Oculus Rift has arguably the biggest hype at this years Consumers Electronics Show, but does it live up to it?
Yes. And then some.
Oculus Rift is publicly displaying the Crescent Bay prototype for the first time. We were definitely intrigued. As soon as the doors opened, we rushed over, only to see a line had already formed. Knowing it would just get longer, we decided to join the queue. Fifteen minutes later, I was taken upstairs into a room designed for one person. The staff member closed the door, put on my headset and headphones, and told me to have fun.
I was quickly taken into the most engaging virtual reality experience I could think of. Many different scenes flashed before me, from a life-sized T-Rex walking above me to an alien on the moon, and even a tiny city filled with amazing details. I found myself in a spaceship and on a field with animals; all while being able to look around in full 360°.
My mind was blown, I was sold. I thought it was over. I was wrong. This was all leading up to the ultimate demonstration of all the cutting edge technology available.
I was suddenly on a street in a city. Rubble and fire and bullets flying everywhere. Soldiers diving in every direction, all in slow motion. My character slowly moved forward through the action, allowing me to look around and let every single tiny detail really soak in. I looked right in the face on a soldier, and I saw my reflection in his goggles. A gigantic killer robot shooting missiles everywhere, it hits a car and it explodes, glass flying towards me, the car in mid air, about to land on my head, then cut to black. Demo over.
I walked around Oculus Rift daze for a few minutes, unable to focus on anything else.
I want one.