So at some point I'm expecting a VR company to come out with a smartphone app that allows users to watch different events around the world through a VR headset.
You pay a small fee and then you can watch concerts, comedians or sports games through a 360 degree camera, the user would be allowed to change the view at will.
If you consider how popular relatively shitty concepts snapchat and periscope have become I can imagine this going to go on to be a big deal. If you factor in the fact that the porn industry will probably get involved in VR headsets etc, I expect it to be a big deal.
My question is, is this a good idea? Has the time to get in already come and gone. Which company is worth investing in?
HTC, if you're able to invest on chinese market.
They make the valve headset. I'm pretty sure Valve will sell tickets to see major e-sports events in VR soon; then the sky's the limit.
VR adoption isn't going to be mainstream for another decade. Niche adoption for high-end PC users maybe, but even then it's at risk of completely destroying itself since the userbase will be so limited due to such small adoption, that content creators won't see viability in pursuing it.
It's the same reasons video game developers went for building WoW clones for a decade plus, instead of pushing the limits. When you live in an economically-declining/depressed Western world, the gameplan for business is to cater to the majority and their shrinking -- not growing -- bank accounts; not pretending they have cash to invest in an Oculus Rift / Vive system.
>>1261624
I think it will be quicker than that. You can get a decent headset for £40 now.
>>1261380
As someone who works on VR technology and games, all I can say is that
1. Broadcasting live 360 video is extremely difficult, and glitchy.
2. Head movement tracking is a pain in the ass for most computers.
3. GOOD facesets are too expensive to really make it work
Concepts like Snapchat work because they use simple to implement systems and simple to understand things that bring something new to the table. VR is the opposite.
Whilst I advocate for a nicer future WITH VR, I think we still have a lot to work on before using it in "interesting" business.
Porn is already in VR.
Also sound reproduction is still a problem with 360 cameras as the microphones need to be either intern, making them at risk and cheaper, or won't be realistic to how you'd hear.
>>1262077
>decent
Na. The only decent HMD is the Vive.
