OSVR's virtual reality headset is for making the weird VR of the future

If you're reading about E3, there's a decent chance you're familiar with Razer, the popular gaming hardware company with a penchant for snakes. Fewer people have experience with OSVR, which is essentially Razer's first foray into virtual reality. OSVR is an open-source platform co-developed by Razer and VR company Sensics, and its most visible product is the "Hacker Development Kit," a headset whose second generation was revealed this week.

The HDK 2, as it's called, probably wouldn't be a good purchase for most people. It's a somewhat plain and clunky box that doesn't have motion controllers, a big game catalog, or even a catchy name. But if you stop thinking about it as a competitor with Oculus, Sony, and HTC's products, it makes more sense. OSVR's platform is being used by companies like Zero Latency for their specialty virtual reality setups, theoretically because it makes it easy to ensure that different pieces of specialized hardware work well together. It's easy to, say, port a game from the Oculus Rift to the HTC Vive. It's tougher to set up a custom headset, an unusual controller like a glove or treadmill, and an experience that will work with both.

The HDK 2 is basically a no-frills way for people to build and test OSVR games and accessories. Like the original HDK 1, it's simple and has a few nice little touches, like independently adjustable sliders for focusing each eye. Its construction feels more solid than its predecessor's, and its screen is better, matching the resolution of other tethered headsets. It's not a device for everyone, but as enthusiasm for VR arcades and other location-based entertainment grows, it could be the place where your new favorite VR art project or theme park attraction is born.

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