HTC: Über 140.000 HTC Vive Headsets verkauft

Wie Focus Taiwan berichtet, hat HTC bisher über 140.000 HTC Vive Headsets verkauft. Diverse Zahlen in diese Richtung wurden bereits spekuliert, doch eine genaue Zahl bekommen wir auch weiterhin nicht, denn HTC hält sich wie immer bedeckt.

Über 140.000 HTC Vive Headsets verkauft

Eyetracking für HTC Vive

Eyetracking für HTC Vive

Die Verkaufszahlen wurden von HTC CEO Cher Wang nicht wirklich bestätigt. Wang sagt, dass deutlich mehr als 140.000 Exemplare verkauft worden. Was „deutlich mehr“ bedeutet, bleibt leider offen. Wenn man beachtet, wie jung die aktuelle Virtual Reality Technik ist und das die HTC Vive ein extrem teures Produkt ist, dann sind diese Verkaufszahlen bereits ein positives Zeichen. Auf der anderen Seite sind 140.000 verkaufte Exemplare für große Entwickler ein Witz. Mit 140.000 verkauften Exemplaren kann man wohl nur die wenigsten etablierten Studios und Publisher von einer Entwicklung überzeugen.

Leider kennen wir die wirklichen Zahlen nicht. Wenn man sich aber die Verkaufszahlen der Software auf SteamSpy anschaut, dann liegt die Vermutung nah, dass 140.000 Exemplare nicht zu weit entfernt von der Realität seien könnten. HTC legt der HTC Vive kostenlos die Anwendung Tilt Brush bei. Diese Anwendung von Google hat laut SteamSpy ca. 140.000 Verkäufe. Da diese Software nur mit der HTC Vive im Moment nutzbar ist, fallen andere VR Headset Besitzer aus der Statistik raus.

Dennoch bleibt eine unbekannte Zahl an Menschen, die Tilt Brush nie installiert haben. Dies trifft besonders auf Firmenkunden zu, die das Headset zwar in ihren Büros benutzen, aber nie die kostenloses Keys eingelöst haben. Bei „echten“ Verbrauchern sollte die Anzahl an Menschen aber gering sein, die einen kostenlosen Key nicht aktivieren.

Der Beitrag HTC: Über 140.000 HTC Vive Headsets verkauft zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

Littlstar Launches 360 App for PlayStation VR

There’s plenty of videogames available to experience on the newly launched PlayStation VR, but the headset offers plenty more entertainment options. Littlstar a 360-degree video content provider whose app can be found across a range of platforms, has now announced support for Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) PlayStation VR.

The app is free to download on the platform, providing content across a range of categories such as sports, music, movies, fashion, travel, outdoors, lifestyle, horror, news, and comedy. There are premium channels like ABC, Showtime, and Discovery for further content offerings.

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 For the launch Littlstar also added a new interface for navigating content, which includes a “lean back” mode. Lean back mode allows users to select and view all featured content, or other channels of content, in an uninterrupted fashion.

“Littlstar is proud to be a launch partner of the Sony PS VR, and to offer users the best in cinematic VR content from leading content brands and creators like ABC, Discovery, World of Tanks, Showtime and many more,” said Tony Mugavero, CEO of Littlstar. “The Sony PS VR already features the biggest franchises in gaming, and with the Littlstar app, we will be giving PS VR users access to the best and most powerful VR video experiences as well.”

Back in August Littlstar announced it would be integrating Dolby Atmos into certain content, with Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension 360,Rapid Fire: A Brief History of Flight and Bob’s Burgers 360 – Dancin’ being the first three.

As well as PlayStation VR the Littlstar app also supports Oculus Rift and HTC Vive on PC, Samsung Gear VR and iOS or Android devices for use with Google Cardboard and other headsets.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Littlstar, reporting back with any further announcements.

Modal VR is a Portable Multiuser System Launched By the Founder of Atari

There is now a clear link between what we consider as classic gaming and now the most modern form, and that link has been created by Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari (and Chuck E. Cheese) who has now founded Model VR, which allows multiple users to go into VR without being connected to computers, and not needing to stay in one small space, bringing it all seamlessly into mixed reality (MR).

As you can see in the video below, Model VR has nearly no limitations when it comes to multiplayer VR usage in a large field (900k square ft to be exact), and it has been demonstrated with a videogame called Mythic Combat, which is something that could remind you of CCP Games’ Project Arena but on a way larger scale.

modal vr

There are four elements that make this all possible. There is first the Modal VR Command Center which is the software that gets this all up and running on either a Mac or PC – think of it as something like Steam. The VR Fabricator is the core system which provides the infrastructure for Modal VR, and it can power up to ten users at a time when connected to a PC or Mac running the Modal VR Command Center. The Visor, or what we know as a head-mounted display (HMD), is a wireless headset with voice communications and 3D integrated audio. Finally, there is the Full-Body Tracking Suit, which of course lets the systems keep up with your every movement with positional tracking.

Now, it isn’t all thanks to Bushnell as he is listed as the Co-Founder, with Jason Crawford as the official CEO, Inventor, and Founder of Modal VR. Crawford has previously worked for the likes of Samsung, Hasbro, Nickelodeon, HatchLabs, Atari, and Walt Disney – only to name a few.

Modal VR is an industry-grade system, so this most probably won’t be anywhere near the same ballpark as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, but there will soon be a Beta program launching, and Modal VR Developer Editions will be shipping to partners and software developers soon.

For more on the latest in VR, check back with VRFocus.

Raw Data Free to Play This Weekend

Survios’ first-person shooter Raw Data has proved to be incredibly since its launch a few months ago, with Steam giving it a ‘very positive’ rating from user reviews. So this week for HTC Vive owners who haven’t yet tried the title the developer is having a free gameplay weekend.

For those that haven’t heard of Raw Data, the Steam Early Access title involves players fighting off waves of deadly robots wielding an arsenal of ranged and melee weapons. These include pump-action shotguns, explosive arrows, grenades, katana’s, or just use your fists in close-quarters combat, there’s also the option to duel-wield weapons for maximum damage. Raw Data features single-player, LAN co-op and online co-op.

Raw Data (1)

Earlier this week Survios released its biggest update yet for Raw Data adding a third character to the title. Boss: The Street Merc joins launch heros Bishop and Saija as the newest SyndiK8 operative, bringing with him the Dominator Shotgun, giving players some heavy duty two-handed firepower. The update also included two new missions, Thundershock and Extermination, a new enemy type – a teleporting ninja robot – as well as a new defence item, a shield station.

Raw Data is available now through to 16th October 1pm PST/8pm GMT for free, and for those that want to continue playing there’s a 25 percent discount available, dropping the price down from £29.99 GBP to £22.49. The discount offer runs until 17th October.

For all the latest Raw Data news, keep reading VRFocus.

PlayStation VR Launch Sales to be in “many hundreds of thousands” Says Sony

It’s only been a day since Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) launched the highly anticipated PlayStation VR on the world and so far things seem to be going well. While its too early to say how successful the launch has been one of the company’s heads has indicated sales are high.

In an interview with CNBC SIE’s Global Head of Sales and Marketing, Jim Ryan has commented in an interview that: “We know from the data we have from pre-orders that the interest we have is significant,” before adding that sales should be in: “many hundreds of thousands”.

PlayStationVR_130906_4(EagleFlight)

PlayStation VR is one of the most promising entries into the virtual reality (VR) market due to several factors. It provides a higher quality experience than mobile VR, the PlayStation 4 install base is over 40 million with the current launch of the Slim version dropping the standard console even lower, and the PlayStation VR headset is significantly cheaper than its PC-based rivals, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Even though the Oculus Rift launched at the end of March and HTC Vive a few days later in April, neither company has released concrete sales figures for the headsets, to give an indication on how big the higher-end VR market is and its growth. SIE will likely in time buck this trend and reveal sales figures, if it does it won’t be until next year.

But for success SIE also needs to avoid the trap both of its rivals fell into at launch, not having enough headsets to fulfil pre-orders taken months before hand. Ryan addresses this by saying: “We know that the replenishment cycle is a good one, production is going exactly as we anticipated. We have made decisions to further increase capacity at the back end of 2016 and into 2017, so there are going to be a lot of PlayStation VRs around the world, whether that’s enough to satisfy the demands of the market, we’ll see.”

For all the latest PlayStation VR news, keep reading VRFocus.

Love Japanese Pop? Checkout Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live Launch Trailer

PlayStation 4 owners across the world have been getting their hands on the latest virtual reality (VR) titles with the launch of PlayStation VR yesterday. Whilst there are plenty of premium titles available showcasing the very best in VR gameplay, there are cheaper or even free titles available to bulk up their library’s. One of which is Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live, and there’s a new launch trailer to showcase the title.

If you’re a fan of all things Japanese, then Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live might be worth a look at as it’s completely free to download.

hatsune miku vr future live

An exclusive to PlayStation VR, Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live is set in the brightly coloured, neon lit world of Hatsune Miku, a fictional Japanese pop star. In terms of gameplay players start by sitting in the arena amongst all the fans watching the performance. They have a glow stick which can be waved in time with the music, taking cues from the rest of the crowd. As the crowds intensity reaches its peak players will then be transported on stage for a one-on-one performance with the singer.

The launch release features the following songs: Love Trial by 40mP; 1/6 – out of the gravity – by noa; Satisfaction by kz; Weekender Girl by kz & Hachioji P; 39 by DECO*27 &sasakure.UK; Cute Medley – Idol Sounds by Mitchie M and Love Song by Lamaze-P. The videogame is split into stages and while this first one is free the subsequent ones aren’t, with each one costing $14.99 USD each when they arrive.

Checkout the video below and see what you think. For all the latest PlayStation VR news keep reading VRFocus.

AMD Details Radeon Pro Tech During VR on the Lot, Talks of Collaborations For VR Experience Distribution

AMD had a collection of pretty cool announcements that were made during the VR on the Lot event that happened in California the past couple of days, and the main two announcements made was the development of virtual reality (VR) tools, as well as collaborations to bring VR to a wider audience.

What the Radeon Pro tech is aiming to achieve is reaching a point where it can handle professional VR content creation for what AMD recommends to be sold for under $1,000 (USD). The Radeon Pro WX 7100 has a number of software tools that helps with this, such as the Radeon ProRender, an open-source physically-based rendering engine designed to produce photorealistic rendered content.

amd awesome rocketship pods

There is also AMD’s Project Loom designed for 360 degree video stitching that combines up to 24 cameras to bring 4K resolution at 30 FPS in VR. This is helped by the Radeon Pro Solid State Graphics card.

“In creating Radeon Pro, we sought to address the industry’s biggest problems, and for many creators, there’s none bigger than cinematic VR content,” said Roy Taylor, corporate VP and head of alliances, content and VR Radeon Technologies Group at AMD, in a press release. “Bringing your creative vision to life can be a demanding and laborious process and working in VR, those demands are exponentially multiplied. Through extraordinary Radeon Pro hardware and software, we’re helping alleviate the technical burdens of creativity, empowering artists to focus on telling their story, and through our efforts in location-based entertainment, giving them new opportunities to share their work with the world.”

As well as all of this technology being developed, there is also efforts being put into making VR experiences available for everyone with collaborations with Awesome Rocketship, a company who tours VR and will now be coming with a Venue VR Gateway pod (pictured above), Howie’s Game Shack which is the owner of some of the largest games centers in the US which will now feature VR cafes, and VrOOm for cinematic storytelling, a VR car showroom, all companies who are expanding the VR space in various industries.

For more on the latest developments in the industry, as well as all the news, updates, and features in the world of VR, make sure to check back with VRFocus.

Toyota C-HR VR Experience to be Showcased at VR & AR World

Taking place in London, UK next week is the VR & AR World, a two day event featuring speakers from sectors such as technology manufacturers, broadcasters, investors, hardware and software developers, retail, design, healthcare, construction and more. In attendance will be ZeroLight and Toyota, confirming today that the C-HR virtual reality (VR) experience will be on display.

First shown in Hungry then most recently at the Paris Motor Show the C-HR VR Experience was created to allow visitors to digitally discover and personalise the vehicle ahead of release, enabling them to walk around, configure, open the doors/boot and virtually sit inside the vehicle. Toyota will also be conducting a tour of the UK this month with the new vehicle.

Toyota-C-HR

ZeroLight CMO Francois de Bodinat will be making a presentation at the event discussing the importance of VR within the wider digitisation movement and its application during a products life cycle. After de Bodinat’s presentation a panel will be will be held discussing the impact of immersive technology on the automotive industry.

“Virtual Reality offers a highly immersive experience that completely engages and excites customers” said Darren Jobling, ZeroLight CEO. “Toyota are utilising this technology in a unique way, providing people with an opportunity to discover and influence their new crossover ahead of its worldwide release.”

Earlier today VRFocus reported on Roto VR, a company making a motorised revolving chair that’ll aims to make VR even more immersive whilst reducing simulator sickness. The Roto VR will be on display at VR & AR World during the two day event.

VR & AR World is being held at ExCel London on 19th – 20th October 2016, and for all the latest VR event details keep reading VRFocus.

NextVR Delivers University of Notre Dame’s Upcoming Football Match in VR

NextVR is synonymous with broadcasting sporting events in immersive 360-degrees, and this weekend is no different. The virtual reality (VR) specialist has teamed up with the University of Notre Dame for this weekends American Football match against Stanford University, to take fans right into the action.

As with previous events NextVR has broadcast, the company will use multiple cameras located around the field providing viewers with different angles and vantage points to watch the proceedings. NextVR will release several highlight packages throughout the game, concluding each quarter with audio commentary from University of Notre Dame alumnus, Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Tim Brown and NBC announcers.

NextVR notre-dame-football

“We are pleased to be working with NextVR, in conjunction with our long time media partner NBC Sports, to pilot new fan experiences that bring them closer to the action,” said Dan Skendzel, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Media and Branding.

NextVR will also be offering exclusive content from Brown. Available on-demand in mid-November fans will be able to access behind-the-scenes game day experiences including tailgating, the Notre Dame player walk to Notre Dame Stadium and other pre-game festivities.

“Our mission is to seek partnerships that will provide fans with unprecedented access,” said Brad Allen, Executive Chairman of NextVR. “Notre Dame fans are among the most passionate in sports, making this relationship a significant milestone for Notre Dame and collegiate football fans.”

The Notre Dame vs. Stanford game will be shown on the NextVR app which is available through the Samsung Gear VR platform.

For all the latest NextVR news, keep reading VRFocus.