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| Game's Playstation VR demo charges spark anger | Game's Playstation VR demo charges spark anger |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Consumers have complained about retailer Game's decision to charge for demos of Sony's new Playstation Virtual Reality headset. | Consumers have complained about retailer Game's decision to charge for demos of Sony's new Playstation Virtual Reality headset. |
| The firm is charging £5 ($6) for 10 minutes or £15 for a half hour in-store trial. | The firm is charging £5 ($6) for 10 minutes or £15 for a half hour in-store trial. |
| Game has yet to comment officially, but its customer services department has told customers that the fee is refundable against headset orders. | |
| Sony is conducting a UK-wide free demo tour. | |
| It said the decision to charge was "at the discretion" of the retailer. | |
| Jamie Feltham from virtual reality news website Upload VR said he was blocked by Game's Twitter account after retweeting a promotional tweet from one of its stores over the weekend with the comment "this is not cool". | Jamie Feltham from virtual reality news website Upload VR said he was blocked by Game's Twitter account after retweeting a promotional tweet from one of its stores over the weekend with the comment "this is not cool". |
| "I think it's not a good practice," he told the BBC about the charges. | "I think it's not a good practice," he told the BBC about the charges. |
| "I work in VR so I'm interested in what's healthy for VR - and I don't think it's healthy to attach that image of it being a premium experience at that level. | "I work in VR so I'm interested in what's healthy for VR - and I don't think it's healthy to attach that image of it being a premium experience at that level. |
| "We should encourage people to see it for free, give them an amazing experience and then let them decide for themselves whether to buy it." | "We should encourage people to see it for free, give them an amazing experience and then let them decide for themselves whether to buy it." |
| 'Disgraceful' | 'Disgraceful' |
| Twitter users expressed their frustration at the charges using the hashtag GameVR, which Game was also using to promote them. | Twitter users expressed their frustration at the charges using the hashtag GameVR, which Game was also using to promote them. |
| "If there's one thing VR really needs, it's another paywall," tweeted game designer Mike Bithell. | "If there's one thing VR really needs, it's another paywall," tweeted game designer Mike Bithell. |
| "Disgraceful," said Bored...meh. | "Disgraceful," said Bored...meh. |
| However some expressed their support. | However some expressed their support. |
| "If you don't already own a PSVR, but might [want] to buy one, surely to goodness paying £5 to try it is much better than paying £350+ to then find out it... doesn't do what you wanted it to do," said a tweeter called KnucklePuck McDorian. | "If you don't already own a PSVR, but might [want] to buy one, surely to goodness paying £5 to try it is much better than paying £350+ to then find out it... doesn't do what you wanted it to do," said a tweeter called KnucklePuck McDorian. |
| The headset, which Game is retailing at £349.99, is not as good as some of its rivals, Mr Feltham said. | The headset, which Game is retailing at £349.99, is not as good as some of its rivals, Mr Feltham said. |
| "I think it's great, it's not on the level of Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive - but for the money it's a good system," he added. | "I think it's great, it's not on the level of Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive - but for the money it's a good system," he added. |