Mutual Enemy

A bit different from what I usually write about, but as the Empire wrote here, Sony and Fox seem to be working together to a small capacity in promoting each other's work in their own little Marvel universes. This is of course done for obvious reasons: make moviegoers hopeful for a X-Men/Spider-man crossover much like Disney's own universe and to work together to try and keep their franchises alive.

Now the first seems incredibly unlikely. While Disney's own universe connections seemed near impossible before The Avengers it's definitely shown it is possible, but these films were all under one studio, making it easier to connect them. While Sony and Fox are different, and could at any point want to steer away from plans and do whatever is needed to keep their respective rights in place (unless, god willing, they ever sell rights to Disney).

Then of course, this is also an attempt to align against a mutual enemy and try to keep afloat. The two studios can of course be stronger if they don't bother fighting each other and recognize the bigger threat. I don't think it'll hurt the powerhouse that is already in motion by Disney, but it could be interesting to see what the shaky alliance could lead to.

Like if you Remember Progress

The Oculus Rift, a peripheral that would immerse users in a virtual reality. This creates the opportunity for a section of video games that could change things in the  industry allowing players to connect to the medium on a whole new level.

Though wary, people were starting to take notice, and actually consider it in the future of games.

That is, until Facebook purchased it last week, and it all turned sour.

Facebook buying a machine that was heading in the route of innovative gaming derails what could have been. Facebook has no firm roots in video games. Sure, there are plenty of games that you can play with you account, but these are considerably dumbed down games of clicking to make something happen, then waiting or paying until you can do the same action again and bother your friends to decrease the time between actions by playing as well.

You can put in your own joke about Farmville or whatever is popular on Facebook here.

This really irks me, granted, I don't currently have it in my college-student budget to go out and buy a $350.00 add-on, but I like to look forward to what could change video games and allow for new outlets in such a dynamic industry. I think Facebook buying Oculus Rift stops that; it limits what we can do and what kinds of people would want to produce games for it. Instead of people with fresh ideas for new hardware, we're likely to see quick, slapped together games meant to hit credit cards by the dollar.

Games such as Classroom Aquatic, a game I written about before that has you playing as a dolphin in an underwater classroom that must cheat off classmate's tests in order to effectively pass. If that doesn't make you raise an eyebrow and question what you just read, then congrats, your idea is weirder than mine - and I donated money to help fund it.

This might seem like a silly idea, but it shows promise;  this game has a premise that would effectively use the Oculus (by having the player actively move their head to look at other papers to get answers) and I find that amazing. To have such a simple idea, give it a unique and stylized look, and hardware that just brings it all together. Now, who knows what the future of this game will be, and if you'll get the option to pay a dollar to get answers without even trying.

Now in spite of my negative view towards this purchase I don't think it's wrong that the Oculus was bought. It can help to have some big money behind you, but I think it matters where that money comes from. Had Microsoft or Sony, both prominent in video games bought the Oculus then this may not have been such a problem (though recently, Sony revealed their own virtual reality headset, currently named "Morpheus") considering these companies have been part of gaming and have an understanding of the market and consumers. But Facebook, Facebook is another beast, with games hanging as a spare organ, not necessary but nice to have. The care behind games isn't there, or the history in the industry.

While it can't currently be said what Facebook will do with its new toy, it doesn't look positive. While the Oculus Rift was just beginning to walk it has been snatched up and being expected to grow further in a field of statuses and selfies. Leaving gamers hopeful that this futuristic hardware will be more than social media headset.

And the whole issue of the crowdfunding that Oculus made in the first place by thousands of people only to see their investment sold off? That's a complete different issue.