PlayStation VR is selling briskly at GameStop

Executives want to make sure their stores are ready to meet the holiday rush.

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In a press release, GameStop announced that Sony's PlayStation VR headset is proving more popular than anticipated (via GameSpot).

"PS VR is off to a great start at GameStop, having already exceeded our early expectations," per senior VP of merchandising Bob Puzon. "Due to the popularity of the system with our customers, we have received additional units for holiday."

This past summer, GameStop hedged its bets by ordering a limited quantity of PSVR bundles. Part of the headset's appeal might have to do with the demo kiosks available for use at many of its brick-and-mortal locations.

Shacknews editor-in-chief reviewed PlayStation VR earlier this month. While he came away impressed by Sony's tech, he advised casual players to wait for the hardware's library to grow before pulling the trigger.

"The headset is nicely designed and easy to use, despite its sheer mass of wires," he wrote. "What's holding it back right now is the launch library, which is middling-to-fair. It certainly has engaging experiences, but none stand out as a must-play that should convince players to drop hundreds of dollars. Hopefully we see more incoming, thus boosting adoption rates and helping lead to more development."

Long Reads Editor

David L. Craddock writes fiction, nonfiction, and grocery lists. He is the author of the Stay Awhile and Listen series, and the Gairden Chronicles series of fantasy novels for young adults. Outside of writing, he enjoys playing Mario, Zelda, and Dark Souls games, and will be happy to discuss at length the myriad reasons why Dark Souls 2 is the best in the series. Follow him online at davidlcraddock.com and @davidlcraddock.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    October 26, 2016 2:01 PM

    David Craddock posted a new article, PlayStation VR is selling briskly at GameStop

    • reply
      October 26, 2016 2:33 PM

      [deleted]

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        October 26, 2016 2:46 PM

        I've tried both, but the answer should always come down to games. I'm really looking forward to Resident Evil 7, and it's exclusive to PSVR--at least for a while--so I'll probably end up getting that headset eventually.

        In this case, your computer is another factor. VR headsets require high-end PC to run at steady frame rates so you don't get sick. That said, I'm thinking PSVR will have a wider selection of games if it continues to sell well. There's a lower barrier of entry since all you need is a PS4 and a PSVR.

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          October 26, 2016 2:54 PM

          You don't need to set up all the motion shit around the room for the psvr?

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            October 26, 2016 2:58 PM

            Just one camera at the front. It does limited room scale from that one.

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        October 26, 2016 2:58 PM

        PSVR has the launch lineup, Vive has the freaky deaky shit

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        October 26, 2016 3:00 PM

        PSVR is the most comfortable HMD and is supposed to get stuff from Sony. Vive is higher tech and has roomscale.

        Sony's support is a big wildcard for me, it could either be great or it could be like their terrible support for the Vive, EyeToy, anything that isn't the core console. We'll see.

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        October 26, 2016 10:49 PM

        Rift.

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        October 26, 2016 11:22 PM

        Neither, get a rift

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          October 27, 2016 2:38 AM

          why? between the rift and vive the vive seems a no-brainer to me.

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            October 27, 2016 2:42 AM

            Rift has the better controller coming out. Also I think it'll likely win in the end. Especially given its likely Oculus will be supported on the upcoming Xbox Scorpio. So being able to have one that works on both PC and a console is gonna be good.

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              October 27, 2016 3:56 AM

              well, MS announced their own headset yesterday. So I wouldn't be so sure about the xbox compatibility

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            October 27, 2016 3:21 AM

            More exclusive titles, plus everybody is very positive about the upcoming touch controls

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              October 27, 2016 3:21 AM

              Plus it's lighter

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              October 27, 2016 3:56 AM

              vive has good controls now though, and I'm sure they're also working on updates.

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        October 27, 2016 1:58 AM

        Assuming you already have a PS4 and a high end computer; Vive.

        Why? Better roomscale, developed indie scene, low cost experimental games.

        If you have anything less than a high end computer, get the PSVR

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        October 27, 2016 2:02 AM

        If you can't get them all, get the Rift. The Touch is fantastic and there is less hassle with cables than on the Vive and the camera is easier to set up. Room-scale is not a must these days as everything is based around teleporting and most experiences are still 180 degrees instead of 360. Depends on the space you have, as well.

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        October 27, 2016 2:07 AM

        PSVR is more comfortable, cheaper and I experienced less of a screen-door effect. Vive has better tracking and graphics, obviously, but for the first generation wave of VR I think PSVR is good enough. Also, I don't have a Vive-capable PC.

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      October 26, 2016 2:52 PM

      I had assumed this would be the headset that sold well enough to rebuke the 'vr is dead at the starting block' people. The install base of PS4 vs 970 or better has to be at least a magnitude larger.

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        October 26, 2016 3:20 PM

        note the Vive has sold > 140k units and Oculus is probably in that ballpark. Pretty decent numbers for $600-800 peripherals that require high end PCs.

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          October 26, 2016 3:34 PM

          it certainly is. perhaps I should addendum 'vr is niche and dead...'

          I think the psvr will help remove the niche stigma.

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          October 27, 2016 5:29 AM

          But are they continuing to sell in good numbers?

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        October 27, 2016 2:05 AM

        The PSVR probably already sold more on pre-orders alone than Vive and Rift since their respective releases so far.

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      October 26, 2016 2:57 PM

      I'm still enjoying Thumper, Keep Talking, Job Sim, Tumble, Brookhaven.. haven't even played most of VR worlds or playroom yet. Hope devs keep making games! Want to pick up wayward sky soon, that style of game in VR is great.

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        October 26, 2016 3:00 PM

        [deleted]

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          October 26, 2016 3:58 PM

          Totally forgot about Rez. Only played areas 1 and 2 so far but another amazing experience.

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        October 26, 2016 3:52 PM

        go play london heist now (on the vr worlds disc). it's awesome. DO NOT PLAY scavenger though (even though it's great), it will make you sick, guaranteed.

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          October 26, 2016 3:57 PM

          London Heist was the one thing I did play, it's a great concept that is over far too soon. Will have to check out shooting gallery in there soon.

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            October 26, 2016 10:13 PM

            The Shooting Gallery is really fun. I really want more Heist and more guns akimbo.

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          October 26, 2016 4:21 PM

          Non-sense. Scavenger is fine due to the cockpit.

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            October 27, 2016 1:51 AM

            Scavenger made me feel sick :(

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              October 27, 2016 5:52 AM

              Are people getting sick in Scavenger able to play Battlezone? That's the one that gets me despite the cockpit and I think it's the strafing movement.

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                October 27, 2016 6:48 AM

                I think for me it was the flipping in Scavenger. You do a lot of jumping around asteroids with no clear up/down and with the horizon rotating and flipping all the time. Bleurg!!

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                  October 27, 2016 6:49 AM

                  Also, I'm off to the pub tonight to meet some old friends and I plan to make myself feel very, very ill! Perhaps my VR training will help.

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        October 27, 2016 2:47 AM

        I want more driving games. DriveclubVR is fine, but I would love to play a proper, licensed F1 game in PSVR one day.

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          October 27, 2016 2:50 AM

          Battlezone demo was also great fun, but the full game is a bit too expensive for what it offers.

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        October 27, 2016 3:57 AM

        I really want them to make a 3d platformer like the one you play for a short while in the Playroom VR digital game.
        https://youtu.be/v-BqA7rkQh8?t=4m47s
        Once I started playing I was like holy shit! I want a Crash Bandicoot VR or Jack n Daxter VR game
        =/
        MAKE IT HAPPEN SONY!

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          October 27, 2016 5:02 AM

          Yeah it's one of the best games in the launch lineup for sure.

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          October 27, 2016 5:37 AM

          Will "Lucky's Tale" come to psvr? There's Wayward Sky too, it's somewhat similar.

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      October 26, 2016 3:42 PM

      [deleted]

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        October 26, 2016 4:30 PM

        This is my issue with VR right now. I want a really quality title to play. But most of it is little indie games and betas/demo stuff.

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          October 26, 2016 5:02 PM

          Even just an empty neighborhood with no action or point but being able to walk and look around and pick things up would be amazing. Just let me experience a world and give me a controller so I don't have to teleport around like a genie.

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      October 26, 2016 11:03 PM

      we will end up with PSVR and Fire Gear My Face is on Fire VR?

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      October 27, 2016 5:36 AM

      After having a great time with various PSVR games, I tried Rigs last night. It was great, having lots of fun. After about 30 minutes, I noticed that I was getting a cold sweat on my brow and a little while after that I was getting sick to my stomach. I stopped shortly afterwards because I had to do something else but I realized after it kept getting worse that this was the first time I've had motion sickness in my life. I've driven fast cars, been on boats tons of times, and play video games for a majority of my life. Sadface.

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      October 27, 2016 7:35 AM

      If they haven't thought about it already,Sony needs to consider bringing back PS Home and using it with PSVR. I have to admit,if they did,I might actually consider getting one.

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