golgo 13
The Man With The Golden Dong
VR sucks, let’s all just admit it. The headsets are annoying and uncomfortable to use, the games aren’t plentiful or good enough, and it’s massively inconvenient to play compared to the experience most people want when they go to play a game - turn on the fucking TV/monitor, sit back, and relax.
I bought a VR headset to play the holy grail of VR games, Half Life: Alyx, and I couldn’t shake the notion that I’d be having so much more fun with a mouse/keyboard/regular controller, instead of propped up with wires dangling all over the place, sweaty forehead/eyes, bumping into real life objects all the time, etc. The medium is not ready for “primetime”, and I don’t know if it ever will be.
I bought a VR headset to play the holy grail of VR games, Half Life: Alyx, and I couldn’t shake the notion that I’d be having so much more fun with a mouse/keyboard/regular controller, instead of propped up with wires dangling all over the place, sweaty forehead/eyes, bumping into real life objects all the time, etc. The medium is not ready for “primetime”, and I don’t know if it ever will be.
ResurrectedContrarian
Suffers with mild autism
The confused premise seems to be this idea that VR is intended to replace couch gaming. No, it's obviously a totally new medium / new lane in gaming, and it's best when it diverges as sharply as possible from couch gaming genres and expectations.
People will always want to sit and play on a flatscreen sometimes, just as a huge number of people will want to jump into virtual worlds. Those impulses should have nothing to do with each other, and any time they are compared / conflated, it just confuses everything.
And we needed a new lane in gaming, badly, because AAA+ flat screen games have lost almost all their appeal in the last few years. It has become a tangibly stupider medium by the month, and with little sign of getting back on track. It's actually best if VR tries to completely avoid that market and the lowest-denominator impulses that have made it so braindead. In other words... try hard to keep VR unappealing to people who play Uncharted or Assassin's creed on the couch... we don't want those people, they'll make the new medium dumb by their participation.
People will always want to sit and play on a flatscreen sometimes, just as a huge number of people will want to jump into virtual worlds. Those impulses should have nothing to do with each other, and any time they are compared / conflated, it just confuses everything.
And we needed a new lane in gaming, badly, because AAA+ flat screen games have lost almost all their appeal in the last few years. It has become a tangibly stupider medium by the month, and with little sign of getting back on track. It's actually best if VR tries to completely avoid that market and the lowest-denominator impulses that have made it so braindead. In other words... try hard to keep VR unappealing to people who play Uncharted or Assassin's creed on the couch... we don't want those people, they'll make the new medium dumb by their participation.
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genesisblock
Member
You want to play VR in the best settings. Period. And Alyx is exclusive only to rigs capable of playing them.
Liopleurodon
Member
Bert Big Balls
Gold Member
Every single person I know with a VR headset only used it for like 1-2 weeks then never touched it again. The novelty wears off fast.
TheUnicornGuy
Gold Member
I have a quest 2 somewhere. I think the game I've played most is rez, and that's probably about an hour. I've tried lots of games that are highly recommended but they just don't hold my attention for very long. My nephews and nieces quite enjoy that game where you cut cubes in half in time with music, but yeah, vr isn't for me. I kind of wish I'd never heard of rookies as then I wouldn't have bothered buying the headset in the first place.
SkylineRKR
Member
VR is fun but you are isolated from the outside. You can't really share it, and its hard to advertise or demo outside of letting people try it. The games are generally suited for short bursts and one has to wonder if its worth it to invest 500-1000 for such a thing. For many consumers its likely just not worth it. Also a good amount of people can't deal with the motions so its less accessible than regular screens in this regard too.
PisswasserYellow
Member
I love VR for racing sims and find it difficult to play them on a screen at this point but obviously that's a very niche genre. I don't use VR to play anything else because it's just not worth the hassle for me.
YeulEmeralda
Linux User
Half life Alex is basically a spin off from a old pancake game and lets not pretend that VR chat and Beatsaber are intellectually stimulating or "deep".
Wonko_C
Member
Star Wars Squadrons. Kinda lame even in VR because every mission is set in space. Not a single one is set on the surface of a planet, like Hoth or something. Project Wingman (PC) and Ace Combat 7 (With UEVR Mod) are much better.
Angry_Megalodon
Member
Even if it were cheap and didn't cause motion sickness, the experience is exhausting. Immersion is cool for short periods, but at the end of the day people will prefer what is more comfortable. Slides at water parks are fun but you wouldn't do that every day.
XXL
Gold Member
My advice....
Play stationary games (stuff like Beat Saber, etc) first for a while before jumping into fast paced/heavy movement games (like GT7, etc).
The motion sickness will 99% go away and most likely never come back.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Costs, needing to put on goggles, Wii waggling and needed space are already barrier to entry for most.
But also adding to it are the games themselves. Most seem first person. Not every gamer even wants to play games in first person mode.
But also adding to it are the games themselves. Most seem first person. Not every gamer even wants to play games in first person mode.
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No BBC=Anger
Member
I'm a beginner VR user and tried Wipeout collection, Doom 3 on PSVR and it was fine. Then I boot up Ace Combat 7 and I'm doing these crazy loops at high speed, the plane is spinning all over the place and at one point dived from a great height right into the water. And managed to lift the throttle to keep going. I was almost scared. It's fun as fuck but a super strange feeling when you take off the headset. And feeling a bit off. I'm glad I didn't try that drunk or high.
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clappedcheeks
Neo Member
Why is there this constant need for people to shit on something they have no interest in? There are those of us who love gaming in VR as well as flat screen, because we just love gaming. I understand that some people have issues with motion sickness and it’s understandable to not play in VR because of it. There seems to be a lot of people who just want to broadcast how much they hate VR, but for what purpose? Those of us that enjoy VR generally don’t wade into threads talking shit about games we have no interest in, we just get on with it and enjoy our hobby. Games are awesome and it’s never been a better time to be a gamer, there’s a wealth of experiences to dive into and enjoy. Fuck the hating and the haters.
Wonko_C
Member
Oh how I wish I did that to everyone who smugly shits on VR threads (Sweet revenge). But I soon forget who the poster were and what did they say. Lucky for them I guess.
dottme
Member
I'm on this boat. I don't think I'm ready to spend a lot on VR. And the price to reach is just impossible compare to the cost of the hardware.
It's some beautiful tech demo, but i don't see the path to mass market.
RedC
Gold Member
AeonGaidenRaiden
Member
It is dead when onlt HL Alyx pushed the envelope while most others look like indie slop with limited budgeting and AAA studios all they do is "add" the option to play their game in VR but the game itself never was made for VR. The interractions in VR are the same as playing 2D. If AAA studios started making VR only titles, then we could see a push in the market. Its been how many years already and still like 20% at best ofwn a VR system of any kind.
Romulus
Member
I enjoyed Batman more than Alyx. I've seen several people here agree with that.
We were at that exact point years ago, when 3D monitors/glasses died again. And we might be at that point again in a few years. First there are some consumers (millions worldwide) that think "this is it" but don't think about how complex the problems of the systems are. Not everyone wants to wear a headset. Many people have simulator sickness problems and you need talented people to prevent simulator sickness in games. Also it doesn't help that most games are trash and that there are only a few with playing (and not everybody likes e.gm the horror genre).
And the big problem is the price.
All these factors makes the target audience very, very small, while producing games for these people makes development expensive and the risks go up.
Not ideal for a new market.
Sony also made the big mistake (just like MS with Kinect) to reset a already not so big market and not deliver games & arguments why you should buy the stuff from them. If at least psvr2 would support psvr1 games (through compatibility on os Level) it would have started with game base and consumers could use their existing library.
Well the market isn't dead, but also not really growing. Hardware gets only replaced by newer hardware but not many new customers are out there. Worst is, customers with the hardware are more or less lost (psvr1, still a good headset, but alao no longer supported).
Btw, told you so before. Thinks like that are just to complicated to appeal long enough to the mass market. To really reach mass market, it must be easy to use and understand (not touch extra stuff) and cheap enough and shouldn't exclude a huge chunk of potential buyers (motion/simulator sickness).
And the big problem is the price.
All these factors makes the target audience very, very small, while producing games for these people makes development expensive and the risks go up.
Not ideal for a new market.
Sony also made the big mistake (just like MS with Kinect) to reset a already not so big market and not deliver games & arguments why you should buy the stuff from them. If at least psvr2 would support psvr1 games (through compatibility on os Level) it would have started with game base and consumers could use their existing library.
Well the market isn't dead, but also not really growing. Hardware gets only replaced by newer hardware but not many new customers are out there. Worst is, customers with the hardware are more or less lost (psvr1, still a good headset, but alao no longer supported).
Btw, told you so before
. Thinks like that are just to complicated to appeal long enough to the mass market. To really reach mass market, it must be easy to use and understand (not touch extra stuff) and cheap enough and shouldn't exclude a huge chunk of potential buyers (motion/simulator sickness).
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kat_on_the_roof
Neo Member
I’ve tried VR a few times, and I was honestly blown away by how immersive it is. It really pulls you in. Unfortunately, it gave me headaches and this weird lingering disorientation afterward. Guess I’m just not built for VR.
Dr. Suchong
Member
When I was a kid, this was what VR looked like.
I thought it was stupid.
I'm still not convinced now.
Half life Alyx is literally the only thing I'd play in VR.
Otherwise I just think VR stinks.
rodrigolfp
Haptic Gamepads 4 Life
To alleviate the FOMO.
diffusionx
Gold Member
I wonder if there is a generational difference here. Young people seem to really like VR. I remember scoffing at the "olds" when they whined about having to play FPS games on a controller as I took to it right away. But now the olds are whining about VR and touch controls but the younger people seem to like VR a lot. They also seem to get acclimated to it much easier than old people do.
Rez in VR was revelatory.
I guess my question is what does "not there" mean? Like, was the Atari 2600 "not there"? Compared to the SNES or whatever I guess but it had plenty to offer people.
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SimTourist
Member
Until you can literally jack into the matrix it's all useless
Starhowl
Member
VR is thriving thanks to the furry community, no other community is kickstarting this shit as hard as furrys and furrys are here to stay, growing in numbers day by day.
That's why VR won't fail: For the same reason VHS won the war against the competition: People don't want to miss out on their porn.
That's why VR won't fail: For the same reason VHS won the war against the competition: People don't want to miss out on their porn.
Davevil
Late October Surprise
Romulus
Member
We were at that exact point years ago, when 3D monitors/glasses died again. And we might be at that point again in a few years. First there are some consumers (millions worldwide) that think "this is it" but don't think about how complex the problems of the systems are. Not everyone wants to wear a headset. Many people have simulator sickness problems and you need talented people to prevent simulator sickness in games. Also it doesn't help that most games are trash and that there are only a few with playing (and not everybody likes e.gm the horror genre).
And the big problem is the price.
All these factors makes the target audience very, very small, while producing games for these people makes development expensive and the risks go up.
Not ideal for a new market.
Sony also made the big mistake (just like MS with Kinect) to reset a already not so big market and not deliver games & arguments why you should buy the stuff from them. If at least psvr2 would support psvr1 games (through compatibility on os Level) it would have started with game base and consumers could use their existing library.
Well the market isn't dead, but also not really growing. Hardware gets only replaced by newer hardware but not many new customers are out there. Worst is, customers with the hardware are more or less lost (psvr1, still a good headset, but alao no longer supported).
Btw, told you so before
Does your main point about being in the same position 3d tv was years ago based on any evidence? Because you followed up that statement with what reads like your feelings and no evidence.
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Madserb2023
Member
If it wasn't for Mario Bros etc consoles would have gone no where. The issues with VR is the software. For every Half Life Alyx there is a thousand games that are... scratch that, there is nothing else like Half Life Alyx. Imagine a world where the only good platformer was Mario and every thing else was like Busby 3D.
Romulus
Member
Alyx is great but i think we've surpassed it. For me, asgards wrath 2 and batman were at least as good. Batman was better as an arkham fan.
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Madserb2023
Member
I was exaggerating a bit but even though I personally don't think those games are as good as Half Life Alyx, you named two games. That is the problem. There are thousands of phenomenal non VR games and its a lot of money to invest in something like VR compared to a standard console when the amount of quality software is much lower. I actually think VR is good and its a shame it's going to probably fail. It would be like the Ngage and the Gizmondo bring the only handhelds existing and people claiming that handhelds don't work.
Romulus
Member
Isn't it sort of ridiculous to compare the combined accumulation of non VR studios over decades getting us to this point against VR though? That's not really fair at all to think they would be even similar in terms of games. But to that point, I have played VR games that ranked on my top 10 list despite that.
I disagree that it will fail. The winter of 2024 we got more AAA games than ever before. Batman, Alien Rogue Incursion, Metro, and Behemoth. Those were serious investments the like we've never seen in 1 quarter. It's not going anywhere, and if it is, now is the worst time to predict that. Just in 2024, the Quest 3s outsold all game consoles in 3 months on Amazon.
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Madserb2023
Member
It isn't ridiculous because as a consumer, that's what you are going to base your purchase on. 20 years from now if it doesn't die VR will accumulate a lot of good games but thats irrelevant to somebody spending their money now. VR has been around for a long time now, and my point is the Game Boy within a couple of years amassed a wealth of great games which made it a success. If it wasn't for Tetris, Zelda, Pokemon etc the Game Boy would have failed. Software is what drives success. The only successful 3D device I can think of is the 3DS because you had great games that used the 3d really well.
FIREKNIGHT2029
Member
I'm still very into VR and own multiple VR headsets.
I think it's premature to say it has failed when we've barely scratched the surface when it comes to grabbing the full potential of VR.
There is still a lot of room for improvement with VR technology. Headsets still have a long way to go when it comes to affordability as well since most good VR headsets are out of the price range of most consumers. I believe when VR becomes super cheap and accessible and the tech matures to the point where a VR headset with amazing graphics can be squeezed into the form factor of sunglasses we will see VR take off in a huge way. VR isn't going anywhere, it just needs more time in the oven.
I think it's premature to say it has failed when we've barely scratched the surface when it comes to grabbing the full potential of VR.
There is still a lot of room for improvement with VR technology. Headsets still have a long way to go when it comes to affordability as well since most good VR headsets are out of the price range of most consumers. I believe when VR becomes super cheap and accessible and the tech matures to the point where a VR headset with amazing graphics can be squeezed into the form factor of sunglasses we will see VR take off in a huge way. VR isn't going anywhere, it just needs more time in the oven.
diffusionx
Gold Member
I don't think VR is going to fail, if by fail, it means this technology goes away forever and becomes a footnote. It's not a Zune. There is fundamentally appealing and attractive about the concept of stepping into a virtual world and the technology will keep developing. Remember, our current iteration of VR is basically the result of a single nerd (Palmer Luckey) cobbling together technology that was already in development (miniature screens, motion sensors, gyroscopes, etc.) to put it together. Even if Meta pulls out of the headset game this technology will keep developing.
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Romulus
Member
Well apparently the consumer isn't too worried about it because they're buying it at a high rate. Software is always the key, but what you're not understanding is there has just been recently a sizable install base that entices developers. The power is finally there. And within 1 year of release, the Quest 3 got its best lineup of games ever. So, this is actually coming together vs falling apart.
And it wasn't just a software advantage that gameboy had. It had a low cost of entry, the technology was similar to monitors but with the advantage of convenience of portability. VR is just now becoming convenient. And Nintendo had already built their library and household brands on other platforms. VR is in a stage where they can start and it seems they have.
And to say VR has been around for awhile as a consumer product is sort of a stretch. Yes, you could technically purchase it, but it was mostly an enthusiast device until around 2021. Even the PSVR1 was marketed as consumer based but its technology was otherwise horrible. Essentially experimental. No where near a gameboy or any other comparison until recently. So, we're just getting started. Wireless standalone similar to the Quest is the key to success. I've played games this year that looked like they were running on PCVR from a few years ago, so that's a giant leap forward.
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ReasonBeing
Neo Member
I hate to admit this, but I largely agree with the articles sentiment. I'm a huge proponent of VR, standalone and PCVR, and the software just doesn't sell in large enough quantities to justify major investment. Gameplay has stagnated and free to play has become the defacto monetization strategy too quickly. Maybe I'm being a pessimist, but I hope VR turns it around before all investors back out.