HTC wants a co-operative monopoly?

[Zenbane]

I came across an article today where an HTC Spokesperson is calling on Sony and Oculus to work together in VR instead of being strict competitors. Where the idea is to support VR as a whole, because their main sentiment is: We are not just for Vive, we are for all platforms and devices.

Okay that sounds good. There's only one problem:

"Steiber is talking about non-gaming products because of his association with the Viveport programme"

"Our vision for Viveport is for it to be the leading agnostic virtual reality store"

HTC Vive is literally asking Sony and Oculus to stop thinking about themselves, and instead start thinking about something more neutral called... Viveport. The silliness is so staggering that I can't even type up a proper insult.

Full article:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-11-24-htc-calls-on-co-operation-with-playstation-and-ocul...

[falken76]

Bah, Competition drives progress and lowers cost. I hope it remains competitive to insure that stays strong in this industry.

[CrashFu]

Are HTC and Valve having some kind of falling out, or something?  The Vive wouldn't have been nearly as successful without its basis on the Steam platform, but now HTC wants to compete with that platform? Compete with their own business partner? 

At this rate, maybe HTC and Valve will be launching entirely separate headsets next generation, lol.

[shim2]

CrashFu said:

Are HTC and Valve having some kind of falling out, or something?  The Vive wouldn't have been nearly as successful without its basis on the Steam platform, but now HTC wants to compete with that platform? Compete with their own business partner? 

At this rate, maybe HTC and Valve will be launching entirely separate headsets next generation, lol.

I'm ok with that. More competition and more choices other than Oculus. I'm on day 8 without any response from Oculus other than "we'll get back to you" with my broken Rift situation.

[Log_a_Frog]

Oculus port sounds better

[kojack]

The word "port" already has bad connotations in the games industry.

I understand their basic reasoning, Steam is a giant games store and non game vr applications can have a hard time getting noticed. Plus Viveport started in China where Steam isn't available.
But I'm sure at least part of the plan is to get a cut of software sales instead of just hardware.

[Zoomie]

So essentially HTC is now trying to do what Oculus has been doing from day one.
Yes, I can see this creating a big Rift between Valve and HTC.  Pun intended.