The Rift looks like a serious misfire. The Vive is already eating its lunch with real VR controllers and roomscale.
I also dont see image conscious teens wearing big honking tissue boxes on their heads. I think FB's foray into VR is in jeopardy. The types of people who want this experience are not really the types of people in love with Facebook or the social media experience.
>That will continue, Facebook is bigger than just Facebook now.
Well, as long as the stock is overvalued, FB can make all sorts of purchases. But that simply won't last. The ROI on its purchases are fairly poor. The second there's major growth bump or income dip, investors are going to start asking tough questions.
> Well, as long as the stock is overvalued, FB can make all sorts of purchases. But that simply won't last. The ROI on its purchases are fairly poor.
Instagram is a big exception to this, Facebook made out like bandits. It was bought for $1b without any revenue and after massive growth and a trip through the Facebook advertising machine it is bringing in cash hand over fist. Current analyst reports peg it at over $3b just this year.
But yea, it will be a while before they earn back the cash for Whatsapp or Oculus.
Rift will also get the Touch controllers pretty soon, so that's not an issue.
As for kids, they will be using mobile VR. Think Samsung Gear.
Yes, it's big on your face but it has a big appeal for kids... you can't see your parents while you are wearing it and it allow you to "leave" you small room when you don't have a car yet / have a curfew.
>Rift will also get the Touch controllers pretty soon, so that's not an issue.
Of course its an issue! You have 6 months of a terrible VR experience without them and then the sticker-shock of buying them when they finally comes out. Perhaps $200 for both. Then you have developers shying away form making games that support these the way the Vive does, so we'll see a lot of half-assed support for games designed primarily for xbox controllers.
Imagine you constantly socialise in a tight group and have romantic feelings for someone in that group, all that teenage school/college stuff — it makes much more sense this way
Is that based on actually using it, or just on hearing about it? I thought the same thing until I started playing with it. Now I think it's great. For my friends who are on it, it's a MUCH more effective and fun way to stay in touch with them than facebook is.
I have had it installed for a few years now snap with some friends; One who refuses to communicate with me except for that and the occasional phone call due to her busy med school schedule.
