What immersive PC experience would you rather have?

[mmntech]

I think PS4 may still get morpheous...but the games you play with it are going to be either just experience type games (like the Note or Letter or whatever that was) or Resogun.

Also, it may be used heavily for streaming video playback

My issue with Morpheous is I can see it becoming like the Move. Great piece of tech but no commitment to software support. Sony has a bad habit of doing that.

I get the feeling that VR in general is going to be a flash in the pan, like 3DTV was. I haven't gotten the chance to try the Oculus yet, so I'm open to being surprised. Right now, I'm quite happy with my 27'' 1080p monitor. Wouldn't mind upgrading to 4K once the displays and the GPUs to power them become more affordable.

 

[flexy]

Augmented reality and VR are two different shoes, IMHO.

While augmented reality might have more "real world" applications, I personally am more interested into true, created virtual worlds like with the Oculus.

I agree that FOV is most important, probably more important than "a good 3D effect". FOV first, then 3D. HOW it's realized then is irrelevant, it's a technical matter, resolution etc. Obviously, future high-end VR googles with high reso and wide FOV would be more practical than a giant 2D screen.

The next thing which is important is software support of course.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Valve and HTC have something in the works too...

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Vive-Valve-HTC-Join-Forces-Virtual-Reality-Headset-70361.html

Compared to the Oculus Rift, the Vive is a powerhouse. The Rift's current incarnation supports 1080p output and can handle around 75 frames per second. The Vive, on the other hand, has a pair of beefy 1200 x 1080 displays, which support 90 FPS. HTC insists that this frame rate will reduce the nausea problems that have become associated with virtual-reality tech.

 

[JamesV]

The big problem I see with VR headsets, is that you still need some sort of input device. Sure you can look around without a mouse, but how about left clicking, or selecting weapon #7? How about hitting your 15th macro in an MMO (would be hard/impossible to see the KB to hit it).

Until they can also read your mind for commands, VR will be for nothing but casual walk arounds. Holding a 360 controller while using one would be immersion breaking imo.

 

[Captante]

Large high resolution 2d screen.

Its not even close.

 

[MeldarthX]

PS4 was supposed to have VR but I think they realized it doesn't have the horsepower to output the constant 120 fps or whatever is necessary so people don't puke all over their house.

Ummm.....not sure where you pulled that out of; look at everyone's said about morphus; better that rift; hands down.

Honestly what I want is full dive VR; but we need to just get VR running first then we can deal with full dive....

 

[mizzou]

I'll admit, I am a bit surprised at the reigning popularity of 2d screens

 

[Stuka87]

VR is the best for immersion, but if you are like me and wear contacts for poor vision, you cannot use them. With my contacts on, my minimum focus distance is about 8 inches. I have to remove my contacts in order to use a headset.

Google glass is equally unusable for me for the same reason.

So with that said, for me it would be really good 3d audio.

 

[Denithor]

Holodeck? LOL

2d screen for me at this point.

The Vive looks interesting. What I wish someone would make is a VR headset that simply puts your game feed on two small, very high resolution screens (think two cell phones held in front of your eyes, but smaller screens) that would have the normal HUD and driven by mouse/kb like usual. But I guess the GPU horsepower to run that properly would be beastly.

 

[magomago]

There should be a place for both, but we can't wait for immersive gaming to develop further. It is "good enough" right now to reach the market, but this doesn't mean that it'll stall at its current level. No tech was perfect at its release, in most instances it was just good enough. God, imagine what the early day of PCs would have been if they insisted on technology further before they actually published anything. Many great games was made on limited hardware with poor choices that we wouldn't necessarily subject ourselves to again today.

If there is enough of a customer base right NOW that is willing to pay for the experience despite the trade offs (and I think there is), then this base will be the ones that allow for further development moving forward.

That said, I agree that with VR you need some kind of input. I think that, as time moves on, we'll evolve into common inputs for certain types of games. FPS may share some common sets of "gun controllers". Who knows, this could reignite a generation of casual adventure games that doesn't require quick reflexes, but instead requires careful thinking a la myst.

VR may not be the answer to everything in gaming right now, but its can definitely be an answer to certain types of gaming; its proposition and technology will only improve as times goes on and we'll wonder why we were every so stubborn to hold onto a 2D screen.

 

[Midwayman]

I'll admit, I am a bit surprised at the reigning popularity of 2d screens

I'm not. Most people haven't experienced it. The DK2 was enough to see that there is a big pay off there even if they aren't quite over the line yet. Its easy to dismiss just watching videos. Presence isn't something a video can show.

 

[MrPickins]

A big hurdle for nausea in VR is latency. The more realistic it looks and feels, the lower the latency has to be for it to feel ok. Most games have a total latency over 30ms, but the Oculus Rift guys have been claiming they need to get that under 10ms to help prevent nausea.

I can attest to this problem, as even normal games do the same for me when poor latency and 1st person view is involved.

It's not just lag, it's also the disconnect with the motion of your character and what your inner ear is telling you. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulator_sickness)

I've used v2 of the Oculus dev kit, and I was fine with any application that had my virtual presence stationary. Any game where you can move around had me nauseated in minutes.

 

[bystander36]

It's not just lag, it's also the disconnect with the motion of your character and what your inner ear is telling you. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulator_sickness)

I've used v2 of the Oculus dev kit, and I was fine with any application that had my virtual presence stationary. Any game where you can move around had me nauseated in minutes.

I know there are other causes of Nausea. I just know from personal experience, and what the Oculus Rift guys have said, latency is one of the biggest problems.

When you turn your head, and the scene does not change immediately, that causes the disconnect you are talking about. This assumes the dev's don't put in a bouncing run animation, which games have done before, and that is a killer too. Assuming the dev's make it so when you turn, it turns with your head, with low latency, that will be the #1 problem.

 

[stockwiz]

I'm happy with my setup. A good quality home theater with good large floorstanding speakers and a nice subwoofer makes a huge difference compared to just headphones or small tinny speakers.

I do like 3D... in the theater... at home.. meh. Not going to pay huge sums of money to early adopt any new technology whether it be virtual reality or 4K which requires the expensive multiple video cards, new motherboard, etc. to power.

 

[moonbogg]

I'm excited about Valve's Vive more than anything else. Its actually coming out. Its pretty realistic VR where you get to walk around in the environment. Literally walk around.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/04/gdc-2015-how-valves-portal-vr-demo-sold-me-on-vive

 

[xantub]

I'm excited about Valve's Vive more than anything else. Its actually coming out. Its pretty realistic VR where you get to walk around in the environment. Literally walk around.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/04/gdc-2015-how-valves-portal-vr-demo-sold-me-on-vive

This is where I think it looks better than it'll be. I don't want to have to move my arms or lower body when I play games. I like the Oculus Rift because it's just my head, I'm sitting at my computer looking at thinks, I want my hands on the keyboard and mouse.

 

[flexy]

>>
I wanted to see how else I could change things, what I might have missed, and to generally just exist in a game world in a way I never have. Other VR initiatives are succeeding in their own right, but I can’t think of anything that’s had such a profound effect on my own existence as Valve and HTC’s Vive
>>

The article you cited and which I just read does not let me know WHY the guy thinks that Valve's VR is a better experience. Because of the Portal VR demo? Because of the controller? Because the Valve kit is better hardware as compared to say, the rift?

I am confused since I really would like to know what impressed him so much compared to other VR solutions.

Edit: Ok I see now. Not practicable IMHO.

 

[nightspydk]

I dunno.

With skyrim and a few other games stereo3d was very impressive. Does come at a cost and having that gear on all the time it not that much fun. Things like backlighting etc strain my eyes and if I had to move my head around as well, I would probably not do it. Far to much work and I don't think my neck would approve in the long run. It depends. The 3d effect works with my brain and I'd love to feel totally immersed in another more interesting world than this 'real' one hehe.

I'd expect wearing lenses or glasses for that matter won't be a problem eventually just like with the 3dglasses
Might be the first time we of poor eyesight didn't need to wear glasses, if the system was properly calibrated methinks.

 

[DigDog]

VR is about immersion, not competition. If you are playing a single player game, or a game which everyone is using VR, it should not matter that it isn't as fast as a mouse for looking around, though often they use both in the demo's I've seen. You control movement with a controller/keyboard/mouse and get an added looking and aiming ability with your head, so you'd still the flick ability if it is built that way.

When playing in single player, I simply don't care if I lose control, if the game feels more realistic. I played Metro 2033 without crosshairs in 3D Vision. The game looked awesome, and felt much more realistic than normal, but it definitely was harder. That just means I turn down the difficulty setting if it is too difficult, but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment.

i totally agree with you, VR *is* about immersion, and not competition.

i also lost any interest in immersion when i reached puberty.

sorry but i simply dont "get" fantasy. i left that dream state behind and i dont want to go back to it, not even for a second.

 

[nightspydk]

comon we all wanna dream away once in while.
Be it alcohol,drugs,movies,games you name it, it can be an escape.
Then games can be a lot more..

 

[Tsavo]

The only immersive PC experience I want is to have Scarlett Johansson build a PC for me while wearing nothing but fuzzy pink socks. No, I don't have a sock fetish; I just don't want her feet to get cold.

 

[bystander36]

i totally agree with you, VR *is* about immersion, and not competition.

i also lost any interest in immersion when i reached puberty.

sorry but i simply dont "get" fantasy. i left that dream state behind and i dont want to go back to it, not even for a second.

I highly doubt many agree with you. You seriously don't understand how people like immersion? Do you think that only children are interested in VR, or things like a holodeck from Star Trek?

 

[cmdrdredd]

I highly doubt many agree with you. You seriously don't understand how people like immersion? Do you think that only children are interested in VR, or things like a holodeck from Star Trek?

When it comes to being early adopters of a tech that might not take off, yes.

 

[bystander36]

When it comes to being early adopters of a tech that might not take off, yes.

That wasn't what I said, or meant. I simply meant that immersion is something a lot of people are interested in. I'd also assume, by the response, he is a teenager or up to his mid 20's. Men of that age tend to be much more competitive than women or people outside that bracket.

 

[DigDog]

I highly doubt many agree with you. You seriously don't understand how people like immersion? Do you think that only children are interested in VR, or things like a holodeck from Star Trek?

i just have much more interest in real life events. even if i go to a movie theater, for example, i find the various camera movements used and script writing techniques to be more interesting and captivating than the film itself. it really doesn't affect me anymore .. maybe 'had a hard life, idk. it just doesnt.

i did lose myself in minecraft a few years back, before the nerfing of *everything*. repeated world crashes kicked me back into reality.. hasn't happened ever again.