Thursday, June 22nd 2017

HTC to Expand Vive to Various Price Points, Updating Original Vive Headset

IN a bid to increase attractiveness in the VR ecosystem (particularly its own VR ecosystem), HTC is seemingly working on expanding its VR headset lineup beyond just the Vive headset, with other options spaced out at different price points. Lower price points are all but guaranteed, since HTC sees - and expects to continue seeing - the Vive as the top of the line VR headset in the market. Marc Metis, Global Head of Vive X at HTC Vive, told TechRadar that the company will "(...) also always try to address other market segments as well [beyond the high end] (...) Expect new offerings from us over time. We're an entrepreneurial company. Don't view us as static. We'll only enter a segment when we can offer the most immersive and considered experience. "

Mr. Metis also said that there are always innovations being applied to the current Vive inside their labs, as they try to keep up with technological advancement for what their Vive successor might be, saying that HTC will " (...) continue to evolve the current Vive with innovations." Certainly an improved Vive VR headset is great news, as technology progresses and matures, allowing for higher specs in the same power envelope. However, better than improving image resolution further, perhaps the focus should be on usability and the untethering of the VR experience, which seems to be one of the more immersion breaking faults in current-gen VR. The addition of different products at different price-points is also a result of technological development and manufacturing improvements. Perhaps before seeing new, lower performing products hitting the market, we'll see a new Vive 2 headset, displacing the current Vive to a lower price-point. That certainly would make more sense (in theory) than developing a whole new VR headset.
Source: Techradar
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6 Comments on HTC to Expand Vive to Various Price Points, Updating Original Vive Headset

#1
_larry
Does anyone actually game with these..?
I really don't see this as the next big invention in gaming...
These companies need to stop while they are ahead.
Posted on Reply
#2
Prince Valiant
_larryDoes anyone actually game with these..?
I really don't see this as the next big invention in gaming...
These companies need to stop while they are ahead.
It has nice potential for some sim setups if they get the price down and improve them.
Posted on Reply
#3
Patriot
_larryDoes anyone actually game with these..?
I really don't see this as the next big invention in gaming...
These companies need to stop while they are ahead.
Have you ever gamed on the vive?
I would totally use it for racing and space sims... but the motion tracking is superb and just playing arcade games on it is lots of fun. It is incredibly immersive, you know its not real... but damned if it doesn't feel like it is. 3 of my friends have one, and if I had the space I would get one... depending on the price points of these new models, I might find space.
Posted on Reply
#4
Pete1burn
Buddy of mine games on the Vive pretty regularly and loves it. If I had the cash I'd drop it.
Posted on Reply
#5
diatribe
People that use them for Project Cars rave about how fun it is to race in VR.
Posted on Reply
#6
Fierce Guppy
No no no. Improving the Vive's visual specs should not take a backseat to improving the headset's other bits. They should be developed together. It's all an integrated package and no part should let the side down. There's much scope for improvement in the FOV, resolution, elimination of the halo effect and peripheral blur. I've had this thing since early May of last year and have been wanting to know the specs of the HTC Vive 2.0 since last Christmas.
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