That said, VR gaming still feels like it’s in its infancy. There are certain genres that lends themselves very, very well to the medium (think first-person puzzle box type games like Myst and The 7th Guest.
But some genres, like RPGs and action platforms, while functional, just don’t work as well because you are controlling an external character inside an immersive environment as a spectator rather than personally being “in” the environment yourself. It’s a bit like playing a game looking over a diorama: works for some stuff, and not so much for others.
As for other practical uses for VR headsets, the tech just isn’t there yet. It isn’t at a place where you would put this thing on your head and go walk around in public with it. For one, it’s too bulky and heavy, and for another, it flat makes a person look like an absolute doofus.
I’m a software developer by trade, and VR has been an area of interest to me ever since the original Oculus Rift model showed up. It’s interesting tech for enthusiasts, but it’s still got a bit of growing before it’s matured enough for mainstream acceptance. In short, we are today in VR where Blackberry was in the smartphone market circa 2002-ish. You can see the direction we’re headed, and it’s almost there, but the cake’s gotta cook just a little bit more.
Oh, man, you're taking me back there.
As a wheelchair-bound gimpy grandpa in my 70’s, I’ve often wondered if a VR headset could be linked to either an aerial or submerged drone for in-flight viewing. I have to plead ignorance on the subject, but that would be SO COOL as a new adventure for my gimpy ass.