General VR discussion thread

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Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
35
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Is wireless HDMI and Wireless USB3 not fast enough? Granted there's always interference concerns, but...

Latency is the biggest problem. There are a few companies attacking the problem with proprietary solutions, but I'm dubious until it's demonstrably verifiable.
 

Circuit1

Banned
May 27, 2016
5
0
0
Do you guys know when like eyeball tracking is to be released? Or like multiplayer Vive in the same room where you can see each other?
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
Anyone think that VR might bring back FMV games? Even though everyone has a bad opinion of most of them I can imagine a Tex Murphy game would be cool in it.
 

PrincessFrosty

Platinum Member
Feb 13, 2008
2,301
68
91
www.frostyhacks.blogspot.com
Latency is the biggest problem. There are a few companies attacking the problem with proprietary solutions, but I'm dubious until it's demonstrably verifiable.

OnLive and then Valve both created cheap hardware solutions for video/audio compression and decompression for network working, I think this would be a very cheap and realistic option for streaming to a headset device in the short term. Now with Gbit wireless becoming normal we have plenty of network bandwidth for it and across a LAN it can be as fast as just a few milliseconds which is good enough for VR.
 

Maridon Tier

Member
May 25, 2016
27
0
6
Do you guys know when like eyeball tracking is to be released? Or like multiplayer Vive in the same room where you can see each other?

I'm not sure about multiplayer vive i remember a conference talking about that on a video. But eyeball tracking is going to be out this year for sure.
 

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,654
980
136
with all the VR backpack pc's coming out(MSI HP zotac), it kinda leaves rift out in the cold when it comes to tetherless VR. even when Otouch comes out they will still be stuck with a cable to the fixed position constellation camera.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
with all the VR backpack pc's coming out(MSI HP zotac), it kinda leaves rift out in the cold when it comes to tetherless VR. even when Otouch comes out they will still be stuck with a cable to the fixed position constellation camera.

Are the lighthouses wireless on the vive?
 

Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
35
51
Are the lighthouses wireless on the vive?

They're wireless for data, which is only there to turn them on. They're just what their name implies, lighthouses. They're beacons that the HMD and controller use to calculate their own position. No need for the lighthouses to ever be connected to the computer except if you want them to power on/off automatically or for firmware updates, and that is indeed wireless.

This is what's known as an inside-out tracking method (the object being tracked it "looking" out at something to give it a reference, similar to GPS). Oculus uses a camera for what's known as outside-in (something outside the object being tracked is watching it and performing the calculations). Because of this, the Oculus can never be truly wireless since the PC needs to be connected to the camera in some way. With the HTC Vive, you can use a powerful laptop and a battery and the whole rig will be entirely wireless. It's a smarter and more forward way of looking at tracking. Oculus is essentially using a fancy version of TrackIR.
 

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,654
980
136
the Tested podcast a week back talked about some guy doing a full delve/teardown into the lighthouse system. spec-wise it was delivering millimeter or sub-mm precision, though it seems that the bulk of the positional/rot data was coming from the IMU and the lighthouse was just there to compensate for drift.

also some company is working on an asic to handle inside-out for mobile. specifically non laser/ir, so presumedly optical tracking existing points in the real world.
 
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gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,654
980
136
Vive + War Thunder
set up link info in detail sect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6t_-XkJxxg

phlydaily initial testing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JhZ5EskmE4
single cam distortion doesnt really look like much but im guessing it really does put you in the cockpit.
looks like the disconnect between vestibular sense and what the eyes tell you is happening might be causing his vrsickness. might have to get a 3 axis flight chair/cage to compensate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdhaK9s1RdU
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,831
37
91
Can you use DSR in VR? Would it make it look any better?
I was reading a Reddit post saying if you use the debug menu for Oculus, and you change a certain value to 2 from 0, that it increases the rendered resolution and some claiming it makes a big difference and even small text is readable, but hurts performance. So can't you just downsample and make it look a little better or no?

I wonder why we don't have any yet.

They do for porn, that's the only FMV that matters.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,806
46
91
Been watching Robbaz's Vive videos. Seems pretty cool and fun, although I don't know that I would like the controllers. Seems dumb and unintuitive. To me you need some kind of glove, not a stick controller that you hold in your hands?
 

Mutilator

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2000
3,516
10
81
The controllers actually feel like an extension of your hand... very intuitive. I got mine on Friday and had some employees use it Friday and again on Monday and everyone picked it up without any issues - and no motion sickness. You can watch videos until you're blue in the face but until you put one on and actually experience it for yourself you just don't understand how awesome it truly is.
 

Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
35
51
Can you use DSR in VR? Would it make it look any better?

I don't think you can do it directly via Nvidia or AMD's settings. The HMDs no longer show up as monitors to the OS (they can if you want to, but otherwise they're treated differently and that's how games/sdk's are intended for them to be).

I wish the option was just readily available in each game. Elite offers it and it makes a huge difference in the look and feel of it, but it can push your system graphically.

Been watching Robbaz's Vive videos. Seems pretty cool and fun, although I don't know that I would like the controllers. Seems dumb and unintuitive. To me you need some kind of glove, not a stick controller that you hold in your hands?

The Vive's controllers are ideally suited to simulate something you are holding. Flashlight, gun, lightsabre, etc. Though, lots of games replace them with "hands" and it feels totally natural. Some use the grip buttons to close the hand, some the trigger. Either way it works quite well and has never been an issue for anyone that I've seen.
 

mazeroth

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2006
1,821
2
81
I'm in somewhat of a predicament. I preordered both VR headsets and got my Vive about a month ago and it's still sitting in the box. Yesterday I got an e-mail from Oculus saying that my Rift had shipped. Whoops. The area that I have my gaming computer set up (5820k, 980 Ti) is very small and I have a 40" 4k Seiki Pro monitor attached to a Volair Sim chair (http://www.volairsim.com/). The plan was to use it primarily as a racing rig with VR, even though I do play a ton of other types of games (Fallout, Witcher, GTA etc). So now that I have both headsets sitting here, brand new, and finally have some time to use them, which one would you keep? Again, my space is very limited so I'm thinking the Vive would be a waste. If you guys really think the experience is that much better I do have a spare bedroom across the house that I could move my computer into and out of pretty easily.

The other problem is the price and selling. The Vive was $800 + $30 shipping plus tax for a total of $890. The Rift was $599, delivered, or $291 less. I'm leaning towards keeping the Oculus due to saving ~$300 but I'm concerned also about losing money on the Vive. There are two Vives on my local Craigslist for $900 and $875 and they haven't moved in a week. Ebay prices have plummeted, and after 13% in fees and shipping, and the chance the buyer lies to Ebay about the product received, I'm probably going to be out some cash. Stupid on me for ordering both and sitting on the Vive, but I guess you live and learn.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,806
46
91
I'm in somewhat of a predicament. I preordered both VR headsets and got my Vive about a month ago and it's still sitting in the box. Yesterday I got an e-mail from Oculus saying that my Rift had shipped. Whoops. The area that I have my gaming computer set up (5820k, 980 Ti) is very small and I have a 40" 4k Seiki Pro monitor attached to a Volair Sim chair (http://www.volairsim.com/). The plan was to use it primarily as a racing rig with VR, even though I do play a ton of other types of games (Fallout, Witcher, GTA etc). So now that I have both headsets sitting here, brand new, and finally have some time to use them, which one would you keep? Again, my space is very limited so I'm thinking the Vive would be a waste. If you guys really think the experience is that much better I do have a spare bedroom across the house that I could move my computer into and out of pretty easily.

The other problem is the price and selling. The Vive was $800 + $30 shipping plus tax for a total of $890. The Rift was $599, delivered, or $291 less. I'm leaning towards keeping the Oculus due to saving ~$300 but I'm concerned also about losing money on the Vive. There are two Vives on my local Craigslist for $900 and $875 and they haven't moved in a week. Ebay prices have plummeted, and after 13% in fees and shipping, and the chance the buyer lies to Ebay about the product received, I'm probably going to be out some cash. Stupid on me for ordering both and sitting on the Vive, but I guess you live and learn.

if you never used it why cant you return it?
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,831
37
91
I'm in somewhat of a predicament. I preordered both VR headsets and got my Vive about a month ago and it's still sitting in the box. Yesterday I got an e-mail from Oculus saying that my Rift had shipped. Whoops. The area that I have my gaming computer set up (5820k, 980 Ti) is very small and I have a 40" 4k Seiki Pro monitor attached to a Volair Sim chair (http://www.volairsim.com/). The plan was to use it primarily as a racing rig with VR, even though I do play a ton of other types of games (Fallout, Witcher, GTA etc). So now that I have both headsets sitting here, brand new, and finally have some time to use them, which one would you keep? Again, my space is very limited so I'm thinking the Vive would be a waste. If you guys really think the experience is that much better I do have a spare bedroom across the house that I could move my computer into and out of pretty easily.

The other problem is the price and selling. The Vive was $800 + $30 shipping plus tax for a total of $890. The Rift was $599, delivered, or $291 less. I'm leaning towards keeping the Oculus due to saving ~$300 but I'm concerned also about losing money on the Vive. There are two Vives on my local Craigslist for $900 and $875 and they haven't moved in a week. Ebay prices have plummeted, and after 13% in fees and shipping, and the chance the buyer lies to Ebay about the product received, I'm probably going to be out some cash. Stupid on me for ordering both and sitting on the Vive, but I guess you live and learn.

Please say you did not open the Vive box...:\

I haven't' heard jack about my Rift order. Last I heard over a month ago was that the estimate time being early August...I guess it depends on when you pre-ordered? Makes me wonder when they'll be common enough that anyone can just buy it and get it right away. But I'm guessing VR in general isn't going to get anymore hyped than what it already is....I'm worried about developer support now, if they don't gather more interest later this year, it may drop in support like 3D did because there still isn't much as far as AAA games going and discussions have died down a lot really.
 

mazeroth

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2006
1,821
2
81
I can't return it as I've had the Vive for more than 30 days. And no, I did not open it. In fact, I haven't even opened the shipping box. That's what working ~60 hours a week will do to your free time. Pretty sad.
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
If you can afford it, keep them both, try them both (you don't need THAT much space for many of the Vive room scale stuff). Wait for touch to come out then, decide.

I am hoping at some point Occulus gets pressured into letting go of exclusivity, and while revive sort of works, it only works on some. They both have their pros and cons.

If not, just sell one, you should be able to get what you paid out of it, but it might take a bit to get it sold (except maybe ebay).
 

xantub

Senior member
Feb 12, 2014
717
1
46
I can't return it as I've had the Vive for more than 30 days. And no, I did not open it. In fact, I haven't even opened the shipping box. That's what working ~60 hours a week will do to your free time. Pretty sad.

If you don't have the space, why did you order the Vive? As you say, the Rift is like $250 less and if you don't use the 'room experience', it's probably actually better than the Vive.