Did Facebook Buy Oculus To Counter Google Glass?

Nerval's Lobster (2598977) writes "In a statement soon after Facebook announced the acquisition of Oculus Rift, CEO Mark Zuckerberg suggested that the bulky Oculus headset had the potential to transform VR into the "most social platform ever." Whatever his reasons for shelling out $2 billion for the company, it's clear that Facebook is now a player in the augmented-reality space, which Google is also exploring in its own way. Yes, Google Glass serves a different function—overlaying maps and text over the wearer's view of the real world, rather than immersing people in a virtual environment—but the potential customer base for both devices is basically the same, and now Google has some real competition if it wants to transform Glass into some sort of gaming device. And despite some blowback from Markus Persson, it's likely that developers will continue to explore Oculus as a gaming platform, Facebook or no. Zuckerberg might be talking a good game about virtual realities far into the future (does he have to pay to promote his own posts on Facebook? Joke.), but this acquisition was likely a short-term play, as well."

real answer

[slashmydots]

Everyone who uses Facebook seems to be in their own little self-centered world anyway. That's why they bought Oculus. It simply matches.

Beautiful

[Anrego]

One of those oh so rare moments in this community, which most days won't agree on anything, can all come together around a unifying understanding that the author is a complete idiot.

Re:Does it matter?

[paulpach]

Next Nerval's Lobster article:

Winzip vs Microsoft word vs C++, which one is right for you?

Re:Does it matter?

[paulpach]

...but the potential customer base for both devices is basically the same...

Technically yes, both are for human beings that don't wear eye patches, which is basically the same customer base for eye drops.

What really happened

[slapout]

Mark Zuckerberg is setting around with his friends at a bar. Everyone's drinking.

Bob: "How Mark, how much money is Facebook really worth?"

Mark: "It's worth a lot."

John: "I bet it's not. I bet you've blown through most of it."

Mark: "No. We've got money in the bank"

Bob: "Prove it."

John: "Yeah. Prove it. Buy something really expensive"

Bob: "Yeah. Buy something that costs a lot. We dare you."

John: "Something that costs millions of dollars"

Mark pulls out his phone and makes a call...

Incredible logic

[janoc]

This argument really goes like: "Oculus Rift is targeted at gamers, most gamers like bacon too, ergo Oculus Rift is competition for bacon."

WTF, people ... Why the most clueless idiots have to be the ones getting published at Slashdot ...