Virtual reality seemed like an impossible dream a few years back.
Now that there are several major solutions out there (PS VR, Oculus, HTC, Samsung...) VR gaming is a reality.
Well a virtual reality at least! So as a gamer, how do you feel about VR gaming?

Answer the poll and discuss!

 

[TVL]

I was really excited when Occulus Rift was announced and when people got the first versions of it. But since then my interest in it has waned. I'm not sure this thing wont just die out again, I never hear anyone talk about it and I don't know a single person who has bought one.

And I'm almost 100% that if you buy it, it's fun for about 3½ hours before you realize this should have been something you just rented. I think it does have a lot of potential though, mostly as a teaching tool, it would be way more interesting, impactful and memorable to "visit" space/world of bacteria/barrier reef/Waterloo battlefront/whatever than reading about it in a textbook.

 

[Foxi4]

Then add a PS4. Another €400. Here we are.

Since you mentioned PS VR the assumption was that you already have the console, but even if you don't, €400 is way overboard unless you want a 1TB Slim in a big bundle or a Pro. Bog-standard Slims sell for €250, cheaper if you're okay with a pre-owned system, cheaper again if you pick the old chassis instead of the Slim. I'd be surprised if you paid more than €750-€800 for a fully decked out set, console included.

 

[pietempgba]

Sword Art Online



When that becomes a reality I'll sell a kidney on the black market if necessary....

It won't trap you in the game ever! *sarcastic remarks*

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I own an Oculus Rift DK1 and DK2 but the improvements in the consumer headsets aren't great enough to justify the higher price (especially the Vive) nor justify buying yet another headset.
Once VR hits 4K or close to it I'm getting another VR headset and whatever GPU I need to run it. That will be the point where VR will be a truly great experience IMO. The perceived DPI right now is very low and once the initial novelty wears out you start noticing all the flaws of the current technology.
Not to say I didn't have a lot of fun with my DK1/DK2 though (although mostly with my DK1 because VR was still new to me at that time)
I also have a Gear VR and it's great for movie watching and such. The graphics aren't the best in games but the resolution is higher than both Rift and Vive and there's something to be said for a completely wireless VR experience. Games for it are more leaning towards ones designed to be played in short bursts as mobile games tend to be, but there are some great ones out there such as Land's End, Proton Pulse, Esper and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes.

 

[leon315]

i just don't wanna pay 500-600 bucks and be one of free betatesters, VR gaming in general still requires a lot of improvements, i will get a try after 3 years.
I'm just happy now if current gen consols hold a stable 60FPS and 1080p or pc 144-240fps 1080p. I think a common player won't get this quality unless u pay an extra fee to upgrade ur consoles or pc's components.

 

[pietempgba]

I got to try out the htc vive and it's really awesome but too expensive and I feel weird in a vr environment.

 

[MockyLock]

Since you mentioned PS VR the assumption was that you already have the console, but even if you don't, €400 is way overboard unless you want a 1TB Slim in a big bundle or a Pro. Bog-standard Slims sell for €250, cheaper if you're okay with a pre-owned system, cheaper again if you pick the old chassis instead of the Slim. I'd be surprised if you paid more than €750-€800 for a fully decked out set, console included.

Well, we won't argue 'bout this too long.
The point was, although the experiment was funny, the set is still way too expensive.

Plus, people in here (including myself as i showed a Vectrex 3D Imager) seem to mix VR and "Virtual 3D".
Actually, Virtual Reality and Virtual 3D should be described a bit more precisely.
Any tech specialist would be welcome, but for myself :
- the point of Virtual Reality is to bring you "inside" the scene. When you turn your head, or move your hand, the whole scene moves with you.
- Virtual 3D is way more simple. It's rather a matter of rendering. The scene seems to get out the screen. but that's all. I own a few of the existing Virtual 3D accessories : that Vectrex 3D Imager, the SEGA Master System 3D-Glasses, the Virtual Boy (wicksand420 , and the 3DS. All of them are more or less efficient in 3D rendering, and more or less easy to use
Even the jaguar VR Headset was actually an Virtual 3D accessory, something like a portable VirtualBoy.

I do like the immersive feeling in VR. I think it's a new step in virtual images. Maybe a bit too earlier.
Just like the Virtual Boy. Virtual 3D in 1995... too earlier...

 

[mightymuffy]

Quick, glorious [gimmicky?], shallow, potentially gonna end up an expensive paperweight/doorstop.. think that random collection of words just about sums up my thoughts on my headset.
Rez Infinite and Thumper are truly marvellous on it, Driveclub VR is great (but I wouldn't play using it all the time) - on Kinect, Child of Eden was a fantastic experience though, and there was also a good collection of great/gimmicky titles: maybe comparing the two is a bit harsh on VR, but I'm not sure I can see it lasting that much longer than Kinect did.

 

[ThoD]

What VR is is literally strapping two screens on your head right next to your eyes, HOW is that supposed to be revolutionary? Most of us stood like 10cm from the TV when playing games as kids, same thing basically! On top of that, you have no idea what's going on around you at all, the games mostly suck and you can even take a second to relax your eyes, unlike regular gaming where you can simple just look out the window for a moment and relax... VR sucks! AR is much better in every conceivable way, HoloLens (or similar) gaming should be what people should get excited about if you ask me. Crazy expensive, but WAY more worth it.

 

[smileyhead]

I do wish high-end VR was accessible to more people through a lower price point, but I guess the passage of time will manage to take care of that. Rift + Touch is down to $399, so that's not too bad, it's just a matter of building a PC that will do a decent job of driving it. Can probably be done for around $600 - $700. ~$1100 total cost, so still up there. I used part of my tax return for Vive, and I had already built a PC not long before.

I wish there was a Cardboard-like substitute for high-end headsets.
You can already so this with 3rd party programmes, but the fuckers make you pay for it and only give you a trial.

 

[CallmeBerto]

I've seen a few VR videos. However none of them have convince me that it's worth dropping the cash and creating the necessary room need to play these games. I am hopefully optimistic and can't wait to see how much it changes in the next few years.

 

[Pluupy]

VR is an expensive novelty. A silly gimmick to get morons to buy the VR versions of their games (looking at you, Fallout 4 VR).

Headsets are too big. Too bulky. Too difficult to control. Something light like glasses is preferable.

Graphics aren't advanced enough to be true VR. So far, the only game that has any business with VR is Star Citizen since it pushes recent consumer PC hardware to their limits. I'm too distracted by ugly textures in games like Final Fantasy XIV and Fallout 4 as it is, VR will just make it more obvious.

 

[Stephano]

VR is like Solar energy. It's the future, its cool, flashy, practical, but waaaaaaaayyyyyyy to expensive for the average consumer to get.

 

[Ev1l0rd]

I believe VR may become the future. Not neccesarily for gaming (its gonna be difficult to make good games with it that aren’t walking sims due to the fact you cant hold objects directly) but for video it could be the new feature. And I am not just saying that due to the standard principle of seeing if new stuff is worthwile: are porn companies interested in it.

 

[Pluupy]

VR is like Solar energy. It's the future, its cool, flashy, practical, but waaaaaaaayyyyyyy to expensive for the average consumer to get.

There are many consumer-friendly alternatives for solar panel systems. Tesla's sister company "Solar City" offers lease systems that get paid at your pace and can end up paying for themselves depending on your position and sun hours.

In a few years, the release of a new type of solar panel will reach consumers. This new solar panel not only uses sunlight for electricity, but the heat from the sun as well. This makes them 70% efficient in comparison to the limit of 50% efficiency current solar panels can muster.

 

[Stephano]

There are many consumer-friendly alternatives for solar panel systems. Tesla's sister company "Solar City" offers lease systems that get paid at your pace and can end up paying for themselves depending on your position.

It was just a simple comparison but haha.
That is quite interesting and neat. I looked at their site. Twenty years to pay it off seems reasonable. Although i couldn't find seem to find an average cost on their site.
Although looking at their site, it makes me wonder how much more affordable solar energy will become in twenty years. If you are trapped in a twenty year payment plan as the tech gets cheaper and cheaper, is it worth it to get it now or later? I'm not hating on Tesla at all. I think what their doing is pretty cool.

 

[Axido]

Once VR hits 4K or close to it I'm getting another VR headset and whatever GPU I need to run it. That will be the point where VR will be a truly great experience IMO.

Pimax 8K Kickstarter

It'll work with existing Vive technology, is built to be upgradable with hand-tracking, eye-tracking and wireless transmission and has a much higher resolution than current HMDs. Might be what you're looking for.

 

[Deleted User]

I tried a VR Headset once at this MakerSpace thing they have at my university. The only thing I played was a Google Maps tech demo.

While the technology certainly was impressive, I'm not sure if and how games could take advantage of it to the fullest extent. Also, the image was a bit blurry, but I'm not sure if that was the headset itself or the result of me not wearing my glasses, but I'm pretty sure it's the former.

Anyways, I'll go with the general opinion here and say that the technology needs time. Give it a few years, and it'll turn into something really impressive.

 

[FAST6191]

its gonna be difficult to make good games with it that aren’t walking sims due to the fact you cant hold objects directly

Scaled up the very same thing that allows you to "feel" the balls rolling in the Switch controllers could approximate weight at different distances (to say nothing of being able to move a segment to a distance from the base object to actually gain some moment) and surface textures responding/altering to different stimuli is also possible (see something like electroactive polymers, wind a bunch together so you can promote just the behaviours you want in fairly high resolution). To that end you could give some people a couple of "cubes" and some gloves that morph into what you think you are seeing.

What VR is is literally strapping two screens on your head right next to your eyes, HOW is that supposed to be revolutionary? Most of us stood like 10cm from the TV when playing games as kids, same thing basically! On top of that, you have no idea what's going on around you at all, the games mostly suck and you can even take a second to relax your eyes, unlike regular gaming where you can simple just look out the window for a moment and relax... VR sucks! AR is much better in every conceivable way, HoloLens (or similar) gaming should be what people should get excited about if you ask me. Crazy expensive, but WAY more worth it.

A true 3d first person perspective is a rare thing, and working to it another (trying to direct your viewers in a game, never mind considering the whole 360 scene, is far harder than with a film camera for instance. That might be one of the reasons the games suck as nobody has really ever had to figure out how to do that before.

"No idea what's going on around you"
While certainly not perfect in every situation there are plenty where it is very desirable.

I would certainly like to see AR take off as it would allow me to do all sorts of really cool things but I don't think it has to come at the demise of VR.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Pimax 8K Kickstarter

It'll work with existing Vive technology, is built to be upgradable with hand-tracking, eye-tracking and wireless transmission and has a much higher resolution than current HMDs. Might be what you're looking for.

Holy shit 8K. Probably going to need 1080ti in SLI to run that. I hope you can lower the resolution for demanding games.
The price is a bit for the full package, but still cheaper than the Vive.
I don't have that kind of money though, and I'm always wary of pledging a lot of money on Kickstarter, I've gotten burned before when I pledged $400 on Robot Dragonfly and they ran out of money before they got to mass production and had to give up.
Maybe when it starts shipping out to people and if the reviews are good I'll consider getting one. Not going to be building my new PC until sometime next year anyway and it certainly won't be SLI capable, it's a SFF build.