At E3, Creators Highlight Virtual Reality's Progress 19 June 2015, Byderrik J

At E3, creators highlight virtual reality's progress 19 June 2015, byDerrik J. Lang

Remote and PlayStation Move controllers with a twist: sensors surrounding users' hands can detect basic motions like pointing an index finger or giving a thumb's up.

Equipped with analog sticks and pairs of trigger buttons, the Touch controllers are intended to simulate users' grabby hands in virtual environments.

In the Oculus "Toy Box" demo, for example, one hand could grip a lighter to ignite a Roman candle held in the other, resulting in virtual fireworks comically blowing up in a wearers' face—all without

a trip to the emergency room.

Microsoft Studios executive Saxs Persson demonstrates how the HoloLens is used to play "Minecraft" at the Xbox After exhibiting several prototypes of the Rift at E3 E3 2015 briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment and other events over the past three years, Oculus Expo at the University of Southern California's Galen boasted a sleeker version of the headset intended Center on Monday, June 15, 2015 in Los Angeles. While for consumers at this year's E3. the audience saw Persson stare at an empty table, a special camera allowed them to see what he was seeing "Last year, we were showing off just development - a perfect 3-D representation of a pixelated "Minecraft" kits, things for game developers to use to develop," world. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) said Oculus founder Palmer Luckey earlier this week. "This year, we're showing off the final consumer Oculus Rift, which is going to be shipping really early next year." It's really happening. At this week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the video game industry's There's still no word on the system's final release annual trade show at the Los Angeles Convention date or price. Center, several hardware and software creators highlighted the evolution of forthcoming virtual and augmented reality systems.

A look at the technology's latest advances:

OCULUS RIFT

Oculus, which jump started the latest VR trend in 2012, allowed attendees to go hands on with Oculus Touch, the pair of controllers it unveiled ahead of E3 last week for its Oculus Rift system.

The doodads feel like a mash-up of the Wii

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a special camera on stage at Microsoft's E3 briefing wowed many viewers, the reality is the imagery inside HoloLens doesn't completely envelop a user's field of view. It's more akin to looking at a 3D smartphone screen than actually being surrounded.

There's currently no release date or price set for HoloLens.

The Microsoft HoloLens is showcased at the Xbox E3 2015 briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the University of Southern California's Galen Center on Monday, June 15, 2015 in Los Angeles. Microsoft is promoting the next installment in its popular sci-fi franchise, "Halo 5: Guardians," at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

MICROSOFT HOLOLENS

Sony PlayStation 4 wireless controllers are displayed at Microsoft demonstrated another rendition of its the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo at Los Angeles HoloLens augmented reality headset after originally Convention Center on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Los debuting the device in January. Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Unlike VR headsets, HoloLens doesn't block a wearer's vision to immerse them in a virtual world. Instead, a visor-like screen on the headset displays PROJECT MORPHEUS three-dimensional imagery that appears as if it's in the real world. Sony showcased several games coming to Project Morpheus, the VR headset that works in concert An untethered HoloLens was shown off with a with the PlayStation 4 console. A few of the titles on holographic "Halo" battlefield map appearing on a display highlight the system's multiplayer table, an interactive shooting game called "Project capabilities—both on TV screens and with other X-Ray" simulating alien bug-like creatures popping headsets. out of walls and a version of "Minecraft" that seemingly constructed the beloved blocky franchise For instance, "Rigs" pits teams of three Morpheus- in the real world. clad gamers against each other as mechanized laser-blasting combatants in a futuristic arena, "The hope is that game developers will now see while the latest version of "Playroom VR" casts one HoloLens and come back with great ideas and Morpheus wearer as a Godzilla-like creature who ways to take advantage of it," said Shannon Loftis, must chase and evade three other gamers head of publishing at Microsoft Game Studios. portraying robots on a TV screen.

While a demonstration of HoloLens broadcast with "I think being in VR with someone else is a really

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different experience than being alone," said Richard Marks, senior director of research at Sony Computer Entertainment America. "With something like 'Rigs,' it's just like a regular multiplayer game except the other players feel like they're right there with you. It's a very compelling feeling."

As with Oculus Rift, Project Morpheus is set to be released in early 2016, with no specific date or price announced as of yet.

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