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Sony just announced that their PlayStation VR hardware will debut this October for $399 (USD; 399 Euros; 349 GBP). The device includes an OLED 5.7" OLED display with 960x1080 resolution per eye. The field of view is set to roughly 100 degrees with less than 18ms response time. The refresh rates can be either 90Hz or 120Hz and it will support the obvious VR hardware staples such as 360 degree head tracking made more precise by nine LEDs (needs the camera).This does not include a camera nor Move controllers. Those are still going to be sold separately to keep the cost down.
Sony will giving out PlayRoom VR for free. The hardware includes (picture above courtesy of The Verge) shows the content included in the PlayStation VR package. This includes the headset, earbuds, the additional hardware box, and various cables.
For those who plan on picking up PlayStation VR, it should be noted that PSVR will have its own cinematic mode. This means that you will be able to play your non-VR PS4 titles while still wearing the headset. It won't turn those games into VR experiences. Instead, it will just "project" those games in front of you as if you were looking at a normal monitor or television.
I figured pricing would've been an issue since the headset requires its own processor to make up for the console's shortcomings.
Well, now we have all three options. One has the best head tracking and headphones out of the box, one has the best available solution for room-scale tracking, and one has the most economic and simplest solution for experiencing VR (assuming you want something better than GearVR). The real question is, when other industries adopt this technology, which one is best suited for this? No I don't mean porn, since they adopted all except PSVR thus far. I meant other industries other than porn.
Either way, let those chunks fly! It'll be a hilarious generation of VR early adopters!
But yeah, I too want to see the reviews and comparisons come in. I DO know that Oculus will have more accurate tracking once they get more sensors available for sale, which is why it required so many USB ports, so it's possible once Oculus gets their room tracking features setup, it'll be more precise and flexible than HTC Vive's broad laser tracking, but at an added cost.
I can't wait for StressLevelZero to finish renovating their extra warehouse, because it's the ideal environment for room-scale VR, perfect for testing any and all VR hardware, and through NODE, we'll get some pretty good impressions from them. If Corridor Digital ever decides to experiment with VR, maybe they'll borrow the space too for their own little tests.
I'm also curious to see how Will Smith formerly from Tested (not the actor, the tech guy) will influence other industries to use VR (and probably AR as well). If I'm understanding his new career choice properly, he'll be trying to get various industries to integrate VR as a beneficial tool for their respective work. Seems he has long understood the various issues I'm seeing with VR currently.
There's also the issue of indie developers' reliance on hotseat multiplayer as online multiplayer usually isn't within the scope of their projects. Right now by design, AR and VR can't economically provide hotseat multiplayer experiences without passing the headset around like Super Mario Bros. 1 multiplayer. So once the novelty wears off, I am VERY interested in seeing what direction software developers will go, as demand for VR/AR slows down after early adopters have their fun. It'll survive better than 3D TV without a doubt, but our actual desires for VR will change to something more realistic and practical. I have yet to see any killer app for VR aside from theatre apps to be honest.
Speaking of AR, I wonder how CastAR is doing? I haven't heard mainstream media cover them so far, but I do see updates on their site linking to various news, so it sounds like they're doing fine (and apparently they don't need a PC or console for it to run, which is confusingly awesome). I suspect CastAR benefits from a higher FOV than Hololens because CastAR requires projecting on to a special material fabric thingamagig (and looks freaking dorky as crap), whereas Hololens doesn't seem to require any projection at the cost of a small screen. And the cost of desecrating beloved franchises because people are f***ing stupid. You know what I mean.