VR headsets, or more specifically the Oculus Rift, have really kickstarted (pun intended) the imaginations of developers. All of a sudden, the VR dream that was laughed off as too geeky and incredibly 80’s is now seen as a real next step for immersion in not just games, but exploring virtual spaces. You only have to look at the reactions from our former editorial overlord Matt, and my fellow writers Jonathan and Brendan to see how impressive an experience it can be.
The thing is, while I think it is absolutely a step in the right direction I have always considered Augmented Reality to be the future, and it’s why Microsoft’s HoloLens has had me intrigued since its announcement. This is because, as gamers, we have been trapped behind those screens for so long, our TV’s and monitors being windows to virtual worlds that we can only peer through. VR headsets have changed that, but while it is absolutely impressive to have your view changed, in my mind it is like poking your head through a hole in the ceiling – you can look, but without a larger hole (or, more specifically, specialist equipment) you can’t do anything but look around.
With AR though, you’re bringing the virtual world to yours in a way you deem appropriate, and that’s why the HoloLens could change everything.
Here’s another one – imagine playing something akin to Rainbow 6 or Counter Strike. Someone acting as the leader, or ‘command’, is using a HoloLens, and as such can see camera feeds of their teammates as off-screen holograms. Co-ordination of strikes could be done with precision, with feeds turning to static (or just disappearing) when a player is knocked out of the game.
Of course, there are practicalities to consider, such as diverting attention away from the main screen. The thing is, because of the potentially customisable nature of floating apps the player can move them where they want. So, if they really wanted to clutter up the screen space with information they could do, although if they did that I would question their need for a HoloLens in the first place.
*www.dealspwn.com/writer/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/hololens-minecraft-540x303.jpg
