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Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headset Coming to iOS Devices [Update: No]

brueck said:
Apple needs to make this happen. They're going to fall behind if they don't.
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OF course, there's probably nothing stopping Apple from helping Oculus add support. Whether or not the video output from current iOS devices would be sufficient is another question, but then the same can probably be said for any kind of random Android hardware. In terms of software, I'm pretty sure Apple could add whatever is needed- hell, we even finally got official game controller support, anything is possible :)

Initially, I think PCs are going to be where the Rift stuff really shines for now, since GPUs are just so many times more powerful on the desktop.
 
This is exciting technology, that will, sooner rather than later, come to iOS as well. It's simply too good to pass up.

Even though it's now coming to mobile platforms, this is for obvious reasons, aimed at stationary use, and not something you'd walk around outside with.
 
'Tis a shame. As an owner of a Rift I love the machine and can't wait to see where it goes. A shame that won't be on iOS.
 
Well hey, it clears the niche for other VR headsets that are already using the iphone as a VR platform.

There is already a project being run from an american university that sells kits to turn the iphone into a VR device via a third party headset. Sorry, I can't remember the name of that project.

And there is also vframe, which is a company that has demo'd their own offering. I got to try their headset at a tech expo at MIT a few weeks ago, and it's brilliant. The VR experience was as immersive as the rift, which I've also tried. Video demo here: vimeo.com/55422297

Basically, this decision on oculus's part leaves a space for other players.
 
doping said:
It's Apple's fault because iOS is a closed system. Android is simply more interesting at the moment. There are a lot of good reasons for this approach.

If you want the source for this statement: @01:00:35 http://gdcvault.com/play/1019290/Virtual-Reality-Gaming-and-Game
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You mean in this very particular case, and not generally speaking, right? Because if you look at gaming support, iOS still seems to be "of interest" to developers. And of course the consoles are even more closed than iOS... If Oculus is building a custom solution which includes the mobile OS, obviously Android would be the way to go. I'm just not sure the closed nature of iOS means we won't/can't see third party support for VR peripherals (as was said, there are already other companies working on it). The 3rd party peripheral market still seems a lot more viable on iOS just because of far fewer variations in hardware and much more unified software.
 
Yes, I'm talking about this particular case. I'm and iOS/Mac user myself and I'm very happy with it. However Oculus has several plans with Android in the future. E.g. running Android as a standalone system on the Rift is a very interesting future possibility. They can't run iOS on there. There are a lot of cases where a mobile OS can be very helpfull and it's obviously easier to draw back on an open system rather than a closed one.
I'm not a dev so I have no in-depth knowledge, but from what I have read/heard it seems to be easier to support peripherals on Androd.
However this is just the current state. I'm very sure that there will be a functional iOS SDK in the not too distant future aswell.
 
vanfanel1 said:
I have an oculus dev kit and it is not even remotely close to what a virtual boy is. If that is your reference or even the old 90's VR games then you'll be in quite a shock when you see how far VR has come. I actually had a coworker come by who knew nothing about the rift aside it being a VR headset. He also expected some virtual boy experience. When he put it on he was all smiles and giggles. He was completely floored by what he was seeing and was eager to order one himself.

I've demo'd my unit to over 100 people and the most skeptical are always the most easily turned once they try it out.
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i didn't say the experience will be similar to the virtual boy, i said it's fate will be similar to the virtual boy.

and i don't doubt the experience is compelling, i doubt it's success in convincing people to want to wear that while playing. helmets, goggles, tracking gloves and all other sci-fi-ish nerdy gear is a hard sell to most people.
 
Oh I want this to happen!...I want total immersion and to be like the Lawnmower Man!

lawnmower.jpg
 
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