Official: Oculus Rift pre-orders on Wed, Jan 6th @ 11am EST (8am PST)

[Kaido]

$600 price = lower user base = very little motivation for software development = becomes very niche for the small amount of software that it works well with

my take on VR is that the hardware is there and it's going to be the software that makes or breaks it

I don't see a lot of third party software development happening for a device that costs $600

iirc, the Xbox One pre-order launch price was $500. I don't see $600 being that big a of a deal, especially for PC gamers who are used to spending that much money on a high-end gaming card. I'd also imagine that porting older games won't be too hard either, so you can get immersed in all of your old favorites too.

 

[Subyman]

No it's not, I'm an enthusiast, I pre ordered the DK2 and have been faffing with VR since Oculus started, I spend loads on my PC (specs in sig) and I won't buy a CV1. Why? Because I already have a controller and expensive headphones. Just because you're an enthusiast doesn't mean you're prepared to get ripped off by a company being deliberately obtuse.

A huge number of the enthusiasts basically already have a DK2 anyway, so many of those shipped to gamers it's not even funny, and with dubious spec increase for the panel in that thing which is the only real benefit you're getting above the DK2, it's an even harder sell for VR enthusiasts.

That's be like trying to sell a GTX980 to someone who has a GTX970 already and then forcing them to bundle a monitor in with it and a mechanical keyboard or something, both things they almost certainly have better quality versions of already.

You aren't buying it, so you apparently aren't in the demographic being targeted. The launch will not be for price sensitive buyers. You'll need to wait for a cheaper version that hits your price expectations. Because $600 is too steep for you does not mean the company is in a death spiral.

 

[Aikouka]

I saw on ArsTechnica that it also comes with a rather nice looking hard carrying case. If you need to ever move it, that might help justify the higher price to you as hard carrying cases are usually sold at a fairly high premium. I've been looking at quadcopters, and you end up paying $100-150 for a case like that. My only question about the case is that it has predefined spots for things, but I can't tell if it has spots for the upcoming controller.

 

[Subyman]

"Sennheiser's 3D audio will finally make VR complete":

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/06/sennheiser-3d-audio-will-make-vr-complete/



I was involved with audio for awhile & have heard some frankly incredible 'holographic' recordings on your basic stereo headphones; being able to have immersive audio AND video will be the cat's meow for sure, especially with how realistic realtime gaming is getting...

I had a 3D audio demo once and it was pretty insane. Made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

 

[Subyman]

I saw on ArsTechnica that it also comes with a rather nice looking hard carrying case. If you need to ever move it, that might help justify the higher price to you as hard carrying cases are usually sold at a fairly high premium. I've been looking at quadcopters, and you end up paying $100-150 for a case like that. My only question about the case is that it has predefined spots for things, but I can't tell if it has spots for the upcoming controller.

The dev kits came with a case as well and it had custom foam inside that formed to each component. It was a very nice set up.

 

[rumpleforeskin]

This morning I was sure i was going to pre-order the rift and thought the price would be around $500. As a UK buyer it's over $800 after shipping. I'm still very interested but at that price point I'm happy to wait to see if HTC announce a release date and also see some reviews.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

htc is definitely going to be more. what if it's 1k or something?

 

[Fallen Kell]

Why are people saying this requires a high end gaming rig? A GTX 970 would be fine on medium settings at that res. Its less than 1440p.

Because it needs a high end gaming rig. The resolution of the DK2 was 3840x1200 (4,608,000 pixels) which is almost 1 million more pixels than 1440p (2560x1440 = 3,686,400 pixels). And in order to keep from getting motion sickness you need 90+ frames per second refresh. That is the real issue.

It is pretty easy to do a rough calculation even at an odd resolution. For instance, Battlefield 4 ultra quality 0xMSAA with a 980 TI should be power a Rift (at 3840x2160 it could hit 56.5 frames per second, which translates to 468,633,600 pixels per second in which the Rift needs at least 414,720,000 pixels per second). An Nvidia 980 GTX can not do handle Battlefield 4 at ultra quality 0xMSAA on the Rift (it can only manage 361,635,840 pixels per second which is less than the ~415million needed).

 

[moonbogg]

I have an idea. Remember that winamp thing that would play cool visuals during your music? VR would be good for that. A simple music listening experience where you get to travel through colorful tunnels and crazy stuff to go along with the music. You can experience your own music video and fly through it and watch the sky pulse and change color to the music. It would be cool to try at least once.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I'm going to just say it. I am VERY disappointed there are not more precise specs and requirements for this. Found this in another article:

Required: three USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port

I have no idea if this is correct or not, but since they fail to even bother to mention it, who knows..

 

[n0x1ous]

I'm going to just say it. I am VERY disappointed there are not more precise specs and requirements for this. Found this in another article:

Required: three USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port

I have no idea if this is correct or not, but since they fail to even bother to mention it, who knows..

apparently the third usb 3 port is only for the touch controller so is optional.

 

[moonbogg]

All you guys throwing your money at this thing without giving it a second thought...you are all busted right now. Its a PORN TOY isn't it? Go right ahead and be honest. Tell me. What are you going to DO with this thing strapped to your FACE? Its uncomfortable on your FACE, but you aren't exactly concerned with the comfort of your FACE now are you? Your comfort desires are centralized elsewhere, and for $650, I can't say I entirely blame you.

 

[ImpulsE69]

All you guys throwing your money at this thing without giving it a second thought...you are all busted right now. Its a PORN TOY isn't it? Go right ahead and be honest. Tell me. What are you going to DO with this thing strapped to your FACE? Its uncomfortable on your FACE, but you aren't exactly concerned with the comfort of your FACE now are you? Your comfort desires are centralized elsewhere, and for $650, I can't say I entirely blame you.

Well, it's cheaper than a 'good' hooker! 😀 Combine it with that Japanese collector...and you've got yourself a date.

 

[moonbogg]

Well, it's cheaper than a 'good' hooker! 😀 Combine it with that Japanese collector...and you've got yourself a date.

Oh the possibilities. How to convince the wife that I'll be playing games with it though, and how to explain why the door has to always be locked. Maybe tell her it gives off an electric shock in the air and its dangerous for non users, especially the children.

 

[Kaido]

I have an idea. Remember that winamp thing that would play cool visuals during your music? VR would be good for that. A simple music listening experience where you get to travel through colorful tunnels and crazy stuff to go along with the music. You can experience your own music video and fly through it and watch the sky pulse and change color to the music. It would be cool to try at least once.

https://apps.leapmotion.com/apps/soundscape-vr/windows

 

[Sabrewings]

Because it needs a high end gaming rig. The resolution of the DK2 was 3840x1200 (4,608,000 pixels) which is almost 1 million more pixels than 1440p (2560x1440 = 3,686,400 pixels). And in order to keep from getting motion sickness you need 90+ frames per second refresh. That is the real issue.

DK2 was only 960x1080 per eye, so a normal 1080p panel. CV1 is 2160x1200, so a bit more than 1080p.

 

[Aikouka]

I'm going to just say it. I am VERY disappointed there are not more precise specs and requirements for this. Found this in another article:

Required: three USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port

I have no idea if this is correct or not, but since they fail to even bother to mention it, who knows..

Dang... I think I'll need to buy that USB card as I'm pretty much out of USB ports on my desktop, and that's with having something like 10 available! 😱

 

[KentState]

Went ahead and did the pre-order right at 11am EST this morning. Had troubles getting the store to load initially, but finally started working around 11:10am EST.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

dk2 didn't feel bad on my face but i didn't play it too long. i've had long sessions wearing a motorcycle helmet and that's definitely heavier and more uncomfortable than the headset.

vr sickness is an issue though.

 

[Kaido]

Went ahead and did the pre-order right at 11am EST this morning. Had troubles getting the store to load initially, but finally started working around 11:10am EST.

Seriously?! It's 4:30 & I still have nada. I give up, maybe the Vive pre-order will treat me better 😀

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Seriously?! It's 4:30 & I still have nada. I give up, maybe the Vive pre-order will treat me better 😀

it's got to be on your end. page has been loading fine all day. the checkout is the issue. worked for me when i switched to paypal.

http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/oculus.com

 

[KentState]

Seriously?! It's 4:30 & I still have nada. I give up, maybe the Vive pre-order will treat me better 😀

Have you tried from a different machine? I had problems pulling it up on my phone so I had to sneak out of a work meeting and get on my laptop.

 

[Subyman]

No problems with the website here. Maybe no-script or adblock is messing with the site?

 

[ImpulsE69]

I do find it kind of funny that the so called technophiles are raging at the price all over the internet. Wonder how many cell phones they've bought in the last 3 years.

This is at least worth a look unlike the 15th iteration of the iphone.

 

[Kaido]

Have you tried from a different machine? I had problems pulling it up on my phone so I had to sneak out of a work meeting and get on my laptop.

No problems with the website here. Maybe no-script or adblock is messing with the site?

Nah, I just run a bare Chrome install. Tried on a few computers. Finally came up a bit ago. May delivery, hmm...