What is Real VR Content?
Because most VR content you see are not…
I have a habit of taking a step back, to see what I’m doing in the past quarter on a macro level, which helps me understand if what I’m doing everyday is align with my long term goal.
It’s been almost 3 months since I started my career as a VR product manager. It’s time to do a recap regarding my work.
What is VR？
This is the first question I asked myself. From a literal sense, virtual reality means a virtual world that looks like reality. Here’s how Google defines VR:
the computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.
The definition of VR would change with time and development, but from my humble perspective, VR content requires these 5 things:
- 100% computer generated
- 360 degree fully immersive
- 3D spacial/binaural audio
- VR HMD
- Haptics: controllers, sensors for real time interaction
Now I want to use Counter Strike game as an example. As we all know, you can play CS on any PC or even mobile phones now. You press the mouse or keyboard to shoot and move around. You are in control of every movements of the character in the game.
But in VR, YOU are the character. The game is 100% developed in Unreal or other game engines. If you turn around, the character in VR will do the same, and you can see what’s behind you and move around in 360 degree. It’s also fully 3D spacial audio equipped, which means if you hear enemy’s footstep on your left ear, they won’t show up on your right.
This is “the dream” for game players. You are no longer sitting there and looking through a monitor, but fight in a virtual world with more movements and techniques.
If you have a HTC Vive and have tried Pavlov. I would say you have experienced real VR content.
What is 360 degree video?
These videos are usually shooting with multiple wide angle cameras, like GoPro Omni or other so call VR cameras. And in order to keep the quality of your 360 degree experience, the editing and stitching process are painful.
In this case, your field of view are no longer limited to the director of this film, you can always turn around and look at other things in this environment. And there will not be “watch again”, because every time you would have a different experience in the film.
However, the cons are also really obvious. First, you cannot get too close to the object. There’s no close-up shot. Second, you cannot explore in this environment, because most of times, they are shot on static tripod. There’re some moving 360 degree videos, but you will get sick very quickly in this type of films.
According to NYT VR (mobile app)’s data, the average time user spend consuming content is 14min 27s. You might think this is quite a long time, but back in 2015, YouTube mobile app had already reached 40 mins. If 360 degree videos provide you better experience, the time should be at least close to 40 mins. What’s more, a lot of people’s comments on 360 videos are like:
That’s pretty cool!
And they never come back.
I also want to point out that, videos like INVASION, LOST. They are 100% CG 360 degree content. But we still cannot call them real VR content, because they don’t meet our 5 requirements’ haptics and interaction. They are still the highest quality 360 degree videos on the market.
If you are also interested in Chinese market and have experience in Chinese VR content, they probably can’t meet 3 out of 5 requirements.
But please remember this:
Real VR experience are not like this.
Even 360 degree videos could be better than you think.
Conclusion
A lot of people are sniffing at 360 degree videos online. They believe these content are fake VR and just a gimmick currently. But I do not agree.
360 degree videos are definitely not real VR content. I think,
in VR, you are in control of the whole experience;
but 360 videos, you are just traveling with a tour guide who can’t walk, only jump to different spots on maps.
Since 1960s, there’re millions of people trying to push VR technology to market, but failed. In 2016, I think for the first time, we witnessed and understand the potential opportunities and business models for VR. So I believe:
360 degree videos do a pretty good job on filling the gap of real VR content.
Virtual Reality is a new and our next medium of information exchange and motion and interactions. We still have a long way to go before we finish the whole transition of current medium.
But 360 degree video will boost this process. Only when our technology for these videos becomes popularized, can we better focus on the cutting edge of real VR content development. And we are also trying to explore more possibilities for VR while making those videos.
It’s gonna be a long and tough road, but should also be fun.
And I will be there.
My name is Zake Zhang, a newbie VR product manager based in Shenzhen, China. I’m thinking what if I write daily product journal for 1,000 days?
