Virtual Reality vs Augmented Reality

[Zethor]

We've all seen the hype behind VR, company after company jump on the bandwagon, developers tweak their games to make them VR friendly, device after device released. I've always felt that something is missing from this picture and I think what's missing is the 'now'. VR promises a lot but that seems to always be somewhere in the near future.

I was browsing the news yesterday and I stumpled upon an article about Nintendo's recent stock price surge, which was caused by the seemingly massive hit, the Pokemon Go mobile game. The gameplay is quite simple (catch Pokemons in the real world) but I believe its success is a taste of things to come. Pookemon Go has that 'now'.

I believe AR is true 'next step' in the future of gaming while VR will be limited to a niche, enthusiast market. AR does not cut you off from the world(you can go Pokemon hunting during your holiday in Norway), it has more potential for social interaction and it doesn't need expensive, cumbersome devices because the processing power only needs to focus on elements added to the real world, rather than simulating everything.

What do you think?

 

[Zethor]

You're ignoring the social aspect. The game gets random like minded people or groups together in a way different from all other internet interactions. No perfect angle max gamma pictures, no 50 yeardolds posing as lovelygurl15, no one-click 'friends', no 'lives' to earn. It gives them a (silly) goal and something to discuss and share with others. It does this with very simple tech which has lots of room to expand in the future.

VR does it opposite, it cuts people away from the world. The average gamer is 30+ yearold nowadays, they have responsabilities, children, pets. Only a minority seek full immersion which isn't even close to being achieved. Furthermore, despite the billions which have been invested in VR in the past years, we've seen no massive hits. VR isn't quite there yet, if it will ever be.

 

[Zethor]

Oh and VR, with its special equipment requirement, high cost and room limitation, is more similar to motion control gaming than AR.