Topic: VR goggles the "new and unique product"?

[Gibdo Master]

I don't know if this has been brought up here but there is a really interesting thread over at nintendojo.com forums about this. You can check it out by clicking here. While it was originally intended to be speculation about the next system as a whole it's slowing starting to focus mainly on the VR goggles. This is what the topic starter HereticPB suggested:

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TV/VR Goggles – This is a portable TV that you can wear to play games. Push a button and with specially marked games you can use this as a VR helmet. Inside the goggles is a RF Frequency that goes to an add-on product (it is included) that connects to the bottom of N5. You turn your head right it looks right, left to left, up looks up, down looks down.

Now just to make things clear since a couple of Nintendojo.com forumers were having trouble understanding this it won't be like some horrible movie from the 80s VR thing. Rather it would basically be like a TV you can wear on your head with the addition of motion sensors.

I think this would have a lot of interesting applications for game play. Imagine playing Metroid on the next Nintendo console and using the VR goggles. You would really get the sense that you were looking through Samus's helmet. Also because of the motion sensor thing if you turn your head in the game Samus's view would also turn to look in that same direction.

This would be great for the Rogue Squadron series as well because while you are in the cockpit you could look around while flying the ship a lot easier not to mention it would be like you were actually in the X-Wing. Ooooh Aaaaah.

It could also work nice in third person games because unlike with a TV you wouldn't have any outside visual distractions because you would only be seeing the game. I'm sure that some creative game developers could come up with some neat features for third person games as well using the VR goggles.

They would also be great with multiplayer games as well since each player would have their own personal screen instead of having to deal with split screens.

Finally like I suggested later in the thread you might possibly also be able to use them with the next Game Boy. It would eliminate any lighting problems (although there shouldn't be any with the next GB anyway) not to mention you wouldn't be staring at a little screen and it would still be portable.

So what does everyone else think?

[oompah]

Wow VR Goggles...just the thought of it automatically makes me think of the virtual boy nintendo tried to bring out only for it to be a disaster (not to mention the bad press) but although....

If Nintendo were able to produce such a device to incorporate the gameplay visuals you've mentioned would be fantastic! Just think no annoying camera angles for 3D Mario games! To enable different views such as thrid person as well as a first person view -  would be great! But it all comes back to the eyes...will they really go square!? :-P I can play a game for a few hours (take metroid for example! :-) but for my eyes to be subjected to goggle like screens - what happens when i take them off!?

As much as VR Goggles could be an ingenoius peripheral to play with, thinking about it too much gives me a headache!  

[Hostile Creation]

I do not want to play all of my games in first person.  I desperately hope this is a bunch of BS. . . if you can do more than first person type gaming with it, I suppose it'd be okay, otherwise I might actually hesitate to buy it (gasp).

[Gibdo Master]

I didn't say that you would have to play the games in first person. I was just giving examples of games that are in first person or that have a first person option and how they would work with the goggles.

Did you read this part of my post?

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It could also work nice in third person games because unlike with a TV you wouldn't have any outside visual distractions because you would only be seeing the game. I'm sure that some creative game developers could come up with some neat features for third person games as well using the VR goggles.

Besides it's just some speculation anyway so it's nothing to get uptight about.  

[AdvancedGamer]

I don't really see this happening in the N5 but I see it happening in the n6 or n7. It's a really good idea and nintendo should try to perfect it like they did with the wireless technology on the wavebird. Also lots of people have motion sickness so you should be able to play the game with or without the googles and have them be an addition. i hope Nintendo jumps to the gun on this one before microsoft or sony 0_0

[Bill Aurion]

Thanks to the Virtual Boy I don't think any smart company will create VR goggles for a while.

[Whizzy McTinkles]

VR goggles are a great idea, but not with motion sensing, that overly complicates things and can potentially increase headaches, INSTEAD, I would like goggles very much like what's offered for today's direct 3d based games, there are companies with goggles that can take the direct 3d data of a game and route it to the goggles for true 3d display (no special coding required, in fact all the older direct 3d games work as well, the goggles can look at the z-buffer data and make ANY direct 3d game appear 3d), now don't give me the motion sensing, I mean if I decide to move the camera with a c-stick or whatever, the perspective will change as normal, but I'll get my 3d experience cheaply and easily, and I think it would be a great gimmick.  

[Pale]

I am sooooo sick of people calling the Virtual Boy VR!!!  It wasn't...and any company that thinks that doesn't deserve to put out VR goggles anyway.  The virtual boy was a 3d screen you stuck your face into...VR means motion sensing and things like that, that was already talked about....

[HereticPB]

Wow Using one of my topics. Sniff Sniff. As with many you didn't read my post on the other board. In that topic I said that you can use the VR Googles or the Standard Audio/Video connections. If tracking is done right it could resolve the headaches. It is basically a personal cinema for gaming. In that same topic I showed a couple of pictures of the Googles that Sony used for Personal DVD movie playback. This is what I was shooting for. The Sony Googles has a see through mode so you can play your game and see the surroundings of where your at. This I believe resolves the headache problems.

Virtual Boy is in no way associated with VR. Yea it looked like it and they designed it for that but it wasn't. It did work though the 3d effect although red. It had a couple of games that worked well.

HtPB

[aoi tsuki]

i doubt we'll see first party video glasses for some time simply given the social stigma alone. For years people have shyed away from the GBA simply based on its design, now the GBA SP is selling in droves. No one in the mainsteam wants to look be an outcast, so any such device will have to overcome the "geek factor" before becoming a salable reality.

[Gibdo Master]

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Originally posted by: aoi tsuki
i doubt we'll see first party video glasses for some time simply given the social stigma alone.

*sarcasm*Yeah, exactly like the social stigma of using controllers had to be overcome*sarcasm* The goggles would be used as a peripheral just like a controller. I really don't think you'll have to overcome any social stigma inside the privacy of your own home.

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Originally posted by: aoi tsuki
For years people have shyed away from the GBA simply based on its design, now the GBA SP is selling in droves.

What the hell? Since when has the GBA had a social stigma and what do you mean for "years"? As far as I remember it was popular from day one.

 

[aoi tsuki]

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sarcasm*Yeah, exactly like the social stigma of using controllers had to be overcome*sarcasm* The goggles would be used as a peripheral just like a controller. I really don't think you'll have to overcome any social stigma inside the privacy of your own home.

i was referring to their use in public, assuming this product was a portable one.

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What the hell? Since when has the GBA had a social stigma and what do you mean for "years"? As far as I remember it was popular from day one.

Referring to mainstream here, specifically those who may have been older (20s or so) who wouldn't touch a GBA. i've seen several more people in this group with SPs over standard GBAs. Of course there may be some who simply never ventured out of the house with their GBA, but proudly play their new SPs in public. Just an observation.

Misspelled "shied" in original post. Too lazy to edit it so i'm noting it here.  

[Gibdo Master]

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Originally posted by: aoi tsuki

i was referring to their use in public, assuming this product was a portable one.

I doubt it would get that much public use considering the fact that you won't be able to see anything with them on. In other words it's just not a good idea to go walking down the street with your vision obstructed while playing a video game regardless of any possible social stigma about it. I do agree I wouldn't be caught dead wearing one in public but since this wouldn't really be something you use in public it doesn't matter.

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Originally posted by: aoi tsuki

Referring to mainstream here, specifically those who may have been older (20s or so) who wouldn't touch a GBA. i've seen several more people in this group with SPs over standard GBAs. Of course there may be some who simply never ventured out of the house with their GBA, but proudly play their new SPs in public. Just an observation.

Misspelled "shied" in original post. Too lazy to edit it so i'm noting it here.

Still don't get this one. Just look at how well the GBA has sold. Doesn't seem like too many people have a problem with its "social stigma".

 

[aoi tsuki]

If these are video glasses, there could be a mode that allows you to see the outside world, while still playing the game. i won't try explaining my second point; it was just an observation and not very important, especially at 1:20 in the morning.  

[KDR_11k]

That would, however, distract you and increase the chance of a traffic accident.

[aoi tsuki]

You only wear the glasses when you're playing the game. They're not for all-day use.

[Qbric]

The problem with VR glasses is getting a wide enough view angle. With both eyes, humans can see about 180 degrees across. Unfortunately, most helmets use small LCDs that have a much smaller degree. So it's hardly anything like a virtual reality.

But the motion detection is one step that brings this "vision" (couldn't resist - too punny) into light. Once we can begin using other muscles besides our eyeballs and hands to experience the simulation, the illusion becomes more entrenched.

So this is a great idea. In fact, the PS2 already has this device!!! You move your head, the camera moves too. It came bundled witha flight sim game. But the resolution was pretty low (like 320x240, maybe less), and again, the veiwing angle is too limited.

What do you think a good method would be to get a wide veiwing angle? Anyone fluent with optics and displays? I guess what I'd do is get some pentagonical or hexagonical LCDs, super hi-res of course, and then stitch like 12 or so together, depending on the shape, to build 2 geodesic half-spheres. Then you jack 'em in, and BAM!, you've got yourself a personal omnitheater. Except that the resolution in the omnitheater is outstandingly huge, but mp3s are a pretty descent substitute for a wav.... No reason that can't work here.

Here's some crude 1st gen vr. Can't wait until round 3 - should be pretty good at that point: http://www.eyetop.net