All platform VR discussion: PSVR, Oculus, Index, VIVE et al. | Facebook buys Beat Saber developer

God, that headset may just be more exciting than the controllers!

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strawberry float you too, Valve.

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Thank you Xeno

Xeno wrote:So the Index page is up. It is more expensive than I thought it would be, however I am still very interested in it and depending on reviews will buy one.

Valve Index revealed!
Wow. Absolutely best in consumer class. No Mac support. I honestly don't think £1K is unrealistic if it delivers and doesn't give nausea.
Also, Steam 'Flagship VR game' coming in 2019. Portal 3? Half-Life 3?

Specs
Displays: Dual 1440 x 1600 LCDs, full RGB per pixel, ultra-low persistence global backlight illumination (0.330ms at 144Hz)
Framerate: 80/90/120/144Hz
Inter-pupillary Distance (IPD): 58mm - 70mm range physical adjustment
Field of View (FOV): Optimized eye relief adjustment allows a typical user experience 20º more than the HTC Vive
Ergonomic Adjustments: Head size, eye relief (FOV), IPD, speaker positions. Rear cradle adapter included.
Optics: Double element, canted lens design
Cameras: Stereo 960 x 960 pixel, global shutter, RGB (Bayer)
Audio: Built-in: 37.5mm off-ear Balanced Mode Radiators (BMR), frequency response: 40Hz - 24KHz, impedance: 6 Ohm, SPL: 98.96 dBSPL at 1cm. Aux Headphone Out 3.5mm
Microphone: Dual Microphone Array, Frequency response: 20Hz – 24kHz, Sensitivity: -25dBFS/Pa @ 1kHz
Connections: 5m tether, 1m breakaway trident connector. USB 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2, 12V power

Prices:
Valve Index Headset £459
Valve Index Controllers £259
Valve Index Base Station £159
Valve Index Headset & Controllers £659
Valve Index VR Kit (includes Headset, Controllers, and two Base Stations) £919

System Requirements
OS: Windows 10, SteamOS, Linux
RAM:8 GB+
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970+ or AMD RX480+ -Available DisplayPort required, HDMI not supported
CPU: Dual Corewith hyperthreading, or better
USB: 3.0+for headset cameras

https://www.polygon.com/virtual-reality ... lease-date
https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/1852 ... order-date
https://www.roadtovr.com/valve-index-ha ... r-headset/

Venom wrote:...doesn't give nausea.

That's really more dependant on the game (and the person) than the tech.

In fact if anything it being more immersive could make nausea worse in some games. Any time your eyes are telling you something different to what your body is feeling you have the possibility of inducing sickness.

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HSH28 wrote:
Venom wrote:...doesn't give nausea.

That's really more dependant on the game (and the person) than the tech.

In fact if anything it being more immersive could make nausea worse in some games. Any time your eyes are telling you something different to what your body is feeling you have the possibility of inducing sickness.

I know that a better spec VR headset doesn't prevent motion sickness, but I've read that a better resolution headset can help lessen it. Somebody said Skyrim VR is less puke-inducing on PC than on PSVR.

that'll be frame rate more than anything else

I have just been reading about the Oculus Quest that launches later this month. It sounds amazing (coming from a PSVR background). Probably the first kit i have been excited about since... PSVR.

Can anyone give me a summary of whether i'm right to be excited about it, or if there is something terribly flawed that the impartial reviews are not telling me about?

Also, i see there is a 64 and 128gb version (with a £100 price difference). What is this capacity used for? Purely storage of games? Or does it effect performance?

One final thing for anyone clued up on this - are al the games going to be available to download from the system itself (i assume so)? I basically don't have a functioning PC in my house (and no strong desire to purchase one), so it needs to all be achievable native to the system.

You know all those people baulking at the price of the Index?

It looks like it sold out in less then 30 minutes and there is only a reserve button on the site for the second batch at the end of July.

kazanova_Frankenstein wrote:Can anyone give me a summary of whether i'm right to be excited about it, or if there is something terribly flawed that the impartial reviews are not telling me about?

The only real flaws you could say it has is that the tech perhaps isn't quite ready for it.

The processor is a mobile CPU that's now 2 generations out of date (the same one that powers the Galaxy S8 or the Pixel 2), so its limited in what it can do. It seems like they've been able to squeeze quite a lot out of it, but it still has some big limitations (for example the screens run at a lower refresh rate than other VR headsets).

Apparently although the inside out tracking is good, it does have limitations, it can't see above or behind you and it can't track the controllers if they are too close to the unit.

I've seen some previews saying its a bit front heavy, with the strap design and a battery and the processing done in the front of the device, its possible its not going to be as comfortable to wear as other VR headsets.

Sound is also possibly an issue, its directional from the front of the device along the strap. Having said that there are 3.5mm jacks so I guess its an issue you can probably get around if you want to.

Lastly there's battery life, it looks like its going to be 3 hours or so maximum, so its not something you can use for extended play sessions. Then there's the question of how well that battery life will stand up over the devices lifetime. That's not something you can really answer now, but it does mean that unlike other devices there is going to be a somewhat limited lifespan, I'd imagine 3 years of sustained use will see that battery performing much worse than at launch.

Having said all of the above, it is the first (as far as I'm aware) completely standalone VR headset with 6 degrees of freedom tracking, that alone is pretty cool. For a 1st gen product of its type, the issues could be much worse.

The Quest is definitely a more interesting device to me than the Rift S, Vive Pro or the Index.

I own both a Rift and PSVR and as much as I have enjoyed both I have got the most use from them with seated experiences, mostly racing games on PC and the likes of Astro Bot and Resident Evil 7 on PSVR. I simply don't have the space in my gaming room to really make the most of standing/room scale experiences. I've still managed to have some real fun with the likes of Robo Recall and Superhot but I long to be able to move around more freely.

In the case of the original Rift I've often run into issues with the software since getting it at launch, usually requiring a reconfiguration of the cameras which is a pain. If you only have an hour free to play and have to spend half of it setting the thing up then it's enough to make you not want to play and is the main reason why I've barely touched my original Rift in about 12 months.

Being able to play untethered vr, free of configuring software and cameras/sensors, being able to make use of the biggest room I have in my house rather than the smallest? Honestly it sounds like a dream come true and I think the trade offs of battery life/poorer visuals are worth it.

HSH28 wrote:
kazanova_Frankenstein wrote:Can anyone give me a summary of whether i'm right to be excited about it, or if there is something terribly flawed that the impartial reviews are not telling me about?

The only real flaws you could say it has is that the tech perhaps isn't quite ready for it.

The processor is a mobile CPU that's now 2 generations out of date (the same one that powers the Galaxy S8 or the Pixel 2), so its limited in what it can do. It seems like they've been able to squeeze quite a lot out of it, but it still has some big limitations (for example the screens run at a lower refresh rate than other VR headsets).

Apparently although the inside out tracking is good, it does have limitations, it can't see above or behind you and it can't track the controllers if they are too close to the unit.

I've seen some previews saying its a bit front heavy, with the strap design and a battery and the processing done in the front of the device, its possible its not going to be as comfortable to wear as other VR headsets.

Sound is also possibly an issue, its directional from the front of the device along the strap. Having said that there are 3.5mm jacks so I guess its an issue you can probably get around if you want to.

Lastly there's battery life, it looks like its going to be 3 hours or so maximum, so its not something you can use for extended play sessions. Then there's the question of how well that battery life will stand up over the devices lifetime. That's not something you can really answer now, but it does mean that unlike other devices there is going to be a somewhat limited lifespan, I'd imagine 3 years of sustained use will see that battery performing much worse than at launch.

Having said all of the above, it is the first (as far as I'm aware) completely standalone VR headset with 6 degrees of freedom tracking, that alone is pretty cool. For a 1st gen product of its type, the issues could be much worse.

Thanks for this summary. I have done some reading up since making my post, and your above post excellent highlights all the concerns for this system (the only other one seems to be related to the fact that its a Facebook product, and the security concerns around that.

But as you say, for a completely stand alone product, it sounds mighty impressive. I am very tempted to pre order this, as my PSVR set up is in a room that does not really allow for anything other than a seated experience, and i'm kinda sick of trying to get the move controllers to track nicely. Plus i can barely move my arms in the room that my PSVR is in, so games such as Until Dawn are a non starter for me.

Think i'm going to wait and see what the support is like for it, and what sort of magnitude of game we can expect for it.

Tried a couple of new PSVR games today for the first time and I can see why both are so highly rated:

Superhot - So cool and stylish. The trial and error nature is interesting, but when everything comes together you feel like such a badass.

Tetris Effect - Again a very stylish game. Only played for 30 minutes or so but was loving the presentation with the graphics and music working perfectly together.

I'm not that sold on Tetris Effect. It's kinda cool, but it didn't really feel very immersive, and im uncertain how much VR really as to it.
I have been playing Skyrim VR again, and an blown away by how immersive some of the environments feel. But I am also finding getting repeatedly killed and having to reload in VR absolutely exhausting and a horrible way of drawing you out of the experience. It's certainly the most comprehensive product I have played on VR since picking up PSVR on release. Perhaps to big for it's own good though.

I might have pre-ordered a Quest...

HSH28 wrote:I might have pre-ordered a Quest...

Nice. I keep flip flopping on it. I almost certainly will get one of nothing nasty comes out of the woodwork when it is in the consumers hands.
If I did not have PSVR I would absolutely jump in day one though. Sounds like an amazing amount of tech at the right price and quality of life level.

Moss is getting some free DLC!

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019 ... -next-week

Quest first, with other platforms in June.

Loved Moss. Enchanting, charming and just generally wonderful. Great wee platformer which got overshadowed by Astro-Bot. Well worth picking up if you want something more storybook like and with more involved combat than AB.

Cheeky Devlin wrote:Moss is getting some free DLC!...

...Loved Moss. Enchanting, charming and just generally wonderful. Great wee platformer which got overshadowed by Astro-Bot. Well worth picking up if you want something more storybook like and with more involved combat than AB.

Yeah, I'm keen to try it out but I didn't pick it up when it was last on sale in the PS Store. Will look to grab it next time!

Plenty of games on sale for PSVR today. Considering picking up A Fisherman's Tale and Creed.
Has anyone picked up the latter, and if so, is it good? Also, is the game inheritantly flawed if you are a leftie? Sounds ridiculous I know, but I have read something suggesting it does cater to a southpaw stance.

Eurogamer has posted a really positive preview of PSVR's Blood & Truth. I don't own Move handsets - the supposedly finicky tracking, alongside a lack of space in my setup, has always deterred me - but this sounds like it makes good use of them.

Quest should be getting delivered today, quite excited.

jawafour wrote:Eurogamer has posted a really positive preview of PSVR's Blood & Truth. I don't own Move handsets - the supposedly finicky tracking, alongside a lack of space in my setup, has always deterred me - but this sounds like it makes good use of them.

Tried Skyrim VR with the controller and it was honestly like being handcuffed.

It's literally like playing with a missing limb. That's how important it is and how much it adds to the immersion.

I'm glad I got mine before they started going for stupid money.

HSH28 wrote:Quest should be getting delivered today, quite excited.

Post impressions!

All platform VR discussion: PSVR, Oculus, Index, VIVE et al. | Facebook buys Beat Saber developer

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