David Braben comments on VR [gamedaily.biz article]

[[VR] Mad Mike]

it is unfortunate that it sounds like DB is not really on the VR hype train any more. I just hope this is not setting the scene for a future update for reasons why FD chose not to carry on supporting VR in ED.

I simply cant play cockpit games outside of VR any more and ED is no exception.

if in the future with say legs, FD decide they cant make it work for vr, i hope they just transition to flat screen 3D in VR when going on foot, before going back to VR once you get in a vehicle. this for me would be a worst case scenario however..... but it would keep me playing

 

[TorTorden_VR]

I have already branched out anyways.

Not really that much to interest me.
So with my new controllers I have taken up DCS.

It is less shiny and for now no point in trying for more than constant 45 fps.
And the easiest thing you can do I'm DCS is 10x harder than anything you can do in Elite.

Certainly no handholding.

But cranking some credence, and winding a Huey up a river, just amazing.

 

[BigDuke6ixx]

it is unfortunate that it sounds like DB is not really on the VR hype train any more. I just hope this is not setting the scene for a future update for reasons why FD chose not to carry on supporting VR in ED.

I simply cant play cockpit games outside of VR any more and ED is no exception.

if in the future with say legs, FD decide they cant make it work for vr, i hope they just transition to flat screen 3D in VR when going on foot, before going back to VR once you get in a vehicle. this for me would be a worst case scenario however..... but it would keep me playing

How could they manage to not make walking work in VR?

 

[BigDuke6ixx]

I have already branched out anyways.

Not really that much to interest me.
So with my new controllers I have taken up DCS.

It is less shiny and for now no point in trying for more than constant 45 fps.
And the easiest thing you can do I'm DCS is 10x harder than anything you can do in Elite.

Certainly no handholding.

But cranking some credence, and winding a Huey up a river, just amazing.

Yeah, the idea that ED is generally hard is just laughable anyway. AF off is about the only thing that requires skill.

 

[mazi]

This interview of DB is on of the most frustrating reads i had in years.

Now there is no wonder anymore on my side why ED has literally stopped to further develop for a better VR experience.
The really sad thing about this is they even didn't try to max it out to really see if ppl would rather adapt to it sooner than later. Looks like they have numbers that there are way more triple monitor setups out there than VR headsets. But VR remaining in the niche is also a chicken and egg game. How many AAA games can one count today that are worth more than 10h of gameplay in VR?

 

[NeilF]

Some comments which might raise a few eyebrows...



Link to full article: https://gamedaily.biz/article/194/david-braben-why-the-industry-needs-the-return-of-the-publisher

That's bizarre? Given the "ten year plan," he doesn't think in about 2yrs we'll have more general access to 4k@90fps VR hardware?


And finally, his scepticism then of VR seemingly explains the possible lack of investment in development of solid VR in ED. So, given that, I assume he must also be skeptical of actual involved gameplay mechanics then?

 

[TorTorden_VR]

How could they manage to not make walking work in VR?

Cause you are still in your house and have physical walls around you ?

 

[NeilF]

Cause you are still in your house and have physical walls around you ?

I believe this issue with walking and VR means how would you walk within the game in VR. Typically walking around (eg: using WASD or a controller) in VR can induce huge motion sickness, hence so many games instead using the teleporting mechanic instead.

 

[WeirdWizard]

I believe this issue with walking and VR means how would you walk within the game in VR. Typically walking around (eg: using WASD or a controller) in VR can induce huge motion sickness, hence so many games instead using the teleporting mechanic instead.

That was the fear back at the start but time and experience seems to support the idea that people can and do get used to VR and overcome artificial locomotion induced sickness, especially when it's implemented well. That said including a teleport based option is always nice for beginners. Also should we actually get space legs, which I doubt but that's another discussion, then I't would probably be zero g type movement like in star shelter (or that Oculus exclusive one). Not sure if that's better or worse for people but it's definitely very cool!

 

[NeilF]

That was the fear back at the start but time and experience seems to support the idea that people can and do get used to VR and overcome artificial locomotion induced sickness, especially when it's implemented well. That said including a teleport based option is always nice for beginners. Also should we actually get space legs, which I doubt but that's another discussion, then I't would probably be zero g type movement like in star shelter (or that Oculus exclusive one). Not sure if that's better or worse for people but it's definitely very cool!

Can't really commment on this as I've never "walked" around in a VR game other than using a teleport type mechanic.

 

[Cliché]

Pretty sure 640x480 was SVGA no? Or it may of been supported by VGA but only in 16 colours as opposed to the 256 colours 320x200 VGA standard.

No, SVGA is 800x600 256 colors. 320x200 is CGA, and only displayed 4 colors. I think flight sim was white, blue, pink, and gray (and black). I don't recall what EGA was (a friend had that on his 286), but my first monitor was VGA 640x480 16 colors with a 25MHz 386.

As for space legs, I want to do it sitting in a chair. I've seen people running around Sky Rim just standing there, so I don't think teleportation is required (and I don't want to see that either).

 

[A D]

Some comments which might raise a few eyebrows...



Link to full article: https://gamedaily.biz/article/194/david-braben-why-the-industry-needs-the-return-of-the-publisher

The views he expresses are (with respect) naïve and appear to be based on personal experience or lounge room chat. Since Dec 2013 (when ED added support) VR has the gained the backing of some of the biggest companies in the world - Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Samsung - who have invested heavily in the technology and made it plain that VR (in various forms) is the future of computer entertainment.

 

[Kaltern]

This just tells me that Braben is clueless with PR - after all, pretty much everyone who has played ED via VR has been quick to praise how good it is - and Braben has just effectively told each and every one of them that they're just wasting their time.

Nice.

I find the naivety of the guy unbelievable. ED is right now the ONLY decent space sim with VR, and by making out VR is just a 'niche'... well, that's not going to go unnoticed. It's almost like he WANTS VR to somehow fail, and perhaps his comment regarding AR and Hololens sounds like he's throwing his cap in with Microsoft...

Idiotic.

 

[BigDuke6ixx]

This just tells me that Braben is clueless with PR - after all, pretty much everyone who has played ED via VR has been quick to praise how good it is - and Braben has just effectively told each and every one of them that they're just wasting their time.

Nice.

I find the naivety of the guy unbelievable. ED is right now the ONLY decent space sim with VR, and by making out VR is just a 'niche'... well, that's not going to go unnoticed. It's almost like he WANTS VR to somehow fail, and perhaps his comment regarding AR and Hololens sounds like he's throwing his cap in with Microsoft...

Idiotic.

Well, this is the guy who made a 30 min video on how passenger missions would work.

 

[NeilF]

The views he expresses are (with respect) naïve and appear to be based on personal experience or lounge room chat. Since Dec 2013 (when ED added support) VR has the gained the backing of some of the biggest companies in the world - Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Samsung - who have invested heavily in the technology and made it plain that VR (in various forms) is the future of computer entertainment.

Agreed...

In a few years when the tech has progressed such that its easier to wear, use and setup. And the hardware gives better performance at a cheaper price, it will surely be even more popular...

Given how VR is a match made in heaven for a space game such as ED.... *confused*

 

[mazi]

More than anything else VR needs a solid change towards DX12 or Vulkan so that the framerate can be held up also in tricky situations. Same is true for multiplayer performance.
And then there are still so many things that were right on the table - discussed here in the forum - about things that could make VR a better experience.
The higher resolution VR headsets he mentioned we get step by step, the graphics power of GPUs will also rise year by year.

If its still true that ED will be developed and enhanced over years to come the comment of DB are just ignorant towards progress in VR.
Unfortunately the developer team seams to follow DB attitude when managing their resources. If there has to be a price tag to be made for a better VR experience they simply should pin it on the wall.

 

[VR Mr Teatime]

Normally I'm pretty positive about ED and especially the capabilities of the COBRA engine, but I'm inferring that FDev may be finding the 90fps requirement for VR a challenge, as they go forward with additional features that cut into the rendering budget.

I hope they stick at it, because ED is pretty much the premiere VR experience IMHO and I couldn't bear having to go back to 2D gaming.

 

[Sweet&Dandy]

I own two gaming pcs in two different parts of the world. I have bought at least five different HOTAS this past five years, two rifts, one vive and one samsung odyssey. I played ED alpha from day one on a dk1 and upgraded the screen using the rift up package. I then bought the dk2 when it released and haven’t looked back. I should add that the only game I play is Elite Dangerous. It is without a doubt the best tech investment I ever made! DB needs to read this...

Without VR your game is utterly unremarkable... in VR you have yourself a space sim that you can be proud of. Your comments are beyond disappointing!

 

[BigDuke6ixx]

I own two gaming pcs in two different parts of the world. I have bought at least five different HOTAS this past five years, two rifts, one vive and one samsung odyssey. I played ED alpha from day one on a dk1 and upgraded the screen using the rift up package. I then bought the dk2 when it released and haven’t looked back. I should add that the only game I play is Elite Dangerous. It is without a doubt the best tech investment I ever made! DB needs to read this...

Without VR your game is utterly unremarkable... in VR you have yourself a space sim that you can be proud of. Your comments are beyond disappointing!

You really need to look beyond ED. There are VR experience out there that are way better than ED.

 

[Sweet&Dandy]

You really need to look beyond ED. There are VR experience out there that are way better than ED.

I own many VR games, but they just don’t interest me. ED gives me my fix and nothing else has (so far). I did enjoy Rockband VR though!