What Type of Virtual Reality Gadget Are You Looking For?
Unless you’ve been living in a cave your entire life, you’re probably aware by now that there is such a thing as virtual reality. As far as new technology is concerned, it’s probably the hottest tech right now. In fact, tech manufacturers are busy churning out the latest in VR ware hoping to outshine their competitors and establish their brand in the relatively young virtual reality market.
Companies are not holding back any resource in their bid to be the number one VR gadget maker. Tons of money has been budgeted from research to product development and eventually, marketing of the finished goods. With the predicted explosive growth of the segment in the coming years, they can’t afford to be idle and let their competitors seize the opportunity.
Which brings us to the current problem facing the regular customer. Anyone shopping for a decent VR headset would immediately realize that there are just too many options on the market. And, with the industry being relatively new, confusion still reigns as to what type of gadget they should be getting.
Console Gaming VR Headset
Virtual reality technology is predicted to be eventually applied to a lot of areas. The potential areas where VR may be harnessed include education, medicine, travel, tourism and business among others. However, most gamers believe that it is in the gaming and entertainment industries that VR’s immersive capability will truly shine. In fact, VR is touted to be a game-changing technology for the gaming industry with its promise of churning out truly immersive VR games.
PlayStation VR
If you want a piece of a console-powered VR gaming action, you better grab the PSVR bundle being offered by Sony for only $199 starting December 10, 2017, according to Polygon. For the discounted price, you’ll get the VR headset, the PlayStation 4 camera and a copy of Gran Turismo Sport.
It’s not like you have any choice anyway. At the moment, the PlayStation console is the only console that supports VR as the other console makers seem to be a bit reluctant to plunge into the VR craze.
If you already have a PS4 console, it would make sense if you get the PS VR headset to save on cost. The headset is compatible with both the standard PS4 and the PS4 Pro. Aside from the PS VR headset, you will need the PlayStation 4 Camera for movement tracking as well as the two-pack Move controllers to interface/communicate with the setup.
The PlayStation VR headset has slightly lower specs when compared to the two high-end PC-powered headsets Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. It comes with a 960 x 1080 pixel resolution per eye and a wide 100-degree field of view. However, it is definitely far superior when compared with mobile-based VR headsets.
Nintendo Switch VR Capability Still Unsure
For gamers still waiting for time than the Nintendo Switch will become VR ready, don’t get your hopes up just yet. Of course, it does not mean that Nintendo won’t give VR a try in the future; it’s just that it might not happen anytime soon.
Apparently, the gaming company and maker of the Switch console is not really that serious in developing a VR-ready console. In a Wareable report, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime was quoted as saying that the “problem with VR is that there aren’t a lot of experiences that are truly fun.”
Is Xbox Scorpio Going To Be VR-Ready?
Microsoft’s stance on a VR-ready console is not so clear at the moment. Yes, we’ve heard reports in the past that the highly anticipated Xbox Scorpio will have VR capability. Later, a Walls Street Journal dashed those hope by stating that the upcoming Xbox console won’t support VR. On the same day as the WSJ article was published, an article by CNET then claimed that Microsoft will still support a VR-ready Xbox.
Yes, we are as confused as you are. Your best move is that unless Microsoft officially announces that it will be launching a VR-capable console, don’t expect too much just yet. This means that at the moment, Sony’s PlayStation VR reigns the console VR gaming segment.
PC-powered VR Gaming
If you already have a powerful PC at home, it would make sense for you to grab a PC-powered VR headset. Currently, two headsets are vying for the number 1 spot in this category – the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Oculus Rift & HTC Vive
The Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive are considered to be the flagship among VR headsets. Both boasts of having the highest quality graphics capable of creating a truly immersive gaming experience. In terms of specs, both VR headsets are very similar. For instance, they sport a 1080 x 1200 pixel resolution for each eye, which is just slightly higher than the PS VR. Their field of view is also higher at 110-degrees, and both headsets have two OLED panels.
With Rift, motion tracking is done via two sensors that can be placed on top of a desk or any flat surface. For HTC Vive, motion tracking is done with the use of scanners that can be mounted on the walls, which means that tracking your movement across the entire room is possible.
However, just be prepared to shell out some serious cash; high-end virtual experience comes at a price. At the moment, HTC Vive sells for $599.99 at Amazon while Oculus Rift is priced $499. Of course, there are tons of compatible cheap VR headsets out there. Just don’t expect them to perform on par with Rift or Vive. Before buying, be sure to get acquainted with its specs and read all the reviews you can on a particular product.
Mobile VR
If you value mobility more, then you can opt for a mobile VR experience by getting a phone-based headset. At the moment, the leading gadget in this category is the Samsung Gear VR, which is priced at $89.95 on Amazon. Likewise, there is a host of cheaper mobile VR gears out there. The important thing to remember is that, since the smartphone only powers these, they can only handle light VR games or 360-degree video viewing.
So what type of virtual reality setup is for you? As you can see, the answer is not that simple. Some factors such as your budget, what you plan to do with you VR set (for watching 360-degree videos, hardcore or casual gamer) as well as existing hardware/gadgets.
Sources:
https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/8/16751134/playstation-vr-psvr-deal
https://www.popsci.com/choose-right-vr-gear-for-you#page-4
https://www.wareable.com/vr/nintendo-switch-virtual-reality-release-date-features-price-3665
https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsofts-xbox-one-x-console-wont-support-virtual-reality-1497304121
https://www.cnet.com/news/phil-spencer-xbox-one-x-still-supports-virtual-reality/
https://appreal-vr.com/blog/virtual-reality-and-its-kinds/