Press Row Podcast - VR and Sports Games

[Steve_OS]

With all the news coming out recently about new Virtual Reality devices from Sony, Valve, Oculus Rift, and others, we thought it would be a good time to examine the possibilities for VR in the sports games we love. Will it become mainstream? Will it be a flash in the pan? Are the big guys already working on something, or will they wait to see where the market goes?

Joining us this week:

• Bryan Wiedey, PastaPadre (@pastapadre)
• Owen Good, Polygon (@owengood)
• Samit Sarkar, Polygon (@samitsarkar)
• T.J. Lauerman, ThatSportsGamer (@ThatSportsGamer)
• And your host, Richard Grisham, GamesRadar/OXM/@GAMER (@richgrisham)

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Enjoy the show!

Run Time: 1 Hour, 28 Minutes

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[ocat]

I think the guys aren't getting the concept of VR. Occulus and morpheus aren't supposed to be used like a kinect where you are up jumping around and waving your arms like a madman, that's just dangerous with a headset on. Rich was on point about it being an immersion thing, you still use a controller, you still sit on your couch, except you are enveloped in the world of the game instead of looking at it on a TV and being disconnected from it.

Driving and flying games would give the best experience IMO. They are activities where IRL you are always seated but you need to look around in the space around you. VR would be great for this

[Jgainsey]

Yeesh... Who **** in the pressrow's cornflakes this week?

I think the only way we'll be able to sell some of these guys on VR is if a major developer announces a fully featured "get off my lawn" experience. It'll be a spectator only game, where they can yell at the people enjoying their various VR activities from the point of view of Clint Eastwood's porch in Gran Torino.

[GlennN]

I have arthritis in both of my thumbs, and as time goes by, it hurts more to use a controller (especially a game requiring constant use of the thumbsticks, like NHL). For me, the concept of being able to use VR as a controller - albeit more like a Kinect than what ocat discussed above, is exciting for me.

[bukktown]

Glenn I experienced thumb and wrist pain as well once I hit my 30s.
What are you talking about "using VR as a controller"?
That makes no sense to me. What am I missing?

[davidto138]

I think the guys aren't getting the concept of VR. Occulus and morpheus aren't supposed to be used like a kinect where you are up jumping around and waving your arms like a madman, that's just dangerous with a headset on. Rich was on point about it being an immersion thing, you still use a controller, you still sit on your couch, except you are enveloped in the world of the game instead of looking at it on a TV and being disconnected from it.