These two articles contain 2 opinions of experts in the video game industry. One is from gameindustry.biz and the other from kitguru. Both saying that AR and/or VR isn't ready for the mass market.
Then you have the article in the guardian and fortune are more positive about the new hardware. The opinion of gamers themself are devided.
Who should you believe? Maybe we should check the chances of the new tech for ourselves.
Then you have the article in the guardian and fortune are more positive about the new hardware. The opinion of gamers themself are devided.
Who should you believe? Maybe we should check the chances of the new tech for ourselves.
We might learn something just by looking at the history of VR. Everyone knows that VR never broke through. Like many others I'm wondering why it should succeed now.
The best way to check this is to check the new technology with the BOS tools.
Check the blog on the blue ocean website. Just by checking the red ocean traps we might reveal if VR and AR is destined for the market.
Trap One: Looking to existing customers for insight into creating new demand.
I always had the idea that video games are the only way to experience VR. But after a search I came across vrscout.
SCEA CEO Shawn Layden confirms my feeling that I have of this new technology. VR may not be meant for games, but for other things.
When my girlfriend and I build our house, we had no idea how big it actually would be. Even when the masonry was done, it was hard to imagen that the bathtub could fit into a small space. Maybe VR has a future in architecture?
Trap Two: Treating market-creating strategies as niche strategies
Not every player will have a VR-set. Game developers will target a very small segment. Making a game for "VR only" would not be wise.
I think the hardware tells (more or less) the same story. They are targeting not only the video game industry but also the film and art industry (and probably many more). That's good, but they are targeting niches within those industries.
Trap Three: Confusing technology innovation with market-creating strategies
Yep, the biggest mistake of them all. Although the technology seems greatly improved, the question stays the same. What value brings this technology?
I tried to make a strategy canvas but I'm not sure if I got everything right.
The best way to check this is to check the new technology with the BOS tools.
Check the blog on the blue ocean website. Just by checking the red ocean traps we might reveal if VR and AR is destined for the market.
Trap One: Looking to existing customers for insight into creating new demand.
I always had the idea that video games are the only way to experience VR. But after a search I came across vrscout.
SCEA CEO Shawn Layden confirms my feeling that I have of this new technology. VR may not be meant for games, but for other things.
When my girlfriend and I build our house, we had no idea how big it actually would be. Even when the masonry was done, it was hard to imagen that the bathtub could fit into a small space. Maybe VR has a future in architecture?
Trap Two: Treating market-creating strategies as niche strategies
Not every player will have a VR-set. Game developers will target a very small segment. Making a game for "VR only" would not be wise.
I think the hardware tells (more or less) the same story. They are targeting not only the video game industry but also the film and art industry (and probably many more). That's good, but they are targeting niches within those industries.
Trap Three: Confusing technology innovation with market-creating strategies
Yep, the biggest mistake of them all. Although the technology seems greatly improved, the question stays the same. What value brings this technology?
I tried to make a strategy canvas but I'm not sure if I got everything right.
Trap Four: Equating creative destruction with market creation
AR and VR are competition for the classic screens. Will the television, the tablets, pc and laptop screens be replaced? Not by far!
Saturday night watching tv with the family, watching your friend play a video game, helping a colleague at work,... A commonality among all customers is that everything is more fun with friends and family. Some VR lunette will not allow this.
Trap Five: Equating market-creating strategies with differentiation
When google presented they google glass everyone fainted when they saw the price, $1500. The VR players in the market (oculus, sony and valve) have pronounced their prices. A VR set will cost $350 at minimum. Not to mention that you need a powerful pc to run the software.
They want to present better visuals but the price is high. To high in my opinion.
Trap Six: Equating market-creating strategies with low-cost strategies
Ah well, let's not waste our time on this trap. They will fall into this one. I can guarantee you that.
AR and VR are competition for the classic screens. Will the television, the tablets, pc and laptop screens be replaced? Not by far!
Saturday night watching tv with the family, watching your friend play a video game, helping a colleague at work,... A commonality among all customers is that everything is more fun with friends and family. Some VR lunette will not allow this.
Trap Five: Equating market-creating strategies with differentiation
When google presented they google glass everyone fainted when they saw the price, $1500. The VR players in the market (oculus, sony and valve) have pronounced their prices. A VR set will cost $350 at minimum. Not to mention that you need a powerful pc to run the software.
They want to present better visuals but the price is high. To high in my opinion.
Trap Six: Equating market-creating strategies with low-cost strategies
Ah well, let's not waste our time on this trap. They will fall into this one. I can guarantee you that.
Conclusion
I must admid I never tested a VR set. But in my opinion VR only passed for trap 1 and 6.
I only hear the industry itself talk about the new technology. It was different when nintendo launched the Wii or when apple launched the iPhone. Back then the customers where talking about these new things but now...
I've been writing on this post for a weak now and Gameindustry.biz just posted this article. Think what you want, but I'm not putting my money on VR.
I only hear the industry itself talk about the new technology. It was different when nintendo launched the Wii or when apple launched the iPhone. Back then the customers where talking about these new things but now...
I've been writing on this post for a weak now and Gameindustry.biz just posted this article. Think what you want, but I'm not putting my money on VR.