Will VR content be abundant & ready for CV release?

[VizionVR]

Let's assume the CV1 will release Q4 this year.
NOTE: For the sake of this thread, please don't argue the above speculation. Move that stuff somewhere else.

When it comes to new entertainment tech, a steady flow of new and interesting content is needed in order to support continued interest or else that tech withers away pretty quickly. As a VR enthusiast, I enjoy VR for the sake of VR. I can enjoy some pretty rough conceptual VR and be content that it, at least, has the promise of being better eventually.

But what about the average consumer? What about Joe Smith? He's never tried VR but he's seen the videos on YouTube, and one of his Facebook friends talks about it constantly. Now it's Q4 2015 and the CV1 is available. Joe buys one because he likes COD and wonders what it would be like to experience something like that in VR.
Will Joe be sorely disappointed with the purchase he just made, or will there be enough varied content to make Joe feel like he made a good purchase?

Question: Do you think there will be enough content (good, finished, varied content) available for a Q4 release to appease the consumer masses? Frankly, I don't think there will be.

Edited for clarity.

[PyroSteel]

I think so, maybe not stuff made directly for the oculus. However, maybe between Oculus and Nvidia they will sort out drivers to make stuff work. Better versions of built in vorpx essentially.

A long while ago i bought a 3d laptop that was bundled with TriDef and it played any game with dx9 support in 3d. I'll tell you what, bad company 2, portal and left 4 dead were a blast. So i have confidence that Oculus and Nvidia well get some kind of driver/program bundled with CV1 that'll do what Vorpx, virieo or tridef do but better and for a wider variety of games. *fingers crossed*
That's just me making whimsical wishes though.

P.S. nice new avatar.

[bigmike20vt]

what is your definition of abundant?
(serious question and I am not trying to be obtuse)

but when the Ps4 launched it had, what, 10 titles for launch date?

There is already more AAA titles than that for DK2 that are there or thereabouts assuming they are all kept up to date, finished off and come for CV1 plus a huge bunch of small indie titles like aaaaaaa for the awesome and shufflepuck etc)

[tamonte]

I'm confident it will be enough.

Some games just work in VR even if not made specifically for it....BlazeRush is a great exemple...

I believe lot's of top down/isometric view games will be ported as they work really well with almost no motion sickness induced.

Strategy, RPG, Diablo like games etc... are all great candidates. Hopefully devs will realise this.

Then there's the simulators which are just great in VR for the feeling of immersion, any upcoming Sim should have VR support.

FPS is a bit more tricky, few of them work well in VR. Alien Isolation is a great example it is possible although maybe too intense/scary for some people. BTW they should make CV1 support official.

VR will thrive 🙂

[VizionVR]

PyroSteel:
You make a good point about existing "ported" games, but it worries me that if VR "ported" games become the habit instead of the alternative it may turn the Rift into a gimmick rather than a much deserved standalone experience.

"bigmike20vt" wrote:
what is your definition of abundant?
(serious question and I am not trying to be obtuse)

Abundant is relative, true. Let me ask you this: As a consumer (put your VR enthusiasm aside), do you feel that you're getting the most out of your DK2 VR experiences at this moment? If so, will you still be as entertained by these same experiences, plus 3-5 more, 11 months from now? It's a possibility I suppose.

"bigmike20vt" wrote:
but when the Ps4 launched it had, what, 10 titles for launch date?

PS4 is a different sort of beast. Folks bought it based on the popularity of PS2,3. All the Rift has to fall back on is history. And history has proven that without a LOT of varied content to support it, VR could commercially fail yet again. Fortunately Oculus did it right and started thousands of developers to get something to the finish line. But will it be enough?

"bigmike20vt" wrote:
There is already more AAA titles than that for DK2 that are there or thereabouts assuming they are all kept up to date, finished off and come for CV1 plus a huge bunch of small indie titles like aaaaaaa for the awesome and shufflepuck etc)

Again, true. I sincerely hope it's enough to appeal to the Facebook masses, now that VR is under such a strong microscope.

[VizionVR]

"tamonte" wrote:
I'm confident it will be enough.

I admire your confidence. It's just that if the number of "ported" games outweighs the number of native developed games and experiences, I feel that VR stands a good chance of becoming too gimmicky. I think there needs to be good VR only experiences, and lots of them, to guarantee a strong CV release and ensure long lasting consumer support.

[BTW]

I think the average Joe will also enjoy movie watching and the social aspects - sort of video chat.
Those are self regulating things... no real (extra) content needed.

Games NEED to be 100% oculus supported for it to be a good gaming tool/gadget

[VizionVR]

"BTW" wrote:
I think the average Joe will also enjoy movie watching and the social aspects - sort of video chat.
Those are self regulating things... no real (extra) content needed.

And that's the saving grace of true, commercial VR, it's possibility to go beyond gaming. I sincerely hope that Facebook VR will be ready for release along with CV1 and become something beyond a gimmick.

"BTW" wrote:
Games NEED to be 100% oculus supported for it to be a good gaming tool/gadget

Not only should games be Oculus supported, but they should use VR to its full potential, or else it's just another gimmick. Very, VERY few games use VR to its full potential.

[BTW]

"vizionvr" wrote:
...

"BTW" wrote:
Games NEED to be 100% oculus supported for it to be a good gaming tool/gadget

Not only should games be Oculus supported, but they should use VR to its full potential, or else it's just another gimmick. Very, VERY few games use VR to its full potential.

I'm not sure I follow you.
If a game is good on itself, having a good camera in that world that works 100% and is tested very well and does actual feels good. Is that not enough for games that would otherwise be good games?
I don't mean for the SUPER VR experience that you buy the Oculus for but the game that keeps your attention for a good wile.

[tamonte]

The thing is, the only games that make "full" use of VR atm are SIMS.
For First Person games, you need an immersive imput for your hands/guns. (and eventually omnidirectional treadmill) Not sure we will have that nailed for a CV1 release.

Edit: I hope nimble tech gets implemented in CV1 for hands imput. And hopefully as a separate dev kit add-on for DK2 before that.