How Virtual Reality Sucked Us in at CES 2016

The biggest news at CES 2016 — beyond the usual long cab lines and an overabundance of super-expensive TVs — has been virtual reality.

Not only did we finally get a price and release date for the highly anticipated Oculus Rift ($600 in March), but we also got a look at the second version of HTC and Valve’s Vive developer kit, called the Vive Pre.

Oculus got a mixed reaction when the company announced the price of the Rift, with some calling it too expensive and others immediately signing up for preorders. Oculus boss Palmer Luckey quickly apologized for the communications snafu.

The Vive Pre’s upgrades include a lighter design, improved optical displays, longer-lasting wireless controllers, and changeable gaskets (the part that touches your face) that make wearing the Vive a lot more comfortable than the first edition of the headset.

We snagged some time with both the Oculus Rift and the Vive Pre at CES and tested out some games and apps we hadn’t seen before.

Long story short, virtual reality has never been closer to becoming a reality, and, pricing aside, it’s incredibly exciting.

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley or on Google+.

More from CES 2016:

• The Coolest Stuff We’ve Seen at CES: Huge TVs, Virtual Reality, and Retro Cameras

• CES 2016 First Look: Smart Showers and Robot Bartenders

• What Is CES, Anyway? A Quick Guide for the Perplexed

• 4 Big Trends at CES 2016: Cars, Wearables, Laptops, and Accessories for Everything

• Oculus Rift Will Cost $599 and Will Ship in March

• HTC Debuts Improved Vive Pre VR Headset With Front-Facing Camera

• LG’s See-Through, Rollable OLED Screens: Here, But Not Cheap
  

• Meet CleverPet, the Electronic Game That’s Like ‘Simon’ For Dogs