Oculus Rift + Touch - 399.00 for Limited Time

[dburne]

Oculus has announced a big summer sale for limited time.

 

The Rift plus the Touch bundle all for 399.00. Also includes the same 7 free game deal with the Touch activation.

 

This is an incredible deal, especially for anyone on the fence considering getting one.

 

https://www.oculus.com/rift/

[SCG_Fenris_Wolf]

450€ it is for Germans. And here I spent 608€ on both roughly 4 weeks ago. Aw. Well. 

 

150€, how much is that in Chinese food? :S

 

 

P.S. Tbh, 150€ for 4 weeks of the fun I have had was well worth it. I recommend anyone who was on the fence to get it now. The next generation will hit in the end of 2018, and you need to know that the "resolutions" are NOT low like in 2016 - you get clear pictures using VR's SuperSampling.

Edited July 10, 2017 by 1CAG_Fenris_Wolf

[dburne]

Yeah I feel your pain, I paid full price for my setup back in Jan , and then it was I guess end of Feb first of March they reduced the overall price of Rift + Touch by 200.00. 

 

It is nice to see them able to offer the package like this for such a good price even if for limited time, should certainly help get more into VR.

This sale price is 50% of what I paid for Rift + Touch...

Edited July 10, 2017 by dburne

[MajorDogbite]

I paid full price on a weak Canadian dollar, last Jan2016 but save 1/2 on Touch by waiting. No regrets as I have enjoyed VR for more than a year now.

 

Anyone who is in to flghtsims  (and BOS, in particular) and has a computer capable of running this would be crazy not to grab one just for that genre, alone. However, you also get one of the best AAA VR games free -Robo Recall and a fair amount of other descent free stuff (Google Earth VR is brilliant)

 

https://www.roadtovr.com/huge-oculus-rift-touch-sale-brings-price-400/

https://www.roadtovr.com/oculus-touch-vr-pre-order-launch-titles-free-content-games/

 

Deal of the Year. imo

[dburne]

 

 

Anyone who is in to flghtsims  (and BOS, in particular) and has a computer capable of running this would be crazy not to grab one just for that genre, alone. However, you also get one of the best AAA VR games free -Robo Recall and a fair amount of other descent free stuff (Google Earth VR is brilliant)

 

 

 

Agreed, I am so glad I got the Touch bundle shortly after getting my Rift, even though I paid a lot more for it at the time.

Whilst combat flight sims will always be my first love and where I spend the bulk of my gaming time, I so enjoy the short breaks in between playing Touch enabled games. And yes Robo Recall is an absolute blast!

 

This current sale is quite the bargain!

Edited July 10, 2017 by dburne

[TG-55Panthercules]

Sounds intriguing, but a few things are a little fuzzy to me:

 

1. Is there any use for the touch controller things for BoS/BoM or are they just good for some other games?

 

2. Do you need to also order the earphones accessory (extra $50)? If you don't, can you still use regular headphones or do you have to use speakers - how do you deal with the sound?

 

3.  Are the 2 sensors they include in the package going to be enough or does it typically require more than 2 to get decent results?

 

4.  More generally, is there anything else (not included in the $399 package) that you would need to use VR with BoS/BoM?

[II/JG11_ATLAN_VR]

for box you only need the rift not the controllers, the rift is also fine for teamspeak mic and headphone included in the rift

[dburne]

Sounds intriguing, but a few things are a little fuzzy to me:

 

1. Is there any use for the touch controller things for BoS/BoM or are they just good for some other games?

 

2. Do you need to also order the earphones accessory (extra $50)? If you don't, can you still use regular headphones or do you have to use speakers - how do you deal with the sound?

 

3.  Are the 2 sensors they include in the package going to be enough or does it typically require more than 2 to get decent results?

 

4.  More generally, is there anything else (not included in the $399 package) that you would need to use VR with BoS/BoM?

 

1: Not currently for flight sims, but certainly there are some good Touch games available that are quite a lot of fun - at least I found them to be. Broadened my horizons a little, but still flight sim is my first love. 

 

2: No, the Rift headset comes with some very good headphones and mic already. I myself did order the Oculus earbuds accessory a few weeks ago, and like them a little better myself. But the Rift ones are very good, I think most find more than sufficient and don't need to use another headphone. In fact prior to the Rift I was using a 200 dollar Sennheiser Headset, and found the Rift to sound just as good to me.

 

3: 2 gives very decent results, really for sitting games like this , one does very well also - but if you have two available, I suggest go ahead and set them up as they only improve tracking.

 

4: Nope, that package would give you all you need as far as the Rift is concerned.

I would suggest if interested and prior to purchasing, run the Oculus Rift compatibility checker and see if it flags anything on your system. The sensors and headset can be picky about the USB 3.0 ports.

https://support.oculus.com/1633938460220125/

 

I ran this prior to ordering my Rift back in Jan, and it flagged my onboard ASMedia 3.0ports as known to cause issue. I ordered and installed the Innatek PCIe USB 3.0 powered card, and put it in prior to hooking up my Rift. Have my two sensors and headset plugged into it, and have never had a single issue to date, my experience has been very smooth so far.

Edited July 10, 2017 by dburne

[nessuno0505]

I paid the full price on january too, btw this is a great occasion for everyone, Sent the new to my brother, maybe he would join.

 

To TG-55P:

 

1. touch controllers are useless for BOS/BOM, but you can get google earth vr for free and it worths the touch controllers for itself (there are other touch games / apps available too)

 

2. in oculus home you must use the headphones included in the bundle, in steam vr you can also use any audio device you want (but I use the included headphones). Optional earphones are just an alternative and you don't need to buy them (unless you want for some reason)

 

3. the two sensors included are sufficient. For BOS/BOM just one sensor would be enough. Two sensors are necessary for touch controllers. You need the optional third sensor if you want to enable roomscale setup as in the Vive (now fully supported also in the rift and no more experimental, but not needed for flight simulators).

 

4. for BOS/BOM I use a hotas (but I think you already have one), then I use voiceattack software (€ 9 for a license key) for voice commands (with a VR facial interface you do not see the keyboard and so you have to find an alternative way to operate keyboard commands) and joy2key software (shareware, € 5 for a license key) in order to enable joystick modificators like in DCS (in BOS/BOM you cannot set them ingame). I do not use anything else for BOS/BOM.

Edited July 10, 2017 by nessuno0505

[TG-55Panthercules]

Thanks for the info everybody.  The PC analyzer app they had on the site reported everything OK (check plus) on my rig, so I think I'll go ahead and take the plunge, if people can tell me whether the "bubble of blur" problem (that seems to have been largely eliminated/drastically reduced by this latest update) looks OK in VR now or if for some reason it looks worse in VR than it does now on a monitor - anybody check that in VR since the recent game update?

Edited July 10, 2017 by TG-55Panthercules

[nessuno0505]

I play il-2 exclusively in VR... you cannot expect the same fine resolution of a monitor, but I do not know anybody who tried a flight simulator in VR and went back on monitor.

I have to say I play on a 1080p 24", if you are suited to a 1440p or a 4K monitor maybe you will notice a lot more difference, but IMHO flight simulators are the typical game in which you absolutely trade fine resolution for immersion: you are seated INSIDE the cockpit! Who cares about resolution?

[BeastyBaiter]

At $400 it is terribly tempting, would be even more so if at around $325 without the touch controllers. I suppose the big question is how well will my RX480 handle it.

[Tuesday]

At $400 it is terribly tempting, would be even more so if at around $325 without the touch controllers. I suppose the big question is how well will my RX480 handle it.

 

I am in the same boat as you.  Hmmm!! 

[coconut]

Regarding extras: possibly lenses, depending on your eyes.

[TG-55Panthercules]

Regarding extras: possibly lenses, depending on your eyes.

 

Hmm - how do these VR things work if you wear glasses - do you try to wear them over your glasses or do they have focus/adjustments like binoculars do so you don't need your glasses to see well in them?

Edited July 10, 2017 by TG-55Panthercules

[=TBAS=Sshadow14]

so its not the full pack of all needed?

LMAO $600 AUD

[MajorDogbite]

2. in oculus home you must use the headphones included in the bundle, in steam vr you can also use any audio device you want (but I use the included headphones). Optional earphones are just an alternative and you don't need to buy them (unless you want for some reason)

 

 Sorry but not true. I removed the Rift headphones and use my 5.1 speaker system which also drives my haptic chair. You can set "Windows default" in Oculus Home and set Windows itself to playback to what ever you want to use. You can also do this separately  with the Rift mic, but it is pretty good and tucked nicely inside the hmd.

 

 

 

Edited July 11, 2017 by MajorDogbite

[MajorDogbite]

Hmm - how do these VR things work if you wear glasses - do you try to wear them over your glasses or do they have focus/adjustments like binoculars do so you don't need your glasses to see well in them?

 

 

If you wear glasses to drive you will need them in VR. You don't need reading glasses, just distance only. There is no focal adjust unfortunately, only IPD for pupil separation adjustment. Disposable contacts are best. For larger heads many avoid a tight fit with Ben Franklin frames. They are light and usually fit well unless you have really big head. Anything under 5.5 inches or a hair more between the arms should be good. If more a fitting with the Rift in tow might be in order.

[TG-55Panthercules]

If you wear glasses to drive you will need them in VR. You don't need reading glasses, just distance only. There is no focal adjust unfortunately, only IPD for pupil separation adjustment. Disposable contacts are best. For larger heads many avoid a tight fit with Ben Franklin frames. They are light and usually fit well unless you have really big head. Anything under 5.5 inches or a hair more between the arms should be good. If more a fitting with the Rift in tow might be in order.

 

Hmm - can't wear contacts, so that option is out.  I have a pair of normal distance/driving glasses that is about 5.25" wide and a pair of computer/midrange glasses about 5.5" wide - both are progressive lenses.  Perhaps I should just get a single-vision, somewhat smaller-framed pair for use with VR?  If so, should they be based on the distance prescription, or midrange, or what?

[nessuno0505]

I wear prescription glasses and have never used contacts. My glasses are too bulky to be comfortably used with the rift. I have solved buying a pair of prescription lenses from vr-lens-lab.

[TG-55Panthercules]

I wear prescription glasses and have never used contacts. My glasses are too bulky to be comfortably used with the rift. I have solved buying a pair of prescription lenses from vr-lens-lab.

 

Interesting - thanks.  Will have to check into that.

[MajorDogbite]

Hmm - can't wear contacts, so that option is out.  I have a pair of normal distance/driving glasses that is about 5.25" wide and a pair of computer/midrange glasses about 5.5" wide - both are progressive lenses.  Perhaps I should just get a single-vision, somewhat smaller-framed pair for use with VR?  If so, should they be based on the distance prescription, or midrange, or what?

Yep. Get a pair for distance only. No bifocals required. You might consider taking your Rift with you when selecting a frame for fitting purposes. Don't be surprised if your Optometrist wants a Rift after picking your brains. Mine did. As for VRlens Lab, they can be a viable solution, however, some (myself included) found the distortion (called barreling) due to the convex fit to be too much. From what I could gather, the higher your prescription the more this is an issue. The way they lock in can be hit and miss as far as staying put goes, as well. This seems to be because of a slight variance from one faceplate to another in precise size and a less than ideal fitting mechanism on the VRLL lenses. VRLL (VR Cover) has their own faceplates and pads that could help with this as well as fitting one's glasses or the VRLL lenses. I recommend you do some research on this as the lenses have been updated some since I sent mine back. VRLL also add considerably more weight than say a pair of Ben Franklin's. If they still offer a full refund they would be worth a try. though.

Edited July 11, 2017 by MajorDogbite

[SCG_Fenris_Wolf]

Resolution of Rift and monitor is hard to compare, since you have different viewing distances. The Focal Distance in the Rift should be around 3 Meters. That is why some people need prescription lenses or contacts. I was playing on a 4k  34" monitor at 80cm distance before getting the Oculus Rift.

 

 

Spotting seemed harder on the 4k 34" monitor, because compared to the Rift everything is tiny. 

 

 

Best comparison to give you an idea that I came across so far:  In the Rift, the wing on your right is 4 meters long. The one on the 34" monitor is 40 centimeters long. 

[nessuno0505]

As for VRlens Lab, they can be a viable solution, however, some (myself included) found the distortion (called barreling) due to the convex fit to be too much. From what I could gather, the higher your prescription the more this is an issue. The way they lock in can be hit and miss as far as staying put goes, as well. This seems to be because of a slight variance from one faceplate to another in precise size and a less than ideal fitting mechanism on the VRLL lenses.

 

In my case no distortion perceived. Maybe because 1) I choose the premium lenses option, specific for reducing distortion; 2) I have a moderate grade astigmatism, so I see things distorted WITHOUT lenses, and the lenses correct the defect. At the end I see better with lenses than without, so it was worth it. As far as the lock in system, there are two little optional insertable rubbers with the aim to adapt the lenses to the slight variances of the faceplates; anyway once you have put in they slightly move only if you touch them, in regular rift use they don't move. I have seen other similar solutions that lock the lenses on the fabric, maybe more stable but with the risk of damaging it. I think a good option should be to try using the rift with your spectacles and without, if you are satisfied you have nothing else to do, otherwise you can order VRLL lenses.

 

Spotting seemed harder on the 4k 34" monitor, because compared to the Rift everything is tiny. In the Rift, the wing on your right is 4 meters long. The one on the 34" monitor is 40 centimeters long. 

 

This is also true, and worths considering.

Edited July 11, 2017 by nessuno0505

[TG-55Panthercules]

OK - lots of cool information here (and in some of the other threads about VR I'd been ignoring since it didn't seem likely that VR would be in my future any time soon).  Only one question left unaddressed as best I can tell, and that's the one about the "bubble of blur" problem I mentioned a few posts ago.

 

Seeing that clearly delineated blur bubble from my cockpit has bedeviled me for years now, and it's caused BoS/BoM to stay on the shelf for me basically all this time.  But this latest game update has finally managed to practically eliminate it or at least reduce and move it far enough away from my plane so as to make it virtually unnoticeable, so I've really been looking forward to spending more time prowling for ground targets to pound going forward.  But the last thing I'd want to do is get a Rift and then find out that something about the way this VR stuff works somehow brings the "bubble of blur" effect back into play.

 

So, has anybody who uses the Rift and who knows how that "bubble of blur" used to look checked it out since this latest game update and can they confirm that it doesn't look significantly more noticeable with the Rift than it does (now) on a monitor after this latest update?

[nessuno0505]

In the rift I do not notice any bubble of blur; I have not a comparison with monitor since I play BOS only in VR, but I think you can consider the problem fixed

[dburne]

I can't really compare it to what it was, as I went for a really long time without flying BoS until VR support was released.

 

But I do not notice anything like what might be a bubble of blur in my mind.

 

Understand though whilst the experience is incredible and hard to even describe in words, the image clarity does suffer somewhat in this first generation of VR, at least as compared to a good monitor. However for the majority, the experience and the immersion far outweigh any current shortcomings.

 

1CGS also really knocked it out of the park in their VR Implementation, to me it looks absolutely gorgeous while providing exceptional performance. There is no chance I could ever go back to flying on a monitor again - or any gaming for that matter.

To me the difference is, rather than looking at a small image of  BoS on a monitor, I am actually inside of BoS with everything pretty much actual size and all around me. 

Edited July 12, 2017 by dburne

[coconut]

The extent of the forest is noticeable in VR too, no magic there. But it becomes a very remote minor annoyance. The benefit of getting depth and immersion outweighs that, I think.

A more severe problem for me is the screen door effect and poor dark colors. Compromises...

[MajorDogbite]

Noticing screen door goes away in short order , unless you really look for it hard. Even the loss of clarity as compared to a good monitor disappears unless you are constantly comparing. The VR implementation in this sim is brilliant. It is the best VR flightsim on the stage right now. I bought the Rift for Elite Dangerous and DCS but BOX is the best looking by far.

 

It has been said many times that there is no way to describe VR to another person. They have to see it for themselves and then it is mostly OMG! OMG! Holy$#!T! Where can I get this?  My second favorite VR experience is watching someone try this for the first time.

[coconut]

Hmm - how do these VR things work if you wear glasses - do you try to wear them over your glasses or do they have focus/adjustments like binoculars do so you don't need your glasses to see well in them?

You can try to wear your glasses under the OR, but the glasses need to be small. There is always a risk of scratching the lenses, so I don't recommend it.

Sadly, no vision-correction adjustment is available in the OR. An unfortunate oversight IMHO.

 

I got my lenses from vr-lens.eu https://vr-lens.eu/. I checked the reviews on vr-lens-lab and they were horrible, so I avoided them. I am satisfied with the lenses from vr-lens.eu. My only problem with them is that they can get loose during play sessions with heavy movements. Typically not a problem with BOX, but it happens more often than I'd like in Echo Arena.

 

Regarding the touch controllers: They are not recognized by BOX, but they could be made useful through use of 3rd party tools. I've developed my own tool (proof of concept level) and it works like that: My tool monitors the position of the controllers, and detects when they are closed to key positions in the plane's cockpit. Upon button/trigger press, the program activates a button press in a virtual joystick device, which is mapped in BOX to an action of interest.

 

For instance, when one of the controllers gets close to the handle of the canopy, pushing a button triggers virtual joystick button 1, which is mapped to "open canopy" in the game. I have paused that project due to other more pressing projects, but it shows it's feasible. I think there is already another tool that does the same, using simulated key presses instead.

[BeastyBaiter]

Welp, I pulled the trigger on it after 2 days of thinking about it. That price is just too hard to pass up, hopefully my RX480 will manage. On a related note, it's on backorder at both Amazon and Newegg. Seems a lot of people are hopping on this offer. I wonder when it will actually turn up.

[dburne]

Well today it is official for me - after using my Rift for right at 6 months now, I have official removed my Track IR5 and uninstalled it's drivers and software. Had not used it in 6 month either, so figured about time. Just can't go back to monitor flying again. It is now officially retired and safely tucked away in my desk drawer. 

 

You guys that are taking advantage of this current sale are getting a heck of a deal!

Half the price I paid back in January!

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it - after you have picked your jaw up off the floor of course.

 

[II/JG11_ATLAN_VR]

Used the rift for one Month now.trackir 4 also retired

Today we are 3 in our squad flying with the rift . The last bought it today accepting this special offer.we Love it

Edited July 13, 2017 by II/JG11ATLAN

[TG-55Panthercules]

The extent of the forest is noticeable in VR too, no magic there. But it becomes a very remote minor annoyance. The benefit of getting depth and immersion outweighs that, I think.

A more severe problem for me is the screen door effect and poor dark colors. Compromises...

 

Aw man - every time I think I'm about to pull the trigger on the sale I see something else worrisome.  I don't remember seeing comments about the Rift having screen door issues before - is that really a thing these days?  My first projector that I got to play the old IL-2 all those years ago was an LCD one that had screen door issues, and I never could get used to it - wound up having to buy a second, different kind of projector to get rid of it.  Not sure I want to step backwards into that mess again.  Do the other VR sets also have screen door issues or is that just a Rift thing?

[dburne]

Aw man - every time I think I'm about to pull the trigger on the sale I see something else worrisome.  I don't remember seeing comments about the Rift having screen door issues before - is that really a thing these days?  My first projector that I got to play the old IL-2 all those years ago was an LCD one that had screen door issues, and I never could get used to it - wound up having to buy a second, different kind of projector to get rid of it.  Not sure I want to step backwards into that mess again.  Do the other VR sets also have screen door issues or is that just a Rift thing?

 

Yes the first generation of Rift and Vive, have a screen door affect. Reports are the Rift is a little better than the Vive in this regard.

 

Personally I myself rarely notice it. For me it is a non issue. As with most things though, it is more of an individual thing and how they perceive it.  

[Irgendjemand]

Aw man - every time I think I'm about to pull the trigger on the sale I see something else worrisome.  I don't remember seeing comments about the Rift having screen door issues before - is that really a thing these days?  My first projector that I got to play the old IL-2 all those years ago was an LCD one that had screen door issues, and I never could get used to it - wound up having to buy a second, different kind of projector to get rid of it.  Not sure I want to step backwards into that mess again.  Do the other VR sets also have screen door issues or is that just a Rift thing?

 

Screen door is there. Not as noticeable as in the DK1 but at least for me the low resolution is what made me sell it and wait for the next iteration.

Immersion is killer. Really awesome and i understand fully why some people cant go back.

Ill wont go back as well. But only once i received the next iteration with at least doubleled pixeldensity.

[MajorDogbite]

I started with the original subLogic Flightsim in DOS. Had a 2 button CH stick and a 14' monitor. Decades later I am "inside" my aircraft with full hotas and the engines rumbling under my butt. Sound all around. An immersion factor I could not have dreamed about. We are truly lucky to be in on the birth of this new age in gaming. This is not evolutionary, it's revolutionary. In over a year,I have not played outside of VR and have no desire to do so. Indeed, a game must now have VR or I can't abide it. No matter how good it is. I really hope 777/1C give us Rise of Flight VR. Then, my flight library will be complete.

[dburne]

From all my reading on the various forums over the last several months,

 

The SDE ( screen door effect) while there, is really a non issue for the vast majority of users. However as with most things, there is a smaller minority of users that are just dissatisfied with it and unhappy with their device. 

 

We all wish there were no SDE, and undoubtedly that will eventually come, but most are so happy with the experience it is hardly noticed. 

Unfortunately, where one might fit in on this issue, will not be known until tried.

 

Perhaps if you are an Amazon customer, might try going through them as I think they are pretty good on return policies?

Edited July 13, 2017 by dburne

[MajorDogbite]

Screen door is there. Not as noticeable as in the DK1 but at least for me the low resolution is what made me sell it and wait for the next iteration.

Immersion is killer. Really awesome and i understand fully why some people cant go back.

Ill wont go back as well. But only once i received the next iteration with at least doubleled pixeldensity.

You refer to the DK1 but not DK2. The CV1 has markedly less sde than even the DK2. The usual quote is "it is the first thing noticed and the first thing forgotten about". Those with 4k monitors use to running at Ultra are more prone to notice it at the beginning. In reading player comments "daily"for over a year now, I don't recall anyone returning the Rift because of sde or the lower resolution. Even with the 4k users. There are just to many pros to playing in VR  and the brain soon adapts to these things. Indeed, the biggest lament I read is that guys who spent big on 4k triples never game on them anymore and often regret having invested in them, now that they play in VR exclusively. There will always be the exceptions out there, but sde  isn't as big a deal as often complained about when first seen. The rest of the VR experience is so overpowering that it is almost never mentioned again once you adjust. The major lament early in is VR/motion sickness, which almost always goes away in short order  if you ease into the more unsettling experiences. I have only read a couple of posts over the last year where people have return their hmd because they couldn't abide this. The brain can adapt to this as well.

 

As far as doubling pixel density, that can be done in most games now and with the Oculus debug tool if needed. This assumes one has a beefy enough rig to do this. As an example I could not run Project Cars at more than PD 1.2 and judged the game to be inferior to IRacing and Assetto Corsa. When I got a GTX 1080ti that opinion changed. PCars is now one of my favorite VR experiences at PD 2. True 4k VR gaming is still a couple of years out at least, since we need even more cpu/gpu to do it well. A game like Robo Recall illustrates that when written for VR and done well the graphics can look as good as a lot of AAA non-vr titles, even at pd 1.  SDE as an issue is totally over-blown imo. When I demo VR to others not familiar with it and don't mention sde they never do either. The only thing usually said after the all the  OMG, WOWWW, and HOLY FRACK's subside is "where do I sign up and what do I need to run this". I would not want to have missed the last year in VR (and the next couple) even at this level of first gen. Those true pc gamers not familiar with VR need to at least try this. If the sheer volume of happy users and there testimonials don't convince, I'll bet with a good demo shown with the right software on the right setup does. It does at my house.

Edited July 13, 2017 by MajorDogbite

[chiliwili69]

 

 

I have official removed my Track IR5 and uninstalled it's drivers and software

 

I did the same about 1 year ago when I received my CV1 rift. I didn´t play BOS until it was in VR.

 

I think TrackIR is fake since allow you to easily check six with no effort.

It is true that resolution is not perfect, but it is hard for my to understand people who prefer resolution over immersion and have the "sense of flying", but that´s human diversity.