Almost everyone is familiar with what a virtual reality set is, and has an idea of what it does. This week, I was lucky enough to be able to actually experience VR using an HTV Vive and let me tell you, it was insane.
Firstly, when you put on the headset there is an intense feeling of vertigo as you adjust to the amazing detail of the VR. The "home screen" is a room in which you are able to choose from games you have purchased, friends to contact; you can even interact with the room itself. You are able to walk around the room, pick up items of decor, and paint in three dimensions. If you choose to do so, you can leave said room and interact with the garden in the patio.
Obviously, not all this sounds entertaining to every individual. The point I am trying to stress is that in even the most basic of Vive experiences you can do almost anything you can do in real life with very few limitations. The incredible accuracy of perspective and detail is stunning.
Don't get me wrong, when my little brother played a game called Job Simulator and became a gas station clerk for over half an hour, I definitely judged him. With the ability to go anywhere in the VR's Google Earth street view, or become a wizard, or fight malicious, androids, etc, why would anyone waste their time playing such a ridiculous simulation? The fact of the matter is the incredible authenticity of every experience, no matter how boring, leaves players captivated.
A friend who notoriously hates video games tried out the Vive, and couldn't control her excitement as she wielded the magical powers she had always dreamed of since first reading about Hogwarts. She enthusiastically recommended the experience to anyone who would listen.
Perhaps virtual reality is dangerously mesmerizing. After all, gaming experiences much less fascinating keep people from interacting with their loved ones on a daily basis. A VR set may not be right for every family. However, for people who have never walked, or have always felt unimpressive, VR could be a life-changing experience. There is no black and white when it comes to this situation. All things must be used in moderation. No video game is inherently good for you, nor are they inherently evil.
From one gamer to another, I would highly recommend at least trying a VR at some point in your life. I believe that in the future nearly all gaming will be done through virtual reality get-up, which I also think will become more and more advanced, inexpensive, and less cumbersome. As my father has been saying since he made his purchase, "You will remember the first day you try VR for the rest of your life."
