The Internet Ravenously Photoshops TIME Magazine Oculus Rift Cover with Magical Results

Ok, this looks bad. TIME magazine recently released its latest cover (Vol. 186 No. 6) and cover story this week of the growing prominence of VR. The publication took a shot of Palmer Luckey, creator of Oculus Rift, using his creation in the backdrop of a beach looking awkward and barefoot.

Now, Luckey loves the casual look. Awkward VR use isn’t new, and Luckey’s barefoot-showing attire isn’t either, as he shows up in public and profession outings with his feet out in the open.

What is new is the completely ridiculous TIME cover of him taking both his foot comfort and goofy VR photos up to 11. While the content of the writing is subject to some out of touch and incredulous speak nowadays, the incredible amount of parodies and photo-editing use the internet got out of the cover is blissful. Soak it in, folks.

The initial reactions:

Did @TIME just kill VR with this cover photo? pic.twitter.com/fknnhCj6qD

— Noodlecake Games (@NoodlecakeGames) August 6, 2015

This TIME cover is the worst PR that virtual reality could ever have. Everyone involved is fired. pic.twitter.com/o0Ph7L28xA

— George Broussard (@georgeb3dr) August 6, 2015

 Then the majestic photoshops:

pic.twitter.com/q0rbrZrDwD — Ryan Evans (@rje) August 6, 2015

.@rje pic.twitter.com/fGZ5brw7QM — Alex Ferbrache (@AlexFerbrache) August 6, 2015

 Then the pop culture references:

Dead. pic.twitter.com/sAhPYTPnGw — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 6, 2015

I… had… the time of my life pic.twitter.com/7ptZsru3s8 — I have an ant head (@joffeorama) August 6, 2015

GAF has no chill either lmao – http://t.co/pLnnd2PzoL pic.twitter.com/5APQ4lnWcd — Nibel (@Nibellion) August 6, 2015

pic.twitter.com/UqEkYuhcHM — Ryan Evans (@rje) August 6, 2015

pic.twitter.com/hapzLqcHu5

— Devon Scott-Tunkin (@devonsoft) August 6, 2015

pic.twitter.com/TM5ehbYQ1F — David Marsh (@NimbleDave) August 6, 2015

#timemagazine – pic.twitter.com/W1X5DQHbrU

— Nibel (@Nibellion) August 6, 2015

.@patbaer @kobunheat @TIME All fixed, much better now pic.twitter.com/drI4YelByx — Addison Webb (@RwebbA) August 6, 2015

  Then the TIME-exclusive wave six Amiibo was confirmed:

The Palmer Luckey amiibo looks pretty dope pic.twitter.com/NJIk1VzqRn — Dalibor (@DaliDimovski) August 6, 2015

Then Some tried to make sense of the cover with perspective:

That TIME cover is just upholding a long VR tradition of making people look like doofuses for no reason. pic.twitter.com/5SdbJYKDB7 — Chris Person (@Papapishu) August 6, 2015

VR is going to look dorky to an observer. There is no way around that. Embrace it. — Scott Nichols (@Duckols) August 6, 2015

pic.twitter.com/LGSoYidRJY — tyler, the consumer (@tyler_wilde) August 6, 2015

Then the only logical reasoning for the photo:

pic.twitter.com/a1PqLIom9I — Chris Remo (@chrisremo) August 6, 2015

Then the shameless self-promotions:

pic.twitter.com/lBZOYINy3n — Volume (August 18) (@VolumeGame) August 6, 2015

First costume for #LaraCroftGO unveiled! pic.twitter.com/0IteBAixYN — Square Enix Montréal (@SquareEnixMtl) August 6, 2015

The @TIME cover with Palmer Luckey is amazing and really, really odd. So we photochopped it: http://t.co/EnvsNqnJ7Vpic.twitter.com/KuZqywjasg

— Jessica L. Conditt (@JessConditt) August 6, 2015

Then, oh, come on now.

You’re welcome internet. I’m sorry Palmer. @TIMEpic.twitter.com/eYIjopOWqP

— Vanessa Marie @ RTX (@VRex7) August 6, 2015

https://twitter.com/GAK/status/629373185704783873/photo/1

Hey, @Time. You know what would have been better for your VR cover?

LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE pic.twitter.com/6mbZ76BkUS

— i Moero on his Nekketsu til he Rhythm Damashii (@RevolverUnit) August 6, 2015