[ggendel]

I haven't made the leap to VR but I know how addicting Video Games can be, I could lose many hours at a time to it. Will the additional restriction of wearing "reality blinders" remove you even further from social interactions?

[krisguy]

I feel like I have been more social about using VR than I have via Xbox Live. Applications like Altspace and add-ons for Vive that allow Twitch chat make the experiences more shared to me.

[mop26921]

I think its as anti social as playing a playing a normal video game alone. The head set doesn't really change the social aspect

[VirtuaTyKing]

One thing that helped end my long running use of Xbox live was the lack of talking. I blame party chat for that.
The few times I've played Rec room and VR Pool Nations I found people to be social like Xbox live back in the day.

[EgoAnt]

I think it's like anything else - some people will be antisocial and others won't regardless of the activity.

[Shagatron]

It's actually made me more social. As someone who generally hates interacting with others, especially people who internalize the term "Gamer", I've found folks with VR to be a lot cooler, more tolerable, and even fun to socialize with. One of my favorite things now is to hop into Rec Room with my Vive and talk with people. Yeah, you get the occasional ahole who thinks he's being super cool and edgy, but in general, it's been a much more positive experience than any other digital socializing I've been a part of.

[Z0MED00D]

I would say VR goes on another level of antisocial compared to normal video games. I say this because of the fact that you can separate yourself from people sitting next to you when playing in VR in addition to not knowing who is with you in that room.

[anon(9419666)]

I don't know if vr is going to be anti social, but I don't think it will be munching differently than regular gaming.

[LookArpTheStars]

As a few others have said, I too think it won't be any much different from regular video games. I know people who completely block out the surroundings when reading a book, I also know people who still interact with people around them when playing video games, so I guess it's just down to how you would normally socialise when doing something.

I do agree with people saying VR has another level of separation from the environment, and won't be able to interact with people around, but cmon, don't the most of us play video games alone as well?

[Zuchit]

It's difficult to say. You may seem anti social to outsider but you may be socializing virtually with someone else in VR world

[Shagatron]

I would say VR goes on another level of antisocial compared to normal video games. I say this because of the fact that you can separate yourself from people sitting next to you when playing in VR in addition to not knowing who is with you in that room.

How many random strangers do you have coming in and out of your home?

[ggendel]

How many random strangers do you have coming in and out of your home?

Funny thing is that I have many more than I would have guessed. I built a unique, "green" home. We give tours to random people all the time. For example, the postwoman stopped and asked to see it.

[mister_tangerine]

I used my friend's Samsung Gear VR and it brought everyone together. We went over for dinner and all had turns using it and playing around.
We all talked about our experiences and seeing it for the first time. However, this is probably because it's something new and shiny that not a lot of people have.
If it becomes more commonplace, it'll become just like cellphones or any other piece of tech.
I feel there isn't enough content right now to keep us glued to be inside a VR environment.

[Matty]

I haven't made the leap to VR but I know how addicting Video Games can be, I could lose many hours at a time to it. Will the additional restriction of wearing "reality blinders" remove you even further from social interactions?

People say reading a book is anti-social.

ggendel - 'You can lose many hours at a time to it'

I don't think VR specifically is any more anti-social than other gaming platforms (Single Payer)

[VirtuaTyKing]

Some people today already seem hardwired into their phones. As long as digital communications isn't to the detriment of real world communications. It's all gravy.

[person13628]

I wonder if people once thought books were antisocial

[AlbertoDr93]

I'm interested too on this, as I never tried any VR...As I like playing on xbox live a lot and in general playing with xbox or pc, is such a different thing playing games with VR?At least, playing on xbox gives me the feeling that in any case I can interact with people/ambient around me...Can you say the same with vr?

[nutsaboutpistachios]

VR is not anti-social when carried out alone, just don't go out for a meal and put that on your face.

[1213 1213]

Yeah, but probably not much more antisocial than playing any other videogame by yourself.

[tcd3in1]

I feel like it depends on how its used. Just like any gaming activity, there is the possibility to have a social interaction with others either online or with the dying local multiplayer. However, this technology used for gaming is meant to be more immersive. So it will more than likely impact the gaming community. Possibly, the community will lean toward less social gaming experiences if this becomes successful.

[ciuvak]

yeah, it's not a very social activity, unless the apps allow collaboration and competition between other real people, not just AI bots.

[Chemy JMHT]

I wonder if people once thought books were antisocial

Actually they did it, and with the newspapers and with almost everything:






But talking about the topic, the answer is no, not my experience, I usually use the Rift when I'm with people around, and share it, it's nice to see how each person reacts to different pictures, movies, activities, games and even how ourselves are using it, I have a ton of videos of family and friends while I was showing the Rift.

I think it depends of what you are up to with the device, I'm pretty sure watching a movie is a solo journey but it's kind of the same (for me) of bungee jumping, I mean, it's something you do alone but you will share it longer than the activity itself.

[ggendel]

I think it depends of what you are up to with the device, I'm pretty sure watching a movie is a solo journey but it's kind of the same (for me) of bungee jumping, I mean, it's something you do alone but you will share it longer than the activity itself.

Interesting analogy, thanks.

I remember traveling through Alaska and I asked a group of teenagers if it was hard to have no sun and blistering cold for months. They said that there were two approaches. One is to get out and do, ignoring it. The other is to stay inside and get drunk.

[LezCronut]

I believe eevrything has its place. And as some have said here, even books can make us anti-social! I think it's the same as any other entertainment and technology: an addict will be addicted, a non-addict will not be addicted. Thus if you're addicted you'll be anti-social.

Even social medias can make us anti social, that is replacing real contact with human beings.

I say don't worry about VR being anti-social. It IS hugely immersive and captivating, but self control is still our best ammunition.

[AlbertoDr93]

Reading your comments make me guess that, like all the things, is something that can be used normally if you can control yourself.
I think also that as a 'new' kind of technology, people will get used in few time, as soon as more people are going to try it out!
Speaking about me,if they're going to improve more and more the game side, I guess its just about time that I'll get my VR set