Samsung is working with Oculus on a media-focused VR headset
Last week we told you about Samsung’s unannounced virtual reality headset: a peripheral that enables VR interaction for flagship phones from the world’s largest phone manufacturer. This week we’ve got far more details. First things first, Samsung’s headset is the fruit of a collaboration with Oculus VR, the Facebook-owned virtual reality startup that both literally and figuratively kickstarted the current wave of VR products.
Oculus is handling the software-side of the product, while Samsung handles the hardware. The deal is a swap: Oculus gives Samsung early access to its mobile software development kit and helps develop user interface software, while Samsung gives Oculus early access to its next-gen OLED screens. And yes, Oculus is still making its own, gaming-focused, PC-based virtual reality headset; that’s why it needs next-gen, high-pixel density OLED screens from Samsung. Join us below for new details about the device itself, as well as more on the unlikely partnership between two tech giants.
THE PARTNERSHIP
Samsung wants to be first to market with a virtual reality headset, but it doesn’t want to invest the time and money that Oculus and Sony are. Oculus VR wants to create a high-quality virtual reality headset specifically for gaming, and it doesn’t want to rush one out. And thus, a convenient partnership is born between the two companies: Samsung makes the OLED screens that Oculus needs for its final product, Oculus makes the software that Samsung needs for its upcoming headset.
The partnership comes with both risks and rewards. On one hand, Samsung is a consumer electronics giant, and a company of that size investing in marketing and producing its own VR headset massively grows the medium. On the other hand, if it’s a bad product, it has the potential to poison the well — that is, it could be another Virtual Boy, thus making consumers even more apprehensive about VR as a medium.
We’re told by sources close to both companies that Samsung’s using an early form of Oculus’ mobile SDK — an exclusive use as part of the deal — developed in part by John Carmack. We were also told that the OLED screens that Oculus is getting as part of the deal are higher def than 1080p, and that the screens will also be used in at least some of Samsung’s next flagship phones. And this is where things get weird.
HARDWARE DIFFERENCES
Rather than having its own screen, Samsung’s VR headset uses your phone directly. It plugs in using an existing port on your phone (think: microUSB) and becomes the screen. The headset itself has built-in sensors — an accelerometer at very least — so any motion tracking functionality is offloaded from your phone’s processor.
The folks we spoke with who have dev kits are still running the headset on Galaxy S4 phones, and we’re told it’s a shockingly good experience. That said, the consumer device will run either a new version of the GS5 or potentially its successor — either way, it’ll be tweaked for optimal VR performance. The headset can be used with a paired game controller or as a standalone media device, navigated solely through motion and voice (we’ll discuss that more below).
Wait! Before you write it off forever as “one of those headsets that straps your phone to your face,” we’re told there are some pretty great benefits to using a mobile device. For one, the rear-facing camera allows for video passthrough. That’s to say, “You can see through the phone using the rear camera, which shows a video feed of the outside world to your eyes.” Pretty intense sounding, but a smart addition for making long-term use more realistic. While the latency is too great to make augmented reality applications possible, it’s a convenient way to pause whatever you’re doing and, say, have a sip of a tasty beverage.
There are also buttons on the unit itself. There are standard Android buttons — Home, Back, Recent Apps — as well as some extra stuff. It’s not clear what the other buttons are, but we’re told that none of them are used for interactivity. That could of course change by the final unit; all of this could, potentially, but this is the current state.
SOFTWARE
Pictured: Oculus Rift’s original dev kit with a Leap Motion attached
The dev kit runs a basic UI. You’re in an empty virtual 3D space, and you interact with various demos (floating objects) by nodding at them. Nod to select, basically. Don’t expect that form of interactivity to make it into the final product, though. We’re told that nodding isn’t a strong contender for the final software; voice, touch (tapping on the headset spikes the accelerometer, which can be used as a “click”), and just outright using a gamepad are all on the table.
At this stage, the UI/OS is still very early. Heck, Oculus’ mobile SDK is still very early, so the software it’s able to build isn’t close to a finished product. We were told about two different demos, neither of which involved interactivity. In one, you’re at the beach with jamming hippies. In another, you dive from a plane (which is said to be, “pretty fucking nerve-wracking”). In both instances, our sources say they were impressed with the device.
IT’S ALSO A MEDIA DEVICE
Finally, expect Samsung to tout this device as a media player as well. “But Ben,” you say, “There are very few media experiences for virtual reality headsets.” That’s a fact! Samsung’s apparently looking at its VR device as a head-mounted display as well (like Sony’s HMZ line). Gaming experiences are said to be pared down, and there’s no guarantee it’ll ship with a gamepad. This means that, while it’s a gaming device, and there are VR games in the works right now for Samsung’s headset, it’s intended for a much larger market than just the early adopters who’ll take a chance on VR. Both Samsung and Oculus are taking an interesting risk in partnering on this headset, and we’re looking forward to hearing more. Perhaps you’ve got one and want to tell us all about it? Please feel free to get in touch.
Oculus VR declined to comment for this story, and we haven’t heard back from Samsung.
Mockup artist: Daniel Cooper
Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Gaming, Peripherals, Wearables, Software, HD, Mobile, Samsung
Nintendo resurrects its best controller for Super Smash Bros. on the Wii U
Not only is one of Nintendo’s most loved games soon to arrive on the Wii U, but you’ll also be able to play it using one of the game company’s best controllers. An officially licensed adapter will let you plug in up to four GameCube controllers when playing the next-gen iteration of Super Smash Bros. As Joystiq points out, we don’t know if there’ll also be support for Nintendo’s wireless Wavebird via the same piece of kit, or whether GameCube controllers will work with other Wii U titles. Neither do we have any pricing. What we do know is that the adapter will be shown off during a tournament at E3 on June 10th (check out the video below at 2:20). It”ll then presumably go on sale in time for the launch of Super Smash Bros. on the Wii U this winter — and, from Nintendo’s perspective, it surely can’t come soon enough.
Source: Nintendo (YouTube)
Got PlayStation Plus? You’re now getting two games every month
Now that Microsoft is offering free games each month to Xbox One owners with Live Gold subscriptions, Sony is in a tough spot — how does it get you to buy a console and sign up for PlayStation Plus? By giving you more games, that’s what. As of June, Plus members get two games per month for every PlayStation platform they use, whether it’s a PS3, PS4 or Vita. Availability will also be more consistent as of July. From then on, you’ll see the new Plus titles arrive (and old titles phase out) on the first Tuesday of a given month.
The usual gotcha for Plus applies. Unlike Microsoft’s program, which lets you hold on to games even after your subscription lapses, Sony’s service requires that you keep shelling out to continue playing any giveaways. It’s not a perfect deal, then, but it’s hard to object to getting additional games at no extra charge.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Real-world Mario is kind of a creep…
You know how some things you expect to be sacred, but then it turns out that even Nintendo is prepared to bulldoze your childhood in exchange for some cash? Welcome to 2014, where you can drive a Mercedes-Benz in Mario Kart 8 and witness the horrifying nightmare that is real-world Mario in the advert below.
Filed under: Gaming, Transportation, Nintendo
Source: GLA
Old console, new tricks: Getting the most out of your Wii
It’s not a great time to be a Nintendo fan. Forecasts are falling; profits are down; and Nintendo’s new console just can’t bottle the lightning its predecessor left behind. The faithful may believe that the Wii U will pull through (after all, Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. are just around the corner), but even diehard fans need something to play in the meantime. Look backward, friends: The Nintendo Wii still has some life in it. Dust off your Wiimotes and don your protective jackets — we’ve found four ways to revitalize your old Wii.
Throw out your composite cables
Remember that standard definition video cable you found in the Wii’s retail box? Toss that out: It’s junk. The Wii isn’t a high-def game console, but that’s no reason to settle for outmoded video input. Upgrading to component cables makes games noticeably sharper; just make sure you hop into your Wii’s settings menu to enable 480p output.
Protip: If your TV is too hip for component cables, search out the Wii2HDMI dongle. It does exactly what it says it does: drags your Wii into the modern paradigm of home theater cabling.
Buy better controllers
Speaking of substandard equipment that came in the box, we need to talk about the Wii Remote. This white wand may have ushered in a new era of motion-controlled gaming, but it’s actually the least advanced motion controller of its generation. Nintendo eventually tried to fix this with the Wii Motion Plus, an uncomfortable gyroscope attachment that hung awkwardly from the controller’s expansion port. Toss these out too — Nintendo’s newer Wiimotes come with the extra sensor baked in. They’re compatible with the Wii U, too, should you ever want to upgrade.
Protip: If you have even a passing interest in Nintendo’s Virtual Console, take a look at the Classic Controller Pro. It doesn’t have any fancy motion controls, but it’s compatible with every classic on the Wii Shop Channel.
Leverage the library
The Wii U may be facing a drought of AAA releases, but its predecessor was flush with them. The Wii has a killer collection of first-party titles, including two Legend of Zelda games, both Super Mario Galaxy titles, the fantastic Metroid Prime Trilogy and even the return of the Donkey Kong Country franchise. Not good enough? There’s a wide assortment of third-party games to choose from, too: Games like House of the Dead: Overkill, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Okami, A Boy and his Blob and Sonic Colors have plenty to offer, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you neglected your Wii in favor of the previous generation’s powerhouses, now’s a great time to see what you missed.
Protip: It’s no secret that the Wii is a beefed-up GameCube. Find yourself a wired controller and memory card and pilfer that library too.
Hack your Wii
Still not enough? You’ve got one more avenue of Wii resuscitation, and it’s a biggie: homebrew. The Nintendo Wii is probably the most hackable game console ever made. With little more than an SD card, the internet and some moxie, the old system can do, well, almost anything. The homebrew community has created USB loaders, classic game emulators, cheat engines, DVD players and even Wii-specific Linux distributions.
Setting it up is easy, too: The same LetterBomb trick that unlocked the Wii in 2011 still works today. After that, it’s as simple as loading a few apps onto a SD card and calling up the Homebrew Channel. Not sure what apps to load? Check out an application called Homebrew Browser (not to be confused with the aforementioned channel) — it serves as a makeshift marketplace for the console, maintaining a downloadable list of popular games, apps and emulators.
Protip: Now that Nintendo has shuttered its multiplayer servers, Homebrew servers are the only way to play Wii games online. Check it out here.
[Image credit: hermitsmoores/Flickr (composite cables); Radharc Images/Alamy (Wii game cases)]
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Software, HD, Nintendo
Valve: don’t expect to buy a Steam Machine until 2015
Looking forward to putting a gaming PC in your entertainment center? Keep waiting: Valve says it doesn’t expect to officially launch its Steam Machine until 2015. The delay was announced in a rather casual blog post, and the update is loosely worded — it’s a “release window,” not a promise. The quality of the controller seems to be the main thing holding back the release: Valve says its getting a substantial amount of feedback. “It means we’ll be able to make the controller a lot better,” the company writes. “Of course, it’s also keeping us pretty busy.”
Naturally, the firm is eager to get the Steam Machines into consumer hands, but says it wants to ensure that its customers are getting “the best gaming experience possible.” Of course, delaying the launch of the official controller could have unforeseen repercussions: by the time the platform launches in 2015, the prototypes we saw at CES may very well be outdated. A harrowing thought — but at least Valve’s launch partners have the rest of the year to tweak their hardware designs.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: Valve
Nintendo wants its cut of ‘Let’s Play’ gaming videos
Remember when Nintendo started wrapping ads around ‘Let’s Play’ commentary videos last year and pocketed the revenue? It’s happening again, albeit in a more organized way. Nintendo just announced that it’s creating a YouTube affiliate program for content creators that use officially licensed images and video. Creators who sign up for the program (and receive permission to use copyrighted material) will be eligible to receive “a portion” of the advertising profit.
It’s not too surprising, but it is a little odd. Microsoft’s game content usage rules specifically ask that users don’t seek payment (via advertising or otherwise) for projects made using gameplay footage, but the company typically doesn’t try to claim revenue made by those who do apply ads to their video. More to the point, both Sony and Microsoft allow gamers to stream gameplay directly from their consoles without agreeing to any revenue-sharing initiatives. Nintendo’s taking a much stronger stance on YouTube creators than the rest of the industry.
The program could be a response to the negative reaction its copyright claims got last year, but it might have something to do with Mario Kart 8. The upcoming racer allows users to upload gameplay videos directly to YouTube, which are automatically flagged as Nintendo owned in the service’s Content ID system. It’s not clear, however, if these videos will be eligible for revenue-sharing. Nintendo promises to release more details at a later date. Either way, Nintendo’s stance is clear: if you’re making videos of its games, your video’s ad revenue should be at its discretion.
[Image credit: rapapu/Flickr]
【YouTube映像に関するお知らせ】任天堂は以前より、不適切なものを除いて、YouTube上の任天堂の著作物を含む映像を正式に許諾しています。許諾した映像には広告がつくことがあり、その広告収益は従来のポリシー同様、Googleと任天堂で分配されます。(1/2)
– 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) May 27, 2014
【YouTube映像に関するお知らせ】その上で、より積極的な任天堂著作物の利用を希望される方に向けて、広告収益の一部を受け取れるアフィリエイトプログラムを準備しています。アフィリエイトプログラムの詳細については、後日続報いたします。ご理解の程、よろしくお願いいたします。(2/2)
– 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) May 27, 2014
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Nintendo
Via: Joystiq
Source: Twitter (1), (2)
Playdate: We’re livestreaming Watch Dogs for PS4!
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They’re fun!
What would you do if you could control your hometown with nothing more than a smartphone? That’s what the world of Watch Dogs asks. Here, escaping the cops (and Big Brother) takes a little more than fancy driving skills and sheer firepower; it takes brains and creativity. We’ve been itching to get our hands on the game since its show-stealing debut back at E3 2012 and now that wait is over — we’ll be streaming live at 4PM PT/7PM ET! Feel like hacking the planet along with us on PS4 before picking up your copy? All it takes is a press of the button below. If you’ve already grabbed your copy, let us know what you think of Watch Dogs in the forums; we’ve set up a thread and everything!
Watch live video from Engadget on www.twitch.tv
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Watch Dogs: The Joystiq Review
The advanced technology in Watch Dogs is not just indistinguishable from magic – it IS magic. The game would have you believe you’re the world’s most powerful hacker, bending surveillance cameras, traffic control and all manner of personal electronics to your one-touch whims. But in this paranoid vision of the future, in which every mundane device is grafted to the same computerized skeleton, the right software might as well be an all-powerful wand.
Wouldn’t you like to be the wizard?
Click here for more
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Sony, Microsoft
Source: Joystiq
[Concept] Nexus Play Console by My Gadgetic makes me tingle all Over
The nVIDIA Shield was the first Android device to really take on the handheld gaming pedigree of the Android operating system, and while it was a very attractive and formidable device, it pales in comparison to the Nexus Play Console concept designed by My Gadgetic. Utilizing a curved touch display and motion sensitive controls, the Nexus Play looks like something that we would only dream of from the future. Check it out in its tour video:
From the looks of it, the Nexus Play Console would be best suited to the living room environment where it could be used best for games or even as a media remote. While this concept may never become reality, it’s still a tantalizing thought to wonder just how good Android gaming would become with a device like the Nexus Play Console. Now excuse me while it takes me another few hours to get over how good it looks.
What do you think about the Nexus Play Console? Would you buy something like that if it were real? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: My Gadgetic via Concept Phones
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