Virtual Reality Is The Next Innovation: How PS4's Project Morpheus Shapes The Future

TSA writes: "Sony’s Virtual Reality headset reveal was a bit strange, a bit brave, and a bit incredible. Sony’s “next innovation” - a virtual reality headset for the PS4 by the name of Project Morpheus came almost from nowhere in a talk at GDC. No stream, but an Apple-esque reveal behind closed doors. We’ve heard rumblings of this for years, but didn’t expect such a final looking prototype – and it is still a prototype – this soon."

[-Alpha]

I'm glad Sony called this a medium and not a peripheral. It's exactly the mindset they need for this.

Unlike the Move (for PS3 at least) which was mostly already done by Wii, Virtual Reality truly presents an untapped market for gamers and non-gamers alike.

Games will be great, but something like VR Tourism has massive potential to be the next Wii Sports craze, except it will be a true phenomena for the market.

Games are one thing, but this thing can sell demos, videos, movies, etc. and make serious bank. This is ideally everything people have dreamed of for VR, and I'm just happy to see it coming to fruition.

It's so hard to watch this go down and not be worried about it failing hard, but this has always been the ideal dream for gaming, and it will happen at one point or another.

[WeAreLegion]

Absolutely. This is the next evolution of interactivity. Independent developers will push it even further, too. Just look at the things people are doing with Oculus. Sure, older games are adding support, but games designed around VR have huge potential! Being able to walk around the surface of Mars? Swimming through the ocean? I told my dad about the guy making Jerry's (Seinfeld) apartment and he's excited to try it! We are removing more limits every single day and VR will help us!

[stuna1]

What crazy about VR is we get to see it in our lifetime! The media of gaming has made leaps and bounds in alot of our lifetimes. From 1 pixel (Pong), too total immersion.

What made me intrigued about VR is when I first saw the Lawnmower man.

[Gozer]

VR has never caught on despite years of companies trying to get it going. Would like to see it in action now. John Carmack saying not to get your hopes up, is a bad sign. Who knows though until they try it, ya know.It could be amazing now. Will just have to wait and see.

[darthv72]

VR has been something that has tried to appeal to the market before. But limited by cost and scope it never materialized outside of arcades and the movies (lawnmower man).

Seg and Atari even had nice prototypes of their respected VR headsets but those projects were scrapped due to cost and the possibility of low adoption rate to make the project justifiable.

3D had the chance to appeal to the masses but where it got off track was the influx of content that wasnt really taking advantage of the tech. There were more movies released with 3D as a crutch than as a benefit. it was usually those movies where there was already a lack of substance but the studios figured, hey lets do it in 3D and people will watch it anyway.

I dont want to see VR end up like 3D and become a quick cash in dumping ground for shovelware. I want sony to be strict with who gets approved for VR use. Yeah that may seem selfish but hey, this thing has got to build a strong reputation for quality not quantity.

[starchild]

I completely agree I have been excited for VR for a long time and now with the Oculus Rift and Sony's VR headset it is gaining a significant amount of momentum.

[Volkama]

This thing actually looks comfortable too, though the lack of any wires in the picture makes me wonder if it looks so comfortable in reality. The non-virtual kind of reality :)

Exciting time for gaming, can't wait to get my hands and eyes on these things in my own home.

[XiSasukeUchiha]

Hell yes this future much better than Kinect or Move!

[dcj0524]

Dude just stop.

[MasterCornholio]

Well its true. Many people want VR over motion controls.

[Sharius]

he is right, i dont like motion control, not at all from any company, but i'm really excited for VR device like this

[ThatOneGuyThere]

thing is, you're going to be able to use the move in tandem with this. meaning 3d sound, visuals, and input. its the complete package. rift has 3d visuals, and normal surround sound.

[AD705]

Why do people get so butthurt when you bash kinect that worthless POS camera that promised us the future of gaming or a "revolution" and gave us nothing but a bunch of crappy wii sports, wii party, just dance knock offs that barely responded?

[Gozer]

Kinect also allows me to control my entire entertainment center as simply as using my voice. Kinect allows me to put myself in a video using Upload Studio or Twitch. It also allows me to video chat with friends and family. Kinect is more than just motion controlled games.

[AD705]

I can do that as well by simply pressing a few buttons on my controller. So what?

[PrinceOfAllSaiyans]

According to Geoff dude developers said Morpheus stomps all over Oculus. I can't wait to see where this thing goes from here.

[sorane]

Sounds nice until you realize developers only have the old 720p version of the rift. The 1080p 110 fov oled version of the rift, which has been much much improved, hasn't been made available to them yet.

[ThatOneGuyThere]

Occulus went and screwed up. they should have a released a product a year ago. whats the point at this point? with the increasing popularity of the ps4, and decreasing popularity of PC gaming.. they missed the ship. porn is really the only thing that will save occulus at this point. Sony is going to beat them to market and with QUALITY games.

[NeoTribe]

Occulus rift doesnt have the budget sony does to make it happen. Occulus is indy. Sony is forever.

[sorane]

You two posters above me are clueless.

"with the increasing popularity of the ps4, and decreasing popularity of PC gaming"

hahaha that's not even close to the truth. PC gaming is getting more and more popular by the second. They even raised the money prediction from 22 billion to 25 billion from PC game software alone this year. How much does the PS4+PS3 make in a year from games? I'll tell you, a bit over 7 billion which is a fraction of PC gaming.

And neo unless you've been living under a rock you should already know that OR has made it happen. They have a superior product that will support resolutions higher than Sony could ever dream of, fovs beyond sonys, oled instead of the much worse lcd display, etc etc etc.

"Sony is forever."

I wouldn't be so sure about that. You obviously are too blinded by you fanboyism to realize the kind of trouble Sony is in these days. I'll be playing games on my PC long after the last Sony product is released and forgotten about.

[kewlkat007]

If this does not catch in, it is a risky move by sony..(No Pun)

[PS3and4_HAS_GAMES]

Kinect who?!?!?!?!?

[BABYLEG]

Yea, people are really jealous.

if you think this is the future, then you may as well plug yourself into an internet socket

[MasterCornholio]

Xbox fans are already bashing the headset.

So yes people are jealous.

[MightyNoX]

Kinect is last gen technology.

[PS3and4_HAS_GAMES]

Jealous of what? since you know so much.. why don't you tell us what the future of gaming is. Maybe you're the jealous one lol.

[Lawboy2]

Ppl are funny

[Majin-vegeta]

So um like Sony can i use this while I drive??;D

[WeAreLegion]

Ask Google about that. ;) Actually, I'd buy a Sony car. Get on it, Kaz!

[supes_24]

Wow, that was a great article and something I would love to try if it ever catches on and is affordable. Being able to see live NASA missions? Holy crap, that's amazing. I've always wanted to feel like I was in the game more and that is Sonys entire focus for this VR headset. It's gonna catch on because of the huge market the PS4 already has and if this is affordable, it will sell pretty well I'd imagine. I know I'd buy one for sure. $200 or so sounds reasonable for HD in my face!

EDIT: Also, who would've guessed that the PS4 light bar will be incorporated into the VR headsets unsage.

[BOLO]

I can't even imagine playing God of War or Uncharted set pieces through that bad boy.

[ThatOneGuyThere]

imagine you are kratos. imagine using the move controllers as the chains. imagine looking down and seeing your body as kratos. imagine hearing demons rushing you at every angle. im going to have an eyegasm.

[antikbaka]

i dunno.. i just want the pioneer oculus rift to achieve success, all others to me are just copycats

[ShAkKa]

And it begins...

[AgentSmithPS4]

The more the merrier... Competition is great for gamers, look at BF4, if only there were another game like it that could "inspire" them to fix the 64 player lag etc.

[exnoob]

Don't VR headset has been in development since 2010, oculus rift has been in development since 2012.....

[Dudebro90]

Sony isn't doing anything new. The tech in Sonys headset is already dated.

[ThatOneGuyThere]

youre stoned.

[Dudebro90]

You are delusional.

[ThatOneGuyThere]

Their sound tech hasn't been done in the consumer space. Ever. Go read something.

[Locknuts]

lol this again. Just like 3D this gets 'trialed' every decade or so. PC mags were full of ads for VR headsets back in '96. If it works: good for them. But I seriously doubt it.

[s45gr32]

hmmm lots of promise and potential as a stand alone device I see it succeeding. Hell Sony can release this virtual headset as opposed to a fifth Playstation. But is it better than oculus rift most likely not with the oculus offering 1080p on each eye 60 frames per second. Second the PS4 is ecstatic meaning gamers won't see it evolve like the rift.......

[amnalehu]

This will be great for gaming; especially driving and flight sims. Sony already makes cameras for movie and tv production. I could see them making a camera that is compatable with the VR headset for sporting events. Imagine being able to pick a virtual seat at the world series. I really hope developers from every sector get behind this.