HTC and Oculus Rift currently market themselves as the flagship virtual reality experience, offering proximity sensors and console controllers to maximize the technology’s potential — as long as you’re willing to shell out $500-plus for the devices plus games. Virtual reality viewers like Google Cardboard are an entry point for VR before getting into Samsung Gear and Google’s upcoming Daydream headsets, priced around $100.
Filling in the void is PlayStation VR, the mid-range option at $400. As with many new technologies, you truly get what you pay for. Compared to HTC and Oculus, PlayStation VR is lagging in hardware specs, most notably the field of view which isn’t as immersive as its more expensive competitors. The differences are minute though, only noticeable when doing a side-by-side comparison. Sony’s headset is well designed and comfortable, but the most important area where PlayStation beats the competition is games, thanks to the company’s history as a console manufacturer. While virtual reality has been around for a while, there hasn’t been a killer app that drives mainstream consumers into the market.
Techies and gamers are willing to pay for the cutting-edge experience, but for the medium to truly take off, it needs to provide content the average person can identify with. Sony addresses this problem by offering a free demo disc with each headset, allow people to try out familiar titles instead of disappointing offerings from indie developers. Games include EVE: Valkyrie and Resident Evil 7, but the most promising title is Batman: Arkham VR, which promises to bring the most immersive Batman experience ever to video games.
Read This Next
#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Mar 15, 2024A New Santa Fe Glamping Experience from The Inn of The Five Graces
Outdoor lovers have long flocked to Santa Fe, with its stunning sandstone cliffs, hikeable mountains and the Rio Grande River. The city’s luxury The Inn of The Five Graces wants to introduce travelers to a hidden gem: Chaco Canyon.
Sponsored Content
Discover Nashville Neighborhoods
Whether you are interested in music, art, history, food, sports or fashion, Music City has something for everyone to sing about. Nashville is accessible, friendly and authentic, with diverse neighborhoods, a storied musical heritage and a creative culture that energizes the city.
Destinations / Caribbean
Mar 14, 2024This Costa Rica Hotel Takes Sustainability to a New Level
Punta Islita, Autograph Collection is situated in one of the world’s “Blue Zones,” regions where residents typically live longer due to their unique diets and ways of life. The property has embraced the Blue Zone lifestyle, but takes its commitment to longevity and improving both the health of visitors and of the planet to entirely new levels with recently introduced initiatives.
Destinations
Mar 14, 2024Allianz Reveals 2024 Top Spring Break Destinations
Allianz Partners USA recently revealed the results of its annual spring break travel index. The insurance and financial services company analyzed more than 3.4 million flight itineraries for spring break trips ranging from five to eight days. Of these, 76 percent are for domestic destinations.
Sponsored Content
Experience Ireland’s
Wild Atlantic Way
From the windy tip of Malin Head in County Donegal to the colorful harbor town of Kinsale in County Cork, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way amazes at every turn. Feel the blast of fresh sea air with a lighthouse walk. Get up close to history, grab a fireside seat at a traditional music session, experience the world-famous Irish hospitality and explore some of Ireland's most exhilarating coastal scenery. It is a place that inspired dreamers and travelers, poets and painters with a landscape filled with stone walls, thatched cottages, deserted beaches and breathtaking views. Charming towns and villages, 1,500 miles of soaring cliffs, incredible landscapes and unique experiences await.
Destinations / Europe
Mar 14, 2024Spoil Yourself with a Stay at This All-New Hotel Near Tuscany in Porto Ecrole, Italy
Coming this April, the scenic cliffs of Porto Ecrole, Italy, stands as the location of LA ROQQA & Isolotto Beach Club, a contemporary and classic Italian hotel set to redefine the coastal Italian getaway experience. This new property will offer an intimate experience with just 55 guestrooms and suites, a vibrant rooftop restaurant, and a chic beach club.
ShareThis