I believe in the potential for Virtual Reality to deliver immersive interactive experiences that are unlike the sort of games we play now. Therein lies the rub of course – Potential. I’ve currently got an HTC VIVE unit set up at my house, and I’ve been going through many of its available experiences. Some have been incredible, adding a layer of immersion I didn’t think was possible. Others have been less exciting.
What there is right now though, is a scarcity of what you’d probably deem “proper” games. Most of what I’ve played so far has been fun, but hardly the sort of thing that keeps calling you back. I do think that’ll change with the release of the PlayStation VR in a month. While still not cheap, the PSVR is the closest we’ve got to mainstream, non-mobile VR.
The thing with a good VR experiences is that you need to have them yourself before you see that potential. Thankfully, if you do happen to buy a PSVR unit, Sony’s including a demo disc filled with just the sorts of things necessary to convert you. If you live in the US or Canada, you get 18 VR demos on your packed-in demo disc.
Here’s what North Americans will get with their VR units:
- Allumette (Penrose)
- Battlezone (Rebellion)
- DriveClub VR (SIE WWS)
- Eve: Valkyrie (CCP Games)
- GNOG (KO_OP)
- Harmonix Music VR (Harmonix Music Systems)
- Headmaster (Frame Interactive)
- Here They Lie (SIE WWS)
- Job Simulator (Owlchemy Labs)
- PlayStation VR Worlds (SIE WWS)
- Resident Evil 7 biohazard – Kitchen Teaser (Capcom CO., LTD.)
- Rez Infinite (Enhance Games)
- RIGS: Mechanized Combat League (SIE WWS)
- Thumper (Drool)
- Tumble VR (SIE WWS)
- Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (SIE WWS)
- Wayward Sky (Uber Entertainment)
- Within (Within)
In Europe (Or an associated territory, like South Africa)? Tough luck – you only get 8 game demos: DriveClub VR, PlayStation VR Worlds, RIGS, Tumble VR, Battlezone, EVE: Valkyrie, Wayward Sky, and Headmaster. I’d really, really love to get Until Dawn and Rez Infinite on the disc too, but it’s just not to be.
HvR
September 13, 2016 at 10:43
WHY DO CONTINUE REGION LOCKING US SONY BUT DEMAND SAME FULL PRICE IN PAYMENT!!!
https://media.giphy.com/media/zLydqDQu8fDLW/giphy.gif
Ottokie
September 13, 2016 at 10:46
huehuehue
The Order of the Banana
September 13, 2016 at 11:18
Clearly, VR is just too much for Europe to handle.
Pieter Kruger
September 13, 2016 at 13:14
Is it true that Vive is the only system that can actually track you and your hands 360′? I know with Sony VR you must face the camera at all times for it to “see” the shakers but what about Oculus?
Geoffrey Tim
September 14, 2016 at 07:28
Oculus doesnt have its own controller right now. The Rift touch controllers are coming – and those also have full 360 degree control. I’ve used em, and they’re amazing.
Jonah Cash
September 14, 2016 at 07:51
I am just interested in Rigs. It went gold yesterday or on Monday. It looks like the thing that will keep me coming back for more…
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
September 15, 2016 at 10:06
What POSSIBLE reason could they have for this?