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Weekends with Engadget: GS5 and Fire TV reviews, Sony's Yoshida on VR, and more!
Welcome to Weekends with Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines from the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. For even more action, subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Landmark's Georgeson 'hugely interested' in VR, Project Morpheus
EverQuest franchise director Dave Georgeson is "hugely interested" in Sony's Project Morpheus VR headset, according to IGN. While Georgeson said that the PC pedigree of EverQuest Next and Landmark prevent the company from currently embracing the PS4-only Project Morpheus, he also said that he sees VR as "the future of gaming." "We need to build the game, and then we can talk about virtual reality and stuff beyond that," Georgeson explained.
Project Cars will launch as one of the PS4's first Morpheus games
Slightly Mad Studios' crowdfunded racing game, codenamed Project Cars, will launch as one of the first PlayStation 4 games to support Sony's Project Morpheus virtual reality hardware, the developer announced this week. "Virtual reality is a perfect fit for racing games since the game world literally comes rushing towards you from the distance and the increased sense of depth and speed that stereoscopic vision affords you makes this incredibly real and tangible," the developer said. "Project Morpheus also allows you to see detail you might have otherwise missed... Via our interior cameras not only can you look around the cockpit and see everything from a first-person perspective, but using head-tracking via the PlayStation Camera you can also now move around the cockpit too -- peer closer at some intricate detail or turn around and look out of the back window." Slightly Mad Studios' previous work includes Need for Speed: Shift and its sequel, Shift 2: Unleashed. The studio announced last year that it was ditching proposed Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game in favor of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 development. Project Cars will hit consoles and PC platforms in November. [Image: Slightly Mad Studios]
Oculus founder: Rift is open, Sony's Project Morpheus is not
Oculus VR co-founder Palmer Luckey highlighted the differences between his company's Oculus Rift headset technology and Sony's recently announced Project Morpheus in an interview with GamesBeat, predicting that the majority of Rift software would never see release on Sony's closed platform. "Most developers that are currently making things for the Rift don't really have that same option to make something for Project Morpheus," Luckey told GamesBeat. "We're an open platform that lets anyone develop anything. Sony is not [open]. There are hundreds of experiences already available for the Rift, and I would bet the vast majority of those would not make it onto a PlayStation 4." During the interview, conducted before Facebook revealed its $2 billion purchase of Oculus VR yesterday, Luckey also stated that Project Morpheus is a net positive for the burgeoning industry. "I think it's a good thing for virtual reality when more people come into the market," he said. "Especially a big player. It shows that VR really is something that is gonna have traction." Luckey additionally believes that the VR headset market will be large enough to support both Oculus and Sony. "This market is not even close to saturation, and the Sony thing is just for their console," he said. "Our thing is not on their console, so we don't even cross paths." [Image: Sony]
CCP: EVE Valkyrie is at the forefront of the VR 'movement'
CCP is convinced that virtual reality is around to stay, which is why the studio is pouring its efforts into EVE Valkryie for Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus. In an interview with VG247, Chief Marketing Officer David Reid said that CCP's involvement is a signal that VR is coming back in a big way: "This is just great for virtual reality. It convinces all of us developers that this thing is really going to happen. That it isn't just a fad or a flash in the pan or just one company trying -– it is now a movement. When you have one of the foundational companies of the video game industry getting into this, it really has accelerated the chances of this becoming a very big deal." Reid said that CCP is showing that it is focused on "things that matter to gamers" by pursuing EVE Valkyrie. "We said a vision statement a couple years ago that we want to be a developer that created virtual worlds more meaningful than real life," he said.
Weekly Roundup: the Moto 360, Sony's Project Morpheus, NSA transparency reports and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Daily Roundup: Turkey bans Twitter, Peter Molyneux talks VR and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Sony's Project Morpheus VR researchers are humble and hopeful
After getting some hands-on time with Sony's Project Morpheus virtual reality headset for PlayStation 4, we sat down to chat with Anton Mikhailov and Jeff Stafford from Sony's research and development team. We discuss the inevitable comparisons to Oculus Rift, working with NASA and the "Wild West" nature of VR development.
Hands on (and head in) with Sony's Morpheus VR headset
Sony made a big splash earlier this week, announcing the upcoming "Project Morpheus" virtual reality headset for PlayStation 4. Intrepid folk that we are, we braved the wilds of Sony's GDC booth to experience Morpheus firsthand. Join us as we strap on Sony's new contraption and pick up some PlayStation Moves to try out a couple of demos. Marvel as we dismember poor, inanimate suits of armor. Thrill as we are almost virtually consumed by a shark and subsequently swallowed by a dragon. Virtual reality is packed with things that want to eat you, it seems.
Daily Roundup: Sony Project Morpheus hands-on, new Oculus Rift dev kit and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
EVE Valkyrie in development for PS4's VR headset
CCP's virtual-reality star fighter EVE: Valkyrie is also in development for Sony's recently announced VR headset, Project Morpheus. Though CCP and Oculus VR had announced a co-publishing agreement for the game, a spokesperson from CCP has told Polygon that the exclusive partnership only extends to the PC version of the game, for use with the Oculus Rift headset. "We partnered with Oculus VR to bring EVE: Valkyrie exclusively to the Oculus Rift on PC and we are thrilled to be working with Sony to bring EVE: Valkyrie to the PS4 with Project Morpheus," a CCP spokesperson said. EVE: Valkyrie, previously known as EVE VR, is a multiplayer space fighting action game within the universe of the MMO EVE Online, designed with virtual reality in mind. CCP's VR title is expected to arrive on PC sometime in 2014. [Image: CCP]
Overheard@GDC 2014: Working with NASA on VR is cool
Sony's recently-announced Project Morpheus VR headset will hopefully introduce new kinds of games for the PlayStation 4, but Sony R&D guru Richard Marks wants it take players to entirely different worlds. Speaking during the Morpheus reveal event, Marks stated that Sony has been working with NASA to create a VR simulation of the surface of Mars, incorporating actual data from Mars rovers. Sure, it's a great way to showcase VR technology, and to demonstrate that it doesn't have to be limited to traditional games, but Marks also disclosed an ulterior motive. "The reason we're doing it is it's just super cool to work with NASA." We can't argue with that.
GDC 2014: EVE Valkyrie coming to PS4, Sony's new VR headset
Sony announced its new virtual reality headset at GDC this week. The device is called Project Morpheus, and it seeks to turn your PlayStation 4 experience into something far more immersive than the typical couch and controller session. Shortly thereafter, CCP announced that its New Eden-based EVE Valkyrie action title is coming to both the PS4 and Project Morpheus. Valkyrie was specifically designed for VR devices, and was previously announced for the PC and the Oculus Rift. We've embedded the new trailer after the break.
Joystiq Check-In: Sony's Project Morpheus
After all the rumors and speculation, Sony revealed its virtual reality-oriented headset, Project Morpheus. We'll have hands-on time with the hardware in the evening, but Reviews Content Director Richard Mitchell and Senior Reporter Jess Conditt sat down to give us their thoughts following Sony's reveal at GDC 2014. While there's a lot left about the device to learn, including final specifications and a price, Richard and Jess recap what is known, as well as what Project Morpheus might have that can trump the Oculus Rift.
Sony's Project Morpheus VR headset is 1080p, more technical details revealed
Sony's Project Morpheus VR headset, revealed during GDC 2014, will feature a 1080p display, according to Anton Mikhailov with Sony research and development. The headset will feature a 90 degree field of view, and it will also allow for a full 360 degrees of head tracking, even if the PlayStation Camera loses sight of the headset. Mikhailov also discussed the spatial sound that Project Morpheus will employ. The headset will be able to simulate over 60 virtual speakers, and it will support custom headphones for those that want them. In fact, the headset itself will feature a headphone jack, and Mikhailov noted that wireless headphones will be supported as well. Sony doesn't want players to experience VR all by their lonesome either, and Project Morpheus will be able to display the game world on the television. He said specifically that it will be a traditional view that players have come to expect in games, and not the double-windowed "binocular" view that has become common in recordings of VR games. Furthermore, the ability to display video on the television as well as in the headset will allow for asymmetrical gameplay. As an example, Mikhailov mentioned the possibility of on VR player fighting against friends who controlled monsters on the TV screen.
PlayStation VR announced, codenamed 'Project Morpheus'
Prepare to trip the rift with PlayStation. Sony has officially announced PlayStation virtual reality in the form of "Project Morpheus," the long-rumored headset that's part of the trend sweeping Steam and also rumored to be in development at Microsoft. "The next innovation from PlayStation that may well shape the future of games," said President of Sony's Worldwide Studios. ""Nothing elevates the level of immersion better than VR." He continued, "VR has been a dream of many game creators ever since the computer game was invented. Many of us at PlayStation have dreamed about VR and what it could mean for the games we create." And still talking, "This prototype also serves as the first development kit for PS4 developers, who are as excited and enthusiastic about this space as us." The headset is designed for PlayStation 4 and will feature seamless integration with PS Camera, DualShock 4 and PS Move. Partners for Project Morpheus includes Epic Games, Unity and Crytek. The unit features a 1080p display, 90+ degree field of view.
Morpheus lander crashes, burns and explodes in untethered flight test, NASA remains optimistic (video)
As noisy as we found Project Morpheus' tethered flight test, its untethered follow-up was far, far louder. Yesterday, the experimental lander suffered a hardware component failure, which NASA says "prevented it from maintaining stable flight." This caused it to crash into the ground and well, explode. On the upside, the space agency says that these kinds of failures were anticipated, stating that they are a normal part of the development process and will be used to build better systems moving forward. You didn't think Curiosity made its touchdown on Mars without learning from a few mistakes, did you? Click onwards to check out the test -- and its aftermath -- in 5, 4, 3, 2, er...
NASA's Morpheus lander detects hazards, noisily passes tethered flight test (video)
While it's not landing on Mars any time soon, NASA took a breather from Curiosity's adventures to showcase the Morpheus Lander. The prototype went through its first (tethered) flight test at the Kennedy Space Center just before the weekend, showcasing its methane-powered rocket system. It's this rocket setup which could make the Morpheus Lander a strong candidate for future landings. It's both safer than rocket fuel and NASA suggests that methane gas discarded from the International Space Station could be enough to top up the lander's fuel tanks without necessitating a visit back to Earth. Morpheus' built-in guidance system also reduces the amount of input needed from mission control -- the pod has been practicing hard on its own hazard field near the Space Center. After passing the test with its training wheels on, the first free flight descent has been tentatively penned in for later today. Crank the volume low -- it gets loud -- and watch Morpheus test those right rockets after the break.
Purdue University grad students give NASA lander tech a boost, do it for the experience
We just learned of NASA's end-of-decade plans to rocket astronauts into deep space for exploratory missions to Mars and beyond. Now, we're getting a peek at the Purdue University-designed lander tech that'll plant our space fleet's feet firmly on terra incognita. What originally started as a senior research project for grad students Thomas Feldman and Andrew Rettenmaier, has now blossomed into a joint research endeavor for the federal space agency's Project Morpheus -- a think tank for trips to heretofore unexplored celestial bodies. The in-development propulsion tech, now undergoing testing at the university's Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories, is required to "meet stringent design and performance" standards, but most importantly, needs to lift the fuel-depleted lander post-descent. You'd think scientific work of this magnitude would come with a hefty paycheck, but the student team behind it all's just doing it for the hands-on knowledge. Sure beats your summer internship at that magazine, huh?
