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Max Maxfield’s July 6, 2016 EE Times column, “It’s (Virtual Reality) Life Jim, But Not As We Know It,” starts by correcting a familiar Star Trek misattribution, then turns to his effort to play Cyan’s Obduction in virtual reality. Its practical point is still clear: buying a headset did not guarantee that his computer could run the experience.
Did Spock say “It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it”?
Not in the wording commonly attributed to him, according to Maxfield’s column. He points instead to a line from the original-series episode “Operation: Annihilate!”: “It is not life as we know or understand it. Yet it is obviously alive, it exists.” That is similar in meaning, but it is not the familiar phrase.
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Maxfield credits the wording “It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it” to the song “Star Trekkin’,” written by John O’Connor, Grahame Lister, and Rory Kehoe and released by The Firm in 1987. This attribution is the account given in his 2016 column, rather than a separate verification of the phrase’s history. Read Maxfield’s column at EE Times.
Why did Maxfield order an Oculus Rift?
Maxfield was interested in exploring unfamiliar worlds, finding clues, and solving puzzles. He describes Cyan’s Obduction as a spiritual descendant of Myst and Riven. The game’s Kickstarter stretch goals included Oculus Rift support, and an update cited by Maxfield said the planned release date was July 26, 2016, with Rift support intended for launch.
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That launch date and compatibility statement are historical plans reported in 2016; they do not establish the game’s current availability or support for present-day VR systems. The prospect of playing Obduction in VR was what prompted Maxfield to preorder a Rift.
What computer did the Oculus Rift require?
Maxfield does not give a component list or a precise hardware threshold in this column. He says his desktop had a quad-core 3.5 GHz Intel Core i7 and a graphics card driving three 28-inch monitors. After ordering the Rift, he checked the Oculus website’s then-current minimum requirements and concluded that his computer needed something more capable.
Rank #2
His description of needing a “beast” is a personal reaction to the requirements he saw at the time, not a specification that can be used to select a current VR computer. The column supplies no GPU model, current requirements, or modern headset recommendation. Its practical lesson is narrower: check a headset’s computer requirements before buying, rather than assuming a powerful-sounding desktop is compatible.
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What the 2016 column does—and does not—tell you
- It does: recount Maxfield’s correction of the “life, Jim” attribution, his interest in Obduction, and his realization that a headset also depended on suitable computer hardware.
- It does not: compare today’s VR headsets, identify modern PC components, or establish current prices, availability, or software compatibility.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
