VR - Pulling the Trigger or Gun-Shy?

At Villusion Studios, we are contacted very frequently by large companies, small companies, agencies, brands, and individuals, all interested in getting into VR. From medical and training simulations, to visualization opportunities, to entertainment, they all have one thing in common - they want to know what it will take to create a VR experience.

The Buzz vs. The Reality

What is interesting is that almost without exception, each of these potential clients is incredibly excited for what they have heard about VR - the buzz. Most have seen YouTube videos or other demos on show floors, but have never really been inside a VR experience. In fact, that is one of the biggest problems that we encounter: they hear about VR constantly, but never get the opportunity to actually experience it.

After talking with them (usually through email a few times, and then a phone call), we can tell that they are really excited. By this time, we have mainly only discussed they type of project they are looking to create. Then something strange happens with many of them - we don't ever hear from them again. This is after multiple email attempts, phone calls, etc. There's no "Well, the timeline is just too short," or "We've decided to use traditional media." No explanation. There's just crickets.

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. 

Jim Rohn

Now, this could be for a million different reasons. But multiple companies all excited about VR suddenly not wanting to move forward? There could only be a few explanations:

• Their expectations were far different than the reality of creating a VR experience. This tends to be the same across the board. When you tell them how much time it will take, and what that means to the cost, they immediately are thrown back aghast, thinking that it was pretty much a push-button solution. It's the whole budget vs. brief problem.
• We did a very poor job of selling VR. This is one that, I must say, we try in every way to avoid. We go to great lengths to make sure that the client knows what it means to create VR, but more importantly, what VR will do to solve their particular problem and provide them with an incredible experience, even ROI. Our goal is to have them leave that initial conversation well educated, and excited about how VR is a solution rather than a gimmick.
• They are afraid of the risk. This one, I feel, is the greatest problem. Let's face it, VR is new. VR is fringe. But there has never been a time where VR can be a solution to as many problems as it is now. As a young company, we know all too well that there is no reward without risk, and that applies to VR too. It is incredible to me to go do a demo with a fortune 100 company, have SVPs and VPs in the headset with hand controllers having an incredible experience, then talking to us for hours afterwards, realizing how VR can completely change and streamline the way they work and make decisions, handing us business cards and wanting to set up meetings to discuss implementation, and then never hearing from them again. This from a company who often spends $500K on department "off-sites" to look at a few PowerPoint presentations, and yet is unwilling to spend $60K on a VR tool that will streamline and enhance the way an entire department works, creating efficiency and incredible cost savings...all because "it's a bit risky". In every situation, we try to propose starting small, testing VR first, then moving to the next step. Each step mitigates risk, and validates the next. With that process, risk is substantially reduced.

VR Will Happen - Where will you be?

VR is going to happen. It's going to change the way we interact with data, the way we design, the way we train, and the way that we socialize. It's not a gimmick. It is going to take some time. But we believe that it has the power, now, to create amazing solutions for every industry vertical out there, and we are ready to make it happen at Villusion Studios.

So my sincere question is this:

What's keeping you or your organization from using VR as a solution?

Please leave your honest comments below! If you would like to have a conversation about it, we can talk offline too. We (and the VR industry) really appreciate your feedback.