Facebook Buys Oculus for Two Billion Dollars

[James]

Just heard about it today. Would you have thought Facebook would buy Oculus VR? Forbes has the skinny on the deal-cash plus Facebook stock. So is facebook going to be about gaming? 3-D Candy Crush? Zuckerberg says he wants Facebook to be the ultimate social platform. Seems he has plans for gaming and actual communication between friends, classrooms and even your doctor. Heeeey. I thought Google Glass was going to be like that. It is a lot of big talk but it would be cool to actually see a VR platform come to life.

Forbes

 

[Lily13]

I didn't expect that... Didn't they buy Whats App some time ago, too? Facebook is kind of trying to get into our lives from every possible side, it's getting kind of irritating. But if they have money and a vision, they may make this technology actually happen

 

[James]

The guy behind Minecraft is unhappy. Said Facebook "creeps him out".

Check out the story.

 

[Funafuti]

The guy behind Minecraft is unhappy. Said Facebook "creeps him out".

Check out the story.

Wow, some great quotes in that article:

"Facebook is not a company of grass-roots tech enthusiasts. Facebook is not a game tech company. Facebook has a history of caring about building user numbers, and nothing but building user numbers."

and:

"I definitely want to be a part of VR, but I will not work with Facebook. Their motives are too unclear and shifting, and they haven’t historically been a stable platform. There’s nothing about their history that makes me trust them, and that makes them seem creepy to me."

I couldn't agree more. Facebook just seems to feel a need to get larger and larger and will do anything to feed that need. In the 90s Microsoft had a similar reputation. Small start-ups would have business plans that basically focused on getting bought out by Microsoft in a year or two. I wonder if people will start taking the same approach with Facebook, or if they already have.

Diversity is good for innovation. Monopolies, not so much.

 

[MMkaho]

oh geez and here goes the Monopoly war

 

[SamuelB]

I've heard that Notch got angry and cancelled Minecraft. But other developers seem to be pretty okay with the development... I guess it's good that Oculus Rift will have enough funding now, it just stinks a bit, FB buying all companies, slowly getting to control the market

 

[okie_flats]

So if you want to play VR video war games against your friends you will need to be logged onto your FB account and pay FB to do so. Suppose it makes sense from a business perspective. Teenagers nonstop video gaming and its the norm for many to be interacting with friends remotely over headsets from the comfort of their bedroom while gaming instead of going to the inconvenience of traveling to visit in person. This will be more of the same with the added VR dimension.

 

[MMkaho]

I've heard that Notch got angry and cancelled Minecraft. But other developers seem to be pretty okay with the development... I guess it's good that Oculus Rift will have enough funding now, it just stinks a bit, FB buying all companies, slowly getting to control the market

He didnt cancel it, just not developing it for the oculus dosent agree with facebook taking over

 

[MrPogi]

The guy behind Minecraft is unhappy. Said Facebook "creeps him out".

Check out the story.

My daughter's obsession with Minecraft creeps me out.

 

[MMkaho]

My daughter's obsession with Minecraft creeps me out.

Let me guess shes the kind of person who has a diamon/iron sword hanging on her wall mixed with tshirts and a weird creeper doll?

 

[bunny22]

Oculus looks interesting. However, I don't like the idea of Facebook becoming any more entwined with things than it already is. I think it's also extremely shady of the company to sell to ANYONE so soon after taking money from people on Kickstarter and using indie developers to get their product started. They should immediately offer a full refund to their original investors, if the investors want it. The entire situation leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I will avoid supporting both companies in the future for this reason. I hope that other, more ethical companies create a good competitive product instead.

 

[MMkaho]

Indeed though not sure how the laws work but dont the developers have a say in how and when to sell what they worked on and don't the kickstarters have "STOCK" in what they helped contribute too?

 

[Funafuti]

I'm pretty sure that kickstarter projects have to specify in advance what supporters are entitled to for their contribution. As long as Oculus has met those conditions, they can legally do whatever they want to with the company. It doesn't mean it's a great PR move or that I would be happy if I had contributed, but I think they are within their rights.

 

[MMkaho]

yea true well we will see how things go it is a great concept but i just feel there is gonna be a big downfall to it in the near future

 

[CaliTVguy]

It will be interesting to see what Facebook does with Oculus! But yes, my son also has an unhealthy addiction to Minecraft as well!!!

 

[MMkaho]

I somewhat see a device that you will NEED a facebook account to use almost like android with google, and i do gotta admit minecraft is somewhat entertaining get to create a world how you want it and actually try to survive in a world you have created

 

[DM28]

That sounds like a decent business plan:

1 Invest nothing and crowfund your idea.
2 Start generating a buzz and sell to the first companie who throws money at you
3 ?????
4 PROFIT!