Interview: "Bandit" (Sega VR helmet engineer)

[Melf]

Our latest interview (http://www.sega-16.com/2006/07/interview-bandit-sega-vr-helmet-engineer/) is with a former Sega VR helmet engineer (who has chosen to remain anonymous). In it, he details some interesting aspects of just why the fabled technology never made it to market, and he shows just how close they actually were to a viable product. It's a ray of light on this otherwise dark patch in the history of the Genesis, so check it out!

[Benjamin]

I don't understand why the headset would cause eye damage that could not have been adopted from those crummy VR arcade games. The only thing I could think of is that perhaps it is because the home consumer would play the games a lot longer than the few minutes those arcade sets averaged?

I wanted that thing so bad. I'll never forgive EGM for making the device sound like such a sure thing, pasting a picture of Mansion of Hidden Souls and making people think this was the future for Sega. I guess it was at some point. :(

[David J.]

I guess the price has scared more people away?

[RaveFury]

I don't think I can blame Sega for worrying about eye damage if what Bandit says is true.

It's actually kind of creepy to me, becasue I know I'd be one of those kids to destroy his eyes with that thing. I cringed pretty hard when I read it.

[j_factor]

Very interesting piece of history, but I'm glad it never came out.

[djtwok]

There are some vr headsets for pc at about 200€ available @ the www. are they worth the price ?

[Flash1087]

Some of them are, I've heard good things about a few of those headsets.

And does anyone else love how 'barfogenic' is an accepted scientific term?

[Ed Oscuro]

Great article, though one thing has me confused - were all the comments in (parens) from the interviewee?