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| Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studio President Yoshida Shuhei answers questions during a press conference to launch the firm's virtual reality head-mounted display in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Sony Korea |
By Yoon Sung-won
Sony Computer Entertainment, provider of PlayStation game console, said Wednesday it will launch a virtual reality head-mounted display compatible with the console in the first half of next year.
With the launch of the PlayStation VR, the Japanese company said it will accelerate its drive to expand its presence in the virtual reality technology industry from games to more diverse entertainment sectors such as films.
"Compared to one-and-a-half years ago when we showcased the Morpheus, the environment surrounding the virtual reality technology is rapidly changing. We are seeing a sharp increase in the number of developers working for virtual reality content not only in the game industry but in film and drama," Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studio President Yoshida Shuhei said during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday.
"Our strategy is to build the PlayStation VR as a completely new platform, not as a peripheral device to PlayStation 4. The virtual reality technology has unlimited possibility and we anticipate that our goal to further expand our market in this sector and achieve success will be much earlier than we originally planned."
The virtual reality technology has drawn keen attention from leading global IT companies such as Samsung Electronics, Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Intel, as one of the next innovations that can change visual experiences.
Shuhei said Sony has an advantage in integration hardware and software in this sector as it produces not only virtual reality devices but also system software and game consoles.
He said it expects the PlayStation VR will offer a completely new gaming experience which is much more immersive than what is available on flat screens.
"Developers have always worked to maximize gaming experiences. But the experiences have been limited so far because gamers remain outside the screen when a game's world is happening inside of it," he said. "The PlayStation VR will allow gamers to go into the game's world firsthand."
The PlayStation VR has a 5.7-inch organic light-emitting diode display that can produce a surrounding vision. It also has an accelerometer sensor and a gyro sensor.
Being compatible with PlayStation 4, the virtual reality device supports up to 120Hz refresh rate, producing smoother images. It also fully supports the network functions of PlayStation 4. This means gamers can play with others in the virtual reality environment, Shuhei said.
He added the PlayStation VR supports game development engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine, helping developers produce virtual reality versions of their games more easily.
Sony Computer Entertainment Korea (SCEK) President Kawauchi Shiro stressed that it will strengthen support for Korean game development firms in producing titles for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR.
Korean game development firm ROI Games said it plans to launch the virtual reality version of its horror adventure game "Whiteday."
"We have made research and development efforts to remake the computer game both into a mobile game and a virtual reality title. SCEK has offered full-fledged support to boost the gaming experience," ROI Games CEO Lee Won-sool said.
Meanwhile, SCEK will participate in the G-Star 2015 game show in Busan next week. It will exhibit diverse PlayStation 4 games, as well as four test versions of PlayStation VR titles during the show.
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