official PS4 Virtual Reality (Project Morpheus)

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

More to follow as blogs post, that is god of was first person above. All hardware images are currently prototypes until I add final.





Final product above.

[trooper11]

Well its about time this rumor came true.

Keep the details flowing.

[firey]

"Project Morpheus" apparently still in prototype.  Not ready for release (according to the eurogamer stream).

[spenser.d]

Engadget has a live blog: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/18/playstation-gdc-2014-liveblog/#comments

I personally still don't see the hype in these, but it will be interesting to see what comes of it anyway.

[firey]

Eurogamer live blog: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-18-gdc-live-report-sonys-future-of-innovation-talk

I have wanted the rift since it was announced.. they without a solid gaming PC to use it with.. I'll probably go sony router depending on price.

[trooper11]

So they are pushing the idea of pairing this VR headset with the ps4 eye and move controller.

Not shocked at all there. I have been saying that its pretty likely we would see the next step from just VR be VR + motion controls. Its just too obvious here.

[macrosslover]

I don't see how this or any VR solution right now isn't going to bomb.  People hate 3D because you have to wear the glasses and people hate motion controls because they see it as pointless.  So how is wearing a headset on your head coupled with motion controls going to overcome all of that built-in hate.    I just don't see this becoming more than a niche product for the hardcore.

[trooper11]

I don't see how this or any VR solution right now isn't going to bomb.  People hate 3D because you have to wear the glasses and people hate motion controls because they see it as pointless.  So how is wearing a headset on your head coupled with motion controls going to overcome all of that built-in hate.    I just don't see this becoming more than a niche product for the hardcore.

VR is a weird thing. Unlike 3D and motion controls, its enjoyed an almost romantic tie to gamers. Maybe that is because it has more obvious gaming uses n its own, who knows.

So if you take that and then combine it with what motion controls can offer, you suddenly have something that is closer to that 'holodeck' experience that is often fantasized about.

Going back to this event right now, Sony is laying out how demanding VR is hardware wise, which begs the question of what kind of performance the ps4 can really offer to a VR headset vs the O. Rift.

Its also interesting that they mentioned that while this has obvious uses in gaming, it also has uses for interactive media, virtual tourism, etc. Maybe they have plans that reach out from just the ps4 or just gaming with this thing.

[trooper11]

They dropped a few specs for the current prototype:

1080p display and 90 degree field of view.

It also has a headphone jack to use your own headphones, which seems a little weird. Might be a little weird trying to ware both.

Apparently when using the headset, the image is mirrored to your TV.

[Brendeth]

I don't see how this or any VR solution right now isn't going to bomb.  People hate 3D because you have to wear the glasses and people hate motion controls because they see it as pointless.  So how is wearing a headset on your head coupled with motion controls going to overcome all of that built-in hate.    I just don't see this becoming more than a niche product for the hardcore.

While I do agree for the most part, at the moment VR has yet to prove itself and that is it's greatest strength. If they can show that this is a worthy addition and price it right, it could be a huge hit. Otherwise it'll be similar to 3D and motion controls and end up promising so much and delivering so little.

 

[trooper11]

While I do agree for the most part, at the moment VR has yet to prove itself and that is it's greatest strength. If they can show that this is a worthy addition and price it right, it could be a huge hit. Otherwise it'll be similar to 3D and motion controls and end up promising so much and delivering so little.

VR has been around nearly as long as 3D has. Also like 3D, companies have tried to bring VR to the market over the years, with it resulting in failure and then the tech goes out of the public eye for a while.

So now is the time that we see companies try VR again. Maybe now the tech is good enough to help it stick, but the jury is out on that one.

[trooper11]

During the Q&A session they asked about where the project name came from and the response was pretty funny. They chose the name because Morpheus is the god of dreams, and Sony's headset will lead to a dream-like experience. Hopefully that doesn't mean put us to sleep :laugh:

[vcfan]

I'm waiting for someone to do this right and I'll jump all over it,but 90 degree FOV sounds disappointing. I don't want to play games in binocular vision. I want it to be like the matrix.

[Gerowen]

I would love to have the helmet just to kind of create my own surround sound gaming experience and be able to block out all lights, sounds, and other interference from the real world while playing.  Still prefer an analog controller though, tactile feedback is a must for me, and although it was nifty, and more responsive than the 360 version of Kinect, the Move controllers I had for my PS3 did have "some" lag, and it bothered me.

[fintechfooty]

This is probably going to cost more than the ps4, but its a really cool concept.

[aviator189]

Personally, I'll never want to wear anything on my head to experience something.

But I'm sure there are others who are interested.  

Though my bet is more on oculus rift at the moment.  

[BajiRav]

They dropped a few specs for the current prototype:

1080p display and 90 degree field of view.

It also has a headphone jack to use your own headphones, which seems a little weird. Might be a little weird trying to ware both.

Apparently when using the headset, the image is mirrored to your TV.

90 degree FOV? :/ seriously drop the 1080p craze and do 180deg FOV :laugh:

[The_Observer]

Ok so they have not released the unit only devs get it to make games.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

From one of the things I read it's going to require the PS camera for movement tracking, Sony really should have bundled that then like Microsoft did, now you need to buy two things :laugh:

[astropheed Veteran]

From what I'm seeing, I'll hold out for the Oculus.

 

This looks like a cheap way to get in while the market has potential. I have a feeling Sony is only going to release a more expensive, less operable experience than Oculus and then it'll leave a sour taste in every ones mouth for VR.

 

It could be better than the Rift, but I very highly doubt it.

[blerk]

From one of the things I read it's going to require the PS camera for movement tracking, Sony really should have bundled that then like Microsoft did, now you need to buy two things :laugh:

This sort of thing is one of the biggest reasons I support the Kinect being included in the base system for the Xbox. You already have XB1 and Kinect, now all you need is the VR headset (if there ever is one). PS4? You need PS4, Eye and VR Headset. Buy a bundle of one, two or all three. 

 

Also, I'm not too thrilled with the entire concept of having to wear what looks like a reasonably heavy, bulky unit (and this includes the Oculus Rift). The other problem is that the whole VR experience is entirely a personal thing, unlike a console, TV and whatnot. Two people? Buy two units, and that will get expensive real fast.

 

It'll sell decently to the hardcore, and it will be an impressive thing to try at a store. But I doubt that many of the people putting on an Oculus Rift/PS4 HeadThing in a store and going "wow!" will actually buy the thing. 

[trooper11]

It could be better than the Rift, but I very highly doubt it.

It's important to remember that the OR will in fact be of higher visual quality than Sony's headset. Without even knowing all of the specs its clear because it relies on the ps4 hardware to pump out the graphics. The OR requires a fairly powerful pc, but in exchange you get a higher quality experience.

If either console gets a VR headset, it can't possibly match what the OR can do. Does that mean its a failure? Not really, it just means Sony will need to create an enjoyable experience that overshadows any discrepancy. That should also mean that the Sony headset should be cheaper than an OR, but we will see.

[GotBored]

So they are pushing the idea of pairing this VR headset with the ps4 eye and move controller.

Not shocked at all there. I have been saying that its pretty likely we would see the next step from just VR be VR + motion controls. Its just too obvious here.

 

There is no requirement to use the move controller with the PS4, move controllers were needed for motion detection on the PS3.

 

I don't see how this or any VR solution right now isn't going to bomb.  People hate 3D because you have to wear the glasses and people hate motion controls because they see it as pointless.  So how is wearing a headset on your head coupled with motion controls going to overcome all of that built-in hate.    I just don't see this becoming more than a niche product for the hardcore.

 

I have a 3D TV and glasses and use it on occasion, but it is uncomfortable not because of the requirement to wear glasses. (Lots of people wear glasses or sunglasses) but because the 3D shutter glasses strain your eyes after some use and some people also get headaches from them. The 3D effect also isn't as good as at the cinema because your watching on a 50-60 inch screen rather than a 20 metre screen like at the cinema. VR headset having the screen right in front of your eyes will make it look like your in a cinema. (But I'm curious about eye strain having a screen so close)

 

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Its great news that Sony finally confirmed it and hopefully we'll get a release date soon. Definitely a product I want to try out!

[the better twin]

From one of the things I read it's going to require the PS camera for movement tracking, Sony really should have bundled that then like Microsoft did, now you could optionally buy two things :laugh:

Fixed.

[Xerino]

My main question is the same with all announced headsets.... WILL THEY FIT OVER GLASSES!!!!???