If there’s one piece of tech that I want to get my two dimensional hands on, it’s the Oculus Rift. The only problem though is that A) I’m too broke too afford a dev kit and B) The security at E3 happened to have tased my attempts to steal one. At least an alternative is on the way.
Meet the GameFace, another virtually real device that was shown off at CES this year in Las Vegas. Now in the Mark 4 stage, the GameFace is supported by an Android VR storefront which already has several games working on it, says Polygon.
Games like Dead Trigger were shown off on the device, which could also support the Dual Shock 3 controller that was connected to the prototype. If it does indeed launch at the end of this year, then the Oculus Rift could face some stiff competition. Engadget took some pictures of the device:
The GameFace ahs the advantage of not having to be connected to a PC to get going, enabling full motion head-tracking gameplay and visuals that’ll give Zoe’s vertigo illness a massive run for its money. Geoff got a chance to eventually try out the Oculus Rift over at Gamescom last year, and while he did admit that the device has a few caveats, he was plenty pleased with what he experienced.
All in all, if a VR war starts, there’ll be one clear winner when the dust settles; Chiropractors and their quack medicine of spine-adjusting, because these devices are starting to become bloody heavy as of late.
Last Updated: January 15, 2014
Kensei Seraph
January 15, 2014 at 13:41
That name just doesn’t seem like a good idea.
The rest, however, seems genius.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 15, 2014 at 13:56
Ga Ga Ga Game Face I got my Game Face (sung to that other horrible Poke her face song)
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 15, 2014 at 13:57
VOICE ACTIVATED: GameFace on! … GameFace off!
That Tall Ork Norm
January 15, 2014 at 14:14
Ga..Ga..Ga..Game Face! (said in Unreal Tournament Announcer Voice)
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 15, 2014 at 13:46
Love the chiropractor slam!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 15, 2014 at 15:29
Quackery is a particular pet hate of mine..and the team uses it to get me riled up..especially homeopathy.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 15, 2014 at 15:36
Me too. My one colleague usually resorts to The Secret & things like that to get me irritated.
I quite enjoy reading the posts on this site when it comes to quackery – http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 15, 2014 at 16:05
“The power of positive thinking”
Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaage
TiMsTeR1033
January 15, 2014 at 13:47
looks heavy!
SheHulkNigri
January 15, 2014 at 13:57
What she said?
Anon A Mouse
January 15, 2014 at 14:36
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother?
Umar digs KOS-MOS
January 15, 2014 at 13:55
Awww yeah!! VR troopers
WE ARE
WE ARE
VR!!!!
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 15, 2014 at 13:59
Gah! Can they hurry up and release these stupid things so that the fad can just die already!
geelslang
January 15, 2014 at 14:11
Why the hate?
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 15, 2014 at 14:13
They failed 20 years ago because they were bulky and expensive. Nothing’s changed, they’re making no attempt to actually make this idea work. It’s just a rehash for the new generation to rave about.
geelslang
January 15, 2014 at 14:38
Nobody is forcing you to buy one so I still dont understand your irrational hate towards all things VR. And not making any attempt to make the idea work? lol, either your not following the development of the Oculus rift or you are ignoring it. Anyway, I think its awsome.
Maxiviper117
January 15, 2014 at 14:55
Finally someone with a brain who gets the Oculus Rift VR
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 15, 2014 at 14:57
As much as I appreciate the down-voting, the problem that you’re (not your, by the way) ignoring is that 20 years later we are still expected to strap two small TV screens to our faces. They’re heavy, every one that’s used the OR will agree to that.
That’s not innovation. We’ve got nowhere in the VR field in 20 years in terms of practicality. What’s next? Listening to music from a CD player strapped to our belt?
Technology is meant to be convenient and practical. If they can get this to be lightweight and portable then you’ll have the world’s attention.
Maxiviper117
January 15, 2014 at 15:01
The only way you will truely be able to convince yourself wether its good or not is to try the darn thing for youself then make a FIRST hand experience decision. Everybody is different, we have different expectations, where you think the OC Rift is crap, others might (And do currently) will love it and continue to use it.
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 15, 2014 at 15:18
I didn’t once say that it was crap. You guys are totally missing my argument: It’s bulky and uncomfortable and looks like something out of the 90s.
If they made an effort to make it actually appeal to the masses – in stead of those that weren’t old enough to remember it from the last time around – then they could actually have a breakthrough here.
As it stands it’s going to be released and fail again because it’s impractical and uncomfortable. If it were light weight and small enough to slip into your pocket then imagine the possibilities, you could use it on an international flight, or at work, or when stuck in traffic etc. 😉
geelslang
January 15, 2014 at 15:25
“I didn’t once say that it was crap” You called it a fad and stupid. Anyway, this is getting too serious for my liking.
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 15, 2014 at 15:28
You’re right, sorry dude. My poor choice of words. Any way, by all means get one of these things. It’s just my opinion and I could be very very wrong. 😉
Rags
January 15, 2014 at 20:52
VR did not work, not because it was bulky or looked like shit. It failed because the technology sucked. No innovation? Will you say the monitors of 20 years past is on par with today’s displays? How about input latency? No innovation here in the last 20 years too? How about tracking, nope still the same as 20 years ago? How about driver, api and software support and maturity? Still same as 20 years ago?
Your complaint it that it’s just something you strap to your head. Like a mouse is still a mouse and a monitor is still a monitor, a keyboard a keyboard and a graphics card is still a graphics card.
And for one thing OR is not pretentious futuristic robocop look. It’s actually palatable and minimalistic.
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 15, 2014 at 21:04
All good points, nice one man.
Maxiviper117
January 15, 2014 at 19:07
Im talking about OC Rift here not gameface which is targeting a different audience and usage, They didnt design the OC RIft to play games while making supper, slap that puppy on your noggen and play a game, how is that un-pratical??? This 2014 not 2027, where you can’t slip a VR device in your pocket, nor have VR contact lenses, seriously dude, I can barely fit my sunglasses in my jeans.
And like I said, everyone is different, you havent put the thing on personally so how could you possibly know without a shadow of a doubt that cuz some percentage say its uncomfortable that it is or is not in fact comfortable, Some people have no problems with comfort with the OC Rift, some do have problems, cant the same be said with a controller, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT , And they have come out with the OC Rift Crystal Cove Prototype which will eradicate eye strain and headaches. The still improving it.
The flippen most Subscribed to Youtuber in history 20 million +, PewDiePie, who plays games while recoding himself doing so uses and loves, and is genuinely impressed with the OC Rift, and he has the first development kit, which is much less polished than what the final product will be.
Gareth L (That Guy)
January 15, 2014 at 21:06
I understand your frustration toward my expectations.
brandon9271
July 9, 2014 at 02:56
I am old enough to remember VR from the 90s. Dactyl Nightmare. It sucked by today’s standards but it was cutting edge and as a teenager I still though it was pretty cool. I also owned a Rift Dk1 for a short while. Its leaps and bounds over the 90s crap. It IS NOT heavy. Sure its bulkier than a pair of ski goggles but not by much. Seriously you have to try it. Its come a VERY long way since the 90s and from all reports the DK2 is significantly better than DK1 and the consumer version will be better than that. The Virtuality system I tried in the 90s cost $60,000 had LCD screens with terrible latency and maybe 640×480 res if not less and it was power by a COMMODORE AMIGA. The screen technology, motion tracking and optics in the Rift are light years ahead of anything that came before it and its only $350. It actually does deliver what VR of the 90s wasn’t able to and if you try it you’ll be a believer.
geelslang
January 15, 2014 at 15:19
Oh noooo you didnt (lol) just correct my spelling. I have more texts that you can proof read if you want.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 15, 2014 at 14:03
I know the tech behind these things is very cool, but do they really think a big wearable headset is going to catch on with a large enough number of gamers to move it beyond being a niche or gimmick product?
SheHulkNigri
January 15, 2014 at 14:03
So… how many cubic tons of vomit will this contribute to sewers, carpets, pets and girlfriends everywhere?
Anon A Mouse
January 15, 2014 at 14:36
Why do I still feel the urge to hit the person wearing these VR things with a baseball bat?