Virtual reality is quickly becoming a reality and the excitement over recent developments in this nascent technology have many experts and analysts looking to see whether it will be a thing to hold onto and follow in the coming months and years, or if it is more hype than "reality."
The upsurge in media coverage of virtual reality technology and gaming is largely a result of Facebook's purchase of Oculus VR earlier this year that has helped propel the southern California company into the limelight.
Oculus recently received some positive reviews over its efforts in gaming, and while some observers who have been able to test the prototype Rift headset device have commented on its size, the overall impression appears to be positive and a sign that virtual reality is here to stay.
For many, virtual reality is still new. It will likely take some time for gamers to get used to it. Those with strong stomachs, too, who can handle the vertigo that sometimes comes with latency and movement, but a problem Rift seems to be on the way to solving.
CNN's Senior Producer Ravi Haranand said that while the Oculus Rift headset appears at first glance to be bulky, it does take some time getting used to.
"It's a little unsettling. I was surprised by the low resolution of the screen, individual pixels reminding me that my eyes were millimeters away from them; I was acutely aware of the edges of the display; and basically, I could feel like I had a big plastic visor strapped to my face," he wrote.
Currently, virtual reality is dominated by first-person games, whereby users get to be the experience rather than simply directing through the game via third-person, which is more common in traditional gaming platforms for adventure games.
With Oculus being purchased by Facebook earlier this year, the company has seen its stock increase. As more and more investments come in as a result of the deal, Oculus has been able to branch out and continue to innovate in the virtual reality world.
It appears that VR is here in the tech world to stay, but for many it is a question of how long it will take before companies like Oculus are able to deliver products for the general public's use in the home. Until then, most observers believe it will likely be a waiting game. Still, the massive PR push and the interest that virtual reality is getting in recent months should help propel the sector forward and help increase the innovation and speed with which it can move into the mainstream market.
