Although the "scoped" chat feature is only an ancillary addition to the larger idea, it is something I've felt is much-needed in the experience of not just Minecraft, but multiplayer games in general. Imagine how much more intense a capture-the-flag style strategy game would be if you could only hear your teammates' voices when your in-game character was within in-game shouting distance. Going further, one could explore the capabilities of surround-sound headsets that could "project" your teammates' voices into your ears from the direction they are standing relative to you in-game.
We are all so excited about the recent progress in visual virtual reality, but the untapped potential in our auditory VR experience (especially in a social sense) is worth reckoning.
Although the "scoped" chat feature is only an ancillary addition to the larger idea, it is something I've felt is much-needed in the experience of not just Minecraft, but multiplayer games in general. Imagine how much more intense a capture-the-flag style strategy game would be if you could only hear your teammates' voices when your in-game character was within in-game shouting distance. Going further, one could explore the capabilities of surround-sound headsets that could "project" your teammates' voices into your ears from the direction they are standing relative to you in-game.
We are all so excited about the recent progress in visual virtual reality, but the untapped potential in our auditory VR experience (especially in a social sense) is worth reckoning.