I agree with what you're saying about the social aspect, but I'd like to add this to the home theater thing: it's not as expensive as you might think. I'd stack up the sound end of my system with even the local Liemax screen (real 70mm Imax is another story, as is the picture), let alone the average multiplex screen, and the whole system cost about what a new console would, except I spread it out of a period of five years or so. You can get amazing sound for a very low entry price, the trick is having the patience to find what you need inexpensively. My mains, for example, are an old set of towers I found in a thrift shop, $20 for the pair. Not high end by any means, but I can guarantee you they're better than what most people have in their "home theater," and they cost a lot less, to boot.Nouw said:
Socializing isn't by any means restricted to strangers. It's with a group of people you know whether they be your family, friends, work colleagues and etc. Sure you could always strike up a conversation with a stranger at the cinema but that isn't really what I mean when I say socialize. To socialize in this context isn't to meet new people and befriend them but rather to talk, interact and have a good time.the antithesis said:
Hmmm my only concern then is who, or rather how many people, could be bothered to put that much effort into making their own home theatre when the option of going out is cheaper and easier, in the short-run at least. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have my own home theatre system and I'd actively encourage it but I still think the market for people who believe otherwise is still quite strong.Owyn_Merrilin said:
And this is something you can easily do in your home. People do this all the time, actually. So I'm still not seeing the appeal of a movie theater.Nouw said:
Still not at all the same. Part of the cinema experience is the size of the room as much as the screen, not to mention the people around you. Simply fooling your brain into thinking that it is looking at a bigger screen than it really is will never compare.chikusho said:
The social experience of moviegoing goes beyond simply socializing with people you know. It is the fact that there are other people AROUND you, watching the movie with you, sharing an interest in real-time that makes it a social experience, even if you don't talk with any other people at all. And yes, you can find new people to socialize with by going to the theatre too. It happens all the time.the antithesis said:
Actually they already have a working HD version, it just hasn't been released yet (even through the beta program).Pyrian said:
That's the beauty of the occulus rift. It's just the start, an early prototype that already gives people the feeling they're in an open room looking at a large screen. It wouldn't take a ton to get people with realistic enough avatars and incorporating the ability to talk to each other to meet a lot of the requirements of a social event. Again, there are a lot of downsides to going to see a movie in a public place. But imagine if you and your group of friends were sitting on couches in your own house watching the movie? Is that significantly different from seeing a movie in theaters?Nouw said:
Yeah, the consumer version I mentioned. 1080p. That won't render the screen in fidelity, nevermind the theatre environment.SnowWookie said:
An Oculus could just as easily emulate a larger room as well, but you're right. It will never compare. For some people it will be superior. Hell, part of the reason so many are investing in super huge TV's and massive surround sound systems is to get away from as much of the bullshit "movie experience" as possible with the actual movie still intact. Getting away from noisy, talking, phone fiddling people; dirty, sticky floors; poor view from seats at the edge of the theater; supporting lobby organization making the customer the villain; being forced to watch commercials even though you paid to see a movie and still getting shilled on the prices of tickets and popcorn.Silverspetz said:
At this point I can't really explain it as well as say, a sociologist/psychologist could. I do find the prospect of a future where traditional social values is further challenged to be interesting however. It will be like when communication through calling, texting, e-mailing, IM'ing and face-timing was introduced. I think while it will have a market, most people will prefer to go for the real thing but I'm not qualified to say thatLightknight said:
. Perhaps one day we will never even leave the house and interact purely through the technology available to us *shrugs.* As a growing teen myself I would absolutely loathe that. It'd feel so fake and anti-social and considering my peers put even more emphasis on 'socializing' I really don't think it'll take off at least now for a long, long time.Refer to Silver's response which is pretty much what I would have written anyway. Going outside, being in the presence of others. You may not personally enjoy that or understand its appeal but as I said before, families and teens do and they're a massive movie market. Now whether or not society should leave behind these social values is an interesting question and with the introduction of the Occulus Rift it may soon become the next big controversy/challenge for us to overcome.the antithesis said:
I'm sure most of us would agree that direct interaction would be preferred. But this could even be done directly in your house sitting next to them and this is only one event. To be honest, going to the movies is one of the least social events you can do. A group of people sitting in mostly silence while watching a screen. Why not do this in the comfort of your own home if possible?Nouw said:At this point I can't really explain it as well as say, a sociologist/psychologist could. I do find the prospect of a future where traditional social values is further challenged to be interesting however. It will be like when communication through calling, texting, e-mailing, IM'ing and face-timing was introduced. I think while it will have a market, most people will prefer to go for the real thing but I'm not qualified to say that
