Well I suspected someone was gonna buy Oculus but I wasn't expecting Facebook being the one to drop $2 Billion for it.
Facebooks plans to not just to produce games for the rift but also want to "extend" into additional services and social activities.
Mark "Facebook" Zuckerberg had this to say "Mobile is the platform of today, and now we're also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow," Zuckerberg said in a statement. "Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate."
On his Facebook timeline, Zuckerberg further discussed the acquisition. “After games, we're going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences. Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face -- just by putting on goggles in your home.”
“This partnership is one of the most important moments for virtual reality: it gives us the best shot at truly changing the world,” the Oculus team says. “It opens doors to new opportunities and partnerships, reduces risk on the manufacturing and work capital side, allows us to publish more made-for-VR content, and lets us focus on what we do best: solving hard engineering challenges and delivering the future of VR.”
Changing Views
Now a lot of hardcore gamers saw the Oculus Rift as the next step in gaming and the console's crushing defeat. This buy out is all ready changing peoples views on the tech. they are uncomfirmed reports of people attempting to cancel their kickstarter pledges.
But one person is publicly pulling his support is Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson who has cancelled Mincecraft for the platform. Clarifying his thoughts on his Blog "Facebook is not a company of grass-roots tech enthusiasts," Persson writes. "Facebook is not a game tech company. Facebook has a history of caring about building user numbers, and nothing but building user numbers."
He goes on to acknowledge that social might be a great use of VR technology (business meetings and virtual cinemas are two examples), but says unequivocally that he does not want to work in that space. Persson reinforces his interest in virtual reality, but is clear that he will pursue it in another way.
"I definitely want to be a part of VR, but I will not work with Facebook," he states. "Their motives are too unclear and shifting, and they haven’t historically been a stable platform. There’s nothing about their history that makes me trust them, and that makes them seem creepy to me."
Persson concludes by wishing both parties well after stating that he feels his $10,000 funding was simply used to build value for a Facebook acquisition.
Abe's View
I've been hesitant about VR and Oculus Rift in particular. Whilst i think the tech is amazing, I don't see people wanting to strap an monitor to their face when they want to relax (seeing as wearing 3D glasses is too much for some people). On a Practical note to truly have VR you need the headset, the Omi-directional treadmill and controls that work with each VR expiration. On a note slightly more lighter note who can trust the others in the room whilst your vision and hearing are occupied?
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