Valve doesn't think VR needs AAA, points to app stores

[the-pi-guy]

Valve don't think VR needs AAA killer app. Comparison to smartphones, the AppStore. - NeoGAF

from reddit, removed link due to magazine scan

The new issue of the German magazine PC Games Hardware features an interview with Chet Faliszek that was done at CES last month. Most of it is already known, but there are some points that are noteworthy I think.

• When talking about hardware requirements he said that Valve is working on foveated rendering. (I think that's the first time they have confirmed this.)
•    Asked if their tracking is more precise than Oculus' he doesn't really answer the question, but mentions how 360 degree tracking is like pure magic.
•    Chet disagrees with the notion that the Vive needs a AAA killer app and calls the app store the killer app of the iPhone.
•    When asked about the price, he says "We view Vive as high-end VR, the best of the best. I can't comment on the price but we are trying to not make it too expensive."
•    He also mentions that they are working with PC manufacturers to create bundles.
•    Chet says Oculus isn't their enemy, but Steam taught them an important lesson: "Competitors are irrelevant for business, it's a very bad idea to base your own decisions and strategies on their actions. Even if they are brilliant people like Palmer Luckey, who I really appreciate."

my german is a bit rusty, but that particular part went like

Q: Too bad (about no HL3, Portal 3), but Vive needs a killer app. Save for Crytek no AAA studios are on board, not even Valve has unveiled anything, even though that Portal demo seemed like something almost complete. A: What was the killer app for the iPhone. Its AppStore. Back then there weren't big creators on the platform, only lots of small ones, who today are bigger than classic AAA studios. We like smartphones and tablets because they offer us different experiences compared PCs and consoles. Same will happen with VR.

 

[kitler53]

what is the point of "high end VR" without high end software to support it?

[DerNebel]

How in the world does that iPhone comparison make sense? Well good luck with that stance for the Vive, people sure are going to drop $1500 or so for a Vive and a VR ready PC to play indie games.

[kitler53]

How in the world does that iPhone comparison make sense? Well good luck with that stance for the Vive, people sure are going to drop $1500 or so for a Vive and a VR ready PC to play indie games.

oh c'mon.  don't pretend like finally being able to be able to reach out into the virtual world and whack-a-mole on the head as if it was actually there isn't a dream come true for you.

[Legend]

But who the heck bought a 1st gen iPhone for video games?... Such a silly statement.


VR doesn't need AAA, but it still needs great video games. Otherwise it'll only find success outside our industry.