Virtual reality, once seen as a thing of the distant future, is coming closer to the average gamer faster than ever. Video game companies like Sony coming out with the Playstation VR and Steam funding the HTC Vive; or the Oculus rift that solely focusses on the virtual reality concept, coming out with newer and better variations. Even Google is experimenting with virtual reality with Google cardboard for phones.
“I’m totally ready for virtual reality,” sophomore Spencer Vargas said. “Honestly, I feel that it will not only change but enhance what we have for gaming already.”
“Video games have always been a huge driving force for improving technology,” video game design teacher Mr.Dempkowski said. “It’s helped improve our memory and graphics in our systems and so many other things. I think video games will be what drives virtual reality to become better.”
The lead contender to virtual reality in gaming is the Oculus Rift. The Oculus Rift started as a simple kick starter, from inventor Palmer Luckey, and has grown into its own company; with newer headsets and moveable controls like the Oculus touch to improve the VR experience.
“The Oculus Rift is an interesting concept,” sophomore Kyle Simpson said. “And though I haven’t played it myself, I’ve seen it being used I think its an interesting system.”
Virtual reality has caught the attention of companies like Google and Samsung who’ve made their own headsets. Google came out with Google cardboard in 2014 and, Samsung released Gear V in 2015.
“I love that so many companies are getting involved,” Vargas said.”Google and Samsung are really efficient companies, so having them apart of the race for virtual reality is awesome.”
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is behind virtual reality as well telling USA Today “Pretty soon we’re going to live in a world where everyone has the power to share and experience whole scenes as if you’re just there, right there in person,” Zuckerberg says. “Imagine being able to sit in front of a campfire and hang out with friends anytime you want. Or being able to watch a movie in a private theater with your friends anytime you want. Imagine holding a group meeting or event anywhere in the world that you want. All these things are going to be possible. And that’s why Facebook is investing so much early on in virtual reality. So we can hope to deliver these types of social experiences.”
“Can you imagine all the possibilities?” Dempkowski said. “We could interactive meetings and classrooms. Students could go on field trips without even leaving the classroom. We could fly or walk on the moon and Mars; even explore down into the Ocean. There can be training for the military and the soldiers don’t have to leave a room and we could save tons of time and money. There’s so many amazing things we can do with it.”
