4th Post of Project

This week for my 20% project, I looked into the virtual reality headset Oculus Rift. Here is the original design for the headset:

Now this idea of virtual reality is actually amazing. This headset is truly something out of a fiction novel. The complete immersion is outstanding and many who have used the device have found incredible results. Increased realism in the games make you feel like you're really there, which is the whole point. The Oculus Rift has recently been bought by Samsung. They have recently released a newer version of the headset which can be seen here:

What's incredible about the headset is the community involvement. Fans of the headset have been creating games left in right. From simulators to horror games, the genre of games for the headset help the next wave improve their new ideas. There are even ports of advance console games on the headset where you can play parts of the game. And all this has happened in a matter of a couple years. The speed of invention is unmatched. It's just mind blowing how advance the games for the Oculus are. Eventually the goal is to create a game that completely emerges the player. A game that can think on it's own, creates it's own goals and objectives. A game that can update itself without the need for a developer. A self creating game that the player can delve in to and completely be absorbed into it. That is the dream for gamers and game developers. Until next week here is an article on the future of gaming. Enjoy.

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/gaming/beyond-oculus-the-future-of-virtual-reality-gaming-1255974#null                                 

3rd Post of Project

Hello followers. This week for my project was fairly revealing.  I looked at the difference between old and new games, but focused on graphics and cut scenes of these games.
The picture above was probably the finest example of the change in images from game to game. The picture on the right is from the game Halo 2 made in 2004. While the picture on the left is of the same game, remastered and released 10 days ago. As you can see there is a very clear difference between the two images of the same scene and gives an introduction to half of my 20% project. Where the future of games is going. The picture eon the left is truly amazing, considering it was made with CGI, yet it looks extremely real, almost frighteningly real. Games have been slowly advancing for years. From what some people consider the first real video game shown here:
To the games we have currently with motion sensors and facial recognition. Perhaps the biggest name in the future of gaming is something called virtual reality. Playing a game with such advance submersion you actually feel yourself doing the motions and actions playing the game. The company Oculus created the headset known as Oculus Rift. ALthough it doesn't completely submerge you, the player does gain an incresed sense of being there when the headset is on. Although the graphics are not as stunning as games currently are, due to the advance processor needed to create the already intesne feeling that you're there, the Oculus is the first real step in virtual reality. The true form of virtual reality is when the player loses all outside senses is becomes 100% submerged in a game. Only the brain recognizes you're not actually there by reminding you, you're not there. But you'll still feel the wind in your face and the touch of objects in the game. I hope that I will be able to email an employee in who works with Oculus and see if they could answer some questions. In the mean time think about this: "Is there a problem with having people completely submerged in a game, is it dangerous, and what could be some psychological affects of being in a virtual reality game for too long?" Also check out this link for a look into the difference between the old Halo 2 game and the New here (click on the video): http://gamerant.com/halo-2-anniversary-graphics-comparison/