This is how your parents will watch esports
Christina Alejandre ended up chatting with UFC President Dana White backstage at the Turner Studios in July, just before the final game of ELEAGUE’s debut Counter-Strike: Global Offensive season. As VP of esports and ELEAGUE at Turner Sports, Alejandre was pivotal in producing that first season, and she told White how excited she was for the final game, which would be broadcast live on TBS. It was more than excitement, she explained; something more powerful was pulsing through her veins.
White knew exactly what she was trying to describe.
“There are very few people in this world who can identify exactly what you’re saying,” Alejandre remembers White saying. “What you’re feeling is the first time that I saw UFC on Fox.”
UFC has been a household name for years now, and esports are on a similar path. Alejandre is one of the most influential esports shepherds in the business, as she’s working to make professional gaming as visible on television as traditional sports. She works for Turner Sports, where she helped establish ELEAGUE, the first US esports league to stream directly to television in a regular, predictable schedule, just like football, baseball or, of course, UFC matches.
The Turner Sports crew sets up the Overwatch Open (Image credit: Engadget)
ELEAGUE started in 2016 as a competitive CS:GO league, airing games on TBS every Friday night for three months straight over the summer. The final game took place on July 30th, handing out more than $500,000 to the top teams. Already TBS has started preparing for season two, which kicks off Oct. 21st, and for the ELEAGUE Major, a prestigious tournament sponsored by CS:GO developer Valve. This will be the 10th Major tournament ever held, and Turner Sports was selected to host after completing just one three-month CS:GO season. That’s a huge accomplishment for Alejandre.
“It’s almost unprecedented that they would have chosen us, because they choose a lot of other big companies that have been around a long time, and they have done amazing work with their stuff, so for us to get chosen was — it was a little bit humbling,” she says. “We’re just very, very, very excited that it happened.”
ELEAGUE isn’t all CS:GO, all the time. Turner and its ELEAGUE partner WME IMG just wrapped up the first professional Overwatch tournament to ever hit television, the Overwatch Open. The grand finals were televised live on TBS on Sept. 30th, filmed live in front of a sold-out audience.
The television aspect is crucial to Turner Sports’ success as an esports trailblazer. Professional gaming has infiltrated the online world via communities like Reddit and live-streaming sites like Amazon’s Twitch. Online, you can build a fantasy League of Legends team just as easily as a fantasy NFL team. But on television, esports are just starting to make themselves known.
Sebastian “Zebbosai” Olsson waits for the Overwatch Open to start (Image credit: Turner Sports)
Imagine the following scenario: A teenager and his parents are seated around the television on a Friday night. It’s 10PM and ELEAGUE is on TBS, airing a professional Overwatch match. Flipping through the channels, the screen pauses on TBS and the teenager says, “This is that game I was telling you about, the one that people play professionally. For money. I told you it was real!” And instead of shrugging off what clearly sounds like a young gaming nerd’s unrealistic dream, the parents can see the action first-hand, complete with a fancy studio, excited audience, professional players and dynamic shout-casters explaining what’s happening on the screen. It suddenly becomes more real.
This is happening, Alejandre says. She sees stories on forums and social media about young people sitting down with their folks and watching esports every Friday night. It’s becoming a ritual for some families, she says, just like Monday Night Football. Something similar even happened with her own parents.
Alejandre has worked in video games for nearly two decades, most recently at Warner Bros. and esports company ESL. Her parents have never fully understood what she does, and her move into esports was even more confusing for them.
“They were even more like, ‘What are you doing?’” Alejandre says. “So, they tuned in on TBS and they were like, ‘We had no idea what was going on with the game, but it seemed really exciting and it seemed really cool.’ They could actually see what I was doing and participate in what I was doing by watching esports. So, I just love it.”
The Misfits team celebrates after its victory on September 30th (Image credit: Turner Sports)
Televised esports helped legitimize Alejandre’s career. That’s one reason the final game of ELEAGUE’s first season hit her so hard on an emotional level. She was standing on the edge of a new endeavor that allowed her to show the world how much passion, energy and humanity there was in professional gaming — things she’d seen and felt for years, but couldn’t accurately demonstrate to outsiders, including her parents. Television helps introduce esports to people who would never otherwise see a game.
“For me, who’s been struggling to tell my parents what I’ve been doing and legitimize my career, to see that happening, it was immensely gratifying,” Alejandre says.
But TBS didn’t decide to enter the esports industry just to bridge the divide between video game-loving teenagers and their parents. One of the main reasons TBS dived into esports so hard this year was because it was rebranding and re-establishing its internal goals. Specifically, the Turner crew wanted to tap into the most coveted demographic, 18- to 35-year-olds. That happens to be esports’ sweet spot.
In the US, 69 percent of all esports viewers are between the ages of 18 and 34, according to Superdata Research. Worldwide, esports attracted nearly 214 million viewers throughout 2016, with that figure expected to surpass 300 million by 2019. The industry is expected to bring in more than $1 billion in 2017.
With that kind of potential audience and money on the table, ELEAGUE isn’t going to settle for just two games and a few tournaments a year. CS:GO will always be a part of TBS’s esports lineup, Alejandre says, but it’s planning to add more games next year.
Overwatch Open analyst and professional StarCraft II player Chris “Huk” Loranger — he’s one of the people who hosted the grand finals live on TBS — says that esports aren’t that different than traditional sports, and it makes perfect sense for ELEAGUE to exist right now.
A sold-out crowd watches the Overwatch Open in Atlanta (Image credit: Engadget)
“It’s a natural progression for how popular video games are as a hobby,” Loranger says. “Most traditional sports were, at one point, a hobby, and they just developed to where they are now, and that’s basically where esports is.”
The Turner esports crew works closely with other leagues and organizations, scheduling tournaments so that they don’t conflict with one another and trying to make things as easy as possible on players and coaches. On a macro level, esports are fairly disorganized; the industry grew so quickly that it now lacks a regulating body that oversees the well-being of people involved, let alone the industry as a whole. However, organizations like the World Esports Association and the Professional Esports Association are attempting to remedy these oversights.
One of Alejandre’s main goals with ELEAGUE is for Turner Sports to remain authentic to the esports space: She doesn’t want Twitch viewers to switch on TBS and feel like they’re being disparaged or exploited. She was nervous when she took the Turner esports job in February — she’d worked in professional gaming for years and she knew how easily executives could change their minds or misunderstand the industry entirely.
But, so far, it’s been amazing, she says, and season one of ELEAGUE was a resounding success. There are plenty of things to tweak for the next season, but she’s pleased with what TBS has accomplished. She’s pleased with what esports has accomplished.
“This is a legitimate sport, and maybe it doesn’t have the physicality of a traditional stick-and-ball sport, but make no mistake, this is an intellectual sport,” Alejandre says. “I think we’ve been able to kind of provide that exposure that can show [new people] this requires an insane amount of skill. I think esports has kind of arrived and we’re now pushing forward.”
Report confirms IoT botnet took down Krebs’ security site
Two weeks ago, security researcher Brian Krebs’ site KrebsOnSecurity got knocked offline by one of the biggest DDOS attacks ever recorded, which peaked at 620 Gbps. What happened? Akamai, which had been protecting the site for free but ultimately had to unload it as the sustained traffic would have cost them millions of dollars, released a postmortem today. In it, they confirm that the attacker mainly used the Mirai malware to ovewhelm Krebs’ site, though there may have been another botnet involved. But the most crucial distinction from a normal DDOS strike: These bots were mostly IoT devices.
The majority of the estimated 145,000 devices were security cameras and DVRs used in home or office settings. Many of these were using either default passwords or easily-guessed ones (“1234,” “password,” “admin”). Around half of the traffic came from the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, indicating where the compromised devices were located. The volume of traffic was uniquely large, nearly double what Akamai had previously seen in a 363 Gbps attack back in June.
Finally, a large portion of the traffic connected directly from the botnet to the target, rather than reflect or amplify traffic as is typical for DDoS strikes. As Softpedia notes, researchers thought this direct flood to be hardly possible as it would require the attacker to directly control a large volume of bots.
Krebs’ site was likely targeted after he’d busted a two-person DDOS-for-hire outfit in early September that had been responsible for a “majority” of the denial-of-service cyberattacks in recent years. Days after Akamai reluctantly stopped protecting the site, he finally got KrebsOnSecurity back online after getting help from Alphabet’s Project Shield, a free service that protects journalists from denial-of-service assaults.
A DDoS expert noted that an Akamai-level defense would cost Krebs $150,000 annually, far beyond the budgets of most independent writers and newsrooms. While this report confirms much of what was already suspected, it also cements how easily a voice can be silenced, especially since the Mirai malware’s author open-sourced its code for anyone to use.
Via: Softpedia
Source: Akami blog
‘Dash’ App Removed From App Store for Alleged Review Manipulation
Popular API documentation browser Dash was yesterday pulled from the App Store after a routine migration request. Dash developer Bogdan Popescu was given no explanation for why the app had been pulled aside from “fraudulent conduct,” but after a conversation with Apple, he’s been accused of manipulating App Store reviews.
Popescu received a “Notice of Termination” email yesterday and his iTunes Connect account was shut down. Apple initially declined to offer more information, but after Dash’s App Store removal started making headlines, Apple told Popescu it was due to App Store review manipulation, such as paying for positive reviews, something he denies doing.
Update: Apple contacted me and told me they found evidence of App Store review manipulation. This is something I’ve never done.
Apple’s decision is final and can’t be appealed.
Despite Popescu’s denial, Apple appears to be adamant that some sort of fraud took place. Apple’s marketing chief Phil Schiller has stepped in and commented on the situation, through an email sent to Matthew Els, who asked him about the situation.
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for your email about this app.
I did look into this situation when I read about it today. I am told this app was removed due to repeated fraudulent activity.
We often terminate developer accounts for ratings and review fraud, including actions designed to hurt other developers. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously, on behalf of all of our customers and developers.
I hope that you understand the importance of protecting the App Store from repeated fraudulent activity.
Thank you,
Phil
At this time, Popescu says that Apple’s decision is final and the app will not be returned to the App Store. The developer community seems to be surprised by the accusation, with many calling Dash a quality app that wouldn’t have needed to boost its reviews.
@marcoarment @stroughtonsmith You see how many people now write good things about Dash? Busted. 🙂
— Jacob Gorban (@jacobgorban) October 6, 2016
It’s not clear what’s going on, and the App Store reviews for Dash are no longer visible as the app has been pulled. As developer Steven Troughton-Smith points out, if Popescu didn’t manipulate his own reviews, it’s possible he’s been targeted maliciously by a third party or that Apple’s flagging system made a mistake. With Apple’s Phil Schiller having looked into the situation, the latter option seems unlikely.
Dash by @kapeli is used by thousands of devs and has been for years. I use it myself for my iOS reviews. They don’t need to buy reviews…?
— Federico Viticci (@viticci) October 6, 2016
Dash for Mac remains available outside of the Mac App Store, and Popescu is encouraging Dash for Mac users to migrate from the Mac App Store version. It is unclear if the iOS version will be reinstated.
Tags: App Store, Phil Schiller
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Which color Google Pixel should you get?
Quite Black. Very Silver. Really Blue. Which color Pixel or Pixel XL should you get?
Google is offering three different color choices for the Pixel and Pixel XL, and their names are a bit silly. Very Silver, Really Blue, and Quite Black (Pretty self-explanatory). The hard part may be deciding which of the colors you should order, but we’ve got you covered. There are a few reasons why you may pick one of the colors over the others, so let’s take a look and see which may be best for you.
Will it be a blue, black or silver Pixel that makes its way into your pocket this year? Let’s see how they differ and which you may be most interested in!
Who should get the Quite Black Pixel?
If you want a black front on your phone, then Quite Black is your default choice. This is the only one of the three colors that offers the dark front and the others are white. On the back, he black offers a nice matte color on the bottom, with a shiny black glass at the top, and the two tones contrast each other nicely.
With a black phone, just about any case or skin you pick up will match, making it easy to swap them out without worrying how they will look on your phone. All of the colors you can imagine will go with it, and you can brighten it up with a vibrant wallpaper and case, or black it out with a dark wallpaper, depending on your preference. In addition, Quite Black is the best color if you are interested in Daydream because it doesn’t reflect light.
If you are looking for a phone that stands out a bit but blends in as well, the Quite Black may be the best bet for you.
Who should get the Very Silver Pixel?
Silver is a pretty neutral color, and the Very Silver is a great option for those who want something elegant that goes with pretty much everything available. It has a white front and a two-tone gray back and is definitely the least flashy of all the options. Being neutral isn’t always a bad thing because it allows you to dress the phone up or down depending how you feel. Just be aware of how the white bezels will stand out when you’re trying to concentrate on the screen — they definitely reflect light a bit more than the black model.
With the silver, you can add nearly any case to it that you want and it will look great. Silver is a timeless color that will never go out of style and you aren’t likely to regret making the safe choice for your phone.
If you don’t want your phone to stand out too much but still look nice and professional, the Very Silver is likely the option you will want to gravitate towards.
Who should get the Really Blue Pixel?
This is the boldest of the Pixel colors, so if you want to stand out this is the one to go for. Many believe they should pick the newest color so that people will be able to easily see that they have the latest phone, and the Really Blue will do just that.
The phone has a white front (same as Very Silver) and a bright blue back to it, but it is currently only available in a 32GB storage configuration. If you are looking for the 128GB of storage, blue is out of the question, unfortunately. 32GB is enough for many, but you’ll want to consider your personal use to see if that will be enough to hold you over before you order it just to have the blue.
It’s also technically a “limited edition” color, so there’s that extra bit of pizzazz. Because Google has it listed as a limited edition color, it may not be available as long as the others. If you like the idea of having something that is limited edition, be sure to go with the Really Blue!
Still undecided?
If you can’t make up your mind, hop in the forums to see what others are ordering and why — it may help you in your decision!
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Google Pixel and Pixel XL hands-on preview
- In pictures: Google Pixel and Pixel XL
- Pixel + Pixel XL specs
- Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
- Verizon is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Google Pixels
- Join the discussion in the forums!
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First comparison: Google Pixel XL vs. Galaxy Note 7
Google’s going big in both size and price with the Pixel XL, and that means it lines up right next to the Note 7.
No longer can we compare the latest phones from Google and Samsung on an uneven scale — at $769, the Pixel XL goes toe-to-toe with the Galaxy Note 7’s price. And for that money, you’re looking to get a top-end phone in either case. Both have big screens, solid hardware, all the specs you want and a few interesting points to differentiate from the pack.
With the Note 7 returning from its recall and the Pixel already up for pre-order, it’s a great time to see which one is the best choice at the top-end of the Android world. Read on.
On the inside
Two high-end phones, two packed spec sheets. Processor, RAM, screen resolution, battery size, connectivity and just about every other spec lines up pretty evenly when you look at the numbers. The Galaxy Note 7 has a slight advantage with its S Pen stylus, OIS on the camera, wireless charging and notably more robust IP68 water-resistant rating. That final point will probably be a big one — while water resistance certainly isn’t standard at this point, more phones are offering it and it’s turning into a “must have” for a lot of people.
The Pixel XL’s newer-generation processor technically gives it an advantage in terms of future-proofing, and its optional 128GB of internal storage is great, negating the need for an SD card for many people out there. It’s a minor point on the camera side, but it’s worth noting that the Pixel XL has laser auto focus on its camera as well, which has a theoretical advantage in low-light focusing abilities over just phase-detect auto focus.
| Operating System | Android 7.1 with Google UI | Android 6.0 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Display | 5.5-inch 2560x1440AMOLEDGorilla Glass 4 | 5.7-inch 2560x1440Super AMOLEDDual edge screenGorilla Glass 5 |
| Rear Camera | 12MP, f/2.01.55-micron pixelsPDAF, LDAF | 12MP, f/1.71.4-micron pixelsOIS, PDAF |
| Front camera | 8MP, f/2.4 | 5MP, f/1.7 |
| Battery | 3450 mAhNon-removable | 3500 mAhNon-removable |
| Charging | Rapid Charging | Quick Charge 2.0Qi wirelessPowermat wireless |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth 4.2 | USB-C, Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Input | Touchscreen | TouchscreenS Pen stylus |
| Storage | 32/128GBNon-expandable | 64GBmicroSD up to 256GB |
| IP rating | IP53 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6 mm | 153.5 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm |
| Weight | 168 g | 169 g |
The Note 7 wins on raw specs, but the Pixel XL’s software wins that battle.
When it comes to what’s really running the show inside, the big differentiation between the two is software. Samsung’s experience and features are a pretty well-known quantity at this point. You can’t really hate on Samsung’s interface at this point: it’s consistent, slick, powerful and downright fast. The issue with Samsung’s current software suite is the sheer number of features that can be overwhelming, and that’s at its peak on a Note. With lots overlapping apps and services on the phone from both Samsung and Google, things can get confusing — and that’s before you add in all of the bloatware from carriers and Samsung’s built-in apps that you can’t disable or uninstall.
While the Pixel XL adds a few new features above and beyond what we’ve come to expect from a history of Nexus phones, the name of the game (especially compared to the Note 7) is still simplicity. There are no duplicate apps pre-installed, and so long as you’re okay with Google’s services you’re getting a top-class experience for everything built into your single Google Account. You can duplicate some of the experience on other phones by swapping apps or changing the launcher, but when it comes to simplicity, Google’s software still does things best. You’re also getting access to brand new features like Google Assistant first, and also have the knowledge that you’re getting two years of software updates, guaranteed.
On the outside
Externally, things are quite interesting. Most of us know the Galaxy Note 7 by now — it’s built incredibly well, makes liberal use of curved glass and is striking to look at from just about any angle. With small bezels and a curved screen it’s incredibly small for the screen size as well. The Pixel XL comes in with a different approach: not only is it a touch taller and wider than the Note 7, it offers a smaller screen at 5.5 inches diagonally at the same time.
The Note 7 is sleek and compact for its size; the Pixel XL is just average in this regard.
Though the Pixel XL isn’t svelte, it sure does feel nice and have plenty of interesting visual flourishes. The primarily metal body isn’t just a bland slab — the large beveled edge connecting the back to the sides, together with the chamfered edge that transitions to the screen, give glimmers of light and extra surfaces to grip when using the phone. The big pane of glass that makes up about one-third of the back of the phone is an interesting way to handle the issue of RF transparency and turn it into a design element. The phones really don’t look similar, even when compared black on black — the Note 7 is certainly more flashy, while the Pixel XL is a bit more subtle and strong looking.
But when you turn the phones around to the front, it’s all about the screen. The Note 7 gives you more screen to look at, and Samsung’s screens really are best in the business. The Pixel XL’s 5.5-inch display is also AMOLED and has the same resolution, technically giving it a higher pixel density but at this level it doesn’t really matter. The Pixel XL’s display is nice, but it shouldn’t make any Note 7 owners (or potential owners) jealous.
Google’s new Pixel XL and the still-fresh Note 7 will appeal to different buyers, but one thing that remains constant is the large outlay of cash that will be required to buy either one.
Which phone has the specs, features, design and software that you’re looking for? Let us know in the comments!
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Google Pixel and Pixel XL hands-on preview
- In pictures: Google Pixel and Pixel XL
- Pixel + Pixel XL specs
- Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
- Verizon is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Google Pixels
- Join the discussion in the forums!
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Go Time! Episode 12: The perpetually flashing light
Episode 12 of Go Time is here!
Jen, Erin and Russell are back for another week of Pokemon shenanigans. Russell managed to get his hands on a Pokemon Go Plus after a pretty epic hunt, so we have the details on this awesome new accessory. This includes how it works, and whether it’s worth it to find one for your Pokehunts. We also talk about Halloween Team Rocket costumes, and some new information about Pokemon IV.
There’s still more to come, and we hope you’ll join us next week!
- Google Play
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- iTunes
- Or add us to your podcatcher of choice!
You can also join our Facebook page to keep up on all things Pokémon Go. See you in the world!
Pokémon Go
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- How to deal with GPS errors in-game
- Which team should you choose?
- How to play without killing your battery
- The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!
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ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe up for pre-order in U.S., shipping later in October
Flagship ZenFone 3 Deluxe ranges from $399 to $799 — with the top model boasting 6GB RAM and 256GB storage.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 series will go on sale in the United States later this month, as the manufacturer has listed three flavors of the ZenFone 3 Deluxe, as well as the laser-focusing ZenFone 3 Laser.
Three flavors of Deluxe, the Deluxiest of which will set you back almost $800.
The more affordable Laser goes on sale today for $199 — an entry-level phone powered by a Snapdragon 430 chip, with 2GB of RAM and a 5.5-inch screen. But chances are it’s the speccy ZenFone 3 Deluxe you’re more interested in. The base model 5.5-inch Deluxe, with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, starts at $399. Step up to a 5.7-inch screen, a Snapdragon 820 and 6GB of RAM for $499. And the top level ZenFone Deluxe Special Edition packs a Snapdragon 821 chip and 256GB of storage.
The two regular ZenFone 3 Deluxe models ship October 12, while you’ll need to wait a week longer, October 19, for the Deluxe Special Edition.
These models are somewhat different to what we first saw back at Computex, where the ZenFone 3 debuted in May. Nevertheless, the top-end model remains the same, with the lower-end Deluxe apparently inheriting some of the internals of the regular ZenFone 3. More details await at the link below.
MORE: ASUS ZenFone 3 preview
See at ASUS
Windows Central reviews the next awesome Android 2-in-1!
A beautiful, ambitious 2-in-1 from Lenovo.
OK, OK, that title isn’t entirely true, but it’s half true. See, our friends at Windows Central have one of the first reviews out for what we thought was one of the more interesting announcements at IFA — the Lenovo Yoga Book. While, naturally, they are reviewing the Windows 10 version, we’re excited about the form factor, safe in the knowledge that it will soon be released running a modified version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Here’s what we said about the Yoga Book back in August:
The Yoga Book is perhaps the most visually appealing and interesting convertible Android tablet we’ve seen, and we have to applaud Lenovo for trying something entirely new rather than trotting out a simple detachable keyboard 2-in-1.
Now that we’ve gotten our hands on the Windows version, Mobile Nations’ Zac Bowden has reinforced our first impressions of the hardware:
The Lenovo Yoga Book is an interesting device. It’s a beautiful, premium-feeling 2-in-1, with tablet-class specifications. It’s rocking a futuristic Halo Keyboard and Create Pad that’s excellent for note-takers and artists alike, but not great for those who need to get real-work done such as typing an article/report or editing a video.
In other words, there’s a lot to like here, but just as much to chalk up to early-adopter bugs, many of which will likely be resolved through software updates. The hardware keyboard (or lack thereof, really) may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s the package as a whole — and the prospect of it eventually running Android 7.0 Nougat — that makes our heart flutter a little. That particular model is set to be released at the end of October.
Check out Windows Central’s review of the Lenovo Yoga Book
See at Lenovo
Oculus is making a non-tethered standalone VR headset, see it here
Facebook-owned Oculus VR is holding a keynote address, where Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has introduced a VRÂ headset that works without cables.
When it comes to virtual reality headsets, there are two categories: mobile VR headsets, such as the Samsung Gear VR, and tethered VR headsets with external tracking, like the Oculus Rift. Zuckerberg said, “We believe there is a sweet spot between these. A standalone virtual reality product category…”
This category would be high quality and affordable, and you can bring it with you out into the world. “We’re working on this now,” Zuckerberg added. “It’s still early.” While on stage, he played a video demo of the prototype product, which looks like a consumer version of the Oculus Rift, but it’s wireless.Â
On the back of the headset is a circular hub that could house electronics. We don’t know much more, as the demo was short, and Zuckerberg didn’t expand too much, but he did mention: “I think we all know where VR is going to be in 20 years… It’s going to be the next major computing platform.”
This new hardware project will sit between the existing Oculus Rift headset and Samsung’s Gear VR headset, which is one of Oculus’ platform partners. The project hasn’t been named and seems to work without cables, external PCs, and mobile phones. And it uses something called inside-out tracking.
It’s worth noting that VR headsets like Gear VR lack positional tracking, so when you move around, the virtual world stays in one place around you. And that experience can be kind of jarring.
Watch the Oculus Connect 3 keynote live stream for more live updates.
Oculus shows off how you’ll hang with friends in VR
Back at F8 earlier this year, we saw a demo of a couple of people interacting with each other via virtual reality — sort of like VR Skype. Now, at the Oculus Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg shows off a much better version of the software. It’s called Oculus Parties Instead of just a color outline of your face, you can design animated cartoon-like avatars, complete with facial expressions. You can even create draw-in-the-air swords and lightsabers, and then play around with them in VR. To do this, you
One of the big announcements here though, is Oculus Avatars, which is a way for you to design your very own virtual reality you. Avatars will form the foundation of your identity in VR. From there, you can travel from destination to destination with your friends, even if they’re thousands of miles away. In a demo given at Oculus Connect keynote, Zuckerberg hung out with his virtual buds at a variety of locations around the globe. They could manipulate objects around them, like enlarging videos and playing virtual chess. And yes, even take selfies with virtual selfie sticks.
As part of Oculus’ new social push, the company is announcing Oculus Parties, a chat app to let you hang with friends, plus Oculus Rooms, which lets you create virtual hangout spaces.
Developing…
AIVAnet 