Why VR Is Like a Rollercoaster Ride, According to Sony

One major talking point for virtual reality games is length. Can players expect to immerse themselves in a virtual world for hours on end as they can in a traditional gaming experience? Or is virtual reality something players do for shorter periods of time? According to PlayStation president Andrew House, who is overseeing the launch of Sony's PlayStation VR, virtual reality is better suited for shortform experiences--at least for this generation of hardware.

"I tend to believe that this generation of VR lends itself more to shortform content than it perhaps does to very longform experiences," he said at Sony's Investor Day briefing this week.

This isn't a bad thing, House said, citing theme park rides as another example of a short experience that can also be thrilling and enjoyable.

"I don't necessarily see that as a deficit or a negative," House said about virtual reality lending itself more to shortform experiences. "I tend to liken the VR experience more to something like a theme park ride. It's short, but it's very intense and it's very enjoyable. I think the key is to have the right kinds of content experiences, both in terms of length, in terms of intensity."

In somewhat related news, amusement park chain Six Flags is letting people ride rollercoasters while wearing virtual reality headsets. It's also worth noting that rollercoasters and virtual reality share a commonality in that they sometimes make people lose their lunch.

Also during the event, House said virtual reality games, because they are so new, may not have the same high production values and complex game mechanics that you might find in a big-budget traditional console or PC game.

The beauty of virtual reality is its simplicity, at least for this generation, House said. Whether it's exploring an alien planet inhabited by dinosaurs or watching a 360-degree retelling of Jesus Christ's life, virtual reality users are immersed in worlds they've never experienced before.

"And that's where I think its true potential lies," he said.

PlayStation VR goes on sale on October 13, priced at $400 for the headset alone or $500 for the Launch Bundle that includes everything you need to get started and a multi-game disc. Preorder stock is sold out just about everywhere, but retailer GameStop will accept more preorders later today, June 30.

If you miss out on this upcoming preorder wave, your next shot to buy PS VR will be when the device goes on sale in October, as this will be the last time Sony replenishes preorder units before launch. When PlayStation VR comes out officially, you may also have a hard time finding a unit, as Sony has said there will likely be shortages.