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WTF is VR, and why should you care? (podcast)

Scott Stein and Sean Hollister took a break from the VR goggles for a few minutes to sit down and separate the hype from the (virtual) reality.

Sean Hollister Senior Editor / Reviews
When his parents denied him a Super NES, he got mad. When they traded a prize Sega Genesis for a 2400 baud modem, he got even. Years of Internet shareware, eBay'd possessions and video game testing jobs after that, he joined Engadget. He helped found The Verge, and later served as Gizmodo's reviews editor. When he's not madly testing laptops, apps, virtual reality experiences, and whatever new gadget will supposedly change the world, he likes to kick back with some games, a good Nerf blaster, and a bottle of Tejava.
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Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials
  • Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
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Sean Hollister
Scott Stein
Nate Ralph/CNET

A podcast about virtual reality. Does that even make sense?

We're about to find out. Welcome to our experiment -- a podcast from CNET's resident virtual-reality experts Scott Stein and Sean Hollister.

One of the weirdest things about virtual reality is describing the experience. It's a challenge in print, it's tough with video and photos and screenshots don't really do it justice. Which is why we thought that audio might be the best way to go: You can hear the emotions in our voices as we try to vividly describe our experiences.

Podcast

Audio also approximates the displacement of VR, too. We live on different coasts -- Scott in New York, and Sean in San Francisco -- so a real-world meetup wasn't practical. A virtual gathering via a coast-to-coast audio session was just the ticket.

To be clear, you're listening to a pilot -- an "episode zero." It's not clear there will be an Episode 2 or even a proper Episode 1 yet. We don't even know if the "Virtually There" name will stick.

In the meantime: Take a listen, and let us know what you think.

Editors' note: This pilot episode was recorded weeks ago, before Sony revealed the price for the PlayStation VR, and well ahead of the March 28 Oculus Rift launch.