My comments about the Media Event and Loft's Trip to America

[=BKHZ=Furbs]

 

 

I think its dam* good reason to get excited.  Jason bought the Oculus Rift and gave it to Loft to see if it can be implemented.   Now it depends on the cost of implementation versus the possible gain of future sales.   I've read only positive reviews from testers of the hardware, with some concerns with nausea from some, that seems to alleviate with time, with some similarities to the Track IR experience.  The only negatives I've read are from people in forums without the hardware, that are speculating on its negatives, that IMO are far outweighed by the positives.  Personally I think the OR/ VR hardware is a huge advance in gaming especially suited for games where you are sitting in a cockpit, that developers should take a very hard look at, or be left behind.

 

Im excited by the hardware Chivas, just we wouldn't want people starting to get worked up BOS will have OR support at release, you know how these things get going in forums.

 

 

By that train of thought I guess we shouldn't get too excited about BOS either.     

 

I have no idea why you would say that Chivas, we know BOS is coming, we dont know if OR support is.

It would be awesome if they did manage it.

 

[DD_bongodriver]

I would be worried about headaches with the Oculus Rift myself. I would think that eye strain could be a major problem.

 

 

I received my rift yesterday, eye strain does not seem to be a problem, there is a slight issue with motion sickness that would be totally cured with full positional tracking from my experience, which is planned for a consumer release.

 

Amazing piece of kit, my mind was blown.

[=BKHZ=Furbs]

What did you test it with bongo? how does it compare with TrackIR?

 

Ive heard the res is not quite high enough yet in the DK version, how noticeable is it?

Edited July 30, 2013 by Furbs

[peregrine7]

I received my rift yesterday, eye strain does not seem to be a problem, there is a slight issue with motion sickness that would be totally cured with full positional tracking from my experience, which is planned for a consumer release.

 

Amazing piece of kit, my mind was blown.

 

 

 

 

It's good isn't it? I have to disagree with the motion sickness though, it's not to do with lacking positional tracking, it's to do with moving your head using a controller and not feeling it in your inner ear whilst still being able to look around and feel that in your inner ear. The disparity causes the motion sickness, and I think if you experience motion sickness in everyday life you're going to get realistically motion sick whilst dogfighting. It's a strange thing to think of but I would certainly be vomiting my guts out if I went through that in real life. 

 

Regarding resolution. No it's nowhere near high enough for a flight sim, picking out individual planes at a distance just isn't going to happen, though with labels it should be doable. 

 

Compared to trackIR? It's a million times better, no flicking in random directions, not affected by sunlight, no TIR camera falling off the monitor when you need it most, 1:1 responsiveness means FINE MOVEMENT IS FINALLY POSSIBLE! and it's so natural, it really is just looking around like in real life. There's no comparison tracking wise. I've tried using the TIR for positional to aid the rift but... you really start to see the TIR's problems and it breaks immersion more than it helps.

 

I tested HL2 VR, Unity Rollercoaster, Tuscany and Museum of the Microstar when I first got it, as those are the easiest to get into. War Thunder needs a ton of work but looks fantastic.  

[DD_bongodriver]

It's good isn't it? I have to disagree with the motion sickness though, it's not to do with lacking positional tracking, it's to do with moving your head using a controller and not feeling it in your inner ear whilst still being able to look around and feel that in your inner ear. The disparity causes the motion sickness, and I think if you experience motion sickness in everyday life you're going to get realistically motion sick whilst dogfighting. It's a strange thing to think of but I would certainly be vomiting my guts out if I went through that in real life. 

 

 

But that is almost exactly what I'm saying, lack of positional tacking is confusing my vestibular system when it doesn't receive the visual feedback from positional movements.

 

I just had a try on a great little helicopter demo and that was brilliant, no motion sickness whatsoever, the resolution in the DK is not great but then it is purely oriented around developers getting hands on and integrating the tech, but I have to say the immersion quickly makes you forget about resolution and the 'screen door' effect, the DK is obviously not going to be good enough for combat fligh sims but as soon as a high resolution version is available it will be perfect, the low latency head tracking is just so natural and certainly makes me feel much more comfortable than trackir.

Edited July 30, 2013 by DD_bongodriver

[6S.Manu]

Compared to trackIR? It's a million times better, no flicking in random directions, not affected by sunlight, no TIR camera falling off the monitor when you need it most, 1:1 responsiveness means FINE MOVEMENT IS FINALLY POSSIBLE! and it's so natural, it really is just looking around like in real life. There's no comparison tracking wise. I've tried using the TIR for positional to aid the rift but... you really start to see the TIR's problems and it breaks immersion more than it helps.

 

I was thinking about FOV. We know that because of it the objects on the screen are not rendered in the correct size. Do you think the rift is going to solve this problem?

[DD_bongodriver]

I was thinking about FOV. We know that because of it the objects on the screen are not rendered in the correct size. Do you think the rift is going to solve this problem?

 

The FOV does not seem to be a problem, the best way to describe the sensation is that it feels like you are wearing a very low profile scuba mask, the very far edges of your horizontal peripheral wiew are cut off.....like looking though a very wide bore pipe that is only 2cm long.

 

It's actually less visually restrictive than a pair of WWII pilots goggles.

Edited July 30, 2013 by DD_bongodriver

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 If the consumer version will have bigger resolution among other improvements and a price maximum around 300€ then count me in! Seems the OR has hit the nail in the head in implementing VR now well to games

[=BKHZ=Furbs]

Sounds good, i wait and get the next version with better res.

[DD_bongodriver]

Sounds good, i wait and get the next version with better res.

 

That would be my advice, I only decided to get a DK because the tech fascinates me and I really want to support development.

 

I honestly can't see where a final consumer version would dictate a much higher price tag, the only things needed are a higher res screen and more tracking axes, the hardware is literally a small monitor with a head tracker, there may even be a potential to do away with the external power source after someone found a hack to power it from the USB, I honestly think the final version will be sub $500.

[=BKHZ=Furbs]

A

 

That would be my advice, I only decided to get a DK because the tech fascinates me and I really want to support development.

 

I honestly can't see where a final consumer version would dictate a much higher price tag, the only things needed are a higher res screen and more tracking axes, the hardware is literally a small monitor with a head tracker, there may even be a potential to do away with the external power source after someone found a hack to power it from the USB, I honestly think the final version will be sub $500.

And attach good headphones and a mic.

[DD_bongodriver]

A

 

And attach good headphones and a mic.

 

Doesn't necessarily have to be part of an oculus, it doesn't prevent the use of a separate headset, a decent wireless headset would be a great.

 

They could release 2 models, a deluxe with integrated headset (more expensive) and a standard without.

[=BKHZ=Furbs]

How heavy is the unit? im thinking OR plus headset might get a bit heavy for extended use in a flight sim.

[DD_bongodriver]

How heavy is the unit? im thinking OR plus headset might get a bit heavy for extended use in a flight sim.

 

it's surprisingly light and personally I could cope with long term use, it's like wearing a scuba mask and the screen in front must literally weigh the same as a piece of class of similar size so is hardly noticeable.

 

if I could change a physical aspect of the design it would be to make the screen part pivot upwards so you don't have to take the unit off when you want to go back to looking at the main monitor.

Edited July 30, 2013 by DD_bongodriver

[DD_bongodriver]

Sorry to go on but the more I use the oculus the more I get excited about the future, even at this Development stage with low res the feeling of physically being inside a vehicle and getting a true sense of it's scale, hovering a helicopter next to a massive battleship which would ordinarily on a monitor just look like a decent 3d model etc actually looks like a giant structure that you can physically get on board, you look along its length and really see it's immense size.

 

I've now had a try on Half life2 using the OR and it just blows me away when standing next to an NPC and actually feeling like there is a person standing with me, despite the low res and even the limitations of the in game models they actually look lifelike and when they look at you actually feel like you are being looked at, also the lighting in the game becomes more noticeable and makes thing just feel more physical and that's going to be something folks will get blown away by when they get hold of this kit.....the lighting.

 

When BOS gets OR support and people are using the consumer OR it will be simply amazing, the way the 777 devs have taken DX9 by the neck and stared at it menacingly right in the eyes until it craps out every last ounce of visual beauty, that difference in lighting from different surfaces is going to make you DROOOOOLLL!!!!!

[=BKHZ=Furbs]

I wonder if ARMA3 supports it or have plans to support it?

[DD_bongodriver]

Apparently they would like to 'explore' it.

 

http://pixelenemy.com/arma-3-bohemia-confirms-oculus-rift-support-is-something-wed-like-to-explore-thinks-arma-3-would-fit-very-well/

[ATAG_Slipstream]

Seems to be the future of gaming.Personally, I hope they bring the price right down, otherwise it will always be a small scale thing.

Sub £300 or less would make sense to me.

[Feathered_IV]

It's actually less visually restrictive than a pair of WWII pilots goggles.

 

Hmm.  I was a bit skeptical regarding the available field of view.  But that comparison makes it sound a whole lot more interesting though.

[DD_bongodriver]

Seems to be the future of gaming.Personally, I hope they bring the price right down, otherwise it will always be a small scale thing.

Sub £300 or less would make sense to me.

 

I guess it could be possible, combine the cost of a monitor with a head tracking system (like a trackir) you wont get sub £300 though.

Hmm.  I was a bit skeptical regarding the available field of view.  But that comparison makes it sound a whole lot more interesting though.

 

Honestly when you combine 1 to 1 low latency head tracking with what feels like wearing a scuba mask and there is no problem with stuff like FOV, the only part missing from view are the extremities of peripheral vision which would not naturally offer any detail.

[71st_AH_Hooves]

The experience in mine has been exactly the same as bongos. The motion sick ess goes away In just a few sessions. The heli demo is awesome. I even got positional tracking working with my razer hydra controler. Though I was promptly informed by my wife that I was scaring my 2 yr old son with all those contraptions on my head and me yelling "OMG!" For 5 mins straight. I think the future is with this device. But it won't be for everyone. A good old monitor and track ir will be as far as some will feel comfortable going.

[DD_bongodriver]

One thing that has dawned on me is the potential for existing trackir users to have the positional tracking implemented by the TIR hardware, the track clip would sit on top of the OR quite easily (already test fitted mine), positional tracking would certainly cure some of the instrument readability issues on the DK, just lean in to get a closer look and the resolution is good enough.

[JG27_Chivas]

I believe the field of view was something like 110*.   People have even suggested the 3D effect seems more realistic than 3D TV's.   The latest prototype has a resolution of 1920x1080 and I see no reason the developers can't make the resolution even higher, or have different resolutions as different price points.   From the start Lucky Palmer has wanted the consumer price point to be around three hundred dollars.  Lately I've read the developer is also trying to tie the cost of the Rift to software where the cost of the OR hardware is zero.  Not sure how that would work, I'll have to try and  find the blog. 

[JG27_Chivas]

For the last few years I've been checking for new innovations in monitors, but companies have concentrated mainly on 3D TV's.   Recently however the  4K units seem to be the feature of the future.   I'm no longer interested in a new monitor, since the development of the OR, and companies concentrating on 4K screens might bode well for the OC developers to find cheaper 4K screens.  The one downside to the Oculus Rift is the requirement of a very high end video card to run the fps high enough for a smooth  OR experience.

[Jason_Williams]

TrackIR and a 32inch 4K screen = Awesome

 

Jason

[JG27_Chivas]

http://hothardware.com/News/Kickstarter-Project-Atlas-Turns-Any-Room-into-a-Holodeck-with-Oculus-Rift/

 

This is something new that would be great for first person shooters.  Atlas+OR+etc

TrackIR and a 32inch 4K screen = Awesome

 

Jason

So 2013

Edited July 30, 2013 by Chivas

[SvAF/F19_Klunk]

But that is almost exactly what I'm saying, lack of positional tacking is confusing my vestibular system when it doesn't receive the visual feedback from positional movements.

 

I just had a try on a great little helicopter demo and that was brilliant, no motion sickness whatsoever, the resolution in the DK is not great but then it is purely oriented around developers getting hands on and integrating the tech, but I have to say the immersion quickly makes you forget about resolution and the 'screen door' effect, the DK is obviously not going to be good enough for combat fligh sims but as soon as a high resolution version is available it will be perfect, the low latency head tracking is just so natural and certainly makes me feel much more comfortable than trackir.

 

here is Occuslus Rift's stand on "VR sickness"

http://www.oculusvr.com/blog/vr-sickness-the-rift-and-how-game-developers-can-help/

Edited July 31, 2013 by F19_Klunk

[HippyDruid]

WOW!!

 

So, I go AFK for a couple of weeks due to work commitments, come back. BAM!! Parties, Pre-Orders, CGI Videos. WOW!!

Nice going everyone involved. It sure looked like you lot had a great time.

 

Pre-Ordered!!

 

Thanks for sharing Jason! 

[71st_AH_Hooves]

TrackIR and a 32inch 4K screen = Awesome

 

Jason

Agreed, things look delicious with those settings

[JG27_Chivas]

 

 

 

I think its dam* good reason to get excited.  Jason bought the Oculus Rift and gave it to Loft to see if it can be implemented.   Now it depends on the cost of implementation versus the possible gain of future sales.   I've read only positive reviews from testers of the hardware, with some concerns with nausea from some, that seems to alleviate with time, with some similarities to the Track IR experience.  The only negatives I've read are from people in forums without the hardware, that are speculating on its negatives, that IMO are far outweighed by the positives.  Personally I think the OR/ VR hardware is a huge advance in gaming especially suited for games where you are sitting in a cockpit, that developers should take a very hard look at, or be left behind.

 

Im excited by the hardware Chivas, just we wouldn't want people starting to get worked up BOS will have OR support at release, you know how these things get going in forums.

 

 

By that train of thought I guess we shouldn't get too excited about BOS either.     

 

I have no idea why you would say that Chivas, we know BOS is coming, we dont know if OR support is.

It would be awesome if they did manage it.

 

 

You can excited now Furbs 

Quote from Loft

"Back to work now. Pre-alpha stage is now successfully completed and there are a number of new targets that are awaiting our focus. First up is to present the game in Europe at GamesCom 2013 in Cologne, Germany later this month. I hope that all visitors (press mostly) will be able to fly using the Oculus Rift which is now being tuned for optimal compatibility with BOS. Believe me, this is truly and awesome sight."

 

 

This huge news. The Oculus Rift will invigorate the flight sim genre like nothing we've ever experienced. This hardware will actually make you feel like your flying, not sitting infront of a monitor. 

[=BKHZ=Furbs]

Yes!