When does everyone think VR shows / porn will actually gain traction?

[WebcamStartup]

I'm actually fairly astonished to see how much traction it's already gaining. Didn't have much faith in it as an emerging technology until.....Well pretty much now. Pretty much thought that everyone jumping into it was pretty much just trying to grab headlines for a couple seconds of fame. If that's the case, well, it appears that a lot of people are trying to get a couple seconds of fame.

CAM4 (@GUNNER is on the forum, be interesting to get him in on this conversation) seems to be the first cam site really going for it. Like I said, as an emerging tech, I didn't expect it to gain traction for a couple years, so I've got mixed faith in their venture. They are definitely grabbing headlines though. Haven't really checked out what they're doing with it yet, but I really should.

A ModelCentro model (VERY surprising to me!) is actually producing 360/VR and put in a feature request for MC to provide a player, which is apparently very hard to find. I don't know that much about the tech to know what it entails, but let's just say that I was shocked to see that feature request.

So, it is a tech that is gaining traction, much faster than I personally assumed, and it's not just the professional studios that are playing with the tech.

Curious to hear your thoughts and opinions on it.

 

[Sevrin]

While I believe that it will become a thing, particularly with respect to POV porn, I have a feeling that it won't get huge. My feeling is that the technology will appeal a lot to a few people, but that it has the potential to be a boner killer to a lot more. I have a feeling that the technology will be a hindrance to engaging the imagination, which is a huge factor in arousal.

That said, I still have the anaglyph "True Blood" 3D glasses that came with a special issue of Playboy I once bought for science.

 

[WebcamStartup]

That said, I still have the anaglyph "True Blood" 3D glasses that came with a special issue of Playboy I once bought for science.

Okay, so at the time that campaign happened, I was working direct mail for the family print shop (there's a reason they call it 'Going Postal'). Anyways, just being in direct marketing, got sent all the latest whitepapers, case-studies, ect.

The direct marketing community went nuts over that True Blood campaign. Like straight nuts. Put in on a pedestal as one of the most innovative campaigns of whatever-the-fuck year it was.

Only reason I even know about what you're talking about, to be honest.

 

[WebcamStartup]

Was a pretty decent series until they brought warewolfs, faeries, some dude named "Eggs" and all that other weird shit into it.

 

[LiaAir]

First, liked true blood till season three or four then it became really arduous. Regarding VR I wonder whether this is not more for porn? Equipment is really expensive I guess and is it really attracting more people into a cam show? As said above will it help people to unfold fantasies? How much will the equipment hinder natural movements? It is not like seeing a real person act and behave is it? It will not help in seeing emotions run over my face and body as my show unfolds and we interact, would it?

 

[weirdbr]

I don't see it being useful/popular for camming any time soon - the equipment is expensive (both for the viewer and producer), it doesn't add much (great, you can look around the model's room...) except on some exceptional cases (for example, a POV show, but even then the big change is that the viewer can change the viewing angle a bit: for example, in a POV BJ show, he can change from looking at the model's face to looking at her butt).

I don't see it being useful for porn videos either for very similar reasons; the only area of adult entertainment where it might become popular IMO would be adult-themed games, where VR plus interactivity would pair really well, but then you have to deal with realism issues (AKA the infamous uncanny valley).

 

[ThePrincessLuxy]

I think it's a very slow progression- we have seen interactive toys before in the cam world where the model and member both need a particular toy to use, and it has not really taken off. I think where vr is right now it won't work simply because it is too expensive and not useful enough to be common and cheap for everyone. Now the day where they can somehow incorporate phones, Internet, and vr into one, all into a contact lense or something of the sort- that is when the cam world will drastically change I think.

Vr is just seen as an extra that's unnecessary right now. It just doesn't appeal to everyone at this point (well... It appeals but it only feasibly reaches to a certain very small niche that can afford to spend on fun things that aren't multi purpose).

 

[Boog]

I don't see this applying to the general cam public for many many years (various equipment costs, learning the right way to film and position yourself, etc) but like Sevrin said, POV porn is definitely right around the corner. For non-POV stuff, idk. It would probably be very expensive since you'll need more equipment but I'd be interested in seeing if anyone goes the route of letting you choose viewing position/angle on the fly (male/female POV, high and out, close up, whatever)

but on the more casual fun side of things, Amber made a post a few days ago
https://www.ambercutie.com/forums/threads/virtual-reality-in-amberland.24531/#post-744703

 

[WebcamStartup]

I found this YNOT release on VR3000 interesting:

"The industry has been stalled on live cams and dating for years, but now that we’re making the VR3000 Player available to all companies, there’s brand new revenue opportunities and it’s really exciting,"​

This company actually believes that the industry is "stalled" on live cams and apparently VR will get customers to navigate away from live cams to their product, at least that's how I'm reading it. I highly disagree, which I'm assuming the majority of the forum does too.

Being a company that's allegedly revolutionizing VR, you think they'd try to be embracing the camming industry, too.

 

[Sevrin]

They're probably hyping in the hope that VR will help them to create a captive audience and, perhaps, theft-proof - GL with that - content. It would take a pretty hefty investment*cough*bet upfront to create enough high-quality content to make it attractive to the perving public to subscribe, though. My take is that content creators are intrigued, but no one has announced a commitment, as far as I know.

 

[Luxlives]

I think by the end of next year, VR will be absolutely huge. It's coming, all the new models of phones are VR capable and Gear VR is cheap, as are cardboard setups. Every next gen console will have it, PS4 is about to have it.

 

[WebcamStartup]

I think by the end of next year, VR will be absolutely huge. It's coming, all the new models of phones are VR capable and Gear VR is cheap, as are cardboard setups. Every next gen console will have it, PS4 is about to have it.

I don't really keep up with wearable tech. Are they finally figuring out the battery life issues? When I was in the print industry, I watched all the emerging concepts with augmented reality, and talking with some of the AR solutions, they always said the biggest challenge they faced was battery life of wearables.

Many app developers started building for Google Glass first and then porting it to Android, iPhone, Windows phone, ect. That way it forced them to build the app as light and conservative as possible, rather than trying to take an already built app and streamlining it for the wearable tech.

 

[Luxlives]

I don't really keep up with wearable tech. Are they finally figuring out the battery life issues? When I was in the print industry, I watched all the emerging concepts with augmented reality, and talking with some of the AR solutions, they always said the biggest challenge they faced was battery life of wearables.

Many app developers started building for Google Glass first and then porting it to Android, iPhone, Windows phone, ect. That way it forced them to build the app as light and conservative as possible, rather than trying to take an already built app and streamlining it for the wearable tech.

I just got Gear VR in today, and the battery drain is pretty quick, but not much worse than streaming hd videos or playing games would be anyway. Also you can plug the phone in and that helps a lot. Heat is a bit of an issue still, but there are already people innovating around that. I'm probably going to use a ziplock bag full of water taped to the back of the phone as a heat sink. I gotta say, having it and playing with it today, I'm extremely hype for VR and the direction it is going to let porn go.

 

[schlmoe]

So as a viewer, I'll have to: use my smartphone, buy a VR headset, worry about the battery life and battery running out before the "ending", AND have a ziplock bag water taped to my phone/VR headset due to heat concerns?

Add to that, I'm still not sold/convinced what "value" VR will add to the experience. Just as an aside, my experience in "techie" stuff is that version 1.0 never works and is expensive as hell. I could open a museum of my 1.0s that never got off the ground. I'd say 3-5 years before everything (HW/SW) gets sorted out, and *still* have the issue where "will VR add value to the camming experience (compare to what we have now)?".

For my money, I'd rather have a consistent HD (or near HD) viewing experience, rather than going off on a tangent (VR). First things first

My prediction: 4K monitors will continue to drop, and cam sites will be forced to upgrade to (min) near HD streaming. Of course this could only help the VR camp.

 

[bud9752]

Does anyone remember when VCR's cost over $2000 ?
They are now nearly obsolete and cost diddly .
DVD were the same way and now are fading at $25-$45 .
Don't be one of those - need to be "First Kid on the Block" to get everything .
Patience saves a pocketful of ducats .

 

[WebcamStartup]

Does anyone remember when VCR's cost over $2000 ?
They are now nearly obsolete and cost diddly .
DVD were the same way and now are fading at $25-$45 .
Don't be one of those - need to be "First Kid on the Block" to get everything .
Patience saves a pocketful of ducats .

I laugh at the cardboard cutouts. I get it, and it's actually smart. Once integrated with smartphones, it'll be highly affordable too. I mean, people already pay for phones, right? Hopefully smartphone integration can also help mitigate some of the battery concerns of wearables too.

......Even though I've never dealt with wearables. Just keep hearing that tid-bit.

 

[Behemoth]

I think this is just a broader thing for VR in general: I give it two to three years until truly affordable VR comes around. I think its inevitable in the same way 3D printing becoming a thing is inevitable. It's just a matter of the right quality to price point ratio being hit.

 

[ThePrincessLuxy]

I think by the end of next year, VR will be absolutely huge. It's coming, all the new models of phones are VR capable and Gear VR is cheap, as are cardboard setups. Every next gen console will have it, PS4 is about to have it.

You're missing a major point of this though- yes, anybody at home can ghetto-rig a cardboard VR headset. But that won't do you much good if the website you are viewing doesn't revamp their entire platform. That will cost them A LOT of money. As said before, unless it becomes a unanimous common thing, webcam and porn websites aren't going to dish the money out for it until they know for SURE they will see a return.

 

[DFT]

VR, like 3D, has been the 'next big thing' since the mid 20th century. It fades, then next thing you know it's here again like a cousin needing money.

Superfluous tech - treat it like cicadas - a buzz that comes and goes every few years. At least the bugs you can roast and dip in garlic butter so they have some use.

 

[Magnolia]

Those saying that VR porn isn't that great or won't catch on or take away from imagination or is a "boner killer" or ... whatever.

Have you guys actually experienced HD VR porn? Because it's AMAZING. One of the hottest experiences of my life. I would 100% recommend people try it if they enjoy watching porn while they masturbate (let's be real, why are we all here?), it's sexy and interactive and lightyears better than just watching porn on my computer screen.

 

[WebcamStartup]

You're missing a major point of this though- yes, anybody at home can ghetto-rig a cardboard VR headset. But that won't do you much good if the website you are viewing doesn't revamp their entire platform. That will cost them A LOT of money. As said before, unless it becomes a unanimous common thing, webcam and porn websites aren't going to dish the money out for it until they know for SURE they will see a return.

Depends how you look at it. Is millions per month in display advertising expensive? Because that's the type of action these sites got going as far as media-buy goes. Investing a million in VR could generate enough PR to send as much traffic just off hype as some of these networks are spending on display advertising. Hell, does anyone know the relationship between Chaturbate and Exoticads? I believe CB actually developed a publisher / advertiser network to hedge their media buy investment.

Also, there's tech solutions that have created players. This keeps the sites from having to put fourth the efforts and funds into R&D and development of proprietary software.

I highly doubt VR3000 would give me their pricing information for their product (not publicly displayed on their website) but for shits and giggles might see if one of the site owners I've got rapport with is willing to shoot sales an email just to get a ballpark on what implementation would cost. Guaranteed it's not 7-figures.

Like I said earlier, it'd be interesting to bring @GUNNER into this conversation, as Cam4 has actually implemented the tech. In it's infancy , too.

 

[WebcamStartup]

Those saying that VR porn isn't that great or won't catch on or take away from imagination or is a "boner killer" or ... whatever.

Have you guys actually experienced HD VR porn? Because it's AMAZING. One of the hottest experiences of my life. I would 100% recommend people try it if they enjoy watching porn while they masturbate (let's be real, why are we all here?), it's sexy and interactive and lightyears better than just watching porn on my computer screen.

Out of curiosity, what / where did you try it?

 

[AmberCutie]

Have you guys actually experienced HD VR porn? Because it's AMAZING.

I have a feeling the majority of people in this thread have not tried VR at all. Because people who have not put on a legit VR headset and experienced VR really don't grasp what it actually is.

My mom thought VR was just like watching a movie with 3D glasses... until I put the Vive headset on her and put her in a game. She gets it now.

 

[mynameisbob84]

Those saying that VR porn isn't that great or won't catch on or take away from imagination or is a "boner killer" or ... whatever.

Have you guys actually experienced HD VR porn? Because it's AMAZING. One of the hottest experiences of my life. I would 100% recommend people try it if they enjoy watching porn while they masturbate (let's be real, why are we all here?), it's sexy and interactive and lightyears better than just watching porn on my computer screen.

I watched a bit of VR porn on a friend's Samsung phone/headset (that sounds weird. I don't usually watch porn with friends, but he wanted to show off what it could do and I'd never used a VR headset and was naturally curious about VR porn, so... it happened) and it's fucking weeeiiird, man. Like, not necessarily good or bad weird, just weird weird. I think in time, like anything, I'd get used to it, and obviously being alone would cut down on some of the weirdness, but for me anyway, the closer something like that comes to feeling "real", the more glaring the things that give away the fact that it's obviously not real become, so it can easily become quite a jarring experience.

I do think it will become incredibly popular though and can definitely see the appeal.

 

[schlmoe]

I have a feeling the majority of people in this thread have not tried VR at all. Because people who have not put on a legit VR headset and experienced VR really don't grasp what it actually is.

My mom thought VR was just like watching a movie with 3D glasses... until I put the Vive headset on her and put her in a game. She gets it now.

I think you are right, or maybe partially right. I still say that I am unsure that VR will "add value" to the current web cam experience. You're right that I haven't tested it out (either porn/games, or otherwise).

Your mom "gets" it. But for games. Big difference. Anybody can go to an electronics store/phone store and test it out for games. They WANT you to. But where are you going to be able to "test" it out for porn? Either go visit Bob's friend, or go to an Adult Expo (or similar). I suspect most people would feel like Bob in those situations...weird.

So a "regular" guy has to take a leap of faith (or a pig in a poke), lay out (to me) a lot of money, and hope it works. When a VR headset comes with a smartphone (for free or nominal fee), then it may take off. Until then, it will be treading water. That's not a bad thing. This will give the H/W & S/W guys time to get the bugs worked out. It will probably happen, but it will be awhile. We're still waiting on 3-D video and 3-D Internet, which was promised/announced over a decade ago.

I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade, but just trying to be realistic. Drawing on my extensive experience with multiple 1st generation products that either took 2-3 generations to get right, or faded away...

 

[AmberCutie]

But where are you going to be able to "test" it out for porn?

There is actually a demo available on the Rift. A sexy chick is walking around her apartment undressing, and you're standing IN the room with her, you can look and move around, it's as if she is right there with you, your instinct tells you to reach out and touch her.

If you try VR for a game or experience (there are a whole lot of experiences, like being underwater in a reef, for example) you'll understand why being IN a porn scene is different than watching it on your screen.

You just have to try VR before making judgment on it.

edit: adding this to emphasize something



This, as this flat video, does not really give you the full effect that you get when you're IN it... Unless you actually try on a headset, you just won't "get it".

 

[WebcamStartup]

When a VR headset comes with a smartphone (for free or nominal fee), then it may take off.

I think you nailed it right there.

 

[ThePrincessLuxy]

I think you nailed it right there.

I got one for free with my Samsung Galaxy 6 through AT&T. Many people were, idk if they are still doing it. It's neat but I've used it maybe 5 times.

 

[AmberCutie]

Even with my above explanations of how mind blowing VR really is, and how you just don't understand it until you try it... I do believe VR porn won't really "take off" until the entire experience is either extremely inexpensive or free, as @schlmoe said. Just wanted to clarify that I don't disagree with that statement.

 

[Behemoth]

I mean, to a degree its a non-statement. Everything is economics to one degree or another, so it'll inevitable just be whenever the value proposition reaches that sweet spot. IE: it'll be when VR is so inexpensive that you've got it anyway, probably, in the same way most folks likely didn't buy a Blu-Ray played for HD porn but once they had it, might as well get porn on it too.