"this modern love" by Will Darbyshire (part 2)
What the heck does "this modern love" by Will Darbyshire have to do with virtual reality? His book is about how technology affects relationships... how this modernization affects love. The book contains a collection of messages from people around the world with different types of experiences, thoughts, ideas, and emotions. The depth and how well people illustrate something as intangible as love is quite amazing. But that still doesn't explain virtual reality, or does it?
Yes, it can feel ridiculous wearing a contraption on our face like a VR headset, especially if you've never tried it before. However, like any leap of faith, once immersed in the experience, the awkward feeling goes away. In some ways, it's putting our guard down, quite literally because when wearing the headset, we are vulnerable and literally blindfolded to the outside world. That's where the magic happens. We have to trust the technology and we have to trust who we are with. And that can make for a incredible experience. Once you can let go to any reservations you have about feeling awkward, the experience is more immersive and enjoyable.
Virtual Reality is synonymous for being a solitary experience. However, there are experiences available where two or more people can enjoy it together. It's one thing when two people are going through a dungeon crawl together in virtual reality, it's another to participate in the same experience in the same physical space....
There are experiences for individuals but there are many people can do together. A type of play is called asymmetrical where people can participate while in the same physical room. Typically, the asymmetrical style provides new dynamics to have an engaging interaction for two or more players. The player wearing the virtual headset will have different tasks and experiences than the person/people around him/her.
Great examples of these varied experiences can be found in "Keeping Talking and Nobody Explodes" by Steel Crate Games and another called, "Containment Initiative" by Gwyn Games.
"Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes" by Steel Crate Games is a good example of this type of asymmetrical play. The concept is simple. The player in the virtual space diffuses the bomb while people outside the virtual space provides directions on how to diffuse it by reading through an operations manual that accompanies the game. Communicating well with each other is the core mechanics of KTANE. It can get quite frantic, especially when the number of bomb diffusing puzzles increase with the difficulty. It's one of the most satisfying multiplayer experiences out there even though it's been released for quite some time. It's a heck of a lot of fun playing with family and friends because it can be played by more than two people. Here is an episode of Good Mythical morning playing the game.
Another great example is a game called "Containment Initiative" by Gwyn Games. It's a first person view zombie horror shooting game. It can be played individually, asymmetrically, or multiplayer online. When playing asymmetrically, the person in the virtual space is in the "field" while the person on the computer is providing backup as a sniper. CI is a sleeper hit, not only for the immersive, spine tingling feeling of zombies surrounding you, but you also get that great sense of teamwork when you have someone next to you. The experience is very intense but more fun when someone is playing with you.
Virtual reality is one of the many ever evolving technologies, in some instance it is like the growth of social media as a new medium to communicate, but it doesn't mean that people become isolated; it's far from it. While this blog does give examples of content that's out there that can be shared, there are far more available to experience. VR is evolving communication as a different type of experience. It's all the more entertaining when you share it with someone, quite opposite of the idea of being isolated from others. And having the ability to share in experiences, letting our guard down, and being caught in the moment, isn't that a part of what having and experiencing love are all about? Ben, from Ben Plays VR on YouTube, provides an example of sharing his passion for VR by playing and reviewing asymmetrical games with his wife (The video is below):
"It seems quite clear from all the letters that love is still ever blossoming; people are still madly and unconditionally in love despite the rise of social media, and even after many years together. If you're in a relationship, I encourage all of you when reading this to think about your partner. What are you most thankful for? And do you say it enough?" -- from this modern love by Will Darbyshire
Love will always outpace technology. Get the lovie dovie stuff and put on a headset... together. Happy Valentines! Celebrate with love and passion.
XOXO,
Philip
Yes, it can feel ridiculous wearing a contraption on our face like a VR headset, especially if you've never tried it before. However, like any leap of faith, once immersed in the experience, the awkward feeling goes away. In some ways, it's putting our guard down, quite literally because when wearing the headset, we are vulnerable and literally blindfolded to the outside world. That's where the magic happens. We have to trust the technology and we have to trust who we are with. And that can make for a incredible experience. Once you can let go to any reservations you have about feeling awkward, the experience is more immersive and enjoyable.
Virtual Reality is synonymous for being a solitary experience. However, there are experiences available where two or more people can enjoy it together. It's one thing when two people are going through a dungeon crawl together in virtual reality, it's another to participate in the same experience in the same physical space....
There are experiences for individuals but there are many people can do together. A type of play is called asymmetrical where people can participate while in the same physical room. Typically, the asymmetrical style provides new dynamics to have an engaging interaction for two or more players. The player wearing the virtual headset will have different tasks and experiences than the person/people around him/her.
Great examples of these varied experiences can be found in "Keeping Talking and Nobody Explodes" by Steel Crate Games and another called, "Containment Initiative" by Gwyn Games.
"Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes" by Steel Crate Games is a good example of this type of asymmetrical play. The concept is simple. The player in the virtual space diffuses the bomb while people outside the virtual space provides directions on how to diffuse it by reading through an operations manual that accompanies the game. Communicating well with each other is the core mechanics of KTANE. It can get quite frantic, especially when the number of bomb diffusing puzzles increase with the difficulty. It's one of the most satisfying multiplayer experiences out there even though it's been released for quite some time. It's a heck of a lot of fun playing with family and friends because it can be played by more than two people. Here is an episode of Good Mythical morning playing the game.
Another great example is a game called "Containment Initiative" by Gwyn Games. It's a first person view zombie horror shooting game. It can be played individually, asymmetrically, or multiplayer online. When playing asymmetrically, the person in the virtual space is in the "field" while the person on the computer is providing backup as a sniper. CI is a sleeper hit, not only for the immersive, spine tingling feeling of zombies surrounding you, but you also get that great sense of teamwork when you have someone next to you. The experience is very intense but more fun when someone is playing with you.
Virtual reality is one of the many ever evolving technologies, in some instance it is like the growth of social media as a new medium to communicate, but it doesn't mean that people become isolated; it's far from it. While this blog does give examples of content that's out there that can be shared, there are far more available to experience. VR is evolving communication as a different type of experience. It's all the more entertaining when you share it with someone, quite opposite of the idea of being isolated from others. And having the ability to share in experiences, letting our guard down, and being caught in the moment, isn't that a part of what having and experiencing love are all about? Ben, from Ben Plays VR on YouTube, provides an example of sharing his passion for VR by playing and reviewing asymmetrical games with his wife (The video is below):
"It seems quite clear from all the letters that love is still ever blossoming; people are still madly and unconditionally in love despite the rise of social media, and even after many years together. If you're in a relationship, I encourage all of you when reading this to think about your partner. What are you most thankful for? And do you say it enough?" -- from this modern love by Will Darbyshire
Love will always outpace technology. Get the lovie dovie stuff and put on a headset... together. Happy Valentines! Celebrate with love and passion.
XOXO,
Philip
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