Valve talking virtual reality at GDC
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Developer to discuss virtual reality port of Team Fortress 2 and why the technology could become more mainstream at event in March.
Half-Life and Portal developer Valve will discuss its virtual reality plans this March at the 2013 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California. Event organizers have announced the addition of two talks from the company, the first of which involves the task of porting Team Fortress 2 to virtual reality.
Valve programmer Joe Ludwig will present "What We Learned Porting Team Fortress 2 to Virtual Reality," which will detail the company's efforts to get the free-to-play game running in virtual reality goggles.
Additionally, Valve's Michael Abrash will speak more generally about virtual reality in a discussion titled "Why Virtual Reality is Hard (And Where it Might be Going)." This talk will touch on why virtual reality technologies could become more mainstream in the near future.
GDC 2013 takes place March 25-29 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
35 comments
1 Like I love you Valve and this idea sounds great but... please give me Half Life 3 and Left 4 Dead 3 first.
Since Gabe Newell featured in the Oculus Rift kickstarter campaign I guess they're hinting at that. Also, Valve's already busy with the Steam Box (I won't mention Half-Life 3...), I don't think they'll develop their own VR system. At least not in a few years.
1 Like There isn't just one factor that will make VR gaming mainstream or keep it always "about 20 years away," so arguing price point or design really isn't doing the discussion justice. In this world of multi-platform releases, the transition from VR to standard play will have to be relatively seamless for enough developers to take it on, and it will have to be immersive enough to be more than a gimmick. Only once these obstacles are tackled can we start talking about design, cost, etc..
I personally think the technology is moving away from VR. Look at the Microsoft IllumiRoom (or whatever it's called). That sucker turns a whole wall into a gaming screen. Projection is probably where the industry is headed, perhaps with some Augmented Reality diversions, as opposed to full-fledged VR. I'm sure eventually it will become a reality, but we're probably looking at 50 years or so down the road, or whenever the zeitgeist changes enough to make it practical. Perhaps if/when gaming becomes so big that the best experiences are had at "gaming theaters" rather than at home.
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2 Like Hopefully he is talking about working with Luckey and porting it to the Oculus Rift. If the Steabox launches with Rift support, this would put them miles ahead of the big 3. If you haven't researched the Oculus Rift yet, I suggest you do it now. The revolution is coming.
''why the technology could become more mainstream'' But for now our virtual reality goggles are hipster glasses because normal virtual reality is too mainstream.
I honestly wish Valve would continue to focus more on software (before you jump on me , I know it is likely Valve has different teams for hardware experimenting and software production but a lot of focus on one project can slow down others either way) and I'm not just talking about Half Life 2 : Episode 3 / Half Life 3. I know Portal was a massive franchise-starter AAA game but I still wouldn't mind seeing Valve start up a new IP even if it already exists in the current Half Life/ Portal / CS (?) universe. not to mention I would love to see Portal 3 and of course Half life 3.
2 Like they first need to make games world, fully disructble like in real life. this will be the next evolution in gaming.
Yeah my guess is Valve's long term plan is to combine virtual reality tech with wearable computing that we know they also have been working on. That will be the next big evolution of gaming.
Well, maybe bethesda think the same and patch Skyrim or make TES VI compatible with virtual reality goggles. It would be too awesome.
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@Suikogaiden it will only happen when the price is right.. nobody is going to buy goggles more expensive than their console. Still, it seems to be more of a thing these days than it was back then. Like 3D, they will push it to the public but it probably wont get used much.
5 Like @Sideshow_me @Suikogaiden That depends. Have you looked at the Oculus Rift project? If those are done properly it could really transform gaming. Being able to actually feel you are in the game world, to actually turn your head to look around without seeing the edges of the screen, that would be amazing. I would gladly pay the price of a console for that kind of experience.
Half life 2 episode 3 will be a continuation of the previous games with scripted channeled gameplay telling the story but in source 3 engine.
halflife 3 will be an openworld game where you live and work
It's always sad to think about many developers losing their job. Best of luck Funcom and employee's let's hope you can make a come back :(
3 Like The new Half-Life will be Virtual Reality and place you in Gordon Freeman's office doing complex physics problems.
I've been saying this ever since I saw Valve's interest in the Oculus Rift, glad I wasn't full of it.
@Psycold
not only Valve... idSoftware is heavily interested in the project as well.. John Carmack himself is working on it as volunteer... he said something about Doom 4 to be released as a Virtual Reality game and they already ported Doom 3
4 Like well folks. Looks like Half Life 3 will definitely be launching with VIRTUAL REALITY SUPPORT. (that felt amazing to type) fuck parentheses THAT FELT AMAZING TO TYPE. seriously- somebody else type that- it feels amazing. so sticky. everything is so sticky all of the sudden.
3 Like @4-Legged-Shark VIR...VIR..VIRTUAL REALITY S-S-SUPPORT. VIRTUAL REALITY SUPPORT! VIRTUAL REALITY F***** SUPPORT!!!!
HAA. HAa. Haa. haa. I have exercised my daemons!
3 Like @4-Legged-Shark VIRTUAL REALITY SUPPORT! Oh my god, you're right. It feels amazing. VIRTUAL. REALITY. SUPPORT!
1 Like Anything game experience that goes over the eyes is BAD.. I can see gamers eyes going bad before time.. Augmented Reality they should push more but that's my personal preference
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