Eve: Valkyrie/Rift conflict of interest?

[LordZoltan]

With the news that Eve Valkyrie will be bundled with the Rift (http://:):):).engadget.com/2015/12/10/oculus-rift-pre-order-eve-valkyrie/), plus FDs full-on partnering, it would seem, with HTC and its Vive, I'm seriously concerned that the issues with Rift support now will turn into a total lack of support for Rift 1.0 come the time it's launched...

Oculus have clearly put their eggs in the CCCP basket, and Frontier appear to have put theirs in HTC's - I smell the distinct whiff of exclusivity deals, and the possibility that there's far more to the lack of updated support for the rift than just compatibility issues.

Yes, I know Oculus' SDK is still in flux, while the Vive's is already fixed - so from a development perspective it makes more sense to stick with what works on the rift as it stands until it, too, is fixed - but.... well... I think there's more to it.

If I have to buy into two VR platforms just to enjoy my current favourite game (ED of course), plus others that will be around, then I might just ragequit!

 

[jabokai]

Yeah, there is a risk of what you describe happening, sadly. VR should be a peripheral, not a platform, IMHO. The VR pioneers should have collaborated at an early stage but I guess that's innovation and competition for you. Roll on the new VHS/Betamax, HDDVD/BluRay debacle.

 

[Frank]

I really really hope that these manufacturers don't try to pull that "exclusivity deal" garbage here. It certainly wouldn't end well for Oculus if they did.

 

[jabokai]

Really? Although I don't want a platform war, I'd put Oculus ahead of HTC/Valve at the moment although there are pros and cons of both.

 

[RiftFlyer]

Eve is also being released on PS4 with Morpheus so I wouldn't get too worried yet. It's not rift exclusive.

 

[RhymeRhyme]

Really? Although I don't want a platform war, I'd put Oculus ahead of HTC/Valve at the moment although there are pros and cons of both.

I thought that the HTC Vive experience is way better than the Occulus. Saw and read a lot and I got the idea to buy a HTC rather than the Oculus. Doesn't it also come with a better resolution?

 

[jabokai]

The Vive is definitely better than the DK2 but it's, apparently, pretty much on a par with CV1. There is even speculation they're using the exact same screen, certainly the specs are the same.

It will come down to content and price IMHO.

 

[Zephyriel]

This is exactly what I've always feared ever since they announced several different headsets. There's going to be exclusivity deals, and just like consoles, there will be just a few excellent exclusive games on each platform, so either we'll miss out on games we want to play, or we'll end up having to buy several headset that do (almost) exactly the same thing.

What we can hope is that there will be some unofficial mods/drivers/platforms that will allow us to use any headset with any game. I'm sure this will happen, at least to some extent.

Regarding ED, I don't think FD are being dishonest with us, they've said they're "working with Oculus". Wether this means the programmers are actually working on it, or that the bosses of the two companies are trying to settle on some kind of deal, we won't know before the Rift is released I suppose.

 

[bitstorm]

Facebook vs HTC/Valve.

You just know Facebook feeds the world over are going to covered in DK ads.

Casuals vs hardcore gamers?

Valve can be quite savvy on their marketing when they want to be but they don't seem particularly aggressive. A bunch of free to play titles could go a long way.

I don't know, I know where my preferences lie what with my inherent anti-Facebook bias but I don't think I'm the norm.

 

[LordZoltan]

I thought that the HTC Vive experience is way better than the Occulus. Saw and read a lot and I got the idea to buy a HTC rather than the Oculus. Doesn't it also come with a better resolution?

Vive res is better than DK2 res.

But both consumer models will 2160x1200 split over the two eyes and will both be 90hz refresh - so: functionally identical.

However: I use the DK2 now, and tried the Vive out at EGX. It was very good, yes, and the resolution increase is definitely noticeable over the DK2 but if the Vive keeps its circular lenses then it's going to suffer, as it was a lot like looking down a tunnel.

Yes, there wasn't time to calibrate the eyepiece distance to my face, but the rift cv1 is using different lens shapes that more closely map to the eyes' field of movement, and I think that's going to make a big difference to the experience.

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Facebook vs HTC/Valve.

You just know Facebook feeds the world over are going to covered in DK ads.

Casuals vs hardcore gamers?

Valve can be quite savvy on their marketing when they want to be but they don't seem particularly aggressive. A bunch of free to play titles could go a long way.

I don't know, I know where my preferences lie what with my inherent anti-Facebook bias but I don't think I'm the norm.

Oh, if we're talking company preference I'd go Valve every time, and I mean the Vive no ill-will whatsoever.

However, they would appear to have pulled a fast one with Oculus - they were working very closely with them pre-Facebook, then all of a sudden come out with their own closed platform that's very similar?

The FB deal was always, to me, a smart move - you need marketing capital and investment, and no amount of kickstarter was ever going to achieve that. Especially when Valve say 'right we're not helping you any more, as we're doing our own platform now, so you're on your own'.

I'm sure it was more complicated than that, so it;s most likely an equally narrow view!

 

[jabokai]

Facebook vs HTC/Valve.

You just know Facebook feeds the world over are going to covered in DK ads.

Casuals vs hardcore gamers?

Valve can be quite savvy on their marketing when they want to be but they don't seem particularly aggressive. A bunch of free to play titles could go a long way.

I don't know, I know where my preferences lie what with my inherent anti-Facebook bias but I don't think I'm the norm.

I can't stand FB either, but I would argue that we certainly don't "just know" anything about how it will tie into the Rift, if it does at all. They certainly seem to be running as they promised they would when people first had their pitchforks out - almost as a separate entity. I suspect that FB type integration will be an option rather than a requirement (Palmer has already said in that past that no FB account would be required) which will actually be better than the Vive, which will no doubt demand a Steam account.

All speculation, both ways, of course.

 

[coolb2]

Well with the recent News about HTC being release only in April, like many of us here, i will buy the first one that comes out, i did have a preference for the HTC but they seems to be having some hardware problems ( from an unconfirmed source ) so i will probably get the CV1, now i can garante you that i will not be buying both VR headset, so if ED doesn`t support the CV1, they will be shooting themself in the foot. I Bought ED last year BECAUSE of the DK2, so if no support.. no gaming from me.
but hosnestly, i see this more like comparing 2 brands of video card, they have to support both or they will lose half the market.

my 2 cents worth

 

[LordZoltan]

Eve is also being released on PS4 with Morpheus so I wouldn't get too worried yet. It's not rift exclusive.

Yeah, but I'll bet it won't support the Vive straight off...

 

[jabokai]

but hosnestly, i see this more like comparing 2 brands of video card, they have to support both or they will lose half the market.

I agree. Initially, being a sucker for new tech, I was convinced I'd buy both. But with the promised prices of both units being more than initially speculated I now will almost certainly only buy one. Especially as we're still in the early days and improvement will come annually, or even quicker, and I will feel compelled to upgrade at each turn.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

given ED is already supported using steamVR, i can only imagine that support getting better. if it gets proper oculus sdk support then that is the gravy imo.

I hate exclusives, and in theory i would always support the company which does NOT go exclusive route, however in this instance i fear i will be selling my soul.

Valve seem fairly platform agnostic and are bigging up openVR delvelopment. AS i understand it VIVE games will all use steamVR, and valve have said they are committed to steamVR supporting the rift (even though oculus have said they are not interested in that themselves).

OTOH oculus seem to be locking down exclusives. a horrible trick and one I should not support. it may be good for oculus, but it is NOT good for VR fanbase imo.

therefore my heart says go for a VIVE, but my head says, if i want to play all VR games i will be safer going with the rift.

also, the longer it goes on that we do not see the vive consumer version, the more i think it is because it is simply not as nice as the rift CV1.... the CV1 looks like a design master piece imo.

 

[jabokai]

also, the longer it goes on that we do not see the vive consumer version, the more i think it is because it is simply not as nice as the rift CV1.... the CV1 looks like a design master piece imo.

Didn't they buy the company that designed the XBox controller or something? Think I remember reading that. It's certainly pretty funky. Personally I love the fact it has included (reportedly decent) headphones too. I don't have decent separate ones and it would be another minor hassle - headset on, headphones on, headphones off, headset off - instead of simply headset on and off.

I'm leaning towards Oculus I must admit. Any forced FB integration would instantly kill that but I do not expect it.

 

[CylonSurfer]

I don't think that EVE shipping with the CV1 will be a problem or even a conflict of interest. Valkyrie is only a arena space combat type game , Elite is a massive space sim RPG. Other than them both being set in space and involving player flying space ships they don't have that much in common.

To be honest players that try Valkyrie (sounds like it will be all CV1 customers) and enjoy it may look for other VR experiences that have a little more meat on their bones than the limited arena based combat Valkyrie provides and come knocking on Elites door. It could actually be beneficial.

I see no reason for Frontier to have a fit and throw Oculus support out of the window - this deal has been on the cards for a long, long time any way.

I'll be buying both HMD's in most likeliness. Which one I use for Elite will depend on which provides the best experience overall. Like jabokai, any forced Facebook usage / integration would turn me off CV1 in an instant and I likely wouldn't buy one.

 

[LordZoltan]

Didn't they buy the company that designed the XBox controller or something? Think I remember reading that. It's certainly pretty funky. Personally I love the fact it has included (reportedly decent) headphones too. I don't have decent separate ones and it would be another minor hassle - headset on, headphones on, headphones off, headset off - instead of simply headset on and off.

I'm leaning towards Oculus I must admit. Any forced FB integration would instantly kill that but I do not expect it.

They bought a company that was involved in the design of that controller, yes and, no doubt, they've had a hand in the design of Oculus touch which, I must say, looks to be a really good interface.

Like you, I seriously doubt forced Facebook integration - certainly for gaming anyway.

I expect there'll be a platform based around Facebook that you'll be able to opt into, but I think that's going to be based around live streamed content (which would be a potentially huge money spinner if it can be pulled off) and will unify the PC and Mobile platforms (eg Gear VR) so that users of both can interact. Their own VR 'hub', too, might well optionally integrate with FB as well - but then Valve's version will also no doubt require (or even 'be') Steam, so c'est la vie.

But, no, gaming-wise I think the fears of needing to use Facebook just to use your Rift are totally unfounded. With release coming in a month or three, we'd be seeing it appear in their client-side software already, IMHO.

 

[carabassa]

I think that Elite is an already launched game, it is not being launched together with any HMD.
Even expect that now that Vive is delayed some months, if Oculus releases in the next weeks the definitive SDK 1.0 then Frontier has more time to work and support it.

 

[RevEm]

if Oculus releases in the next weeks the definitive SDK 1.0 then Frontier has more time to work and support it.

I truly hope this is the case. As far as I know, The 1.0 SDK is due out sometime this month.