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At E3, not everyone diving headfirst into VR

By WTOP Staff

DERRIK J. LANG
AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — While the lines to try virtual reality have been among the longest at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the buzzed-about technology isn’t necessarily a dominating force at the game industry’s annual gathering, not when there are dozens of other queues — and immediate financial prospects — for traditional games.

Sony and Oculus VR, the startup that launched the latest VR obsession two years ago and was purchased by Facebook earlier this year for $2 billion, haven’t announced plans to bring their respective headsets to market. That hasn’t stopped the companies from touting VR with demonstrations in front of and behind closed doors at E3.

There are only a handful of VR creations from smaller developers on display at E3, such as “Words With Friends” co-creator Paul Bettner’s cartoony platformer “Lucky’s Tale,” indie developer Piotr Iwanicki’s time-bending shooter “Superhot” and former Microsoft creative director Adam Orth’s space odyssey “Adr1ft.”

“I’ve always wanted to work in VR,” Orth said. “From the very first moment I had the idea for this game, I said it’s gonna be in VR. What surprised me the most were the emotions that I feel from actually being in the world. You’re able to have these moments where the player goes, ‘Oh, wow!’ They’re not manufactured at all.'”

Richard Marks, the senior director of research and development at Sony Computer Entertainment America, has been showing off the latest demos for Sony’s prototype Project Morpheus headset, including a street luge game that simulates careening down a traffic-filled roadway as players lie on a beanbag in the real world.

“I think retailers are still struggling to wrap their minds around it,” said Marks, who unveiled Morpheus at the Game Developers Conference in March. “E3 is just a different place. The developers at GDC were all excited to make stuff for it. It’s so new. By next year, people will have had more time to think about its commercial viability.”

Sony’s rivals remain less optimistic about the technology, despite the strides that Oculus and the PlayStation maker have made with sharpness and latency in their headsets.

Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, and Reggie Fils-Aime, president at Nintendo of America, voiced concerns about the potential of VR following their E3 briefings. Microsoft and Nintendo, which infamously released the failed Virtual Boy headset in 1995, have yet to unveil their own takes on VR.

“For us, it’s all about fun gameplay,” said Fils-Aime. “That’s what we want. We want a fun, compelling experience. Right now, the technology isn’t quite there yet, in our view. Certainly, it’s something we’re looking at. We look at a wide range of technologies. When it’s there and enables a fun experience, we’ll be there, too.”

Publishers like Ubisoft and Electronic Arts have acknowledged that they’re tinkering with VR behind the scenes, but their showy E3 presentations and staggering booths inside the Los Angeles Convention Center this year haven’t been strictly dedicated to games intended for screens that won’t be attached to gamers’ noggins.

Patrick Soderlund, executive vice president at EA Studios, thinks it’s only a matter of time.

“We’re deep into VR,” he noted. “All you have to do is to put the Oculus or Morpheus headset onto your head and realize that VR is now finally at the point where it’s going to be viable. We can now do the things — and more — from ‘The Lawnmower Man,’ which came out 20 years ago. It has to work. I can’t imagine it not working.”

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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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