Oculus Rift Pre-Orders Now Open

[flyinghaggis]

Does anyone on here own a Dev Kit and/or has anyone tried them at trade shows/etc? Do you think it's going to be the next big thing or another fad like 3D? I think it sounds intriguing but I don't think it's the kind of thing I could ever contemplate buying without actually trying it out for myself.

 

There's not really too much point in worrying about the cost of the technology at the moment given how new it is. Once we see a few competitors start to appear and more open standards being adopted I'm sure prices will drop rapidly if it's something people want to use.

Edited January 10, 2016 by flyinghaggis

[sted]

Does anyone on here own a Dev Kit and/or has anyone tried them at trade shows/etc? Do you think it's going to be the next big thing or another fad like 3D? I think it sounds intriguing but I don't think it's the kind of thing I could ever contemplate buying without actually trying it out for myself.

 

There's not really too much point in worrying about the cost of the technology at the moment given how new it is. Once we see a few competitors start to appear and more open standards being adopted I'm sure prices will drop rapidly if it's something people want to use.

I think unless and until there is a "killer app" it will be like 3d if what you want has it wont stop you buying it but you wont buy it just to get it apart from early adopters who are always a special case anyway.

[Arthur]

HTC Vive pre-orders to start on 29 February

[sted]

HTC's VR lead JB McRee told the Telegraph the technology has the capacity to make us kinder, more empathetic humans, "rewiring" the way our brains learn in terms of education.

 

does anyone see that happening lol

[localzuk]

does anyone see that happening lol

 

Nope. I can see it being used for VR pronz though. That'll be its main markets, pronz and games.

[sted]

Nope. I can see it being used for VR pronz though. That'll be its main markets, pronz and games.

apart from architecture/city planning i cant see any other uses for it (vr tours possibly but id argue thats just a fps without guns)

[localzuk]

apart from architecture/city planning i cant see any other uses for it (vr tours possibly but id argue thats just a fps without guns)

 

For education it could be good. VR environment for history or geography, for example. Product designers will like it too, as they can render and see their product in 3D.

[sted]

For education it could be good. VR environment for history or geography, for example. Product designers will like it too, as they can render and see their product in 3D.

thats just architecture for boxes lol

 

im not saying it couldnt be used to say recreate history (though im not sure you would want to im not sure id want to be in a vr representation of the fire of london or a ww1 trench much) i just dont see it happening any time soon

[Garacesh]

Nope. I can see it being used for VR pronz though.

You're talking as if that's not already a thing?

I assure you, it's a thing. Not my personal thing, but if Reddit has taught me anything, it's that everything is a thing. And VR adult entertainment is most certainly already a thing.

 

Personally the Rift has priced me way, way out. There's no chance I'll be shelling out that much on VR. I rarely even play any FPS (Mostly just Dota 2 and Hearthstone at the moment), and even if I did, I can't help but think the effect will be diminished by "moving" but being sat down.

I think "sit down" games will be the best application for this. Driving games like the F1 or Trackmania series could do good.. Driving tests could see a great use for this! Elite: Dangerous could be damn good, too.. But FPS I just can't see working so great.

Edited January 11, 2016 by Garacesh

[localzuk]

You're talking as if that's not already a thing?

I assure you, it's a thing. Not my personal thing, but if Reddit has taught me anything, it's that everything is a thing. And VR adult entertainment is most certainly already a thing.

 

I know its a thing, as Cnet have been reporting on it this week from CES! But, its not yet a *big* thing...

 

Personally the Rift has priced me way, way out. There's no chance I'll be shelling out that much on VR. I rarely even play any FPS (Mostly just Dota 2 and Hearthstone at the moment), and even if I did, I can't help but think the effect will be diminished by "moving" but being sat down.

I think "sit down" games will be the best application for this. Driving games like the F1 or Trackmania series could do good.. Driving tests could see a great use for this! Elite: Dangerous could be damn good, too.. But FPS I just can't see working so great.

 

For ambulatory games, it could add something to them though, ability to look around more immersively, especially if you can match the FOV with your normal FOV, so you can see things out of the corner of your eye.

[Arthur]

But FPS I just can't see working so great.

FPSs would be great with a Virtuix Omni ($699) and a TeslaSuit (£1,199).

[Garacesh]

I know its a thing, as Cnet have been reporting on it this week from CES! But, its not yet a *big* thing...

In VR, it can be as big as you want it to be

Seriously though, they've been reporting on that? O.o Bizarre.

 

For ambulatory games, it could add something to them though, ability to look around more immersively, especially if you can match the FOV with your normal FOV, so you can see things out of the corner of your eye.

Lol, you say "Ambulatory" and all I think of is "A&E Simulator 2016"

 

FPSs would be great with a Virtuix Omni ($699) and a TeslaSuit (£1,199).

Oooh fancy! Very much so, I reckon, but that's a huge price point. Might as well just go airsofting

Edited January 11, 2016 by Garacesh

[GuyJD]

I'm definitely getting one, as to whether that one will be the Oculus or the Vive I've yet to determine, my PC is already capable (something I made sure of a good few months ago) so the price of the unit is all it'll cost me, I play a lot of racing games which I think will work really well with VR and those 360 degree videos that pop up every now and then on my facebook would be perfect for this.

 

VR has had me intrigued since back in the early days so now it's "affordable for home use" I don't think I could really say no and I have to say I really want to walk around the street of San Andres in VR.

[Arthur]

HTC's Vive is going to cost $799 (~£683 inc. VAT).

 

http://blog.htcvive.com/2016/02/unveiling-the-vive-consumer-edition-and-pre-order-information

[NotSoFast]

I think this is just too much. Samsung Gear VR and PlayStation VR will be more affordable and therefore successful IMHO.

[caffrey]

HTC's Vive is going to cost $799 (~£683 inc. VAT).

 

True but how much will the Oculus Touch be, the Vive costs a lot but has everything you need - still far far too expensive though

[Dos_Box]

True but how much will the Oculus Touch be, the Vive costs a lot but has everything you need - still far far too expensive though

 

Agreed. It won't be too long before the prices come down though with newer companies simply copying the technologies and volumes of scale getting factored in. I would say (as a rough guess) that as a consumer item they ideally need to be closer to the £200 mark than £600, which, to be frank, is silly money.

[sted]

Agreed. It won't be too long before the prices come down though with newer companies simply copying the technologies and volumes of scale getting factored in. I would say (as a rough guess) that as a consumer item they ideally need to be closer to the £200 mark than £600, which, to be frank, is silly money.

and as far as i can see neither has a killer app i honestly cant see a reason to buy either (and the pc to power it as im 95% sure neither my nucs or xps 17's video cards are up to the task) as things stand i think if its ever released hololens looks the better idea using it to "draw stuff" on real world objects. Im sure these vr headsets will make gaming better but not enough to stump up for id honestly rather buy a bigger tv and/or a better hifi to play it on

[Ghostgame]

Unfortunately the cost for the Hololens Dev kit is $3000

 

The Oculus website also has a tool to let you see if your PC is up to snuff.

I have pre-ordered the Oculus but had to upgrade my my PC so it could run it.

[sted]

Unfortunately the cost for the Hololens Dev kit is $3000

 

The Oculus website also has a tool to let you see if your PC is up to snuff.

I have pre-ordered the Oculus but had to upgrade my my PC so it could run it.

 

well yes dev kits are expensive as i have to assume a lot less will be made and its prototype parts making it more costly as well. I meant more as a concept i doubt hololens will see any retail release till say 2017 or more likely 2018

[Ghostgame]

well yes dev kits are expensive as i have to assume a lot less will be made and its prototype parts making it more costly as well. I meant more as a concept i doubt hololens will see any retail release till say 2017 or more likely 2018

 

As a concept, the Hololens is, flipping amazing.

, blew my mind.

[GuyJD]

I think I'd happily pay around the cost of a new console for it but £600-£700 is way too much IMO

[Arthur]

Oculus Rift begins shipping, early reviews are mixed (at best)

 

2016 is set to be the year of virtual reality. Sure, you’ve been able to strap a smartphone to your head to watch 360 degree videos and explore interactive content for a few years. But this year some of the most ambitious consumer-oriented VR devices are launching, starting with the Oculus Rift, which is shipping this week to the first folks who shelled out $599 to pre-order one.

 

Early review suggest it offers an impressive, immersive environment for playing games, and potentially for doing other things in the future (imagine the video conferencing, auto or home showroom, or other commercial and industrial applications).

 

But this is still very much a first-generation product that may not be for everyone. It’s expensive, requires a powerful PC to use, doesn’t support a ton of content at launch, and you may have to wait until later this year to get the best physical controllers for actually interacting with virtual reality content using an Oculus Rift rather than just looking at it.

 

 

 

[caffrey]

Yay, my order is on it's way, apparently it's in Tamworth and I'll get it Monday

[Garacesh]

After Facebook doing all their shady stuff with rift-exclusivity, I will never be buying a rift. Either a Vive or whatever Razor is kicking out, but never anything from Oculus.