<p>First look at virtual reality Minecraft at Xbox showcase Dave Lee North America technology reporter
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<p>1 March 2016
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<p>Minecraft is already adored by millions of gamers around the globe. Now Microsoft has shown us how to experience the immersive world looks like in virtual real-world.
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<p>Microsoft bought the block-building game in 2014 for $2.5bn (PS1.8bn), an enormous sum that left many lovers of the game anxious about its future.
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<p>The US firm said it would not harm its popular formula but instead invest in Minecraft.
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<p>The Xbox division presented the first version of virtual reality Minecraft at a San Francisco event.
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<p>"It makes it feel like you're in the world of Minecraft," said Palmer Luckey, creator of the Oculus Rift VR headset.
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<p>It's similar to many VR experiences. https://jho88.com/ It's completely absorbing. For those obsessed with Minecraft's addictive building process it's a huge leap from watching it on a regular screen.
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<p>Parents might be concerned about $1,500, which is the price of a game that is a hit for children.
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<p>This is the amount they'll need to spend if they want to buy an Oculus Rift headset, as well as a PC powerful enough to provide the power.
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<p>It's surely too expensive So I suggested it to Mr. Luckey.
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<p>He replied, "It isn’t."
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<p>It's costly however, it has many more features than a TV or mobile phone.
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<p>"It's not like this is a simple piece of hardware and the cost is going to go down over time."
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<p>If it is to be accepted by mainstream audiences it will have to be slowed down quickly.
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<p>As of now, I'd like to see that there will be a slight revival of the arcade game that is a place where players go to play top-quality games that they can't feasibly afford to buy for their homes.
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<p>Big titles
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<p>Minecraft on Oculus was one of the games that were on display at Xbox's Spring Showcase, a chance for journalists - and some influential YouTube gamers, naturally - to be involved with the latest blockbusters.
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<p>Quantum Break was a fascinating world that made me lose an hour. It's a game in which you play as Jack Joyce, an unwilling action hero who gains the ability to alter time following an experiment gone awry.
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<p>This could sound like a typical game scenario, but the title's mechanics are what make it different.
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<p>Also, be sure to check out Tom Clancy's The Division -- set in a meticulously faithful-to-life Manhattan.
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<p>Many of the games featured on the show were also promoted as great for PC use using Microsoft's Windows 10 operating systems.
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<p>"If you look at the numbers, PC gaming has the fastest-growing segment of gaming," stated Phil Spencer who is the head of Xbox.
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<p>"It's only natural that we would concentrate on gaming on Windows."
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<p>Virtual plans
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<p>In the realm of virtual reality, Microsoft has opted not to make its own headset - although it is working on the virtual reality-focused Hololens but is instead trying to make it compatible with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
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<p>Concerning the price debate on the price, Mr. Spencer declared that he believed virtual reality will follow the model of high definition TVs which are a luxury item initially but a cinch to resist once you've experienced it.
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<p>He added, "The early adopters of VR will be there to spur the industry."
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<p>Given that Sony's PlayStation 4 will be getting its own VR headset, I asked whether Microsoft too might consider making its own headset.
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<p>He added, "I believe it could be something on our roadmap." But he said that the current focus was on creating Windows 10 fully-compatible with high-end VR games.
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<p>'Not hacked'
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<p>Of course, new games are nothing if players can get online to play them. This has been a major challenge.
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<p>The low reliability of Xbox Live, the online gaming platform used by Xbox gamers, has led to thousands of problems.
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<p>Snoop Dogg is one of the disgruntled fans. He pleaded with Bill Gates to fix the issue, or else he'd defect to PlayStation.
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<p>Mr. Spencer apologized for the issues.
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<p>He added, "It's evidently always regretful."
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<p>"This last outage was a worry and we have learned from it. We knew exactly what was causing the issue, it just took some time than we would like."
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<p>He denied that the company had been the victim of a cyberattack, saying that although its network was under constant attack, it was not like it was claimed, wiped out by an orchestrated effort to block gamers.
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<p>And on the possibility of losing Snoop Dogg: "Snoop's been an avid player for a long time, and a loyal supporter of Xbox.
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<p>"I am able to understand when people get unhappy. I see it as an indication of the love and dedication people have for the things we do as a gaming platform."
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<p>Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC and on Facebook.
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<p>2 February 2016
</p>
<p>VR gaming: What we have so far
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<p>Microsoft Xbox
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