Head Mounted Displays for Gaming

[ApocaRUFF]

So, HMD's for gaming have been a dream since the beginning of gaming. There have been a bunch of them over the years. Most of them fail miserably. I've yet to hear of one that didn't suck. The military uses them for a bunch of different stuff.

But with the rise of Google Glass, I believe more attention will be brought to HMD's for gaming. There is already a sony device out that cost something like 800 Euroes. But it's only compatible with sony blu-rays (I think?) and PS3's.

I would think that there would be greater interest in HMD's for gaming due to popular manga/anime such as .hack (whose MMO, The World, utilizes HMD's) that it would be more popular.



Anyways, this thread is to discuss HMD's for gaming. Share your thoughts, opinions, interesting technologies, etc...

[Dot_Hack]

So, HMD's for gaming have been a dream since the beginning of gaming. There have been a bunch of them over the years. Most of them fail miserably. I've yet to hear of one that didn't suck. The military uses them for a bunch of different stuff.

But with the rise of Google Glass, I believe more attention will be brought to HMD's for gaming. There is already a sony device out that cost something like 800 Euroes. But it's only compatible with sony blu-rays (I think?) and PS3's.


I would think that there would be greater interest in HMD's for gaming due to popular manga/anime such as .hack (whose MMO, The World, utilizes HMD's) that it would be more popular.



Anyways, this thread is to discuss HMD's for gaming. Share your thoughts, opinions, interesting technologies, etc...

The Sony HMD works with anything that can output through HDMI. So, Computers, Xbox, PS3 will all work.

[ApocaRUFF]

The Sony HMD works with anything that can output through HDMI. So, Computers, Xbox, PS3 will all work.

Ah. I guess I was mislead by the website. I suppose it saying that it's compatible with them does not mean that is strictly all they'll work for.

So, is it any good?

[queenvoo]

originally i thought the idea was bad but now i like the idea of glasses mounted gadgets.

i think they will try to make it like the iphone but it will be even better because google glasses will be totally handsfree.

but i dont know how to use it for gaming so much. i think f it had a wireless connection to a screen/keyboard then it will be ok

but.. i wud want it to be no heavier or bigger than ordinary spectacles. i dont know how they will do that.

[Kashis]

After seeing so many cool instances of it being applied in TV/videogames I gotta say I'd be all for it. In recent years I've seen a lot of people talk about how important immersion into a game is and while I could understand that, I could never understand how the idea of being in a virtual world where you are your own avatar that actually interacts with the world appealed to such a small amount of people. To me, that's the truest form of the the concept when it comes to gaming: to literally be a part of the game you are playing and that's what a HMD can help to simulate.

But most people seem to be unsure, if not against the idea, as they are when a "new" technology is introduced and mainstreamed. We still live in a time where most people prefer to play video games with a mouse and keyboard or joystick/controller. I've always thought that touch based and motion controls were the first steps toward getting people to accept something like this but to be honest it doesn't look like it's worked out too well. People still think of them as gimmicks with no real practical application in video games, mostly because of how poorly they are implemented or limited in design. Hell, some people still think the DS was a dumb concept.

And the 3DS?
"We don't need 3D technology, we just need another analog stick and better graphics."

*sigh*

Think about all the reasons people would come up with why they wouldn't want to buy an HMD for gaming:

"Why would I want to put on a helmet to play a video game when I can view them on my 60" flat screen with my 5.1 surround sound?"
"Only one person can use it"
"It's a whole lot of money to just to get one"
"It's just another useless gimmick, it'll never catch on"
"It looks dumb/don't like the design"

Don't think people would say those things? Take a look around the web at what people are already saying about the Wii U, before even trying it or thinking about the potential it could have. First console to have a controller that has a built in touch pad and can stream the audio and visuals from the console and yet a lot of people already hate the idea. Now just what do you think people would say about a headset that acts in the same function?

I think it's it's a big gamble I think for any company that decides to invest in not only a standardized HMD but games that utilize it to it's fullest potential. They'd have to deal with all of the negative stigma already surrounding this technology, it's history with gaming, and people's general reluctance to try something new.

But the company that does do it and does it right...damn, I'm all for it.

[Dot_Hack]

Ah. I guess I was mislead by the website. I suppose it saying that it's compatible with them does not mean that is strictly all they'll work for.

So, is it any good?

From the reviews that I've seen, the people have loved it. Although each screen is less than an inch in size, it provides 720p and 3D. The main problem that everyone had is that even though it is relatively light and they adjusted it to fit the head, the HMD still puts a lot of pressure on the nose.

In general, the people couldn't enjoy it for long periods of time because it caused too much pain.

[SourChicken]

After seeing so many cool instances of it being applied in TV/videogames I gotta say I'd be all for it. In recent years I've seen a lot of people talk about how important immersion into a game is and while I could understand that, I could never understand how the idea of being in a virtual world where you are your own avatar that actually interacts with the world appealed to such a small amount of people. To me, that's the truest form of the the concept when it comes to gaming: to literally be a part of the game you are playing and that's what a HMD can help to simulate.

But most people seem to be unsure, if not against the idea, as they are when a "new" technology is introduced and mainstreamed. We still live in a time where most people prefer to play video games with a mouse and keyboard or joystick/controller. I've always thought that touch based and motion controls were the first steps toward getting people to accept something like this but to be honest it doesn't look like it's worked out too well. People still think of them as gimmicks with no real practical application in video games, mostly because of how poorly they are implemented or limited in design. Hell, some people still think the DS was a dumb concept.

And the 3DS?
"We don't need 3D technology, we just need another analog stick and better graphics."

*sigh*

Think about all the reasons people would come up with why they wouldn't want to buy an HMD for gaming:

"Why would I want to put on a helmet to play a video game when I can view them on my 60" flat screen with my 5.1 surround sound?"
"Only one person can use it"
"It's a whole lot of money to just to get one"
"It's just another useless gimmick, it'll never catch on"
"It looks dumb/don't like the design"

Don't think people would say those things? Take a look around the web at what people are already saying about the Wii U, before even trying it or thinking about the potential it could have. First console to have a controller that has a built in touch pad and can stream the audio and visuals from the console and yet a lot of people already hate the idea. Now just what do you think people would say about a headset that acts in the same function?

I think it's it's a big gamble I think for any company that decides to invest in not only a standardized HMD but games that utilize it to it's fullest potential. They'd have to deal with all of the negative stigma already surrounding this technology, it's history with gaming, and people's general reluctance to try something new.

But the company that does do it and does it right...damn, I'm all for it.

I could honestly see Razer being the guys that pick the idea up and make something decent of it. At a ridiculously high price, of course.

[Kashis]

I could honestly see Razer being the guys that pick the idea up and make something decent of it. At a ridiculously high price, of course.

I hope so. I hope someone does. I'd be willingly to pay $1K for something like this if they actually had a MMO like in .hack or Sword Art Online. I think it's coming but maybe not for another 5 years minimum before someone even hints at it being a real possibility.

[Raiyne]

I just wonder how bad they would be for your eyes lol.

[Zoilist]

I could honestly see Razer being the guys that pick the idea up and make something decent of it. At a ridiculously high price, of course.

The price would be over Nine thousandths of a Euro.