Oculus Rift Is £499.99. So What? And Who Cares?

Oculus Rift is £499.99. That's not cheap, and certainly means at least for a little while, it's more aimed at a niche audience than a casual one. It probably stops that VR video game revolution for a little while as well. If the device isn't in thousands of people's hands, it's support will be minimal at best.

But is this any real surprise? And should there really be such a revolt? Technology has always been this way and is unlikely to change anytime soon. That doesn't make it right. But it does make it a fact of life. Let's investigate.

[Activemessiah]

It's quite clear that this thing isn't for everyone, the fact that it requires an expensive rig to run it to begin with places this in the 'Enthusiast' category by default.

[stuna1]

Exactly, and it is those Enthusiast that have up to now made it appear that the Pre-orders are presenting a demand that they can't keep up with! When the actual release date approaches then everyone will be able to truly gauge how much in demand the Oculus Rift really is in. I think we will see a totally different perspective than what is portrayed now. This is why they are selling it at the price they are, recoup some of the expenses it has incurred before sales run flat.

All who release a VR solution will see the exact set of events take place during their release windows.

[solar]

technology is expensive, and now everyone is bitching about it? screw off all of ya.

[JOKERACN7]

It's a fad.

[iNFAMOUZ1]

you wish

[lelo2play]

Yep, I agree. It's just another fad like: Wii motion controls, 3D, Kinect, PS Move, etc... and a expensive one for that matter.

[jessionpc]

I remember that's what my dad said about my first cellphone when I was a teenager. He felt pretty sure of himself too.

Although the truth was technology kept moving forward. Left my poor dad behind. Poor bastard doesn't even know what the internet is.

Are you dad?

[JOKERACN7]

Are you seriously comparing a telecommunication device with a much less applicable piece of technology? !
I'm not against it, yeah it's tech and i'm glad we're moving forward, the thing is few ppl can afford it and it needs prerequisites ...it's not as simple as you think.

[Aenea]

I'm in IT (Software Engineer) and in '95 my employer told me that the internet was a fad and he didn't feel the need to have a website (I made one for them) or put time and money into using it in their software.

Now his company makes software that can't run without the internet...

Suffice to say I left in '96 :)

[Aenea]

Thing is, when cellphones were introduced many thought it was a fad, they said stuff like "I don't need to be available 24/7!" some even adding "besides I have a pager" and "there are phone booths everywhere!".

People thought it was a waste of money now you are looked at funny when you say you don't have one or still have a dumbphone...

Also reminds me when I got my first homecomputer in the early 80s that many of my classmates didn't understand why I wanted a computer, am sure they all have one now :)

People have at times difficulty seeing the use or the fun in certain things and are then just negative, sure, sometimes they will be right in the end and it didn't turn out as popular as some hoped or thought it would, but then there are also new technologies that become popular.

Wii motion controls, 3D TVs with those glasses, Kinect, PS Move, sure, those were fun but weren't going to revolutionise the gaming industry or TV industry.

VR though also has way more uses besides gaming which already means development will be continued anyways. Then VR is another way of presenting things, giving the game player a different way to look at stuff, it's also not really bound to one specific device. A Wii motion control game could not as easily be converted to Kinect or PS Moves, some probably were but the way the games had to use those devices was completely different in each, with VR the layer of the game that talks to the VR headset will be different but the way the game works and all that will be the same across all the different headsets, even future ones.

Maybe the current wave of VR headsets won't be as popular, but I do believe that two or three iterations from now VR headsets will be very common. Without pioneers who believe it can change the way we play some games (still believe regular games are here to stay as well), both manufacturers and consumers, new tech will never be invented and released...

[JOKERACN7]

Well, that's more likely. We shall see...

[MCTJim]

Superior peripheral for superior machines!!

People plunking done some nice cash for their machines.

I'm hoping to get a test run before I actually plunk down money on this headset...if I even plunk it down at all.

[krontaar]

over $1000 for us canadians

[jessionpc]

Ya i'm holding out till a price drop or at the very least more software support.

Some good VR titles would change my view in a hurry.

[I3loggs24]

How is that possible when you neighbors with the US? Its $1200 for us Aussies

[krontaar]

Our dollar is rapidly becoming worthless.

[FlameBaitGod]

I just know porn is going next level with VR lol

[Eonjay]

Its a lot cheaper and more enjoyable to get the real thing...

[jessionpc]

Lol, go get the real thing then bud.

People have been watching porn for a long time now. Weird how a porn mag is cool but, "nope, don't you dare touch VR porn!"

Jesus... Last GF I had cost me 10 grand a year, almost got me killed and for 2 months I was almost certain I had an STD. There's something to be said about no risk pleasure.

Unless mum walks in that is?

JOHNNY!

MUM NOOOO!

[I3loggs24]

Apples and oranges, porn is entertainment that almost everyone including happily married couples watch.

[bigboss20]

I can see the PlayStation VR price at £300 VR is rubbish to me though I just like a classic console with a controller and I'm happy lol

[Aenea]

Thing is, have you ever tried it?

The idea to me sounds amazing, being able to look around you without using the right stick but just by moving your head. Will feel way more natural.

I still want to test it before I buy one tho, but the idea sounds good at least!

[NotanotherReboot]

just ordered 10

[Tzuno]

sell them on ebay for 10k a piece when the stock is low :) sarcasm.

[Volkama]

Me too, plus an extra-expensive customised one for my dog.

And I don't even have a dog. I'm just future-proofing.

[D-riders]

basically VR has been around for 30 40 years its isn't going anywhere. the fact that you cant have it in your home is great. its not cheap but no new tech is. I don't think oculus was ever in danger of becoming main stream. Playstation VR has a better chance of that I guess we will see what the future hold but until then. lets just wait I and see

[Perjoss]

You're right, and as someone who loves gaming and has played video games for almost 40 years and owned both a DK1 and DK2 as well as tried the Vive twice I'm actually more excited about the stuff they do with VR outside of gaming, for now, but I'm certain this will change over the next couple of years as they figure out how to actually make games for VR.

[calvincrack]

I hate that the people who don't want to pay this price tag are the ones dominating this discussion right now. Whereas people like me who have a very nice gaming PC and have been a really anticipating this pre-ordered it immediately and are thrilled. If it was $300 id worry about the quality. Cars cost 20k and 30k and they dont take you inside virtual worlds

[u4one]

quality costs money and so does new technology. think how good the ps4 and xbox one would be if people were willing to pay $600+ for them. That said - chances are good that all of the people buying the Oculus, Vive or whatever have most likely already spent THOUSANDS on gaming rigs - $600 is not a foreign concept for them. I don't even have a gaming pc but if I did I would expect to pay for a good HMD - and I would expect it to be good.

A pair of $50 headphones won't compete with a pair of $250 headphones yet lots of people still buy $250 headphones. No offense but if you're broke, buying an Oculus probably shouldn't be your first priority anyway, and maybe the first year or 2 of VR won't be obtainable by all that are interested. The people that really want it will find a way.

for those saying its "just a screen and gyros" - well thats true for the mobile vr HMDs sure, thats why they cost way less. For the big boy HMDs, if they were that simple then why has it been so hard to bring them to market after all of this time. Lets all ponder that.

[Miraak82]

As much as I'm hyped for VR ,, like all new tech I usually wait a year or unless there's a game or app that I must have ..... which I just don't see for quite a few years honestly . I'm gonna hold off until at least the first price cut .. Sword art online type worlds and games is what i want that fully utilizes the tech. I have a feeling the first few years will be nothing but ports and supported apps ,, like ff14 being supported with vr tech but never fully utilized .

[Si-Fly]

Depends on the genre you're into.

Right now playing a Racing Sim like iRacing or Assetto Corsa is amazing with a DK2 and will be even better with a CV1.

I know sim racing is a niche market but you wouldn't believe how many iRacers have placed an order already! We're also used to spending much larger amounts of cash on cockpits, triples, pedals and wheels so I guess the $599 price point wasn't as hard to stomach as it has been for some :)