Hm, I'm having a hard time justifying such a purchase. I get the appeal of VR, having used my large smartphone with Daydream Style headsets and even tethered my PC to it via RiftCat / VRidge and used LeapMotion. It has been a pretty fun experience. But that only cost about 50€, not considering the smartphone which I would own in any case. It is "good enough" for now and basically free. Now, this 220€ thing costs as much as my HTC U Ultra did when I bought it on sale a few weeks ago and considering the price stabiltiy of other headsets so far, I don't see it dropping a lot. It has less memory and limited battery life. I guess there are things it is better at than my frankenstein solution. But for 220€, it has to be a lot better. And I don't see that. If it had an HDMI in and a secondary function as a dumb display for my PC or laptop, that would be something. But since the specs are already behind and the 72Hz refresh rate does not wow me, I think I will pass. And it is still costly enough that people not familiar with the topic won't make an impulse buy. We'll see. I was really hoping we'd have better priced alternatives now, but that hasn't happened, yet.
I had an easy time justifying the purchase. :) To me this is much better than a phone. For one, my own phone isn't relevant in any way for VR. I could buy a half decent phone for the price, and use it which a cheap headset (which I already have), but it would cost about as much as the Go, provide worse VR, and I won't use it as a phone. I see it as a big advantage that the Go is a standalone device, something that could just be picked and used for its own purpose, not an add-on which requires fiddling with another device.
I also hope that the Go will encourage the kind of content ecosystem that consoles have. That is, content which is made to take full advantage of the device, and ends up better as a result because it doesn't have to consider a myriad of hardware configurations.
The one thing you don't get with a phone is software specifically targeting your hardware. That's a huge advantage on relatively low end hardware. Still a tethered mode would have made it an easier sell.
I'm more interested in Lenovo's Mirage Solo. It has 6-DoF tracking, although the controllers are still 3-DoF. Also, Google's DayDream catalog doesn't exactly have a ton of killer content.
I wonder if this is 3DOF or 4DOF. By this I mean, playing with my phone on a cheap headset, I can jump and have the game detect that. That basic additional interaction can add a lot. Full 6DOF movement is nice, but requires setting up space, etc. But just having the ability to detect up and down movements like a jump IMO elevates things over just detecting the angle of the head.
Googling, it looks like the Go includes an accelerometer, which should allow detecting spatial movement (like jumping, ducking and strafing) and incorporating it into games. Not the same as 6DOF, but certainly better than just moving your head around and interacting with a simple controller.
Oculus' Santa Cruz and Lenovo's Mirage Solo are both standalone 6-DoF HMDs that don't require you to "set up" a space. You just use them wherever you are.
Depends on what you call 'sell much'. PSVR sold 2 million by the end of last year. Oculus expects to get close to this number this year. It's nothing compared to sales of some other device types or toys, but I'd say that it's quite a big number, decent enough to get an ecosystem going.
Yeah and Microsoft sold 5 million Xbox Ones with Kinect sensors after a few months of its debut and that peripheral went nowhere. No, 2 million is not as big a number as you think.
Like the Kinect, no one is talking about the 'killer app' for VR on every website that everyone must have and join in on the craze. All the pieces are still not there yet.
Yup, VR is dead. Another thing some people will buy to quickly become a dust collector. The only headset that sold well without pretty much giving away was the PSVR but adoption as plateaued and headsets are gathering dust from non-use.
I couldn't find any figures which back your claims (that PSVR sales have plateaued and headsets are gathering dust), so unless you can provide links I'd say that's unfounded speculation.
What VR really needs is a KILLER app . Someting like WiiSports for the Wii years ago. They relaized later that 50% of the Wii users thought Wii= WiiSports and noting more.
So it was the motion controller and great Software not the console itself.
Whoever will create that app will rule VR market ! Now such a thing does not exist , pretty much VR is dead .
I've been to several conferences where VR used to have a large presence. The companies that go to them have largely shifted away from VR and are trying to move towards AR. Although, one mistake they're repeating is their focus almost solely on the technology instead of the experience, use-cases, content, etc.
I have a Gear VR and a Vive. Both haven't been turned on for over a year. The Oculus Go will change nothing. Maybe some existing headset owners will replace their units with it but I doubt there'll be much growth in the market base, if at all.
I've tried hard to get into VR but just can't. Its come a long way since the 90s but still isnt there. Too many issues with screen door and motion sickness. I think in another 10 years we might be there. Its cool as a novelty to use for 30 minutes but it is not something I can or want to use regularly. Cheap headsets with lower specs are NOT the solution, screen door, resolution and motion sickness are all issues on top of the line units.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
20 Comments
Back to Article
Death666Angel - Friday, May 4, 2018 - link
Hm, I'm having a hard time justifying such a purchase. I get the appeal of VR, having used my large smartphone with Daydream Style headsets and even tethered my PC to it via RiftCat / VRidge and used LeapMotion. It has been a pretty fun experience. But that only cost about 50€, not considering the smartphone which I would own in any case. It is "good enough" for now and basically free. Now, this 220€ thing costs as much as my HTC U Ultra did when I bought it on sale a few weeks ago and considering the price stabiltiy of other headsets so far, I don't see it dropping a lot. It has less memory and limited battery life. I guess there are things it is better at than my frankenstein solution. But for 220€, it has to be a lot better. And I don't see that. If it had an HDMI in and a secondary function as a dumb display for my PC or laptop, that would be something. But since the specs are already behind and the 72Hz refresh rate does not wow me, I think I will pass. And it is still costly enough that people not familiar with the topic won't make an impulse buy.We'll see. I was really hoping we'd have better priced alternatives now, but that hasn't happened, yet.
IntelUser2000 - Friday, May 4, 2018 - link
This is better for those that wants a better VR experience, rather than those that want VR as an extension of the phone.-Less heat related issues
-Doesn't take up your phone
-No need to worry about centering the phone properly
-No need to clean the phone display
Some of us prefer getting lower end or mid-range phones.
ET - Saturday, May 5, 2018 - link
I had an easy time justifying the purchase. :) To me this is much better than a phone. For one, my own phone isn't relevant in any way for VR. I could buy a half decent phone for the price, and use it which a cheap headset (which I already have), but it would cost about as much as the Go, provide worse VR, and I won't use it as a phone. I see it as a big advantage that the Go is a standalone device, something that could just be picked and used for its own purpose, not an add-on which requires fiddling with another device.I also hope that the Go will encourage the kind of content ecosystem that consoles have. That is, content which is made to take full advantage of the device, and ends up better as a result because it doesn't have to consider a myriad of hardware configurations.
Midwayman - Monday, May 7, 2018 - link
The one thing you don't get with a phone is software specifically targeting your hardware. That's a huge advantage on relatively low end hardware. Still a tethered mode would have made it an easier sell.shabby - Friday, May 4, 2018 - link
Once people realize the amount of free apps in the oculus store you can count on one hand they will quickly return this.mode_13h - Saturday, May 5, 2018 - link
I'm more interested in Lenovo's Mirage Solo. It has 6-DoF tracking, although the controllers are still 3-DoF. Also, Google's DayDream catalog doesn't exactly have a ton of killer content.ET - Saturday, May 5, 2018 - link
I wonder if this is 3DOF or 4DOF. By this I mean, playing with my phone on a cheap headset, I can jump and have the game detect that. That basic additional interaction can add a lot. Full 6DOF movement is nice, but requires setting up space, etc. But just having the ability to detect up and down movements like a jump IMO elevates things over just detecting the angle of the head.ET - Sunday, May 6, 2018 - link
Googling, it looks like the Go includes an accelerometer, which should allow detecting spatial movement (like jumping, ducking and strafing) and incorporating it into games. Not the same as 6DOF, but certainly better than just moving your head around and interacting with a simple controller.mode_13h - Friday, May 11, 2018 - link
Oculus' Santa Cruz and Lenovo's Mirage Solo are both standalone 6-DoF HMDs that don't require you to "set up" a space. You just use them wherever you are.timo - Saturday, May 5, 2018 - link
VR's dead. Even at $199, I don't think this or any VR headset will sell much.ET - Sunday, May 6, 2018 - link
Depends on what you call 'sell much'. PSVR sold 2 million by the end of last year. Oculus expects to get close to this number this year. It's nothing compared to sales of some other device types or toys, but I'd say that it's quite a big number, decent enough to get an ecosystem going.xeroshadow - Monday, May 7, 2018 - link
Yeah and Microsoft sold 5 million Xbox Ones with Kinect sensors after a few months of its debut and that peripheral went nowhere. No, 2 million is not as big a number as you think.Like the Kinect, no one is talking about the 'killer app' for VR on every website that everyone must have and join in on the craze. All the pieces are still not there yet.
molas - Sunday, May 6, 2018 - link
Yup, VR is dead. Another thing some people will buy to quickly become a dust collector. The only headset that sold well without pretty much giving away was the PSVR but adoption as plateaued and headsets are gathering dust from non-use.ET - Sunday, May 6, 2018 - link
I couldn't find any figures which back your claims (that PSVR sales have plateaued and headsets are gathering dust), so unless you can provide links I'd say that's unfounded speculation.RaduR - Sunday, May 6, 2018 - link
What VR really needs is a KILLER app . Someting like WiiSports for the Wii years ago.They relaized later that 50% of the Wii users thought Wii= WiiSports and noting more.
So it was the motion controller and great Software not the console itself.
Whoever will create that app will rule VR market ! Now such a thing does not exist , pretty much VR is dead .
samer1970 - Sunday, May 6, 2018 - link
Snapdragon 821 ? why not 835 or 845? OR even Better Nvidia X1 Chip which has special Nvidia 3D built in effects ?Sorry , hard to buy this today ...
Reflex - Sunday, May 6, 2018 - link
Because it's a $199 headset and they spent the budget on decent LCD's?mode_13h - Friday, May 11, 2018 - link
This.It's quite impressive they can even use a 821 for this. I think Qualcomm is selling these at a discount, in hopes of these products growing some legs.
mooz - Sunday, May 6, 2018 - link
I've been to several conferences where VR used to have a large presence. The companies that go to them have largely shifted away from VR and are trying to move towards AR. Although, one mistake they're repeating is their focus almost solely on the technology instead of the experience, use-cases, content, etc.I have a Gear VR and a Vive. Both haven't been turned on for over a year. The Oculus Go will change nothing. Maybe some existing headset owners will replace their units with it but I doubt there'll be much growth in the market base, if at all.
aj654987 - Saturday, May 12, 2018 - link
I've tried hard to get into VR but just can't. Its come a long way since the 90s but still isnt there. Too many issues with screen door and motion sickness. I think in another 10 years we might be there. Its cool as a novelty to use for 30 minutes but it is not something I can or want to use regularly. Cheap headsets with lower specs are NOT the solution, screen door, resolution and motion sickness are all issues on top of the line units.