Game Scoop: Is PlayStation VR the New Kinect?

Daemon:

Welcome back to Game Scoop!, IGN's weekly video game talk show. This week we're discussing PlayStation VR's high price, the future of consoles, and the next Hitman. Watch the video above or download the podcast below.

[stuna1]

No silly question! They are on opposite ends of the gaming spectrum.

One your actually in the game digitally.

The other you're manipulating the game from a third person perspective.

[Army_of_Darkness]

Plus not to mention that unlike kinect, psVR actually works really well ;-)

[amiga-man]

No, Kinect and Move were a late attempt to get into motion gaming made popular by the Wii, unfortunately it was always a fad and never had lasting appeal.

The ironic thing is that the Move controller lead to Sony experimenting with VR and and proved a great way to interact in the VR environment with Sony quick to realise unlike Motion controls VR was a far more exciting prospect offering opportunities far outside of gaming.

It's still early days for VR and will grow into so much more.

[ABizzel1]

There are 3 big things that will determine the success / failure of PS VR.

1. Price

PS VR isn't going to be a huge seller if it cost more than $199, which more than likely it is. At $199 it's an easy buy for many PS4 owners, and eventually many potential new owners as well. But considering controllers such as the XBO Elite controller retails for $150, this price is a dream, and $249 would be the absolute cheapest.

I suspect it's going to cost $249 - $299, and to that point it becomes a situation to most gamers of whether to buy PS VR or buy another console, and the majority are more likely to choose another console, with only the most dedicated fans or those who already have all 3 consoles deciding to pick it up. Considering PS4 will have another 5 - 7 years of support and drop in price over those years and I suspect PS4 to sell 120m - 130m consoles lifetime sells. If VR stays along for the ride and has it's own price drops along the way it could very well sell in the 20m units which would be about on par with the original Kinect. It's these people who are going to be the make or break for PS VR, because if it's good and they love it, they'll be able to spread the word about it and get it in the hands of their friends and family.

If it cost $349 - $399 it's going to be a commercial failure sales wise. You just can't sell a peripheral for that kind of money, even if it's good. It would have to be mind-boggling innovative and change the way we think of games for it to still have a remote chance of selling as well as it would with a $249 price with it even if the $249 version was just slightly above average.

2. Games

There has to be games, good games, and plenty of games that support VR. The smartest thing to do is simply patch as many PS4 games already out with a form of VR support so when the PS VR launches you can say "And you currently have a library of games that already support VR". That's the kind of news on games they need to sell it.

But they also need new original IP's designed for VR from the ground up, that take full advantage of the hardware. Hopefully No Man's Sky is that game.

Finally they need to work hand in hand with Oculus and share games across the board so both devices can benefit from the same community or developers.

3. Marketing

They have to get store demos / mall demos / commercials / etc... out there to market this thing as the potential future of gaming, because being completely honest it is.

If it takes matches Sony's expectations (which are usually set low, so they can be surprised) then PS VR is going to be a big part of the PS5 at launch, and put them at the forefront and mascot of VR on console. This is an investment for them, so they really need to do everything they can to make sure this takes off as best it can.

[freshslicepizza]

it could very well be the new kinect as far as game support goes since it's a peripheral. this looks much better than kinect and actually works but it will all boil down to software support.

the price will no doubt be higher than kinect was so who knows if it will sell as well as kinect did. sony still won't commit to an actual release date or a price.

[rainslacker]

I see VR support as rather easy to add into games if they use a 3rd person camera in any way. Although it would have to be adapted based on the game itself. The whole "Better with Kinect" mentality where it's just patched on will likely be common early on and hopefully grow to make substantial inroads as time goes by.

As far as the topic at hand, and not being as literal as stuna, I think it's too soon to tell. Kinect itself wasn't a failure sales wise, but it's support was lacking, which is what I think is a distinct possibility if Sony doesn't push developer support for the long term.

[Horyzon]

Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Gear VR, Hololens... Everything is the new Kinect.

[Thatguy-310]

Nah Kinect was filled with a lot of smoke and mirrors before coming out. People are playing these VR headsets and they are what the companies behind them are pitching to us.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Milo!!!

[Thatguy-310]

https://youtu.be/p2qlHoxPio...
They fooled us. So their marketing team did wonders for them

[Cupid_Viper_3]

They didn't fool "us" actually. They fooled the people who bought the product and came on here and defended it to death, to their very own detriment in terms of games.

Hololens is the next Kinect, not VR. Like Kinect, Hololens will have most of it's cool applications outside of gaming. As a gaming device it will be pretty limited when compared to what VR can do.

[JoeReno]

@dboyc hahaha the dad pit crew. I couldn't watch the whole thing.

[MasterCornholio]

Im sure it will be better for gaming than Kinect.

[Bathyj]

No, this can actually be used to play real games. Not only that, but games could actually be better for it.

And what high price? Has the price even been announced?

It likely wont be cheap but can we at least wait til we know what it is before we start complaining its too much?

[Gazondaily]

Adam Boyes gave an indication of the price and I think a $250+ figure was a common sentiment.

[kenwonobi]

I would think 350 dollars on down is acceptable range for me.

[Rimeskeem]

I have strong faith in PSVR, the amount of support Sony is giving it is insane!

[Bathyj]

Still, I want to see real games before I shell out what will probably be a decent amount of cash.

Extended proof of concept demos and "experiences" like the deep are all well and good, but I want games that I would play even if they werent VR. No Mans Sky and Until Dawn seem like obvious candidates to me, and no a game doesnt have to be 1st person, it just has to be immersive.

I also want confirmation I can use this just as a viewer. Content will be light in the early days. I want to watch Blurays with it, and even play non VR games using it as simply a head mounted display.

Give me all those things Sony and you have a sale. The price doesnt bother me so much as long as its reasonable.

[Rhythmattic]

Yep, the HMD aspect is what will give it incredible value.... Let's hope Sony incorporate it... Options are good.

[Rimeskeem]

It would be very cool to be able to use it as sort of a second screen as well. Parents using the TV? you can use it for your game screen. Use it as your own home theater? that would be cool. Lots of potential for this not just for hardcore but also for more casual IMO.

[Davi123]

@Rimeskeem

I'm completely sure that will happen! Once, i saw a video with a great idea to use VR with those games that aren't for it. A application where we are in a room, looking to a tv. And is on that tv, that we play those games! :D

[someOnecalled]

Let's hope sony incorporate it lol. If it don't sell well its dead in the water. Now the other options you don't have to wait or beg sony for features. People even been asking for more features on vita but never happen. With the others if the manufacture don't incorporate it the community will. ORift selling point is even using ourside the gaming community. Most likely sony will let gamers use it for movies and other thing because they thinking about their company as a whole but you can't help to laugh when people act like its the best when its so limited.

[kenwonobi]

Thats a great idea. Also for Sony too. They can make vr movies. Movies for it. Open it up complete. Make it as useful as possible. People will buy it not just for gaming. Maybe even make it pc compatible. All of this makes sense.

[memots]

if its not compatible with PC or any other device than the Ps4 i don't think its going to do very well.

I really want one. But not if its only for my Ps4 that was too restrictive.

[Scatpants]

If it's for PS4 and PC then I want it more than all the others, if it's PS4 only then I would rather get the Oculus.

[memots]

same here. Or the HTC Vive

[andibandit]

I agree, I enjoy playing Simulators on the PC, and have been wanting to get a PC compatible VR headset. If the Morpheus was compatible I would buy it without hesitation.

[memots]

exactly. I don't understand the disagree on this.

I am really hoping for it to be compatible. It would be insta buy for me.

[Spotie]

Not likely. Seems like there's more support than Kinect ever had already.

[TheLastVoiceOFsanity]

the playstation vr will fail because their is a limited to the type of games you can do on it,& still feel immursed in the game. racing games & pilot games will work, but first person shooters & gta open world games won't because they'll get annoying& you won't feel like your in the game.

the hololens WILL work because it's not trying to fool you into thinking your in a virtual world. it's trying to fool you into thinking virtual objects are in the real world.

[Rhythmattic]

And if Sony incorporate a BIG screen mode, you'd be very wrong.

AR for games really doesn't excite me, as for PSVR, for gaming it trumps hololens by miles.

[r2oB]

Ummm, why would I want virtual objects in the real world? If I'm going to spend my time in the real world, I'll use real objects. The whole point of videos games is kind of an escape from the real world, to be immersed in the virtual world created for you. Some video games will deceive the mind in thinking the experience is real, real enough to elicit thoughts and emotions. Others are just pure fun. Either way you are being immersed into that "world". If VR can further immerse gamers into worlds only accessible through imagination, then I'm all for it. That's my personal opinion.

But if you rather augment reality with virtual objects, and make them the focal point of the experience rather than the "world", then that's cool too I guess. Different strokes for different folks.

[andibandit]

Trust me, you don't want a real Xenomorph in the real world.

[Davi123]

«the hololens WILL work because it's not trying to fool you into thinking your in a virtual world.»

You already have be fooled by Hololens, because allows you think it will be something to use lots of times without getting boring. But, the reality is that Hololens will be just interesting for a few days.

[someOnecalled]

I can't say much about psvr other than the smoke screen and limiting things they already saying but star citizen have fps part to the game and simi open world or galaxy if you want to call it that. It's really no limit to whats going to happen on pc inside and out of gaming. There is no overlord tell what you can and can't do. But I'm sure sony will hop on the bandwagon on whatever trending on pc like they always do

[ShadowWolf712]

What smokescreen? They've been very open about this project.

[pelenow]

Needs to have something compelling to play at launch. If it can do that then a high price point would not be a very big deal. (Unless it's something ridiculous like over $400 or something)

[Scatpants]

My guess is $400. They said they were pricing it like a new console and the PS4 was $400 when it was new.

[eyeDEVOUR]

No..lol
If kinect was even anything at all it was the new eyetoy/pseye...

[magiciandude]

It's more likely the new PS Move. That was hyped up all over the media, only to be forgotten within a year. I am not sure how likely will things be different for PSVR. Price point, content, and marketing are the three main factors for the success of PSVR.

[Bladesfist]

I hope it takes off, not because I want one but because I think it will be a huge blow to the general public's perception of VR if this thing comes out and it sucks. I have a Gear VR at the moment which is pretty awesome, will probably pick up the Vive or the Rift next year.

[Kingoftherodeo]

vr is set with a release date of 2016. they said it will cost about the same as a new console,then you add in the camera which by then might or might not go up in price.

the asking price for this thing at launch will be far greater than the games you will be able to play on it. heck even that nice 120 refresh rate it has first games are set not to be able to use it.then you add in that extra box that you will have to plug your ps4 to. not to mention most of the set big games for it are really odd japanese games pretty much look like virtual anime.

not saying its gonna be dead in the water but ps loyals will have to throw their money at this thing and hope for a great return to make this successful

[fanboysmackdown]

If it's $400 or $500 it's dead in the water. Samsung and Oculus announced a $100 VR so how will Sony compete against that? For one, I have no interest in strapping something on my face to play a game. Fad...gimmick....3D tv all over again. Cell phone zombies are bad enough now they're trying to create 49 Buick bumper zombies. Imagine those idiots sitting around waiting for the subway.

[Davi123]

Here is how Sony will compete against that:
- Samsung VR cost 200$ and Oculus 350$ (not 100$);
- For Samsung VR you need a smartphone and besides, there is a reason to be cheap. One tip: Quality;
- Oculus is for PC's and XBone. For the PC, you already know that Oculus on a cheap PC not will work properly and for the XBone, MS already said, that they only want Oculus JUST WORK on XBone. Equals to poor quality.
- PS4 already sold 25 million worldwide;
- Exclusives for PS VR, like Rings;
- Bundles, PS4+PS VR or PS VR+Move+One game.

[kenwonobi]

Complete inaccurate. Misleading. Oculus will be priced similarly to Psvr. Virtual reality will be social. It'll be online too. But thanks for it's detractors highlighting a potential weakness perceived so Sony can highlight its social abilities once they get wind of these inacurate misperceptions.

[ApocalypseShadow]

i have noticed a turn in article submissions that are trying to sabotage the playstation vr before it even comes out.becoming more negative each time.even phil spencer has used pr to downplay.people quoting prices for it without facts on its cost.there's being reserved.then there is actively seeking to downplay.but the thing is:

kinect sucked for core games.kinect wasn't accurate.and microsoft misled the public on what it can do.now the public knows and arent buying it.and the fastest selling peripheral was also a lie.they stuffed the channel just like they did with 360 trying to make you believe it was selling fast until you saw after christmas sales plummet for kinect 1.

here's the thing:

move works and is accurate.no one is complaining about comfort on the head.the immersion is real and nothing compared to 3d or that crappy virtuaboy with no tracking.you couldn't wear it because it was heavy.like comparing atari to ps4.just dumb.

sony has been preparing for immersion since ps2 days.they created this way before oculus rift was thought of.it was only released in japan though.

http://playstationcollectin...

http://ixbtlabs.com/news.ht...

they also produced eyetoy that sold upwards of 15 million.then released pseye on ps3.then released ps move which also sold millions.then released datura and experimented with move and a sony hmd.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

then released ps4 ready for vr.and now showing everyone it works and are making games for it.sony has been preparing for the next step in gaming as an option just like from 2d to 3d games.

[Imortus_san]

Kinect works in 130+ games, so I believe those that enjoyed it from day one were more happy then those that bought the Move that had 30+ games.

I rather play normal on my TV set then to use VR or Kinect, lol.

[majorw2]

Actually, Move has 130+ games also. I think Move users are probably happier with a solution that works as advertised rather than with the promise of how Kinect was the only controller needed and how reliable it would be...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

[Imortus_san]

@majorw2
I dont see move anounced on many of those game covers, that means they just had support for the sake of having, playing Infamous 2 with move controler is really stupid, but ok.

Kinect may have some tracking problems in same games but it a was experience, using voice comands that really made de diference was a new experience, move is just a wii ripp off.

[blomman79]

Be realistic. Because it is a sony product it dosent mean it gona sell.or be a success. Pretty expensive to. Its gonna be fun for two or three days. Belive me, it will be a mega flopp

[kenwonobi]

I'm being realistic. It only takes one game then this will take off. VR has always intrigued people.they could never get a working vr helmet cheap enough that had quality graphics to give what they wanted. Now they do

[gamer7804]

I like gamescoop but this is a horrible comparison, they couldn't be more different. One is about freely gaming using your body as motion controls either to control the whole game or enhance a game. You can game with your family and friends in a social activity.

VR you put on your head and surrounded by the game not interacting with people or the world around you.

I would wager that kinect because of its versatility in not just gaming but console control gives it more of an edge sales wise.

We'll just have to wait and see.

[TWB]

Kinect failed because it rarely worked well. If PS VR were to flop, it would flop because of adoption rate and high price or even partly due to not having so many AAA games supporting the technology. I do believe that theres nothing wrong with the technology itself so I cant see this being "the new kinect".

Newer and better working 3D maybe.

[kenwonobi]

Kinect wishes it was VR. Not even remotely as cool a idea.not as advanced. Not same immersion. Complete different technology. Kinect is basically a controller. Vr is like a new game system way of playing games.

[kenwonobi]

Lets put it in this perspective. Kinect would be a add on controller that compliments vr. As they will do with Move. Which is also motion controllers. So it not only has motion controllers it also has VR. So how can it be Luke Kinect when it has motion controllers and then also VR on top of that? If you mean twice as good because it has both VR AND MOTION CONTROLS? Then yes it's like twice as good asKinect having both technologies support VR.

[QuickdrawMcgraw]

They keep saying I think this and maybe it will be like that....I come to the conclusion they really don't know anything yet...

[jznrpg]

Kinect turned into a big ass microphone after a couple days of my son playing just dance.So the answer is no.