SmokedMeat
Gamer™
You mean gamers aren't buying super pricey accessories to play mediocre tech demos?
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Develop: PC VR sales has almost ground to a halt
- Thread starter Wollan
- Start date
dr_rus
Member
This type of VR tech will never be good enough. It just won't work for the general consumer.
The Jackdog
Member
im pretty much right with you.
VR needs a killer app, but the install base isnt AAA justification big yet, so you have experiences like RE7 that offer in VR but arent VR games.
and like you said, the masses plopping down 500 bucks for the experiences currently available on VR seems like a stretch.
Nostremitus
Member
400 bucks for a headset with a lackluster software library is still way, way too expensive. Time will tell how many developers are willing to jump in on supporting PSVR.
ShadowKingpin
Member
A good point. I just hope AAA studios invest in full game experiences for PSVR to get it moving. At that point, Sony needs to work hard on cutting the costs of the headset.
Aztechnology
Member
Hardware and software both just aren't there yet. I don't think it's going to be a fan given how seriously so many companies and developers are looking at this. It's just a slow adoption process. Like 1080p TV's or anything else with a relatively high upfront cast has been. That being said, it's still too high a cost for what you're getting. They need to offer more value in one way or another. One is lowering the price. The other is giving more for your money. I still think Eye tracking and foveated rendering and the massive performance advantage it could potentially bring Is a big factor of pushing forward VR. It's just very expensive to build a computer that can run those VR games we all want to play. Some people might say but look at PSVR and yes you're right but it's still a more limited experience than what many of us want. With the performance boost it becomes the inverse for a system build. They potentially might go the VR route because it becomes more cost effective for IQ in the long run.
Just to be clear that will still be niche. But it will keep the boll rolling. Not to mention that performance paradigm shift would be a big deal for console level VR. It affects the bottom line more than anything.
Just to be clear that will still be niche. But it will keep the boll rolling. Not to mention that performance paradigm shift would be a big deal for console level VR. It affects the bottom line more than anything.
And if history has proven anything its Sony will drop major focus for anything at the first sign of struggle.
Vita, Move, Playstation Eye, PS Mobile...
What ever the case, it'll be interesting to watch the reception of PSVR.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
VR flopping on PlayStation won't be a good thing for VR.
Hip Hop
Member
eh, for a series that hasn't been relevant like before, I wouldn't put much weight on that game.
They need something else.
My Vive had a dead pixel. Kind of a blessing, sent it back for a full refund in the first 2 weeks. I had kicks out of showing my friends, but there is only so much millage you can get out of loading a few demo's for friends to try out only to realize there are very few meaningful experiences that are not just technical demonstrations for yourself to play.
I have no problem with gimmicks and I don't think the Vive itself is a gimmick, but until VR games are able to step up and become as deep and nuanced as normal games we won't see growth past the enthusiast high end PC gamer level. Also, of course a price drop...
I hope that VR game makers don't see this as a reason to pump in less money into development. I'm sure at this stage a lot of projects are waiting to see if the market is fruitful from how PSVR performs. I think there are some very compelling titles coming out on that, that will in turn make the PC VR developers push harder if the uptake of them is good.
I have no problem with gimmicks and I don't think the Vive itself is a gimmick, but until VR games are able to step up and become as deep and nuanced as normal games we won't see growth past the enthusiast high end PC gamer level. Also, of course a price drop...
I hope that VR game makers don't see this as a reason to pump in less money into development. I'm sure at this stage a lot of projects are waiting to see if the market is fruitful from how PSVR performs. I think there are some very compelling titles coming out on that, that will in turn make the PC VR developers push harder if the uptake of them is good.
Companies are aware the adoption rate will be slow. The tech is too expensive and too niche to penetrate the mainstream. You will see a similar result to the PC market.
The armchair GAF economists in this thread have been fascinating as usual.
LukasTaves
Member
I was sure this first iteration would bomb hard and I don't think it was a fad.
But they are selling a overpriced shitty experience with uncomfortable, low resolution headsets and still doesn't have a proper solution for acknowledging your body... It's bound to only sell a little until they can offer a cheap and better experience.
letmetrythisname
Member
Not surprising in the slightest. I knew VR was never going to be the future. The lack of anything resembling a killer app for any of the VR platforms doesn't help.
Strangelove77
Member
Maybe in another 5-10 years.
Azure Phoenix
Member
No surprise, we're past the early adopter phase and the average gamer sure isn't going to spend thousands on a beefy PC and VR headset just to play a bunch of rail shooters, wave shooters or teleportation shooters. My interest in VR has plummeted through the floor after watching Giant Bomb's VRodeos and such, there isn't a single game I'd want to play for more than 2-3 mins - especially not if "point to teleport" continues to be the primary movement method.
OfTheOverflow
Member
Great. Make some worthwhile games for it. Really hope that Redshift ends up able to run with PSVR.
July was when Oculus had caught up with shipping so the usual bumps Steam was seeing likely had to do with that and now they are gone. I don't have an excuse for the Vive, especially since it already has the roomscale stuff and controllers that the Rift is getting in a few months. The fan base will tell you there is plenty of content, but the mainstream gamers seem to think otherwise. I'm sure Steam will show an increase once Touch launches and Rift owners look for additional motion controller content outside of Oculus Home. We could see a price drop for the Vive by then to combat the Touch controllers and PSVR.
Hardly shocking.
PC VR is expensive as hell and the games so far don't seem that great to justify the investment required.
I watch GiantBomb's VR streams every once in a while and most of the games they play seem pretty mediocre after the novelty wares off.
Hopefully PSVR can deliver some more worthwhile, high production experiences.
PC VR is expensive as hell and the games so far don't seem that great to justify the investment required.
I watch GiantBomb's VR streams every once in a while and most of the games they play seem pretty mediocre after the novelty wares off.
Hopefully PSVR can deliver some more worthwhile, high production experiences.
Dirtyshubb
Member
That seems like a silly argument against the game.
I mean its a well-known franchise that is now fully playable in VR, depending on how well it works that could be an easy way to get attention for VR.
Just because it isnt as popular as it was before doesnt take away from its name recognition and the potential for being a driving force towards changing perceptions on VR as a medium.
One of the main complaints against VR is its all tech demos/small games and this is one of the first real games that you can play fully in VR so its at least going to be something that will get peoples interest that may have written off VR up to that point. It opens up the idea that it isnt just small experiences that are available in VR.
wesleyshark
Banned
LordRaptor
Member
Just slapping a VR capable camera onto an existing title undermines the need for VR experiences to be built as VR from the ground up, not treated as more expensive 3D TV though.
They need PSVR to be some what of a success as if it fails at a level that is much closer to mass market then the writing is on the wall for them all.
Google, Sony, Facebook, Intel, Nvidia, and Valve aren't dedicated investors willing to pump money into it?
Heck, what major tech company isn't talking/showing off some kind of VR/AR project/hardware?
runnin_blue
Banned
Even though I am aware of the lack of fully featured games, as soon as they are able to drop the price to something that I consider reasonable, I'm in like Flynn.
Price is the biggest hang up for me.
Price is the biggest hang up for me.
vpance
Member
Gee, I hope PCVR doesn't poison the well for PSVR
Lol
Angry Fork
Member
I want one badly but it's way too expensive. I don't even really care that there aren't a ton of games for it, I still want to experience it and would buy one if the price wasn't insane.
Metroid vr whenever they remember it exists
Necro900
Member
Yep, but the question is: will we have 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation products if this first generation doesn't sell well?
Joe Spangle
Member
Oh man, I just bought a Vive! its arriving today.
Ive only really got it for Elite though so if there are any other games for it its a bonus for me.
Ive only really got it for Elite though so if there are any other games for it its a bonus for me.
Trogdor1123
Member
Played psvr this weekend and was really impressed. It wasn't as detailed as a vive but it was certainly serviceable and was much better than I expected. Could do some really neat things with it. The headset was way more comfortable than the other 2.
I'm confused. The quoted article is stating Growth not install base is slowing down. If 10 people buy VR in June and there is 0.03 growth in sales then 10.3 people bought it in July.
That's not grounding to a halt, that simply just not exponential sales growth.
Please elaborate in case I'm misreading?
That's not grounding to a halt, that simply just not exponential sales growth.
Please elaborate in case I'm misreading?
MikeE21286
Member
I would have jumped in, but at a very high price point with little compelling software (from all feedback around the industry). Well, that's a terrible combination...
I assume there will be a second generation at least, if anything as a last ditch attempt to reignite the market
PuppetMaster
Member
VR won't work for me, because I share my living room with my loved ones (shrug)
Mad Season
Banned
Another fad
VR again put on the market before it's ready, just like the 90s.
Or, no one really cares about VR. I don't think entertainment is necessarily better from a VR perspective with as much immersion as possible. I think a lot of people realize that. Not everyone wants to be completely immersed in their media, they just want to be entertained, and I don't think VR is inherently better suited to entertaining people than other screens that aren't strapped around your head. Or even books, and music. VR as a medium is competing with a lot of other forms that are far more culturally engrained and with decades or even centuries of polished content. It has a tough road ahead of it I think. Once it is completely mind blowing with 8k+ screens and 20 teraflops GPUs, then it might take off because of how mind blowing it is.
Or, no one really cares about VR. I don't think entertainment is necessarily better from a VR perspective with as much immersion as possible. I think a lot of people realize that. Not everyone wants to be completely immersed in their media, they just want to be entertained, and I don't think VR is inherently better suited to entertaining people than other screens that aren't strapped around your head. Or even books, and music. VR as a medium is competing with a lot of other forms that are far more culturally engrained and with decades or even centuries of polished content. It has a tough road ahead of it I think. Once it is completely mind blowing with 8k+ screens and 20 teraflops GPUs, then it might take off because of how mind blowing it is.
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
I have an Oculus and it is the future, I hate news like this because it brings out the "dar dar fad" folks. It doesn't take Nostradamus to see that the medium has a very high probability of being massively successful and important technology, the question is just still "when".
Like Durante said, as of now it's niche. The tech is there but it's still too expensive for a lot of people. The thing is, it's not going away. VR has been around for decades for various reasons, only it was thousands and thousands of dollars. Now it's much more advanced, streamlined, lighter, etc. with lots of developers working on it. When you have a tech that keeps coming back like this, a lot of people think it's doomed to fail, but I think the opposite. It keeps coming back because of the idea behind it, some sort of need to have this reflection of reality that can be manipulated.
If people can't see the power behind that, as well as how close we're coming to achieve it, then that's a limit of imagination and the power of human capability. I mean it's right there, the technology works and many of you dismiss it simply because it's not selling gangbusters right now.
Things the tech needs to push it into the stratosphere:
-More developers and time for developers to understand the medium.
-Comfort factor, including size and weight needs to be a little better, but considering the strides they've made, there's no doubt that this is an achievable goal.
-Price of course.
Tons of developers are working on VR, for example doesn't Valve have like a third of their team working on it or something? Comfort level isn't terrible but it can easily be improved. Prices will drop on these devices within months, I think we'll see a steady reuptake once it gets below 400 or so, which should be in a matter of months, not years. Have a little hope, GAF.
Like Durante said, as of now it's niche. The tech is there but it's still too expensive for a lot of people. The thing is, it's not going away. VR has been around for decades for various reasons, only it was thousands and thousands of dollars. Now it's much more advanced, streamlined, lighter, etc. with lots of developers working on it. When you have a tech that keeps coming back like this, a lot of people think it's doomed to fail, but I think the opposite. It keeps coming back because of the idea behind it, some sort of need to have this reflection of reality that can be manipulated.
If people can't see the power behind that, as well as how close we're coming to achieve it, then that's a limit of imagination and the power of human capability. I mean it's right there, the technology works and many of you dismiss it simply because it's not selling gangbusters right now.
Things the tech needs to push it into the stratosphere:
-More developers and time for developers to understand the medium.
-Comfort factor, including size and weight needs to be a little better, but considering the strides they've made, there's no doubt that this is an achievable goal.
-Price of course.
Tons of developers are working on VR, for example doesn't Valve have like a third of their team working on it or something? Comfort level isn't terrible but it can easily be improved. Prices will drop on these devices within months, I think we'll see a steady reuptake once it gets below 400 or so, which should be in a matter of months, not years. Have a little hope, GAF.
chromatic9
Member
Of course if it was dirt cheap I would buy one but my main concerns right now are resolution and field of view.
I think VR is here to stay but its going to have to tick along slowly and somehow keep improving with the display tech etc
I think VR is here to stay but its going to have to tick along slowly and somehow keep improving with the display tech etc
Why is anybody surprised? This is the first generation of a new medium and technology. Only people, who want to develop for it and techgeeks, should really buy one at this early point. People still haven't figured out the basics of VR.
Everybody can buy one, but it isn't meant to be a mainstream product. Their simply still too many problems to solve and important features missing (eye-tracking, wireless, powerfull PCs becoming cheaper, etc.). Maybe at the end of next year or in two years I could see VR really taking off.
PSVR will be a nice gimmick for what is possible in this pricr range.
Everybody can buy one, but it isn't meant to be a mainstream product. Their simply still too many problems to solve and important features missing (eye-tracking, wireless, powerfull PCs becoming cheaper, etc.). Maybe at the end of next year or in two years I could see VR really taking off.
PSVR will be a nice gimmick for what is possible in this pricr range.