Sony Corp. promising to up its VR content
TOKYO— Sony Corp.’s video game division is readying not just games but music, movies and other entertainment for its virtual reality (VR) headgear, set to go on sale next month.
Atsushi Morita, Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia president, appeared at a Tokyo event Tuesday ahead of the Tokyo Game Show annual exhibition this week.
One of the VR experiences being promised is a music video that’s a collaboration between the Biohazard horror game, called Resident Evil in North America, from Japanese game maker Capcom, and L’Arc-en-Ciel, a Japanese rock band, that takes advantage of VR technology’s illusion of 3D and 360-degree surround imagery. VR can make games more immersive, enhancing the effects of horror, razzle-dazzle and erotic titillation.
The Japanese electronics and entertainment company’s PlayStation VR headgear device goes on sale next month for about $549 in Canada, less than rival VR headsets. Oculus Rift’s goes for about $849 and HTC Vive’s for $1,149.
Another VR shown at Tokyo-based Sony’s event was called the Anywhere VR, which delivers to headset wearers a relaxing scene, such as a beach or a star-studded sky, even in their living rooms, while they take care of smartphone chores in VR.
Morita said the PlayStation VR will also be used to show live-theatre performances, tours of historical sites and karaoke video.
He defended his industry against the common criticism that it distracts children from education and real-life development.
He said he learned about societal rules and human drama from games, manga and music. That spirit of creativity must be passed down, he said.