A look at Sony's virtual reality googles

Last updated 13:11 21/03/2014

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Sony unveiled a prototype headset this week capable of surrounding a wearer's vision with interactive virtual worlds. The system, codenamed Project Morpheus, utilises a 1080p head-mounted display with head-tracking capabilities and works in concert with the PlayStation 4 console to display imagery on the headset's screen, providing a 90-degree field of view.



A closer look at four of the interactive experiences - not actual full-fledged games - Sony was using to demonstrate Project Morpheus at GDC:

The Deep: This demo created specifically for Project Morpheus by Sony's London studio cast a standing user in the role of deep sea diver - complete with virtual wet suit and flare gun - inside a shark cage that submerges into the depths of the ocean. The undersea encounter is interrupted by a great white who attacks the enclosure at the first whiff of blood.

With lush graphics and stereoscopic 3-D audio, The Deep showcased how Project Morpheus could recreate frantic Jaws-like moments as the shark ominously circled the cage. However, it wasn't completely immersive because Project Morpheus only tracked movement of the head and DualShock 4 controller, so fin flipping wasn't translated to the feet on screen.

EVE: Valkyrie: Developed by CCP Games and set in their EVE universe, Valkyrie is a sci-fi multiplayer dogfighter pitting players against each other in the cockpits of galactic fighter jets. Project Morpheus' version featured richer graphics and details, like a massive carrier in the distance of the star field battleground, than the one demoed over at Oculus Rift's booth.

Playing in a seated position with a DualShock 4 controller in hand that acts as the spaceship's yoke, the sedentary orientation provided Valkyrie with a VR advantage. Pulling off dizzying manoeuvres like rolls, spins and corkscrews while simultaneously blasting other users compellingly simulated what it might be like to really pilot an X-Wing from Star Wars.

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Nasa Mars Project: The technology demo created in tandem with Nasa utilised high-resolution images captured by both satellites and the Curiosity rover to transport a user to the surface of Mars. The rover itself also made an interactive appearance, separately navigated by Project Morpheus senior software engineer Anton Mikhailov on a DualShock 4 controller.


The Castle: This combat-centric game demo dispatched users to a cartoony medieval training ground where they could totally abuse a dummy in a suit of armour. When armed with a pair of gesture-detecting PlayStation Move controllers in each hand, "The Castle" depicted gauntlets on the headset's screen that could reach out and wield swords and a crossbow.



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