Oculus Rift Could Have Subsidized Cost, Maybe Free

[exfileme]

Free is good.

Oculus Rift Could Have Subsidized Cost, Maybe Free : Read more

 

[icemunk]

$300 is affordable, but I the idea of pay per month, or free would bring a huge audience, especially if they can get some awesome content to go along with it. Bring on the HD retail version and you'll have my $300.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Maybe do a deal with some stores along the lines of 'buy 5 games and we give you one'?

 

[Spencer Castillo]

"You want everybody to play it and the cheaper it is, the more people are going to go out and buy it,"

I wish microsoft and sony are like this

 

[everygamer]

I would say worry less about a subsidized model, just keep working on the technology to the point that it gets mass produced. This will drive the cost down. If they then can get Microsoft or Sony or both to support the device on console's it will open it up as a peripheral to a much larger audience.

I think the end goal should be the widest platform support, this will drive up the size of audience and then bring down cost. If the Rift 10 years from now is a $50 peripheral for PC's and Consoles it will be cheep enough to be a mass market product.

 

[everygamer]

"Maybe do a deal with some stores along the lines of 'buy 5 games and we give you one'?" the margin on 5 games is not going to be enough to cover the cost of the hardware for a retail Rift.

When they say subsidize, it means that someone else is paying for the Rift. For a model like that to work, the Rift has to generate sales somewhere else to off set that cost.

Sony lost $1 billon a year when the PS3 was released to reduce its cost, because they knew in the long run it would help them win the HD format war (blueray vs HD DVD) and they would make that money back later in hardware licensing and media sales.

 

[internetlad]

collect 100 game UPCs and we'll send you one for free lol

 

[whiteodian]

$300 is very reasonable considering Sony is charging more than double that for their head mounted display. I drove about 70 miles to demo the Sony head mounted display and decided it was not worth the money they were asking. It was difficult to track what was going on during the game (I played Sonic the hedgehog). Movies looked ok. I would definitely want to demo the Oculus prior to plunking down the money.

 

[SirGCal]

The windows version of Kinetic 2 is reported to be $400, so the much more useful IMHO Rift for $300 is a deal and one I'd jump on. Bring it! The Rift is unique and IMHO, does it right.

Still wish it was faster refresh that it was but overall going to be sweet for the masses and I'll use it till my migraine triggers. (I have visual sensitivities and migraines at 60Hz after 30-40 minutes, special setups of 120Hz or more to prevent it. IF they did that, I'd do $300, even at their current lower resolution, without question, no problem.).

 

[Adam Freeman]

This is PC gaming not some stupid cell phone company shit, pay to play is dead on PC why do it with equipment also? $300 dollars for good kit on a computer is nothing.

 

[loosescrews]

Those who can't afford the whole cost up front can put it on their credit card. Subsidies just drive the total cost of ownership up for everyone (see cell phone plans.)

 

[teh_chem]

The logical break in this is when analyzing how subsidy works for Sony/Microsoft on their consoles; Sony and Microsoft have revenue streams beyond their hardware (game ecosystems), so they can afford to sell it at prices where the profit margin on the device isn't high. But the Oculus Rift doesn't have that model (yet?). They only have their hardware; unless they get in good bed with Sony and/or Microsoft (or game developer/studios). But if I were Sony or Microsoft (or other), it would be a tough argument to adopt that sort of relationship with the OR. It doesn't bring them much of an advantage.

 

[Vorador2]

Affordable is always very interesting, but it's even more interesting to actually release it. How about giving a release date and final specs.

I really really want to get my grubby little hands on this.

 

[dennisburke]

I'm interested in the Rift as an accessory to my PC. If Logitech can charge hundreds of dollars for some of their gear, $300 seems like a reasonable price, considering all the technology involved.

This is a work in progress, but I think the focus should be on size and weight, more so than price.

 

[__-_-_-__]

jailbrake in 3...2...1...

 

[nevilence]

Those who can't afford the whole cost up front can put it on their credit card. Subsidies just drive the total cost of ownership up for everyone (see cell phone plans.)

If someone cant afford the 300 bucks the stupidest thing to do is stick it on a credit card, the final cost will be much more than just $300. Silly idea

 

[loosescrews]

If someone cant afford the 300 bucks the stupidest thing to do is stick it on a credit card, the final cost will be much more than just $300. Silly idea

I completely agree. The problem is that there is one thing even stupider. Getting financing from the person selling you the item. Do the calculations. You think 20% interest from the credit card company is bad? Seller supplied financing is often much worse.

The problem is not just the insane interest. The problem is that often times when enough customers take the financing all customers pay for it whether they pay full price or not. My example was cell phone plans. for example, Verizon charges all post-pay customers for financing (through inflated rates) whether they buy a subsidized phone or not. This drives the total cost of ownership up for all customers. Yes, prepaid options exist, but because carriers make less money on prepaid so they discourage it through a variety of means.

Another example is ink jet printers. Most manufacturer's sell the printer near or below cost. They then make the money back in ink. There is not usually a good way to pay full price for the printer and then pay less for ink (without going to a different technology such as laser printing.) This drives the total cost of ownership up for all customers. Yes, you can buy remanufactured ink cartages or refill your own, but there are other draw backs to both of these options.

In other words, I don't think it is the place of the seller or manufacturer to offer financing. Let a separate financing company do that. Those who can't get their act together to save most likely won't look for a good low interest loan. That is why I mentioned credit cards. They are even easier than seller supplied financing.

 

[nevilence]

fair call good sir

 

[Someone Somewhere]

jailbrake in 3...2...1...

Jailbreak what?

 

[cats_Paw]

300 Bucks is ok as longa s you dont inflate the price overseas. This is a huge problem for me as everytime i want to buy something from USA, I have to pay aroun 28% more.

Now... 300 dollars is not a toy for kids, but then again, this is not a toy anymore.
If its 50% as good as the creators and game devs claim it is, Im getting it even if i have to save up cash for 6 months.

Id say that If the product is very good, price comes secondary, becosue you either can afford it or you cant (taking all options into this).

 

[cypeq]

You get 0$ from me if you don't provide software wrapper allowing this to play old games. Like morrowind, fallout 3, and fokin ultima underworld ;p

 

[cypeq]

Truth be told I was expecting Oculus invention to cost twice this price.

 

[Sabinsnake]

free? LOL! nothing is free, especially the resources that were put into making this piece of technology work, why would it be free if the company that made it wants to make money?...