The PC Gamer: Virtual vs augmented: which alternate reality is for you?

By Richard Cobbett

Introduction

Much like in 1990, we stand on the edge of a reality revolution. Virtual Reality. Augmented Reality. With so many to choose from, who’d stick with boring old actual reality? Only losers who somehow don’t want to look like an extra from a cheap cyberpunk movie, that’s who.

But which option will be best for you? You’re in luck. Here’s the complete guide to whether you should be lusting after virtual reality, as headed up by the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive and of course, your head, or augmented reality, where Microsoft is leading the charge with HoloLens and the hope that we’ve all forgotten the gulf between its promises for Kinect and actually owning a Kinect.

Finally, because we all know the first generation always has a long way to go, we’ll be comparing them against the acknowledged standard: Hollywood’s idea of what VR *should* be.

But that in a moment. First, the contenders.

Virtually the same

The basic difference between virtual and augmented reality is that the former completely locks you into the world, while the latter puts stuff on top of it.

Microsoft has shown this off with Minecraft, where you …read more

Source:: techradar.com – Gaming