Somebody Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Pretty nice article at GiantBomb about the Oculus acquisition. I haven't read the whole thing yet, but seems really well written. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HundredProofSam Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 It already did get off the ground. With the 2.5 million dollars people gave to the makers assuming they were going to stay independent and open. One of those is already dead. The other will be dead in a couple of years. If they really wanted the financial backing of a megacorp then they should have gone with that instead of rolling with the Kickstarter. It's incredibly naive to think $2.5 million in Kickstarter funding was going to make VR a viable business. Let's face it. Kickstarter is a glorified popularity poll for a product like this. If they can show there's interest on Kickstarter, they can they go and pursue investors for real money, which Oculus did. All KS did was show there was a market in gaming, but the potential market for VR is far beyond gaming, which why they were able to raise that additional $75 million. Even without the FB acquisition, it would be silly to assume Oculus wouldn't pursue other applications for VR in the future. Edit As far as Instagram and Whatsapp are concerned, thats like saying EA buying studios is a good thing because look at Bioware and Dice. Besides both IG and WA fit into Facebooks business model so they dont need re-tuning. OR does. And you can bet it will have it. It's not the same. Bioware and DICE did change (mostly for the worse) after being acquired by EA, so you can only make this argument once you do see an adverse effect of FB's acquisitions. Sure gaming is the focus. For now. In a year or two from now? Not a snowballs chance in hell. Facebook (or any other company) would NEVER drop 2 Billion just to get a shot at a niche market. Its focus will change towards all that social connectivity that Facebook loves. They are saying so themselves. Like I said, you'd have to be naive to think that Oculus - even if they'd stayed independent - would stick to just gaming. Oculus Rift is the gaming VR headset and that is currently their primary focus. There was nothing ever stopping them from going beyond gaming. I think it's time we stopped assuming that everyone who comes through Kickstarter is a saint and only has the best interests of its backers at heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 It's not the same. Bioware and DICE did change (mostly for the worse) after being acquired by EA, so you can only make this argument once you do see an adverse effect of FB's acquisitions. FB bought Whatsapp and next thing you know branded desi merch is available : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolfy among us Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 With a banana photobomb to boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aftrunner Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 It's incredibly naive to think $2.5 million in Kickstarter funding was going to make VR a viable business. Let's face it. Kickstarter is a glorified popularity poll for a product like this. If they can show there's interest on Kickstarter, they can they go and pursue investors for real money, which Oculus did. All KS did was show there was a market in gaming, but the potential market for VR is far beyond gaming, which why they were able to raise that additional $75 million. Even without the FB acquisition, it would be silly to assume Oculus wouldn't pursue other applications for VR in the future. It's not the same. Bioware and DICE did change (mostly for the worse) after being acquired by EA, so you can only make this argument once you do see an adverse effect of FB's acquisitions. Like I said, you'd have to be naive to think that Oculus - even if they'd stayed independent - would stick to just gaming. Oculus Rift is the gaming VR headset and that is currently their primary focus. There was nothing ever stopping them from going beyond gaming. I think it's time we stopped assuming that everyone who comes through Kickstarter is a saint and only has the best interests of its backers at heart. I didnt say they were to subsist on the 2.5 million forever. That KS money was EXACTLY what I said it was, getting it off the ground. That is all. No one got mad when they got 90 million something from investors. I doubt there would be as much negative outcry if they got bought out by Razer or Valve or something. Its easy to see what people's problem are. One, they sold out to a company that has almost nothing to do with gaming. And two, they sold out to a company that has a very poor reputation amongst anyone who is tech savvy. I also doubt anyone ever expected it to do nothing except games. Thats just making up weak arguments so you can dismiss them. However it is clear from the way Kickstarter was pitched that gaming was always going to be its core focus. It was pitched as a gaming peripheral. Its always been demoed as a gaming peripheral. Sure it could/can/will do other things but those are all side items. My gaming mouse is also a regular mouse but thats not why I own it. Is gaming still going to be its core focus in a year or two from now? I think you might be naive if you actually believe that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 If Valve had bought VR, there would be celebrations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heaven Angel Posted March 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 ^^They are already working on their own VR. (plus, it'll be better than OR) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ne0 Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 @afty, ya ppl who funded the kick starter might feel the sting fur a while, but I don't think oculus would have remained only a gaming focused device forever.... They would have had to diversify and go mainstream sooner or later if they wanted to be in business, just like how xbox,x360 launched as pure gaming consoles, but xbone launched as a mm device which also does gaming.... But unless fb kills their gaming goals, I don't see a need to worry about it.... Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aftrunner Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 @afty, ya ppl who funded the kick starter might feel the sting fur a while, but I really don't think oculus would have remained only a having focused device forever.... They would have had to diversify and go mainstream sooner or later if they wanted to be in business, just like how xbone launched with a mm device which also does gaming.... But unless fb kills their gaming goals, I don't see a need to worry about it.... Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk Why would they not? Like I said, short term maybe they can keep things on track. I imagine too much time and effort has been invested to break off immediately. But what does keeping any focus at all on gaming does for Facebook 1-2 years from now? In 2 years time what does Facebook get by spending on R&D and making this a better gaming device as opposed to making the cheapest mass market device? The needs of gaming are NOT aligned with the needs of mass market consumer devices. Thats why you have gaming PCs. Thats why you have gaming headsets. Thats why you have gaming mice. I could go on. Over the last 1-2 years OR has steadily been working on creating a device that works BETTER with games than what they initially shipped with. That has been their focus. Why would that continue? I dont even have a horse in this race. I didnt back the KS. I am just saying any optimism around this deal seems completely out of touch with reality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HundredProofSam Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I think at least one positive to come out of this is that everyone (not just tech and games media) is talking about VR now. So this will indirectly help Sony, Valve and anyone else that gets into VR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Said Sam while touching his chest that's emblazoned with a "Zuckerberg 4 lyfe" tattoo. That proves you have seen Sam's chest. Disturbing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CdrShawnzer Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 That proves you have seen Sam's chest. Disturbing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALPHA17 Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 just like how xbox,x360 launched as pure gaming consoles, but xbone launched as a mm device which also does gaming.... And is being lambasted at the sales hustings, month after month by a competitor that is cheaper, more focussed and has been made ground up for a task it was supposed to perform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HundredProofSam Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 For some reason. Right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sach4life Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Pushy sent me pics for some reason. There is no spinning around it now. Don't even try to.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 That proves you have seen Sam's chest. Disturbing. Pushy sent me pics for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemosabe Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I understand the Kick starter backers asking for the money back, its kind of betrayal or backstabbing from their point of view - I will be surely pissed off when I donates money to support a product (without becoming a stack holder) and the guy who get support just sold the business. I don't like the idea of kick starter as its gives too much of love or support or money without any direct liability - the kick starter backers does not have any thing to say about the future of the product - anyway, I hope this event will bring some change into that. As for the Oculus VR why can't facebook integrate some of their service to the VR which can also play games ? Does not it a win win case for people to buy a head mounting helmet not just for gaming but also can be used in other VR related services? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somebody Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 <snip> Oculus did start a VR revolution, even if that revolution never takes off and flounders in the same way 3D did during the last five years. But without the Oculus Rift project on Kickstarter, none of this would be happening. It's easy to be upset that you're not walking home with tens of thousands in your pocket, but that was never going to happen. You were a part of something big, though. You contributed to a dream, and that dream is about to take off. Not all dreams succeed, but, hey, we can't control everything. - Giantbomb article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somebody Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Valid points from a backer posted on r/Oculus: I'd posted Palmer's response to this comment yesterday in the previous page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyoyaHibari Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Cliffy B tumbles This guy needs therapy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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