Why you MIGHT care about Oculus Rift

If you play video games or are a tech junky in any form, then you probably know about Oculus Rift. Even if you aren't the type that pines for the next big gadget, you likely have heard its name or seen images of it in passing.

For those of you that are still completely in the dark, Oculus Rift is a virtual-reality headset. It has been most often demonstrated by enthusiasts and skeptics who don the gear and slip into a virtual world that responds to their head movement while they interact with a game controller. There is always a lot of jaw-dropping on behalf of the participant, while the rest of us viewers stare like we just watched the latest David Blaine stunt. We are really impressed even though we have no idea what we just saw.

But don't worry. Although we enthusiasts might be drinking the Kool-Aid, there is a part of our collective geek mentality that is thinking just like you. Oculus Rift kind of makes you look stupid. Now even those uber-nerds sporting the Google-Goggles have someone that they can point at and laugh. Oculus Rift looks like some sci-fi torture device from Flash Gordon. And yes, early feedback from some indicates that it can make you nauseous after wearing it for a while. But it might be worth it.

Each year, television manufacturers try to create new iterative and innovative technology to make you unsatisfied with what you have. They need you to want bigger and better. I have no problem with that. They hoped 3D would be their next holy grail, but it didn't really trend. Ever wonder why?

The novelty of 3D display has actually been around a long time. But from Jaws to (insert latest horror flick here), the effects have usually been overt and gimmicky. The cool 3D moment is often so staged that you are no longer immersed in the movie. You become aware of it. You suddenly remember you are wearing the world's most uncool sunglasses.

I recently saw Gravity in 3D (don't worry, no spoilers here). It was one of the few movies since Avatar where the 3D aspect of the film wasn't just a gimmick. It was a movie where distance and perspective were two uncredited lead characters in every scene. It actually helped make me feel more immersed in the story than less. When it ended, I felt a bit sad. Not because of the movie, but because at that moment it was forever gone. I'll never experience the film like that again outside the theater. In fact, I can't really experience any movie the way I can in a theater. It's likely a major factor why theaters still exist (outside of first-run rights). Movies in theaters are big—really big. Bigger than any TV that the manufacturers can sell me.

Oculus Rift might be the answer to that. While it currently is destined to be a gaming platform of sorts, it boasts the ability to span 110 degrees of your view. It’s almost like wearing an IMAX theater on your head. Almost. Imagine being able to watch the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or any number of your favorite movies become larger than life in your own personal theater. That kind of experience could bring the inner geek out in everyone.

As an added bonus, being able to watch movies might avoid some of Oculus Rift’s early user issues. Relaxing and leaning back in your most comfortable chair could virtually eliminate nausea and head strain.

To my knowledge, the ability to play media and not just games has not been discussed. But surely that ability is not difficult to include. If the movie industry were to back this, it could be a boon for them as well. The Oculus Rift is boasting the ability to display resolutions up to 4K. That’s much higher than any current Blu-Ray player can manage. I would now have a compelling reason to start rebuying my movie collection…again.

Oculus Rift.

Did I mention that it can do 3D?

No new consoles under the tree this year.

This is not Santa’s punishment for me being bad this year (although I would understand if he thought that should be the case). It was my decision and it was a long time in coming.  It started with the question “Should I pre-order the PS4 or the XBOX One?”  I didn’t immediately know the answer, so I decide to wait a while.

Let’s give a little context here.  I was that gamer that bought XBOX, the PS3, the XBOX 360, the Wii on day one.* When it came to the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD wars, I didn’t choose sides; I got them both.  (Once a year, I still attach the drive to my XBOX 360 and play a movie from that dusty collection.)

With that in mind, when I asked myself the question “What system do I pre-order?” I expected my gut to respond “Order both, moron!”  But it was quiet.  When I paused to listen, I could only hear a faint “…ehhh...”

It took a little digging, but I think I understand now why I didn’t commit, and I suspect that I may not be alone in my reasoning.  If I’m right, it may take longer for this generation of consoles to reach Sony and Microsoft’s first-year goals, as opposed to the way the last generation did.

The previous generation had a demonstrable jump in technology and in user-experience.  You could see the difference immediately in graphical resolution and in frames per second. You could now game in ways you’d never been able to before motion controls.  This generation of consoles, on the other hand, struggles to come up with obvious innovation as opposed to improvements.  (Many people are challenged to be able even to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p graphics, unless it’s specifically pointed out or they’re put side by side.)  

The XBOX 360, PS3, and Wii offered brand-new environments.  You could play a game and connect with other gamers through their networks, or from within a game itself.  You could revisit an older game from your collection, put in your new game from the store, or download a game on-demand without physical media.  Then came all the third-party apps and services to entertain me when I wasn’t playing a game.  It was as though the collective mantra of Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo was “Yes!  And now you can also….” 

While it is true that many of these great experiences are still present in the PS4 and XBOX One, the mantra has seemed to have changed to “No. Sorry about that. We’re hoping you’ll forget about how good it used to be.” Remember all those changes that Microsoft wanted to instill back when then announced the XBOX One…and later recanted? Remember not having to pay for basic network services on Sony?  Remember being able to play Blu-Ray movies on the PS3? Remember being able to play all the games from your library regardless of generation?

For me, that last point was the proverbial straw.  It’s what is holding me back from purchasing right now.  Pretend for a moment that XBOX One was able to play XBOX 360 games. I would then be able to justify purchasing the console.  It would immediately replace the 360 that’s sitting in my living room.  I could have that wonderful/frustrating new-console experience, and when I was done with the limited selection of XBOX One games, I could return to my existing favorites in my virtual or physical library.  

But no. This time Sony and Microsoft have not caught me in new-console frenzy.  Rather than wooing the gaming community, they are trying to force their vision and revenue model onto us in a shotgun-wedding scenario. They’ve forced me to examine the cost versus value of the experience.  So far, it’s not compelling.  They have caused me to join with my friends, waiting.  Waiting for that game that I simply MUST play.  That can’t be played anywhere else, on any other system.

Well, I guess there is always next year.

*The author also concedes to having purchased a Wii-U, but is still trying to justify that purchase.