MikeB said: @ Grey Acumen eal problems with these VR True innovators see solutions where others see problems. Bill Gates at one point couldn't imagine consumers needing more than 640k of PC memory.

The tactile feedback I pointed out, would need to use a rubber that would fit snugly to the shape of your hand, which would require some sort of flexible rubber, and possibly a vacume style seal like the suits in Neon Genesis Evangelion (except just for a glove) The issue there is creating a rubber that is flexible enough to fit comfortably, but durable enough to not degrade over 10 years. I just don't see this innovation being explored.

The Eyetoy, as I stated has the problem that it requires line of site, which introduces the problem of vision being blocked. Now it's entirely posible that a dual camera setup acheive some of the problem, but even then, there might be something that blocks both cameras. You can't have your input able to be cut off that way.

There are two steps to innovation and the first step is identifying problems, the other is finding the solutions. So far at least, I'm halfway there. So I'm only one step away from being an innovator. It's all part of the process, dude.

Firstly, I think the LCD would be designed to not strain your eyes or damage them (companies have learned from Virtual Boy, I hope).

Would I like to be immersed in horror scenarios? Heck yes! I'd love to virtually shoot zombies and whatnot, even if it is scary. Manhunt VR? No thanks, also, because I didn't like Manhunt 1.... But I think it can be an awesome experience.

And yeah you might be right, maybe it won't show up in 2011, but maybe 2016... Sometime before 2020 I hope! I'll be 35 by then :( ......

Yeah, I agree with you on Feedback gloves... I just don't think there's enough cool things you can do with it that would make it worth all the development time and whatnot....

I also agree with you on cameras. There's way too much chance for interference unless you have a bluescreen and nobody else lives with you, lol....

But for VR helmets, I think alot of those issues could be addressed with a little innovative engineering...

@z64dan - I'm glad you're trying to get it to work. I'd like to see VR possible myself, but the ideas you raise have flaws. You're talking about quickly shifting from looking at the game to looking at reality, I'm talking about being aware of reality WHILE you're playing the game. People already have been smacking each other with the wiimote, and that is WITHOUT anything restricting their vision. You see an enemy about to attack and you strike out at it in the game, only to find you just smacked your friend or knocked over a lamp back in reality.

You're saying that hearing will let you keep from bumping into them? Have you ever been blindfolded for a pinata game? How many times have you seen people walk in range and get nailed? And that's just blindfolded, when you're concentration is totally on hearing. Could you imagine how much worse it would be if you were distracted by the in game visuals that completely prohibit you from seeing reality?

I could ALMOST see something possible with a wiifit style balance board to use as your movement medium, BUT there's still the issue with being able to use it while you're sitting down, and being able to use it even in a smaller cluttered room.

If I'm being a little hard on this, I apologize, but when there's an idea that has problems, by identifying and addressing these problems, you make a huge leap towards that idea becoming a reality.

Hence why I said TWO cameras.  The ability to resolve 3 dimensional space would allow the camera to identify that another item has entered presence and it would incorporate that into the game as well, albeit knocking your input out.  But even now, without cameras, when somebody walks in front of you while in the middle of something you usually do crash and burn ;)  With the Wii and shooting games, when somebody walks in front you do end up losing ability to point and after a few times, that person won't be walking in front of you anymore if they want to live.

 Um, Zoom and widescreen lens for the camera ought to take care of it.

Actually, it already happens with the Wiimote -- smacking your remote down on the shelf next to you...it smarts, it really does.  I just become more aware of my surroundings so as not to do it again.

I'm not saying there won't be problems with the idea of a two camera system to immerse you into the game -- only that it will be the next real innovation.  It's kind of a nobrainer, actually, since it's the next logical step.  An enhancement over what the eyetoy could do.  Low light, lack of being the main input device (thus no third party support), lack of zoom/widescreen ability, and inability to really do much with the image other than take a picture and detect motion is what I think hampered the eyetoy from widespread adoption.   At least, those are the reason's I don't like mine.

Computers have been designed around the ability to operate it without moving (specifically designed for those with paralysis, who can use a computer with their minds).

In about two generations, I'd say... I think we may see the dawn of a new era of gaming.

And THAT, would be awesome.

Huge advances in AI and robotic technology. . . then the creation of a realistic virtual reality world called the Matrix. . . Talk about realistic gaming. . .

I'm guessing delivering nutritional content via the controller so the game player doesn't have to ever leave the console.  The could lace the stuff with some kind of herion or crack derivitives and bring new definition to the term "fanboy".  If you think they are rabid now... wait... maybe....  naw.  can't be. 

@ Grey Acumen 

Some people would just use VR like some are using the Wii-mote, sitting in a lazy chair playing Wii sports. If you would play a racing game that would even be a natural position, IMO being able to move your head quickly to see who's driving next to you from an inside car perspective would be awesome. IMO future Gran Turismo and Motorstorm games support could boost such peripheral usage.

With regard to eye strain, there must be better alternative options. In the end it's just an impression intepreted
based on tje light caught by your eyes.
I imagine a good VR solution would trick your brain into believing there's far more depth to the artificial vision than there really is (for example through mirroring techniques).