Facebook Buys Oculus VR, The Internet Freaks Out

Quoting: scaineIf you ever got a chance to try it, you'd understand. It's fundamentally a new experience. Really, really game-changing. I was same - very sceptical. Then I tried it and if I'd had $300 there and then, I'd have bought one. Simple as that. It's that amazing.

Or rather, it /will be/ that amazing, because there are still a few kinks to iron out.

I wouldn't agree with that. Tried it for long enough to know that I really don't care for it; it's a gimmick more than anything else. Your hands are still tied to some controller and you're sitting down, so the immersion is immediately removed.

I know the "release" versions were expected to be better, but the quality of the screens was also difficult to adjust to, all I could ever see was scan lines and the awkward FOV (that was either too narrow or too warped).

I was really hyped before I tried it out -- though fortunately, I didn't actually invest in it.

This acquisition opens up the space for someone else to step in. I really can't imagine where Facebook's goals and those of OR's early adopters overlap in any way, so these people will surely be looking for alternatives now.

As someone above said though, this could be a major blow to Kickstarter and similar platforms. Reading comments on the web, it seems that quite a number of backers are wondering "can they even do this?", suggesting they thought they had gained some form of control over Oculus with their backing. Obviously this isn't the case, however people might have perceived it that way, so if this reality about Kickstarter starts sinking in to more and more people's minds, crowdfunding will probably see a major reduction in spending. Currently it seems people see it like an investment while in reality it is only a pre-order scheme.

Concerning the OR headset, I'm still quite bummed about this news though. So much potential now going to waste...

Quoting: edgley

Quoting: scaineIf you ever got a chance to try it, you'd understand. It's fundamentally a new experience. Really, really game-changing. I was same - very sceptical. Then I tried it and if I'd had $300 there and then, I'd have bought one. Simple as that. It's that amazing.

Or rather, it /will be/ that amazing, because there are still a few kinks to iron out.

I wouldn't agree with that. Tried it for long enough to know that I really don't care for it; it's a gimmick more than anything else. Your hands are still tied to some controller and you're sitting down, so the immersion is immediately removed.

I know the "release" versions were expected to be better, but the quality of the screens was also difficult to adjust to, all I could ever see was scan lines and the awkward FOV (that was either too narrow or too warped).

I was really hyped before I tried it out -- though fortunately, I didn't actually invest in it.

I have to completely disagree, I loved every second of using it, but I respect your opinion.

Quoting: edgley

Quoting: scaineIf you ever got a chance to try it, you'd understand. It's fundamentally a new experience. Really, really game-changing. I was same - very sceptical. Then I tried it and if I'd had $300 there and then, I'd have bought one. Simple as that. It's that amazing.

Or rather, it /will be/ that amazing, because there are still a few kinks to iron out.

I wouldn't agree with that. Tried it for long enough to know that I really don't care for it; it's a gimmick more than anything else. Your hands are still tied to some controller and you're sitting down, so the immersion is immediately removed.

I know the "release" versions were expected to be better, but the quality of the screens was also difficult to adjust to, all I could ever see was scan lines and the awkward FOV (that was either too narrow or too warped).

I was really hyped before I tried it out -- though fortunately, I didn't actually invest in it.

Sounds like we came at from different expectation. You were hyped and left disappointed. I was sceptical and left hyped.

We agree that the initial version didn't cut it. Poor resolution and a tiny, but noticable, lag made the experience just short of "immersive". But that will change.

Remember Wolfenstein for the first time? Remember how, despite the ridiculously poor graphics, you still felt that this, right here, was a game changer? Then Doom came along. Then Hexen, Quake, Half Life and the rest is history. That's the journey the Rift started.

But succeed or fail, I'm most pissed about the damage they've done to Kickstarter. Pledges on Kickstarter don't give you any leverage, but the engagement and communication give you the illusion of leverage. OR has destroyed that now. No one will trust a hardware-based kickstarter after this. No one with any sense that is.

Quoting: scainePledges on Kickstarter don't give you any leverage, but the engagement and communication give you the illusion of leverage. OR has destroyed that now. No one will trust a hardware-based kickstarter after this. No one with any sense that is.

To be honest, right now its getting harder to trust start-ups/indie games in general that get acquired. A few years ago 'Ace of Spades' was a windows/mac/Linux game which was only in 0.3 but rocked because it was 'Minecraft with Battlefield'. Jagex marched in and remade it and made a REAL mess of it. It cost £6-10 and I believe its only on Windows. So yeah, why do people bother with Kickstarters if they just go onto making deals and pretty much making the kickstarters seem worthless.

Quoting: scaineSounds like we came at from different expectation. You were hyped and left disappointed. I was sceptical and left hyped.

We agree that the initial version didn't cut it. Poor resolution and a tiny, but noticable, lag

Definitely; I had to cut your quote there though as I don't agree with the last bit.

Quoting: scaineRemember Wolfenstein for the first time? Remember how, despite the ridiculously poor graphics, you still felt that this, right here, was a game changer? Then Doom came along. Then Hexen, Quake, Half Life and the rest is history. That's the journey the Rift started.

I remember all of them really quite well -- but I don't ever remember thinking at the time that they were not "amazing" in all aspects. When Half-Life came out, genuinely thought the graphics were the most immersive, the gameplay the most revolutionary and the story the most enthralling. Doom and Wolfenstein were both a bit before my proper comprehension of what I was doing, they were just good fun and better than the kids games I had at the time (and my first foray into unoffical Amiga Ports as well!). The Rift, after first use, left me with a "meh" feeling. Much like every other "Virtual Reality" device I've ever tried.

I don't see it as the future. I see burning images directly into our retinas as the more probably future. The Rift might be a stepping stone for some, but I just don't think the current concept is ever going to take off the same way using a mouse, or a gamepad has.

Ah well, each to their own.

Quoting: scaineBut succeed or fail, I'm most pissed about the damage they've done to Kickstarter. Pledges on Kickstarter don't give you any leverage, but the engagement and communication give you the illusion of leverage. OR has destroyed that now. No one will trust a hardware-based kickstarter after this. No one with any sense that is.

Yeah -- I can agree with that. I've actually been disappointed with most of the 99 kickstarter campaigns I've backed. Either through lack of a Linux port (ala 7d2d), or just uninspiring gameplay (Liam will no doubt kick me for saying this, but Planetary Annihilation).

As someone who has been following the Snowden leaks closely, i'm very concerned.
Facebook has been given the NSA a blank check to access user content, facebook users might as well send all of their information straight to nsa.gov. I don't think that letting the NSA monitor your pupils and scan your Iris is a good idea. Apart from privacy issues, there's Facebook's blatant patent trolling; They will no doubt stifle innovation in the VR sphere with their army of lawyers.
This is bad news all around

Quoting: loggfreakrazer responded to notch 'perhaps we can help out. Will be in touch.'
https://twitter.com/minliangtan/status/448606945272803328
so now there's going to be a VR-headset thats overhyped AND overpriced, were all doomed

Don't forget bright green.

Companies are all after the money they need to make them profitable, some may seem more ethical than the others but the money is the only thing that matters in the end. Was the original owner better than Facebook? It seems it wasn't.

I look forward to this kind of devices, whether it is through Facebook, or any other company or community project.

People are quick to jump to conclusion and this is ok.
But we must also understand that we still have to weight for things to play out, the real world is not in the past or all in speculation its whats happening now. so we must weight and see whats happening.
I would have loved them to do it independently with ought Facebook but if partnering with Facebook helps them out then we need to give them the chance to prove this was the correct decision.

Here is another article i came across in my research read it and look at some of the things they say.
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-you-shouldn-t-worry-about-facebook-buying-oculus-rift/1100-6418545/

as much as i like this sight and the posts it is one sided to make a decision onthis you must look at different sites and view points.