If technology companies have anything to say about it, specialty eyewear is going to be a big part of our gaming and gadget-owning future.
The Oculus Rift virtual reality gaming goggles have been gaining major traction with game developers. Microsoft is rumored to be working on virtual reality gaming glasses of their own. Meanwhile Google has its augmented reality Glass eyewear project while Oakley and this U.K. company have augmented reality glasses in the works as well.
And Sony has jumped into the goggles game too -- with plans to show off its new HMZ-T2 head-mounted display at the Tokyo Game Show next week.
The goggles which — which are a follow-up to and improvement upon their HMZ-T1 goggles — come with dual HD OLED displays and built-in virtual 5.1-channel surround sound and are 20 percent lighter than the original goggles released last year. And Sony promises they will play movies and games "in insanely immersive" 2-D or 3-D.
However, Sony's goggles do not have the virtual-reality, head-tracking abilities we've seen with the Oculus Rift goggles — which literally make it feel like you've been dropped into the middle of a game like "Doom 3" and can look all around. (Check out Todd Kenreck's video below).
Still, gamers will get their first hands-on experience with the HMZ-T2 goggles at the Tokyo Game Show that begins Sept. 20. Players will be able to don the headgear and check out 3-D gaming in "God of War: Ascension," "Borderlands 2" and "Assassin's Creed 3" among other titles.
Meanwhile, Sony has also announced it will be selling the HMZ-T2 goggles in Japan starting Oct. 13, for an estimated price of ¥70,000 (which is a whopping $900 here in the U.S.).
I checked in with Sony and a representative said the HMZ-T2 goggles won't go on sale in the U.S. "until Early 2013." And price details are not yet available.
But what do you think, gamers — would you wear this eyewear?
Via The Verge
Winda Benedetti writes about video games for NBC News. You can follow her tweets about games and other things on Twitter here @WindaBenedetti, and you can follow her on Google+. Meanwhile, be sure to check out the IN-GAME FACEBOOK PAGE to discuss the day's gaming news and reviews.