However, when it worked, it was actually pretty cool. On the flip side, we've got VirtuX Omni, the best way to describe it would be a stationary treadmill that translates your movements into the game. Put on the special low-friction shoes and buckle yourself into the harness, and you're ready to go.
They had a couple of demos, but the best one was with Oculus and a gun accessory, which makes you run on the Omni to move in the game. While I definitely wouldn't be playing Fallout 3 on the Omni, it's a very cool concept, and if they're able to figure out a way to make it a little bit smaller so it doesn't take up half your room, it could be very cool.
At number two, we have the new Oculus Rift Developer Kit 2. With the big news that Facebook has bought Oculus, there's been a ton of internet uproar; however, that's a topic for another video. What is new is the latest developer kit at GDC, based on the Crystal Cove prototype. I did a video on it back at CES.
This latest Oculus pairs an OLED 1080p screen inside the headset to deliver the best VR experience yet. Built-in motion sensors, like you would find in a phone, keep track of your movement. New are a series of IR lights that are hidden all over the Oculus and an included camera tracks you so you can really move in full 3D space.
If you haven't tried virtual reality yet, Oculus really is the place to start. The screen has gotten so much better as has the tracking, and the feeling of being entirely immersed in the game is so awesome. On top of that, the new Developer Kit 2 is actually on sale now, so you can pre-order it; it should be shipping in the next couple of months. It runs you a fairly reasonable $350.
Finally, at number one, we have the Sony Project Morpheus for the PS4. This was easily the biggest draw of GDC, as there are a ton of people who are really interested to see what Sony would do with virtual reality. The line to try it wrapped around the booth the second the show floor opened, and for good reason.
One look at Morpheus, and it looks like someone chopped the dashboard helmet up, and it kind of works. Admittedly, it's way bigger than the Oculus or even the pictures show; but once you put it on, you'll find it's pretty impressive. It's also featuring a 1080p screen, which looks good, although not quite up to the Oculus; but then again, Morpheus is a very early prototype.
One of the big advantages of Sony is that they have all kinds of tech that they can pick up right off the shelf with a standard PlayStation camera. The PS4 is able to track your motion thanks to the bright LEDs on the headset. The light bar inside the PS4 controller can also be used, depending on the game; and they also had a demo with the PlayStation Move, which works decently but is about the dirtiest thing I've ever seen.
Right now, Morpheus is connected via a couple of cables; however, Sony said they like to actually make it wireless by the time it ships. Regardless, it's awesome to see Sony jumping in big time and bringing virtual reality to a console.
What do you guys think? Is there anything at GDC that you're excited for? Let me know in the comments below. Also, huge shout-out to Audible for making this video possible! Audible.com is a leading provider of audiobooks with more than 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature, including fiction, non-fiction, and periodicals.
As you guys know, Audible has been a long-time supporter of the channel, helping me make videos like this possible. And something I love using whether I'm in the car going to sleep or flying all day to GDC for you guys. Audible is offering a free audiobook if you try them out! One great choice is A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin.
To download A Storm of Swords or another audiobook for free, just head over to audible.com/austin. Like I said, Audible has been a huge supporter of the channel; so if you want to go get yourself a free audiobook and help support what I do, definitely go to audible.com/austin!
Anyway, guys, thank you so much for watching! And I will catch you in the next one!