Consumer virtual reality (VR) will be coming out in full force next year with the launch of the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR head-mounted displays (HMD) as well as the wider release of the HTC Vive. Marketing these devices will prove to be a challenge for each of the respective companies behind them, as it’s impossible to showcase the effects of VR without wearing a HMD for yourself. One aspect that Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) expects to have a ‘massive’ impact on marketing PlayStation VR is word of mouth.
SCE Worldwide Studios VP Michael Denny recently said as much in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz. “What we expect is to be able to deliver a fantastic PSVR experience to our customers and consumers and you mention a lot of reasons there that I absolutely buy into,” he said. “We have a large installed base of keen gamers who we know want to try these new experiences, and we have a plug and play system.
“I agree with you as well that there’ll be a massive word of mouth aspect to the marketing. While there are lots of gameplay experiences, there are also things like The Deep – you can put your mum in that. I’ve yet to see someone take the headset off and not have a big reaction to it, a good reaction.
“I think the main thing when you’re looking at something new is, ‘Is it a genuinely differentiated and great experience?’ And this is.”
PlayStation VR is set to launch in the first half of 2016, though a specific launch date and price are yet to be announced. The kit boasts a 5.7-inch, 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz display. This screen can even ‘reproject’ compatible titles that are running in 60fps natively to 120fps in-HMD.
VRFocus will continue to follow PlayStation VR closely, reporting back with the latest updates on its progress.
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