Guard Frequency Episode 103 | Paul Watson of HCS VoicePacks
Greetings Citizens and Civilians, you’re tuned to episode 103, of Guard Frequency — the best damn space sim podcast ever! This episode was recorded on Friday 15th January 2016 and released for streaming and download on Tuesday, January 19th 2016 at GuardFrequency.com [Download this episode]
Geoff, Tony and Lennon are back in the hanger for an episode of the expanded Guard Frequency so packed with content we had to sit on it to do the zipper up!
To kick us off, we take a present look at future tech before bringing you an interview with voice pack creator extraordinaire, Paul Watson. On the Flight Deck we see what news from your favourite space-sims has landed as we cover:
- Star Citizen Alpha 2.1
- Elite: Dangerous Dev Update 14 (and the accompanying Q&A)
- Discovery of life in Elite: Dangerous
- Bonus Link: Curious about the Lore and how Minor Factions fit in to Elite: Dangerous?
and then I gather Tony and Geoff’s thoughts on Virtual Reality and the Octopus Rift. Next, we strap Chiv and Ostron into the Sim Pod as they review the X Series, and finally we tune into the Feedback Loop and let you join in on the conversation.
This Week’s Community Questions
- You’ve heard our thoughts on it, but we’re curious to know what you think: Virtual Reality — the next big thing in gaming or is it just as gimmicky as it was in the 80s?
Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!
We got patches!
View our post for our latest episode on the RSI forums.
Join us in-game!
- Click here to go to our Star Citizen Organisation page and apply today!
- Join our Google Plus community for Elite: Dangerous
- Check out the callsigns we use personally in each game
Priority One Productions are always looking for new team members that have a passion for space sims. Please know that all of our positions are volunteer, but we do offer a well known outlet for your work. If you have a particular skill that you believe could enhance our content, then send your contact information and experience along with a few writing samples to squawk@guardfrequency.com
You can also follow us on the social media sites! We’re on Facebook! Head over to www.facebook.com/guardfreq and say “hi!”, or check us out on Twitter via @guardfreq for details of our show times and other fun stuff.
Liked this episode? Totally hated it? Leave a comment below, Contact Us using our handy web form or leave your comments on the Roberts Space Industries forums!
Thanks to Ronald Jenkees for his permission to use his music in our show. Visit www.ronaldjenkees.com for more of his work! Enjoy the show!
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Comments (5)
Bennu
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I’ve got an Oculus Rift pre-ordered, so I’m definitely a fan, but this guy puts it a lot better than I can: https://youtu.be/S0-UR3FVH1E
I’ve tried the DK2 and the experience I had with it and FlyInside FSX was really good – no, it wasn’t the same as strapping into a Cessna 172, but it was way better than any sim I’ve done (and that includes the Soarin’ ride at Epcot). It’s also far easier on the pocketbook.
It’s not the Holodeck or The Matrix, but it’s a really good start. When you have the chance, give it a try (and no, Google Cardboard doesn’t count)
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seannewboy
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O my lord, i loved the Mr Roberts Neighborhood, that was so accurate.
Wonderful show everyone.
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Dr. Argon
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So I wrote a nice long piece last week with my mailing address and witty thoughts on politics, mini-jump points, and even Hitler, but somehow the Guard Frequency “Contact Us” form must have ate it. I was disappointed today when I my name called out for a second time, even though it is always cool to get a personal shout out from Tony and Geoff
I can only imagine where that poor patch has been with my recent moves. Hawaii, Sacramento, Venice, or the great state of New Hampshire? Either way here is my current (and perhaps permanent) mailing address:
Not too far from the (almost) Canadian wastes which Geoff haunts. Hell if you ever make it down to the city I’ll buy you a beer.
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Dr. Argon
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As for the Community Question:
I see current Virtual Reality on par with cellular phones from the late 80s. No longer ‘one off production models’, VR has the beginnings of actual product lines and the accompanying infrastructure of B2b companies and technologies. Like cell phones VR is just starting to take off with niche hobbyists and specific user groups.
If the analogy holds true by 2020 there will be enough market momentum and product development for growth to be asymptotic with new equipment versions released every 18 months. By the mid 2020s VR and Augmented Reality will be widespread in specific fields such as medicine and engineering. Five years after that it will be as much a part of our lives as the super computers we carry with us so we’re never more than 30 seconds away from watching a cat video.
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Ostron
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I think VR has enough development and tech around it now that it won’t be a burnout fad, but I also don’t think it’ll become a mainstay of future gaming.
Even assuming the current price tag for the OR is inflated, I can’t see these headsets dropping below $200-300 dollars, and you guys already mentioned that you need a pretty beefy PC to process the software. That alone will put a lot of people out of the running, even leaving aside the fact that you have to pretty much have two well-functioning eyes and good inner-ear tolerance to use the equipment at all.
I think VR is going to become a niche peripheral, sort of the way high-end HOTAS and racing sim add-ons are now. There will be certain games and genres where the VR will give you a better experience, and I think some smaller devs may try to put out VR-dedicated games, but I don’t think larger corporations are going to buy in.
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