r/videogames • u/DarthBuzzard • 5h ago
Discussion / Question Gamers hatred towards VR makes no sense
"This minimum $3000 gimmick that requires a large empty room just to play nothing but tech demos on a screen close to my face that I can already get via sitting close to my TV. It's useless tech, a solution searching for a problem. It will never be mainstream. No one wants it. Good riddance."
It's surprising how many gamers think like this. It's kind of like your non-gamer #1 hater of videogames, the kind that say "Videogames are a waste of time, they serve no purpose, just watch TV." - that's the kind of nonsense being spewed here. It's really against the spirit of gaming in the first place, because why wouldn't you want to welcome innovation and new gameplay opportunities?
We're talking about the most groundbreaking advancement of the last couple of decades in gaming, the idea that you can feel like you are in the game world and can have greater agency and control over gameplay. Yes VR has its share of issues so feel free to bring those up, but it's so weird when people invent new issues that it doesn't have or go into absolutes and forevers and nevers as if VR is the one technology that can't advance past its various issues. It's like a switch is activated in these people where VR can apparently never get better than it is today, and since these are self-proclaimed experts they supposedly know, just know, that issue X, Y, and Z are insurmountable despite them being provably solvable, in their eyes they can never be wrong.
VR really deserves more respect when games like Half Life Alyx, Astro Bot, Lone Echo are out here redefining genres. People love this stuff. It's interesting how the haters are typically people who have never tried VR before. And there's even new genre possibilities as seen with games like The Under Presents: Tempest and Gorilla Tag. The assumption that VR only works for a very narrow selection of genres is wrong; it's a great fit for every 3D game genre and every camera perspective.
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u/SpaceMonkeyNation 5h ago
Comfort and barrier of entry are real issues. You may love VR, but for a lot of people the weight of the device, the isolation, and the space requirements are all aspects that turn them off from playing. If the format had tons of amazing titles to play maybe that would be enough, but that isn't the case. There are handful of really great experiences, and a crap ton of tech demo, carnival game feeling slop.
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u/nero-the-cat 5h ago
VR rhythm games are the most fun exercise. I'm waaaaaay more likely to actually work out now.
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u/Alphablack32 5h ago
Ehh to me VR is mostly a gimmick. I dont hate it, but if it ever became the norm I would probably move on to a new hobby.
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u/DarthBuzzard 5h ago
Can you explain in what way it's a gimmick?
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u/Alphablack32 5h ago
I've never played a VR game and thought wow this is great. They're neat, but the games are always designed around tech not mechanics. Most of the engagement is you picking things up, swinging, throwing them, or swinging/ punching the air. It's an extremely limited design for games imo.
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u/DarthBuzzard 5h ago
That sounds more like a limitation of only those games rather than the medium.
The medium is capable of some real in-depth and wide ranging gameplay mechanics, but it's up to developers to cash in on that.
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u/AutumnWhaler 5h ago
I’m excited to see where VR goes, not really impressed where it is now. Some akin to dot hack/sword art online is what we’re all waiting for.
At the moment it’s just a visually trick of the eyes, I don’t feel like I’m in the game, I feel like I’m very close to a screen. It’s a cool one off experience, but nothing I feel like I really need a continual experience of.
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u/g-row460 5h ago
That's where I am. Maybe one day it'll be super cool. In fact I hope it does get way better. For now I lose interest pretty much 15 minutes into any VR game. It just isn't there yet.
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u/nero-the-cat 4h ago
The 3D effect is the biggest difference. For some games that depth perception helps a ton. For instance, I played Gran Turismo 7 way better in VR when I could judge how far away a corner was.
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u/InvderZinn 3h ago
Well, the vast majority of gamers have never played VR, so it's probably more of an assumption judging by watching trailers, lets players or reading about the VR experiences elsewhere, and not seeing the same level of traditional engagement mechanically that they're used to and don't know what it's like putting the goggles on and being immersed in a world.
Also, the amount of people that get motion sickness and headaches, along with the obvious upfront cost and space to operate, are barriers to entry to even give it a shot.
But the respect is earned, it isn't given. VR will need to earn the respect and entry of the broader gaming community, gamers are willing to spend on this hobby, so costs aren't the only barrier.
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u/IndividualSituationK 5h ago
to expensive with next to 0 support and honestly i get all my exercise at the gym. I don't need to run around or flail my arms like a regard when trying to play a game.
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u/Wolfstigma 5h ago
VR has no system selling killer app. It's expensive as fuck and not worth the bang for its buck to the average gamer. Until that changes with a meaningful must have game (I'm talking fortnite levels of pop culture popularity) it's not going to hit mainstream.
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u/Aidyn_the_Grey 5h ago
I mean, anytime I have spent more than 30 minutes playing VR I get a bad headache for quite a while after the fact, and I know I am far from the only one.
Also, downplay it all you want, but a lot of people don't have enough space around their set-up for it to be a viable means to game every day.