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CV1 Consumer Retail Stations Planned!

kevinw729
Honored Visionary
http://www.roadtovr.com/oculus-plans-to ... er-launch/

This seems to mark another departure from previous discussions on selling the CV1.

There will be some on this forum that shot down the suggestion of a retail store / mall station approach for the CV1 - stating that OVR would initially only sell the unit via online!

From the structure of the comments to Ben at RTVR, seems things may have changed in approach at OVR towers!

-What do you all now think about retail stations?

-Are there issues with unmanned VR demo stations?

-Will they demand a set PC run with the demos?

-What about hygiene?
https://vrawards.aixr.org/ "The Out-of-Home Immersive Entertainment Frontier: Expanding Interactive Boundaries in Leisure Facilities" https://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Home-Immersive-Entertainment-Frontier/dp/1472426959
19 REPLIES 19

Zandil
Rising Star
Not sure what your getting at mate, We have known for some time that Oculus were going into retail stores with demos to promote the Rift.

saviornt
Protege
I've always said that they should release in big box stores..

As far as personnel to man the stations, that isn't a problem. They will hire a multinational sales contractor firm to handle that. The firm will hire and train the people, and they will go into the stores to demo for people. Or, the stores themselves may provide the manpower, as the biggest failure right now for big-box stores is getting people in the door. This represents a perfect opportunity for retail stores to become relevant again.

My only issue is the level of stock that retail outlets have on hand. Are they ready for it? Not only will they need HMD's, but they will also need "VR-Certified" PC's to sell along with them.
Current WIPs using Unreal Engine 4: Agrona - Tales of an Era: Medieval Fantasy MORPG

Twitchmonkey
Explorer
I think E3 showed once again that the only way to market VR is to actually get people to demo it, so this seems like an obvious direction to go in. So long as they can get this in enough stores it should work out really well.

kevinw729
Honored Visionary
"Zandil" wrote:
Not sure what your getting at mate, We have known for some time that Oculus were going into retail stores with demos to promote the Rift.


Wow @Zandil - I respect your perception, but if you look through the archive here you can see the contradiction and the out and out statements that "CV1 will only be sold online to start with!" would love to see the context that you were basing your view on... mate!
https://vrawards.aixr.org/ "The Out-of-Home Immersive Entertainment Frontier: Expanding Interactive Boundaries in Leisure Facilities" https://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Home-Immersive-Entertainment-Frontier/dp/1472426959

kevinw729
Honored Visionary
"saviornt" wrote:
My only issue is the level of stock that retail outlets have on hand. Are they ready for it? Not only will they need HMD's, but they will also need "VR-Certified" PC's to sell along with them.


Do "Big Box Stores" sell sub $1,500 PC's off the shelf? And after seeing how long it has been to get the "basic specifications" of the VR-CV1 suitable PC, how will they agree the demo systems, let alone an agreement not to sell a HMD with a sub standard PC!! What power will they have to enforce this?

But after the photos of the chained and unloved GearVR at the retail demo booth all bets are off if they can control the "mainstreams" first VR experience!

https://vrawards.aixr.org/ "The Out-of-Home Immersive Entertainment Frontier: Expanding Interactive Boundaries in Leisure Facilities" https://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Home-Immersive-Entertainment-Frontier/dp/1472426959

Twitchmonkey
Explorer
What happened to that Chuck E. Cheese thing that was reported awhile ago? Did that fall through over concerns about the effects of VR use on undeveloped minds? Getting the attention of the kids could really help, as they tend to be less jaded, then hopefully their enthusiasm can get the parents excited and they will give it a try for themselves.

andrewtek
Expert Protege
"kevinw729" wrote:
http://www.roadtovr.com/oculus-plans-to-have-rift-demo-stations-in-retail-stores-for-consumer-launch...

This seems to mark another departure from previous discussions on selling the CV1.

Discussions on this forum are not the official word from Oculus. Considering my fond memory of playing Sonic and Mario at Costco and Walmart when I was growing up; and that my only experience with a Virtual Boy was at an Incredible Universe... I think this is a great idea. Does not mean it will work for everyone, but it hits all the right nostalgia buttons for me personally :D. I would say retail stations + online sales = win for everyone.

"kevinw729" wrote:
There will be some on this forum that shot down the suggestion of a retail store / mall station approach for the CV1 - stating that OVR would initially only sell the unit via online!

I certainly hope I never said anything like that (don't think so, but in the right context, who knows). While I am sure a lot of people will buy without a retail store experience; the vast majority of people need to experience the technology to know why it is worth buying.

"kevinw729" wrote:
-What do you all now think about retail stations?

Love it!

"kevinw729" wrote:
-Are there issues with unmanned VR demo stations?

Oculus might be able to find a way to do a kiosk where unmanned works; but I think that is tough. With either approach, I would be mostly concerned about sanitation: people who do not wash their hands, have an eye or skin infection, have lice, etc. As for unmanned, I think it could work if the Oculus kiosk is really simple.

"kevinw729" wrote:
-Will they demand a set PC run with the demos?

I would imagine the kiosk would come with a PC. Just like console demo kiosks have a console inside.

"kevinw729" wrote:
-What about hygiene?

Haha! I quoted before getting to your final question... This would be my primary concern Kevin. 😄

andrewtek
Expert Protege
"kevinw729" wrote:
Do "Big Box Stores" sell sub $1,500 PC's off the shelf?

Here are some from Costco:
http://www.costco.com/cpu-only.html

Not sure if any of them are "VR Ready" today, but if they were to have a demo booth, they would probably have a VR Ready PC to go with it.

g4c
Explorer
I think it's a great idea, good VR has such a WOW factor it will sell itself, and at the same time Oculus can weed out the "princess and the pea" customers, i.e. those few not satisfied with the current resolution, not realizing that's all the pixels that current mainstream rigs can drive at 90Hz stereo.
Android VR Developer. https://twitter.com/SiliconDroid