Sony Experimenting With Head-Mounted Virtual Reality Games

Sony has been experimenting with using the company's prototype 3D display helmet to enhance gameplay, an executive recently revealed, with research already underway on adding head-tracking capabilities. Speaking to Develop, Sony Worldwide Studios senior director Mick Hocking says that the company's PlayStation division has been doing research and development work on a head-mounted 3D display that the company debuted at January's Consumer Electronics Show. The device uses two OLED screens over each eye. It was displayed at Sony's booth on the show floor as an experimental method for watching 3D movies at home. "We're working with a couple of games at Sony that are experimenting with virtual reality experiences," Hocking said. Though he admitted that the device currently does not do head tracking, he did say that it's something his division's R&D team is working on. "I have to say, what we've done in the R&D projects has just been fantastic," he said, adding that it "certainly seems possible" when asked if the virtual reality fad of the 1990s was coming back. Sony has been pushing 3D display technology as a selling point for its PlayStation 3 console. At last month's E3 conference, the company unveiled a PlayStation-branded 3D display and a new line of lower-cost 3D glasses. [Image: Engadget]