Virtual Relationships
MoguraVR:
About the image of VR. While social VR exists there still are many people saying that meeting face to face is the best way to socially interact.
Palmer Luckey:
[Joking] Hmm, how about that? There are also people like that.
MoguraVR:
You don’t seem to think so?
Palmer Luckey:
I was not raised to think in that way. I think it has something to do with age. It’s a different way of thinking. There are people that just say ‘I have sent you an email’ but young people are not like that.
I have actually never met some of my best friends. I have played an online game with him, and have only met him in VR. I have no doubt that they are my friends. My parents have raised me by saying ‘Your friends are going to become your treasure’. Those best friends that I have never met personally truly are ‘treasure’ to me. I also got to know my girlfriend through the internet, we didn’t meet for two years. Had I met her in VR (and been satisfied with that), I maybe would have never met her for real.
MoguraVR:
If there are split opinions on something time will reveal the answer.
Palmer Luckey:
Time truly settles issues. Especially young people who gradually develop new values will change the mainstream.
MoguraVR:
That is going to take some time.
Palmer Luckey:
I actually think it won’t take that long. A lot of the internet culture has been created by young people. I am sure that in ten years the people using the internet will think that meeting in VR is as good or even better than meeting in real life. Even then there surely will still be people that think that meeting face to face is the best, but in another ten years meeting in VR will advance even further. Inside of VR you can look however you want. If I could meet people in VR while looking like I weigh 25 kilo less I would of course like to meet more people in VR [laughs]. Of course generations that learn to accept technology from a young age are going to be more flexible to change their way of thinking.
Pokémon Go Obsession
We previously talked about Sword Art Online, you are known for your big love of anime. The first anime you ever saw was Death Note (2007)?
Palmer Luckey:
That’s right. No, if we are exact the truly first one I ever saw would have to be Pokémon (1997), Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998) or Dragon Ball (1986) which I saw as a child. Death Note was the first anime I saw as a grown up before it became popular in the west. But that is besides the point, I love anime. I also still love Pokémon.
MoguraVR:
If I recall right you also play Pokémon Go (2016).
Palmer Luckey:
When I first met Pokémon Go I was addicted to it. I cosplayed as Ash and went into parks all night to catch Pokémon, I then slept alone under a bridge. I haven’t played it much recently.
MoguraVR:
There are some Pokémon that are exclusive to Japan, do your best to catch them!