Change Your Reality

So over the past year, I've been reading up and watching videos about VR and AR headsets, the big players in the market and possibilities for the future of gaming using these devices.

I've seen some really cool stuff, and hopefully, after reading this article, you'll want to check it out for yourself!

Technology has come a very long way since the days of my old Commodore 64 and Windows 3.11 PC. We've seen huge changes in hardware, software, networking, and so much more. More memory for this, more storage space for that, better hard drives, faster RAM, smarter CPU's....But have they changed the way we play games as much as these new devices will? You decide.

Project Morpheus; Sony

Sony's new VR-Visor

Announced at GDC 2014, Sony's Project Morpheus is an ambitious project to bring VR to PlayStation owners. It's currently in development, as are many other VR projects - and very little information short of the spec sheet are available at this time. Considering first impressions count as information, we have to keep in mind that first impressions are based on a work in progress, and we might see a very different final product. 

Specs

• Native Resolution: 1920*1080
• Resolution Per Eye: 960*1080
• Field of View: 90 Degrees
• Screen Type: LCD

Being a PlayStation 4 owner, I am very excited to see where Sony's VR headset will go, and how it will work for me. But to be honest, sometimes I just prefer my TV and controller in hand ;)

Oculus Rift

DK2 - Development Kit 2

Seeing original release in 2012 (of the DK1 model) and later in 2014 (DK2) Oculus was one of the first VR platforms to make a splash in the industry; getting people excited about VR. Roughly $2.4 million was raised to aid in the development of the rift. And, in March 2014, Facebook announced it would buy Oculus Rift for $400 million, $1.6 billion in Facebook stock, and an additional $300 million if certain financial milestones could be reached. Astounding. 

Specs

• Native Resolution: 1920*1080
• Resolution Per Eye: 960*1080
• Field of View: 100 Degrees
• Screen Type: OLED

These are just two of the some of the biggest players in the market right now. According to some sources, Samsung has already developed their version of the VR headset, calling it the Gear VR. Microsoft is also working on an AR headset, called the Holo-Lens, and there's quite a bit of buzz going around about it online.

Seeing how fast we're moving into the future, I can only anticipate and salivate at the thought of being able to play with all these cool toys. But being the old school kind of guy that I am, I believe that nothing will replace the accuracy and reliability of my mouse and keyboard, which I use to enjoy all of my games today. Well, at least not until well into the development cycles of some of these new devices. Who knows? Maybe one day we won't need mice and keyboards anymore. 

Let me know what you think about VR and whether or not you're planning on picking one up. The word is we'll be seeing some consumer versions hitting shelves as early as sometime this year, and I am interested in seeing how they do in the consumer market.

As always, thanks for reading/watching, and if you haven't already, please check out and subscribe to the YouTube channel with the link in the nav bar above. Oh, and of course, stay classy! :)

Scar

First Impressions...

Hey everyone,

Scary here. If you haven't already, please head over to the channel and check out the latest upload for Dying Light!

Thanks for watching, keep it locked here to SSP Gaming!

Scary

Wild Hunt, Free Stuff, Happy Gamers

Anyone who's ever played RPG's should have heard of The Witcher. A series spanning several books, short stories, TV shows, a movie, and a couple of games.

Polish developer CD Projekt Red's latest iteration of this game is said to be coming on May 17, 2015; and there's more to talk about than just game play and eye candy.

Although I haven't fully delved into this series myself (shame on me, I know) I have done a lot of reading about it; and, about the developer. And what I've read has really astounded me.

In a world of Call of Duty's, Need for Speed's and many other heavily milked franchises, it is difficult to believe the hype when you anticipate a new video game. Many times, these developers can be seen as nothing more than selfish, creativity-deprived corporate giants who simply have a hard on for milking gamers on an annual basis. Equally guilty are those gamers who each year, go out and purchase these games. Usually with very minute changes, different enough to market as "new" or "improved", or even sometimes both! (Say what?)

Then along comes a studio that makes you feel like your opinions count. Like your business is valued. And like they aren't out to just grab the cookies in your cookie jar. Enter CD Projekt.

Not only has this studio focused on creating content and business practice based on the voice of the community, but they have done so in a unique and unconventional way such as to set a gold standard for all of those other companies out there. And what a standard it is.

According to Marcin Iwinski (CD Projekt Red Co-Founder and Joint CEO) The Witcher 3 customers should be expecting what appears to be a sum of 16 free DLC packs some time after the game's release. This is absolutely unprecedented in scope and size, even though these packs will be relatively small in content. It shows that the studio appreciates it's audience, and values their business.

 "Because people just paid full price for our game, we owe them." said Marcin.

Mind blown.

 He added that he believes this will reduce the amount of pirated copies of the game, because players will be given their value and then some for the money they have paid (assuming they bought the game) and hopes they will be more inclined to not pirate or trade the game away. He went on to say that regardless of the fact, he hopes gamers have fun and enjoy the game.

Wow.

Obviously, this is a very bold statement, and I personally hope these other studios are paying attention. This is what it should be like. And I am hard-pressed to believe that any positive change will come of this from any of the major developers that we know here in North America. But regardless, I hope there is change, and that at least someone is doing the right thing. 

As for the actual content; the following is to be released later this year:

• Temerian armor set (for your horse)
• Beard and hairstyle set (for the main protagonist)

After this first initial release, there will be weekly releases of two expansion packs at a time. Marcin commented that this is the way he feels it should be done, and it is a way for the studio to thank it's customers for buying their game.

Bravo CD Projekt.

 Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think about this, as well as your thoughts on the industry and piracy in general relating to DLC (including those pesky ones found on the disc that you have to pay for anyway).

Until next time, stay classiy!

Scary