We've had it all. Interactive gaming, motion-sensitive gaming, not to mention very immersive gaming, using expensive gear. But one aspect we've been waiting for a long time finally seems to be coming true. Yes, we're talking about virtual reality (VR) gaming.
While we've been promised a revolution in terms of experience over the past two years or so, this year has finally seen a few VR headsets being available in some markets (of course Google Cardboard's been around for some time, but it's more a DIY, isn't it?).
The most anticipated launch is that of the Oculus Rift, which comes with two appendages called the Oculus Touch, which one holds in one's hands to say fire a gun, and a wireless Xbox One controller for other controls. And recently it was announced that Rock Band VR would be released for this headset (one assumes this would be a PC game, as this headset needs to be connected to a computer).
While we're still waiting for the launch date for the Oculus Rift, one VR headset already available in the US (for the phone) is the Samsung Gear VR, which pairs with the Samsung Galaxy S6, and is portable to boot. While it is compatible with some games, its other headline feature is watching videos/pictures in 3D. Of course the convenience of portability comes at the cost of brute power, which headsets connected to PCs would have. Also, this one doesn't have controllers.
Another headset we're looking forward to is the HTC Vive, not least because it has been developed in association with Steam, the big daddy of PC gaming distributions. A few of us had the opportunity to try it recently, and in one word, it was "breath-taking". Again, this one comes with a controller and has to be connected to a PC.
Console enthusiasts are already salivating at the prospect of getting their hands on the PlayStation VR, formerly Project Morpheus, which would work in conjunction with the PS4 and is expected to hit the stores in 2016. One can look forward to a rich kitty of games using this headset, including titles such as Final Fantasy XIV, Gran Turismo Sport and Robinson: The Journey.
Another headset I'm really excited about is Microsoft's HoloLens, a portable device which would be half VR and half augmented reality. While details are sketchy, it looks like this device will merge the real with the virtual, so I guess in time we can fight pitched battles in our gaming dens. The most interesting bit is this headset is supposed to contain a full-fledged PC running Windows 10, that too on a battery!
Besides the biggies, gaming peripherals major Razer has a VR development kit while Archos has come up with a headset for smartphones, essentially an advanced Cardboard.
All this might sound like the technicolour dream of a gaming oldie, but if someone had asked me about VR gaming five years ago, I'd have said the person had smoked up. So make no mistake, VR gaming is knocking on our doors.
