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DF Direct: Half-Life Alyx Reaction - Is This VR's First True Killer App?
- Thread starter Bullet Club
- Start date
wordslaughter
Banned
Yes, yes it is.
Bullet Club
Banned
I thought Astro Bot: Rescue Mission was the first VR killer app?
infinitys_7th
Member
Nope, because this exists:
wordslaughter
Banned
There's no shortage of porn of ALL kinds on VR.
DarthBuzzer
Member
Killer apps have to be either breakout successes on the level of Minecraft or have to be one of the world's biggest IPs. Astro Bot would have been one if it was a Mario game.
Alexios
Cores, shaders and BIOS oh my!
I doubt HL:A will sell close to Beat Saber initially (it would be super cool if it did though), maybe over time if it becomes successful and the mod tools also take off to keep it relevant with legs it could surpass it. Oh but that's like Wii games, it's not a real game! There are others. Yes Half-Life is a great big IP but it's no more or less important than a stream of other games. Why's a new Valve game more important than an Insomniac or Respawn game? I mean, to me it's important as a fan of both Half-Life and VR, to be able to expect another very polished game, but with or without it I'd still enjoy the rest. It's not like Valve has been more infallible than others in their release output and they haven't shown much I care about in ages to present them as the chance to finally get a great game, others also make such. This is just the casual media outlets wanting everything on a silver platter, oh if it's not from an EA level gaming corporation with big E3 level press preview events we don't care, we'll leave that coverage to the casual gadget media outlets instead that have closer ties to those other big corporations like Facebook (but we'll still go gaga over Astrobot and PSVR and make it the GOTY because Sony is our friend and we've had a long lasting relationship, ignore that so we can make this claim now).
I agree with much of the more rationalized hype's side elements. Valve is a potentially great caliber (yet not infallible) studio and basically have free reign to do what they want without even caring if it costs too much or takes too long or whatever else, I just don't necessarily expect Alyx to be some super mind blowing thing for people who have actually played a lot of VR before (one of the two people in the video don't even have VR, lol). I held some, I don't know, not exactly hope, just on the back of my mind the possibility that they may show some new idea I hadn't considered. In the end it was what I expected, a really polished AAA VR FPS I'm super excited for, with mechanics not much unlike the unpolished or smaller scope (ie PVP vs story campaign) VR FPS I've played before. Basically what I knew an AAA developer can make with VR. Respawn was important when they were the Call of Duty creators that were now working for the Microsoft exclusive Titanfall but for VR they'd probably have gone ignored like Insomniac (since it wasn't a Sony Spider-Man game, lol) if EA hadn't bought them opening up the Medal of Honor IP to be used for their VR project. Don't get me wrong though, Alyx will probably be my favorite FPS.
Still, the stuff we've seen from Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners for example is more exciting, perhaps by virtue of people actually playing a game rather than watching a scripted demonstration. It's just clear that studio doesn't have Valve's budget, resources and expertise in certain areas (look at those facial animations, lol, hopefully that was WIP). But I'm sure Alyx won't disappoint in comparison (and that Saints & Sinners isn't infallible either, it has a lot of side elements yet is still meant to be a relatively short game so all the inventory and home area and such could just be annoying and unnecessary padding while the branching paths of the story might have been better served as part of a longer continuous adventure instead), it was just a first glimpse of it. Though with how cool and satisfying (and sadistic) those melee kills look I wish Alyx had included the crowbar. I guess they're leaving that for a Freeman game.
Lots of people in the other threads were surprised when shown other promising or existing VR games, how they also weren't on-rails or whatever, that's the fault and failure of the supposedly gaming enthusiast media not covering VR properly and some such hype videos just perpetuate the idea that everything outside (or before) Alyx is indeed on-rails and other such super limited stuff. That couldn't be further from the truth. So, I'm looking forward to Alyx for many reasons, but there's a lot more goodness out there. It just makes me feel like the Wii days, the media focused on the shovelware, memes and mocking with top 10 worst articles and other such shit instead of informing gamers about the many worthy releases on the system beyond begrudgingly admitting that, yeah, Mario's pretty great because they couldn't not acknowledge the IP's caliber and quality, as they do with Half-Life now.
I agree with much of the more rationalized hype's side elements. Valve is a potentially great caliber (yet not infallible) studio and basically have free reign to do what they want without even caring if it costs too much or takes too long or whatever else, I just don't necessarily expect Alyx to be some super mind blowing thing for people who have actually played a lot of VR before (one of the two people in the video don't even have VR, lol). I held some, I don't know, not exactly hope, just on the back of my mind the possibility that they may show some new idea I hadn't considered. In the end it was what I expected, a really polished AAA VR FPS I'm super excited for, with mechanics not much unlike the unpolished or smaller scope (ie PVP vs story campaign) VR FPS I've played before. Basically what I knew an AAA developer can make with VR. Respawn was important when they were the Call of Duty creators that were now working for the Microsoft exclusive Titanfall but for VR they'd probably have gone ignored like Insomniac (since it wasn't a Sony Spider-Man game, lol) if EA hadn't bought them opening up the Medal of Honor IP to be used for their VR project. Don't get me wrong though, Alyx will probably be my favorite FPS.
Still, the stuff we've seen from Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners for example is more exciting, perhaps by virtue of people actually playing a game rather than watching a scripted demonstration. It's just clear that studio doesn't have Valve's budget, resources and expertise in certain areas (look at those facial animations, lol, hopefully that was WIP). But I'm sure Alyx won't disappoint in comparison (and that Saints & Sinners isn't infallible either, it has a lot of side elements yet is still meant to be a relatively short game so all the inventory and home area and such could just be annoying and unnecessary padding while the branching paths of the story might have been better served as part of a longer continuous adventure instead), it was just a first glimpse of it. Though with how cool and satisfying (and sadistic) those melee kills look I wish Alyx had included the crowbar. I guess they're leaving that for a Freeman game.
Lots of people in the other threads were surprised when shown other promising or existing VR games, how they also weren't on-rails or whatever, that's the fault and failure of the supposedly gaming enthusiast media not covering VR properly and some such hype videos just perpetuate the idea that everything outside (or before) Alyx is indeed on-rails and other such super limited stuff. That couldn't be further from the truth. So, I'm looking forward to Alyx for many reasons, but there's a lot more goodness out there. It just makes me feel like the Wii days, the media focused on the shovelware, memes and mocking with top 10 worst articles and other such shit instead of informing gamers about the many worthy releases on the system beyond begrudgingly admitting that, yeah, Mario's pretty great because they couldn't not acknowledge the IP's caliber and quality, as they do with Half-Life now.
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thelastword
Banned
VR already has it's killer APP and many great games...…………...There's no need for hyperbole and making such statements so LTTP....
CyberPanda
Banned
I agree lmao
Codes 208
Member
well there was astro bot, job simulator, beat saber (ESPECIALLY beat saber) and heart surgeon to name a few.
also swords and sorcery, that game is amazing with some mods.
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metareferential
Member
VR's killer app is the hardware itself.
Anyway, game of the generation right here, guys. Until HL3 VR, that is.
Anyway, game of the generation right here, guys. Until HL3 VR, that is.
Mendax89
Member
No, looks like the other VR games, a interactive movie, not game. This is a ego project, fot the ego of the devs and some fanboys. VR limits the game mechanics, will never be the future of gaming. The future of gaming will be M/K and controller. Wicther 3 was far more revolutionary than any HL game, and i love the HL franchise.
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Fake
Member
Higly disagree. Playstation VR is a very weak piece of hardware, but the software really push foward the VR space.
Astro Bot and Tetris are great games. Software is really making the difference here, not the hardware.
EverydayBeast
thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
I don't know.
Developers are still trying to figure out VR, its going to come down to a AAA game kicking some serious butt.
Developers are still trying to figure out VR, its going to come down to a AAA game kicking some serious butt.
Synless
Member
And Resident Evil 7.
Grinchy
Banned
I have to imagine this is the highest budget VR-only game so far. And since a company that feels no pressure to release anything can do a lot of things during development that a small team eating Ramen every day can't, this might be amazing.
There are a million reasons to be excited about this, and only one big salty reason not to be.
There are a million reasons to be excited about this, and only one big salty reason not to be.
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By that standard there were no killer apps in the entire history of gaming, before or after Minecraft, on any platform, anywhere.
More to the point though - I know the title was chosen because it generates hits but I find it entirely unlikely. This isn't likely a "VR killer app" for the same reason any big IPs to date haven't even really moved the needle - it's targeting a subset of an already existing subset in the gaming audience (the core audience interested in the specific IP that can be convinced to make the jump from flat screen to VR).
If the definition of a killer app is something that will add broad-mass appeal to VR, chances of it being an existing flat-IP are extremely low.
Anyway I would argue system sellers (whether they're killer or not) existed from very early on, including those that actually broaden the appeal far more than this will ('Beat Saber' being the biggest such example of the medium so far).
This is one aspect that'll be interesting to watch - Oculus has not been afraid of a decisive loss-leading strategy when funding some of their exclusives (ie. they knew they're never making their money back) but Valve certainly has the ability to match or even exceed that.
Personally I'm looking forward to see in what ways they advance VR elements, even though it'll never have the mass appeal of a Beat Saber - Astro Bot is still the best in class in how it actually used the medium.
Romulus
Member
How does it limit game mechanics? I play many games exactly the way I do with a controller except I'm inside the game world. If anything, it adds to the mechanics. Maybe you're just joking.
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Polygonal_Sprite
Gold Member
I tried REVII on PSVR and enjoyed it but I felt very nautious after about an hour after playing on both occasions. Are there any best settings to help with it?
I didn't have any issues with the demo games or Astro Bot.
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Gamernyc78
Banned
I don't agree with this definition at all. A very small percentage of games reach levels of success of minecraft if any. A killer app just has to be a reason to buy a console. Astrobot fills tht bill imo whether it does for other ppl or not. I know a few ppl tht bought psvr for astrobot mainly after word of mouth.
gunslikewhoa
Member
only posting this because I'm surprised it hasn't even received a mention
mortal
Gold Member
I'd certainly say so. The prestige of Valve and the Half-Life brand is certainly helping.
As of this post, the Half-Life: Alyx trailer is sitting around 6.7 Million views with overwhelming positive reception. Being a VR exclusive isn't deterring people,
This game is going to push more VR adoption than any other VR title before it.
As of this post, the Half-Life: Alyx trailer is sitting around 6.7 Million views with overwhelming positive reception. Being a VR exclusive isn't deterring people,
This game is going to push more VR adoption than any other VR title before it.
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Pagusas
Elden Member
Yes, it’s the first VR game that isn’t a port that has major major name recognition and shows a shift in thinking from traditional games to VR games in a AAA structure.
People saying “Astro boy”. Like what? No; the games amazingly awesome, but who was biting at the bit to get on the VR train for it?
This is the very first game that has made me stop and think “hmm... I just might have to take the plunge because i really want to play this”
Sadly I won’t, because the tech is still no where good enough for what I expect from it.
People saying “Astro boy”. Like what? No; the games amazingly awesome, but who was biting at the bit to get on the VR train for it?
This is the very first game that has made me stop and think “hmm... I just might have to take the plunge because i really want to play this”
Sadly I won’t, because the tech is still no where good enough for what I expect from it.
Thaedolus
Gold Member
It made me seriously consider a PSVR, but I didn't want to get the low-tier HMD. People have raved about it.
gifgaf
Member
Astrobot is universally loved in PSVR circles.
demigod
Member
Alebrije
Member
HL VR game could become what HL2 did for FPS. But in order to achive that needs to get superb physics and the feeling you are not in a VR enviroment but on a real one so weapon handeling , sounds, graphics must be something not seeng before.
Te trailer shows something of that but not at the level of being a killer app or something beyond other VR games. Its just a Trailer but also looks like the development is on its final steps, if that is the case little will change on the final product but if they are just begining to develop the game...well I am curious what they can achive.....
Te trailer shows something of that but not at the level of being a killer app or something beyond other VR games. Its just a Trailer but also looks like the development is on its final steps, if that is the case little will change on the final product but if they are just begining to develop the game...well I am curious what they can achive.....
You seem very angry in all VR related threads.
Kadayi
Banned
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gifgaf
Member
Psst, I think he was talking about you.
demigod
Member
Kadayi
Banned
Psst, I think he was talking about you.
With Letter Randos who can truly be sure? They're the forum equivalent of street drunks. Never heard of the guy before.
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DarthBuzzer
Member
Astro Bot isn't selling a million systems on it's own though, lets be honest. If it had the right marketing reach, it could manage it.
Killer app isn't just about quality, it's also about just how much attention it's drawing to the platform.
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DarthBuzzer
Member
I see you haven't used proper VR before then, because VR is the most expansive place for game mechanics.
That is an objective quantifiable statement. You cannot argue with it.
It's a matter of states. In traditional gaming you use button and/or mouse input/analog input which means the majority of your actions are in on/off/hold states. In VR games, it's possible for everything to be in an infinitely variable state.
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DarthBuzzer
Member
Things are different these days because gaming is a big space. When we're talking about VR, it needs the qualities I mentioned above right now to get a killer app. As the platform matures and becomes more popular, it can definitely produce killer apps that are just exceptionally good new IPs.
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thelastword
Banned
Blood and Truth, Moss, Resident Evil 7, Tetris Effects, Wipeout HD are all amazing experiences too...….and so many more.....
My point was Minecraft is not a benchmark, it's the benchmark, there's nothing that comes close to it in terms of staying power or total reach for a paid title.
So putting that as a measuring stick leaves no other killer-app contenders to-date, in any gaming space.
That I agree - but that's precisely why a direct continuation of an existing IP is extremely unlikely to achieve it. It'll need a lot more differentiation than :'the same thing you know and love, except with hand tracking this time'. That only speaks to a subset of existing fanbase which is itself a subset of the gaming audience.
And even broader fanbase guarantees nothing - Minecraft already tried VR, and results were non eventful.
The_Mike
I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
No that's just the vr experience
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gifgaf
Member
When I played Res Evil 7 I used anti sickness tablets (I don't need them anymore), I also used incrimental turning not smooth turning if your not already doing that. I did get used to it later, take it easy until your body aclimatises. Have you played it on a flat screen? If not you have a fun ride ahead.
Feel free to ignore this guys "advice", he does not have the first clue about anything VR.
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Kadayi
Banned
You definitely need to acclimate to VR. It's not something you want to jump into for long periods at first (tempting as that is due to the shock of the new), otherwise, you can feel quite discombobulated. However, eventually, your mind settles in and it becomes easy to just pop on your headset and play.
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Polygonal_Sprite
Gold Member
gifgaf
Kadayi
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I’ve never played REVII. I kept it until I had PSVR. I’ll try it again in smaller bursts (with incremental turning) as thinking about it, I was playing for around 90 minutes at a time and I’m fairly new to VR. I guess it’s very heavy in terms of motion sickness. I’m fine with most other games even Wipeout.
Cheers!
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Romulus
Member
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I’ve never played REVII. I kept it until I had PSVR. I’ll try it again in smaller bursts (with incremental turning) as thinking about it, I was playing for around 90 minutes at a time and I’m fairly new to VR. I guess it’s very heavy in terms of motion sickness. I’m fine with most other games even Wipeout.
Cheers!
Definitely worth it to finish that one. Even in short bursts.