Virtual Reality

It’s that time of year again. Time to start figuring out what gifts you’re going to buy everyone this holiday season. If you’ve got a technology lover on your shopping list this year, you can’t go wrong with putting a little virtual reality gear under the holiday tree. There are more than a few options out there, though, so I’m going to let you know why the Oculus Rift is quite possibly the coolest tech gift this season.

Best Buy Canada celebrated the grand arrival of Sony’s PlayStation VR in big way, hosting a pair of fan-centric launch parties at their flagship stores in downtown Toronto and Vancouver. Excited PlayStation fans were invited for a night of PlayStation VR game demos, the chance to win exclusive prizes, and of course, the opportunity to be among the first in Canada to purchase their very own PlayStation VR. Come take a look at all the excitement that went down—photos and video included!

PlayStation VR, simply put, is out of this world. I already had great experiences with Sony’s newest gaming platform at events like Tokyo Game Show, E3, and Fan Expo Canada, but even my admittedly high expectations were blown away after spending a dedicated week with the VR headset. Sony’s VR tech may not have been the first to the market, nor is it the most powerful, but it offers the best combination of hardware, software, and price of any VR platform available today.

We’re still in the opening days of the VR revolution. The latest to come across my desk is NOON VR. It’s not actually spelled NOON, it’s N-infinity symbol-N, but we’re going to call it Noon for the sake of our sanity. How is it for getting VR out of your phone? Read on to find out

This past weekend at Fan Expo Canada 2016, PlayStation Canada gave me a special preview of two of their upcoming PlayStation VR games—RIGS: Mechanized Combat League and Until Dawn: Rush of Blood. Following that, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment let me “become the Batman” in their all-new virtual reality game, Batman Arkham VR. All three VR games offered a thrilling sneak peak of the future of PlayStation gaming where immersive, 360-degree experiences will take centre stage.

I discovered so many amazing gadgets, including VR headsets, tech toys, audio tech, and more at Best Buy's Life and Tech show—come see what I tried!

On August 25th, you'll have the chance to experience some of the wildest immersive experiences at the Life & Tech Expo in Toronto when you see some of the Virtual Reality devices on display. Whether you side more toward 3D, 360 degree panoramic views or even Augmented Reality, you're in for a treat from the likes of Homido, Noon and Merge. VR is no longer a pipe dream of the past and it's more affordable than ever.

 The next transformational leap in gaming and entertainment is already here. Virtual Reality or VR is the idea of creating digital virtual spaces that we can immerse ourselves into, exploring digital worlds just like the way we would explore the real world. Homido has a smart and simple way to experience VR anywhere using something you’ve probably got on you right now: your smartphone. Want to learn more?

 The Merge VR is virtual reality with an openness that is easy to appreciate, yet with limitations that keep it well within the entry-level realm. Compatible with a number of different iOS and Android smartphones, this is a headset that doesn’t require much to get involved, nor any real past experience to enjoy some of what it has to offer.

The HTC Vive is one of the most anticipated virtual reality (VR) headsets to come to market this year, and the final build was on display and available to try out on the show floor at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. I can say that the unit should be ready for primetime when it officially launches in April.