Facebook buys Oculus for 2 Billion
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[quote="Airion"]Check out what Palmer Lucky is saying: [url]http://www.reddit.com/user/palmerluckey[/url] A lot of the speculation put down.[/quote] He also said they weren't for sale = P
Airion said:Check out what Palmer Lucky is saying: http://www.reddit.com/user/palmerluckey

A lot of the speculation put down.

He also said they weren't for sale = P

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#16
Posted 03/26/2014 01:56 AM   
As soon as I saw the news about Facebook purchasing the rift, my heart fell. I am considering cancelling my Preorder of the DK2 at the moment. Maybe wait to see what the consumer version is like since at this point they don't really need my meager cash.
As soon as I saw the news about Facebook purchasing the rift, my heart fell. I am considering cancelling my Preorder of the DK2 at the moment. Maybe wait to see what the consumer version is like since at this point they don't really need my meager cash.

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#17
Posted 03/26/2014 01:55 AM   
[quote="eqzitara"]He also said they weren't for sale = P[/quote] I don't think the "sell-out" characterization that's going around is accurate. Some people seem to think that he's taking the money, retiring and leaving it all to Facebook. That's not the case at all. He's accepting a ton of cash in order to continue working. He didn't sell it so much as get a big backer. The big news I read from his reddit comments is that now they will probably be able to manufacture their own panels instead of being tied to whatever cell phone makers are putting out.
eqzitara said:He also said they weren't for sale = P


I don't think the "sell-out" characterization that's going around is accurate. Some people seem to think that he's taking the money, retiring and leaving it all to Facebook. That's not the case at all. He's accepting a ton of cash in order to continue working. He didn't sell it so much as get a big backer.

The big news I read from his reddit comments is that now they will probably be able to manufacture their own panels instead of being tied to whatever cell phone makers are putting out.

#18
Posted 03/26/2014 02:07 AM   
They are a separate entitity but they were bought out. They aren't investing, its an acquisition. It might not be "selling-out" if thats what he is saying but they were bought out. They have a parent company which owns the company. They might have "free reign" to do what they want but thats would be only because facebook lets them. [quote="Airion"]Some people seem to think that he's taking the money, retiring and leaving it all to Facebook. [/quote] Doesn't mean he can't be forced out [no one knows clauses] or if he will eventually. Technically he could be under contract to maintain company for X time frame and not reveal it. Look at Bioware. Both owners left after acquisition.
They are a separate entitity but they were bought out. They aren't investing, its an acquisition.
It might not be "selling-out" if thats what he is saying but they were bought out. They have a parent company which owns the company. They might have "free reign" to do what they want but thats would be only because facebook lets them.

Airion said:Some people seem to think that he's taking the money, retiring and leaving it all to Facebook.

Doesn't mean he can't be forced out [no one knows clauses] or if he will eventually. Technically he could be under contract to maintain company for X time frame and not reveal it.
Look at Bioware. Both owners left after acquisition.

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#19
Posted 03/26/2014 02:31 AM   
[quote="eqzitara"]They are a separate entitity but they were bought out.[/quote] I don't disagree with anything you said above, and I appreciate your point that just because Luckey says something doesn't necessarily mean it is true now or (especially) in the future. But, I do give his words much more weight than the wild speculation that's raging around the internet right now. Many people are just giving in to their worst Facebook fears and cynicism. I think in time we'll see that this is extremely good news. I think people like Notch that jumped out too soon are going to regret having done so.
eqzitara said:They are a separate entitity but they were bought out.


I don't disagree with anything you said above, and I appreciate your point that just because Luckey says something doesn't necessarily mean it is true now or (especially) in the future. But, I do give his words much more weight than the wild speculation that's raging around the internet right now. Many people are just giving in to their worst Facebook fears and cynicism.

I think in time we'll see that this is extremely good news. I think people like Notch that jumped out too soon are going to regret having done so.

#20
Posted 03/26/2014 02:34 AM   
Isn't it a little early for April Fools? :( Edit: Notch isn't too happy ... http://notch.net/2014/03/virtual-reality-is-going-to-change-the-world/
Isn't it a little early for April Fools? :(

Edit: Notch isn't too happy ...
http://notch.net/2014/03/virtual-reality-is-going-to-change-the-world/
#21
Posted 03/26/2014 03:10 AM   
LOL. Thought of a funny joke. Facebook bought Oculus VR so they can release there revised version of Facebook... ON YOUR FACE-BOOK I will be here all week folks.... tip your waitresses.
LOL. Thought of a funny joke.
Facebook bought Oculus VR so they can release there revised version of Facebook...
ON YOUR FACE-BOOK

I will be here all week folks.... tip your waitresses.

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#22
Posted 03/26/2014 06:04 AM   
First, there is no way we will be "console gamers" with Oculus Rift, since Sonny is making their own headset ONLY for consoles, so no - we will experience better graphics and everything...They would probably keep the 1080p for quite some time until Nvidia and AMD GPUs have the power to do a 120FPS of 4K 3D. FaceBook will probably do their part - communications, for the people who use this not for gaming and entertainment but for work and education. That doesn't mean that the game developers won't put us in a VR MMO and connect us all in a VR game...it's not part of real life - yes facebook won't be in support of that but the game developers will... If Facebook does crap stuff, well let's shut our FB accounts and see what happens then :D FB will be in panic immediately HAHA SUCK IT FB!
First, there is no way we will be "console gamers" with Oculus Rift, since Sonny is making their own headset ONLY for consoles, so no - we will experience better graphics and everything...They would probably keep the 1080p for quite some time until Nvidia and AMD GPUs have the power to do a 120FPS of 4K 3D.

FaceBook will probably do their part - communications, for the people who use this not for gaming and entertainment but for work and education. That doesn't mean that the game developers won't put us in a VR MMO and connect us all in a VR game...it's not part of real life - yes facebook won't be in support of that but the game developers will...

If Facebook does crap stuff, well let's shut our FB accounts and see what happens then :D FB will be in panic immediately HAHA SUCK IT FB!

#23
Posted 03/26/2014 06:43 AM   
@eqzitara: Ha! My take is that this is absolutely terrible news for Oculus, and VR in specific. Palmer is a very young guy, and I think that he just lost a classic VC shakedown, and doesn't even know it. He talks about how FB will allow them freedom, and has a good record for acquisitions. Sorry, but that's just not how it works. You will note that he never talks about what FB gets for their funny money $2B (stock value). That funny money comes with strings attached, no matter what they say. I live in Silicon Valley, the land of big VCs and big talk. I've seen this hundreds of times, and been personally shafted 3 times. VCs do not give a flying F about anything except money. Whether a product lives or dies is 100% irrelevant. I was worried when Oculus took VC money. And it's my take that they lost control of the company and the VCs strongly encouraged the FB buyout so they can cash out nearly immediately. This is impossibly good for the VCs. They usually have to wait years for their 'liquidity event.' Palmer is young enough and naive enough to think this is a good deal. I'd bet money that he is wrong. I hope that I am wrong. Still, what is the Facebook connection? Why would they want this outside of being the hot new thing?
@eqzitara: Ha!

My take is that this is absolutely terrible news for Oculus, and VR in specific.

Palmer is a very young guy, and I think that he just lost a classic VC shakedown, and doesn't even know it. He talks about how FB will allow them freedom, and has a good record for acquisitions. Sorry, but that's just not how it works. You will note that he never talks about what FB gets for their funny money $2B (stock value). That funny money comes with strings attached, no matter what they say.

I live in Silicon Valley, the land of big VCs and big talk. I've seen this hundreds of times, and been personally shafted 3 times. VCs do not give a flying F about anything except money. Whether a product lives or dies is 100% irrelevant.

I was worried when Oculus took VC money. And it's my take that they lost control of the company and the VCs strongly encouraged the FB buyout so they can cash out nearly immediately. This is impossibly good for the VCs. They usually have to wait years for their 'liquidity event.'

Palmer is young enough and naive enough to think this is a good deal. I'd bet money that he is wrong. I hope that I am wrong.


Still, what is the Facebook connection? Why would they want this outside of being the hot new thing?

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#24
Posted 03/26/2014 06:56 AM   
Interesting discussion. I'm curious to find out which one of you will be right. One thing's for sure though. If nothing else, this reveals just how gigantic the perceived value of VR is nowadays. 2 Billion is just absurd. either facebook was utterly braindead to pay so much money, or they've recognised that VR will be BIG business soon enough. If it's the latter, then that's good news. Even if Oculus were to die, other competitors will swoop in and take the crown instead. [quote="bo3b"]Still, what is the Facebook connection? Why would they want this outside of being the hot new thing? [/quote]My guess is that facebook senses that they need to expand or die a slow death. Facebook itself (ie. the website) is losing ground, and is already passe with a lot of the gen Y and gen Z kids, who prefer instagram, snapchat and other things I'm not cool enough to have heard of yet. So, it probably makes sense to diversify and use their billions (while they still have them) to invest in future big things, and not just keep holding on to last year's big thing. Constantly trying to outperform Google, Apple, etc. must be hard work, and they won't succeed at it for ever. It makes sense to jump in on the ground floor of the next big thing by snatching up the frontrunner. [quote="TsaebehT"]Isn't it a little early for April Fools? :( [/quote]That was exactly my initial reaction. :D @eqzitara: lol
Interesting discussion. I'm curious to find out which one of you will be right.

One thing's for sure though. If nothing else, this reveals just how gigantic the perceived value of VR is nowadays. 2 Billion is just absurd. either facebook was utterly braindead to pay so much money, or they've recognised that VR will be BIG business soon enough.

If it's the latter, then that's good news. Even if Oculus were to die, other competitors will swoop in and take the crown instead.

bo3b said:Still, what is the Facebook connection? Why would they want this outside of being the hot new thing?
My guess is that facebook senses that they need to expand or die a slow death. Facebook itself (ie. the website) is losing ground, and is already passe with a lot of the gen Y and gen Z kids, who prefer instagram, snapchat and other things I'm not cool enough to have heard of yet.

So, it probably makes sense to diversify and use their billions (while they still have them) to invest in future big things, and not just keep holding on to last year's big thing. Constantly trying to outperform Google, Apple, etc. must be hard work, and they won't succeed at it for ever. It makes sense to jump in on the ground floor of the next big thing by snatching up the frontrunner.

TsaebehT said:Isn't it a little early for April Fools? :(
That was exactly my initial reaction. :D


@eqzitara: lol

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#25
Posted 03/26/2014 09:36 AM   
Who cares about notch... what about John Carmack? haha
Who cares about notch... what about John Carmack? haha

#26
Posted 03/26/2014 10:01 AM   
[quote="Volnaiskra"]My guess is that facebook senses that they need to expand or die a slow death. Facebook itself (ie. the website) is losing ground, and is already passe with a lot of the gen Y and gen Z kids, who prefer instagram, snapchat and other things I'm not cool enough to have heard of yet. So, it probably makes sense to diversify and use their billions (while they still have them) to invest in future big things, and not just keep holding on to last year's big thing. Constantly trying to outperform Google, Apple, etc. must be hard work, and they won't succeed at it for ever. It makes sense to jump in on the ground floor of the next big thing by snatching up the frontrunner.[/quote]That's my best guess too. They know their business will not be there 10 years from now, and are using their current insane valuation money to diversify into potential future business. That's consistent with the latest purchases. If it's true, that gives some hope that they won't jack with Oculus and let them be.
Volnaiskra said:My guess is that facebook senses that they need to expand or die a slow death. Facebook itself (ie. the website) is losing ground, and is already passe with a lot of the gen Y and gen Z kids, who prefer instagram, snapchat and other things I'm not cool enough to have heard of yet.

So, it probably makes sense to diversify and use their billions (while they still have them) to invest in future big things, and not just keep holding on to last year's big thing. Constantly trying to outperform Google, Apple, etc. must be hard work, and they won't succeed at it for ever. It makes sense to jump in on the ground floor of the next big thing by snatching up the frontrunner.
That's my best guess too. They know their business will not be there 10 years from now, and are using their current insane valuation money to diversify into potential future business. That's consistent with the latest purchases. If it's true, that gives some hope that they won't jack with Oculus and let them be.

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#27
Posted 03/26/2014 10:17 AM   
[quote="Volnaiskra"]So, it probably makes sense to diversify and use their billions (while they still have them) to invest in future big things, and not just keep holding on to last year's big thing.[/quote] I agree. The headline is Facebook buys Oculus for "2 billion," but it's 400 million cash and the rest is Facebook stock, which is worthless if the company doesn't succeed. As far as who's "right" or "wrong" about this, it depends on perspective. This might be bad for Oculus, good for VR, bad for Luckey, and good for Facebook...or any combination. My focus is on us, and VR. I think the infusion of 400 million cash will mean we get a better VR device quicker, and the format can put it's best foot forward. I think a good first impression will help VR in the long run. Once VR has proven itself, perhaps Facebook will meddle in Oculus Rift's workings, but that will be a comparatively minor concern for us by that point. Besides that, I think VR is VR, and it doesn't matter if it's social or a game. We need the same high quality VR device. It's not like Skyrim vs Farmville.
Volnaiskra said:So, it probably makes sense to diversify and use their billions (while they still have them) to invest in future big things, and not just keep holding on to last year's big thing.


I agree. The headline is Facebook buys Oculus for "2 billion," but it's 400 million cash and the rest is Facebook stock, which is worthless if the company doesn't succeed.

As far as who's "right" or "wrong" about this, it depends on perspective. This might be bad for Oculus, good for VR, bad for Luckey, and good for Facebook...or any combination. My focus is on us, and VR. I think the infusion of 400 million cash will mean we get a better VR device quicker, and the format can put it's best foot forward. I think a good first impression will help VR in the long run.

Once VR has proven itself, perhaps Facebook will meddle in Oculus Rift's workings, but that will be a comparatively minor concern for us by that point. Besides that, I think VR is VR, and it doesn't matter if it's social or a game. We need the same high quality VR device. It's not like Skyrim vs Farmville.

#28
Posted 03/26/2014 10:54 AM   
Count me out. I want an OR for escapism. I'm sure that Facebook only wants in for more data harvesting and targeted ads. My day one purchase of the consumer model is no more. I will wait to see if Steam brings out there VR and wait to see what happens. Facebook is a terrible company for OR to be in bed with. Notch has already pulled Minecraft support because of this, I'm sure he won't be the last respected dev to do so until it is clearer how much influence Facebook will have. Airion, i think your analysis is good and and could be right... but I personally doubt it. Many large companies spoil products, think EA. The fact OR was so small and built as a grass roots approach gave it a lot of love and respect. It also meant, the people in charge were there because they truly love VR. Facebook now has control. Facebook doesn't give a flying sh!t about VR. It cares about profit (it is a public company). Therefore the products long term appeal is irrelevant, as long as they make a lot of money in the short run.
Count me out. I want an OR for escapism. I'm sure that Facebook only wants in for more data harvesting and targeted ads. My day one purchase of the consumer model is no more. I will wait to see if Steam brings out there VR and wait to see what happens. Facebook is a terrible company for OR to be in bed with.

Notch has already pulled Minecraft support because of this, I'm sure he won't be the last respected dev to do so until it is clearer how much influence Facebook will have.

Airion, i think your analysis is good and and could be right... but I personally doubt it. Many large companies spoil products, think EA. The fact OR was so small and built as a grass roots approach gave it a lot of love and respect. It also meant, the people in charge were there because they truly love VR.

Facebook now has control. Facebook doesn't give a flying sh!t about VR. It cares about profit (it is a public company). Therefore the products long term appeal is irrelevant, as long as they make a lot of money in the short run.

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#29
Posted 03/26/2014 12:52 PM   
[quote="foreverseeking"]Airion, i think your analysis is good and and could be right... but I personally doubt it.[/quote] I appreciate that! Likewise, I'm not sure I'm right about this, but I'm giving my best guesses. At the least I've found this to be an extremely interesting topic. I use Facebook.com casually, but I admit I've been surprised today at the extent of distrust for Facebook. I think Facebook is thinking long term here. It has to be worried about survival. Facebook as it exists right now has no guarantee that it will survive for another 5, 10, 20 years. So it's investing in as many different things as it can while it can. This is good for Oculus. Oculus gets a significant boost in the short/mid term. If they happen to be wildly successful, Facebook will benefit in the long term. If not, well, Facebook has invested in a number of companies that might become wildly successful instead, so they're buying insurance for themselves. You say you're sure that Facebook only wants to harvest data and target ads, but there's really no hard evidence that they're going to do this with Oculus Rift. I've heard some wild theories today elsewhere on the internet. Farmville VR, which makes no sense. Banner ads on all Oculus games. All of it is baseless speculation. I love Minecraft, and I think I like Notch, but I just can't think of a good justification for his decision here. I understand he might not personally like Facebook, but why not give it a chance? Why publicly abandon Oculus Rift just a few hours after the Facebook announcement? I [i]hope[/i] he had advance knowledge of it, because such drastic decisions are never a good idea without at least giving a night to sleep on it. I'm afraid, as I said, he's just being emotional and reactionary. I guess my thinking is, let's not jump ship just because we can [i]imagine[/i] Facebook messing it up. Let's jump ship if we [i]do[/i] see them messing it up, but otherwise enjoy the ride.
foreverseeking said:Airion, i think your analysis is good and and could be right... but I personally doubt it.


I appreciate that! Likewise, I'm not sure I'm right about this, but I'm giving my best guesses. At the least I've found this to be an extremely interesting topic. I use Facebook.com casually, but I admit I've been surprised today at the extent of distrust for Facebook.

I think Facebook is thinking long term here. It has to be worried about survival. Facebook as it exists right now has no guarantee that it will survive for another 5, 10, 20 years. So it's investing in as many different things as it can while it can. This is good for Oculus. Oculus gets a significant boost in the short/mid term. If they happen to be wildly successful, Facebook will benefit in the long term. If not, well, Facebook has invested in a number of companies that might become wildly successful instead, so they're buying insurance for themselves.

You say you're sure that Facebook only wants to harvest data and target ads, but there's really no hard evidence that they're going to do this with Oculus Rift. I've heard some wild theories today elsewhere on the internet. Farmville VR, which makes no sense. Banner ads on all Oculus games. All of it is baseless speculation.

I love Minecraft, and I think I like Notch, but I just can't think of a good justification for his decision here. I understand he might not personally like Facebook, but why not give it a chance? Why publicly abandon Oculus Rift just a few hours after the Facebook announcement? I hope he had advance knowledge of it, because such drastic decisions are never a good idea without at least giving a night to sleep on it. I'm afraid, as I said, he's just being emotional and reactionary.

I guess my thinking is, let's not jump ship just because we can imagine Facebook messing it up. Let's jump ship if we do see them messing it up, but otherwise enjoy the ride.

#30
Posted 03/26/2014 01:44 PM   
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