It is not; like @segphault just tweeted:

"Tragic that all of the great ideas of our time get swallowed by soulless web companies that lack vision and only care about spying on us."

The backlash is a bit silly, though I also find the acquisition surprising. I suspect that companies with any sort of capital investment in a rift-based-game will continue development.

That being said, Oculus owned by Facebook is a different sort of animal than independent Oculus. Previously, they had to sell the public on a $2-300 VR gaming headset or die. Now they have a lot more wiggle room. Personally, I feel more comfortable working with companies that have as much skin as I do in the game. I understand why the shift would unsettle people.

Yay! Now I can have a unit for $70... so long as I finally sign up to Facebook to be able to use it!

Uh. I think I'd rather pay $1000 than do that.

$70, blue colour only with white trim, have to sign-in to Facebook to use, programmable only using Hack language, shows targeted ads in peripheral vision area.

I would rather pay $70 and signin with Facebook than paying $1000.

That just shifts $930 to hidden costs. Someone pays either way.

Doesn't matter, it's not my money that is paid.

You still pay, just not with dollars.

It's emotional, but common, what is the proper reaction if one of the greats thing is bought by one of the worst? The only scenario worse than this i can image is Oracle.

How would you feel if SpaceX, if you invested in it's technology, would have been bought by John Deere? This is more tragic than the acquisition of Bell Labs by Alcatel.

As an investor I would be overjoyed.

That's because investors think about short-term profits, not about world-changing technologies.

$2B isnt a short term profit.

Oh it is, in the scheme of things.

As a investor who get's the money, i'd be that too. But if you bought a dev kit and invested money and time to develop for that platform this is about the worst possible news.

And over in a few days/weeks. It's a trend that comes from a gut feeling more than rationalization.

I really believe people will change their mind about Facebook now that Facebook is not just the social network but also Instagram, WhatsApp and Oculus.

Facebook is now three things I don't want, plus a thing I don't want anywhere near the things I don't want, so I'll change my mind?

What?

The graveyard got bigger.

Yes. All of us who hate this development are irrational. That's the only explanation for this groundswell. I can't think of a single reason to be cynical about Facebook or about this deal.

Snark aside, people tend to lose all sense of perspective and objectivity anytime Facebook is mentioned. Especially the crowd around here.

I really, really don't understand the pathological and irrational hate for Facebook and/or ads.

> I really, really don't understand the pathological and irrational hate for Facebook and/or ads.

Just look at Facebook's past relations with developers in their ecosystem, that should fix it.

Nothing pathological or irrational here. Facebook has a track record of trying to trick its users into revealing more information about themselves than they want. Sneaky TOS changes, anyone?

More facebook in the lives of everybody = road to dystopia.

Unless of course, you think privacy is bullshit. Then I'd recommend a book on European history (1850 to now).

I think many peoples' issue with Facebook is that they have proven themselves to be untrustworthy on numerous occassions. They're constantly moving the goal post on user privacy with and without consent and they don't treat business users much better.

It's not surprising that people who care personally about Oculus would not be happy with the Facebook acquisition. Especially since the gaming community has a very strong aversion to the toxic social gaming landscape that Facebook was/is host to.

You didn't really need the part after "I don't understand. If it was irrational, you'd have your explanation.