Virtual Relationships

MoguraVR:

About the image of VR. While social VR exists there still are many people saying that meeting face to face is the best way to socially interact.

Palmer Luckey:

[Joking] Hmm, how about that? There are also people like that.

MoguraVR:

You don’t seem to think so?

Palmer Luckey:

I was not raised to think in that way. I think it has something to do with age. It’s a different way of thinking. There are people that just say ‘I have sent you an email’ but young people are not like that.

I have actually never met some of my best friends. I have played an online game with him, and have only met him in VR. I have no doubt that they are my friends. My parents have raised me by saying ‘Your friends are going to become your treasure’. Those best friends that I have never met personally truly are ‘treasure’ to me. I also got to know my girlfriend through the internet, we didn’t meet for two years. Had I met her in VR (and been satisfied with that), I maybe would have never met her for real.

Palmer (left) playing Super Smash Brothers during his time in Japan | Photo courtesy MoguraVR

MoguraVR:

If there are split opinions on something time will reveal the answer.

Palmer Luckey:

Time truly settles issues. Especially young people who gradually develop new values will change the mainstream.

MoguraVR:

That is going to take some time.

Palmer Luckey:

I actually think it won’t take that long. A lot of the internet culture has been created by young people. I am sure that in ten years the people using the internet will think that meeting in VR is as good or even better than meeting in real life. Even then there surely will still be people that think that meeting face to face is the best, but in another ten years meeting in VR will advance even further. Inside of VR you can look however you want. If I could meet people in VR while looking like I weigh 25 kilo less I would of course like to meet more people in VR [laughs]. Of course generations that learn to accept technology from a young age are going to be more flexible to change their way of thinking.

Pokémon Go Obsession

MoguraVR:

We previously talked about Sword Art Online, you are known for your big love of anime. The first anime you ever saw was Death Note (2007)?

Palmer Luckey:

That’s right. No, if we are exact the truly first one I ever saw would have to be Pokémon (1997), Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998) or Dragon Ball (1986) which I saw as a child. Death Note was the first anime I saw as a grown up before it became popular in the west. But that is besides the point, I love anime. I also still love Pokémon.

SEE ALSO
'Pokémon Go' is Where I Draw the Line on "Augmented Reality"

MoguraVR:

If I recall right you also play Pokémon Go (2016).

Palmer Luckey:

When I first met Pokémon Go I was addicted to it. I cosplayed as Ash and went into parks all night to catch Pokémon, I then slept alone under a bridge. I haven’t played it much recently.

MoguraVR:

There are some Pokémon that are exclusive to Japan, do your best to catch them!

Continued on Page 3: Real & Virtual Consequences and Palmer’s Next Project »
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Ben Lang
Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."
  • Ombra Alberto

    Nice artikel.

    • Tommy

      Tu la. Palmer rocks. Met him in person before. Memang passionate diorang.

    • NooYawker

      Too smart for his supporters to get it.

  • towblerone

    Love it. Palmer is the man. Can’t wait to see what he does next.

  • Ashwin

    long live Palmer, what is this new “project” all about, really intriguing.

  • Dotcommer

    Yeah, good luck getting any new ideas off the ground with your new found notoriety. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be associated with a political troll with frighteningly right-wing beliefs.

    • JW

      There are people out there who actually don’t care what his personal opinion is and just care about his innovation to the world. What if Thomas Edison was a ‘far right’ conservative? Would you not want to use any of his innovations? Thought so.

      • Sam Kennedy

        So true, would we deny electricity or the invention of the CPU or any of the great software innovations of our time because of the inventors political views. The thought is laughable and you are far too consumed with politics if that is your rationale. I believe in diversity of thought , I think that is the most important diversity and that includes people that have right wing views that I do no believe in (or left for that matter) , not all people with different views than you are stupid or ignorant in fact some times you can learn and better yourself from listening to views you may not agree with.

        Its certainly better than living in a bubble or an echo chamber where you shut out anyone that doesn’t agree with your views, like the above poster (dotcommer) seems to believe in. I liked palmer and his unadulterated passion for VR before his political views where known and knowing his political views certainly isnt going to change that for me.

        • Nimblerichman

          Sure, why not. Long live the Nazis and Palmer Luckey!!!

      • MaruluGames

        Here is a good example of this: most of the technology used in the Apollo mission rockets is based on Nazi technology and the US recruited all the Nazi scientists in operation paperclip.

        • Get Schwifty!

          Not quite true – but the principle holds. Basic rocketry yes. There were two teams, one US and one comprised of the former Germans. Early rockets in the US were the German camp, later on virtually all the US program rockets were developed by the US team with considerable differences in systems – notably less safe than he German team. The problem was the German teams pace and designs were deemed too “safe” to meet the program goals in a meaningful time.

          • Nimblerichman

            If people weren’t so politically correct these days Palmer could have been the next Hitler.

    • polysix

      Give it a rest, you are in a MINORITY it case you hadn’t noticed. A loud, whining minority sure but a minority none the less.

      Palmer will be fine, I’ll support his future work over Suckerberg and Facebook any day! Facebook are doing far worse things to humanity than throwing a little cash at a shit-posting group (that didn’t even count in the end as Trump won anyway)

      • iThinkMyCatIsAFlea

        Dotcommer definitely isn’t in the minority.

        Any product/project that Palmer gets involved with will raise questions about those that employ/back him. Not only that, his involvement with the alt-right Nimble America and his backing of Trump, including his $100,000 donation to Trump’s inauguration, will overshadow any project that he gets involved with. Just go and reread the first paragraph in the article above for an example of what I’m getting at.

        • Surykaty

          But did he get involved with the alt-right at all? HE DID NOT.. it’s fakle news you moron.. just go and do your research.. what a pretentious and lazy piece of shit you are

    • polysix

      Btw think about “frighteningly left wing beliefs” also. Pot meet kettle. Far left is the new Far right (but more dangerous to its own citizens). You sheep you.

    • NooYawker

      History has shown that business doesn’t care how big a scumbag you are as long as they think you can produce a profit for them. He has plenty of like minded supporters, he has nothing to worry about.

    • Ted Joseph

      I actually am a conservative, and like Trump’s ideas. He is at least trying something dammit! Most politicians are incompetent hacks. Didn’t Billy Clinton say North Korea would never get a nuke!? Back on topic. I love VR! Cant wait to see what the future brings!

    • Surykaty

      Frighteningly right wing?? Like freedom, personal responsibility, smaller government? We are not talking about republicans here… Palmer likes to troll the shit out of stupid liberals.. that is ok in my book!

  • Arv

    About Palmer’s anime idea. 2 words – Red Barchetta. An awesome song by the Canadian prog rock band Rush. He needs to check it out, it has a very similar story. :oD

  • polysix

    Can’t really describe how HAPPY I am that Facebook actually ‘released’ Palmer from their evil grasp. Palmer is now free to pursue pure VR in an idealistic, not traffic/data farming way as possible. Just like his original goal.

    Come on Palmer, we’re behind you man! (and that’s from an Ex Viver, DK2er, PSVRer and someone who will NEVER buy a Facebook HMD so no rift for me).

  • iThinkMyCatIsAFlea

    “I think we should change the subject.”

    They should’ve pushed him to answer questions about the alt-right, Milo and his love for Trump. You know, relevant questions not fanboy questions.

    • Surykaty

      Relevant??

      He’s a right winger just like I am… he obviously likes to make fun of crazy liberals and SJWs like I do… he’s an enterpreneur and tinkerer at heart.. and that requires freedom which is something that the left hates. I am from an ex-communist country and I saw how the whole equality mantra turned the country into a blood-lust, envy, corruption shithole.. I don’t need any lectures on that.

      The alt-right connection is bullcrap as he never connected himself with any of the larping nazi stuff that comes from some of the extreme dark corners of the interwebz. And Milo? The black skin loving homosexual tech writer and pretty much comedian who said it sometimes should be ok that very young gays look for relationships and protection with older gays (pederasty)? I don’t find that topic much controversial.

      Palmer just needs to take a rest before the SJW liberal movement implodes and he can get back into the limelight.

  • Ted Joseph

    Because of this man I get to enjoy Arizona Sunshine, Wilsons Heart, Robo Recall, VR Sports, VR Pool Nation, etc. I am absolutely HOOKED on VR!!! Thank you Palmer!

  • Graham J ⭐️

    First question has extra “from” in it.