ANNOUNCEMENT Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Announcement

[scholesey]

Personally I don't think graphics are the reason it won't be in at launch. I think the reason is gameplay.

How they implement FPS movement in VR matters immensely. I don't want to play a multiplayer FPS mode with VR players that teleport from place to place whilst I'm trying to shoot at them. Of course I could always wait for them to stop and vomit from motion sickness. Easy to get the headshot then (they may even appreciate the sweet release).

You say no VR ruins the game. I say poorly implemented VR will ruin it faster.

In any case, I daresay official confirmation of the existance (or non-existance) of VR in post-launch Odyssy will come eventually. You are going to have to wait.

In it's absence, there is always VorpX (if you can get the settings right).

Elite currently has many different types of play, exploration, mining, trading, combat etc. I never go exploring as I don't like it, I mine to earn credits but I don't enjoy it. I love combat and I love going through the process of engineering even though some is a grind. I really like playing with my other VR fiends in a wing. So if FPS isn't great for some VR players that's just a part of the game we may not choose to play like parts of the game some don't play now. But VR players would benefit from the other enhancements so we would get more out of the game than we do currently and hand over our hard earned cash. The answer is not to exclude VR players from the whole game, let VR players choose what part of the game they like, just as we do now. If we don't like FPS then fine. I don't like exploring but to say VR players can't play the entire game because exploring doen't work for them would be wrong. Given the choice I would prefer to moan about the locomotion system in 5% of the game than moan about not being able to play the whole game! No need to say I can play in 2D, ain't an option for me and many many others.

 

[sgurr]

Hi Alec,

We’re still reading everything, rest assured!

We don’t have any more details at the moment on how that split would work yet, however we’ve heard the questions and the feedback. We’ll be sharing more information closer to release.

To reiterate (it’s a long thread, things easily get lost!) you will still be able to play the base game and Horizons with VR, that isn’t changing.

Cheers,

Tim

Hi Tim,
Always appreciate the responses.

Cockpit VR already exists in the game, please continue to support it for atmospheric worlds even if that means under Horizons.

Cheers, Iain

 

[scholesey]

Comments like that are not helpful. If you had invested the money in the setup to run VR, then you would right now be feeling sidelined.

Have you ever played Elite in VR? I doubt it, because if you had then I can honestly say that you would never want to play it on a monitor ever again.

How about being kind and try to understand why VR users are wanting to be heard. After all now is the best time to campaign for VR support whilst development is in it's early stages.

Have a good day.

Well put

 

[[PS4] Filthymick420]

FD have clarified their position, they have stated "no VR at launch", they have also NOT stated, "we commit to VR after launch".
ergo, the current factual situation is that FD are not supporting VR in Elite from Odyssey forward.

 

[Factabulous]

To reiterate (it’s a long thread, things easily get lost!) you will still be able to play the base game and Horizons with VR, that isn’t changing.

Hey Tim

Can you put the information you've posted into the First Post as well - it's pretty lost at this point to those who've turned up later. Thx!

 

[sgurr]

View attachment 175974

Ha . What a legend.

I actually agree but FD have form on the "not at launch" term, and unless I hear a definitive "VR will be in the game" in whatever form we have to take the current statements as they stand.

 

[amigacooke]

We’re still reading everything, rest assured!

Poor you, but at least you're paid to do it

 

[scholesey]

View attachment 175974

Unless the precedent has already been set.

 

[[PS4] Filthymick420]

Ha . What a legend.

I actually agree but FD have form on the "not at launch" term, and unless I hear a definitive "VR will be in the game" in whatever form we have to take the current statements as they stand.

Pretty 'soon™' it will become 'not at launch ™'

 

[sgurr]

Pretty 'soon™' it will become 'not at launch ™'

Ok, that made me laugh

 

[scholesey]

Poor you, but at least you're paid to do it

Be nice to this guy, this is the first indication that they are listening and saying "how the split would work". That gives a smidgen of hope. I'm happy he gets paid if he gets VR users a bit closer to Odyssey.

 

[Alec Turner]

We don’t have any more details at the moment on how that split would work yet

So there might still be a split?

Thanks @Tim Smith!

 

[Axacuatl]

To reiterate (it’s a long thread, things easily get lost!) you will still be able to play the base game and Horizons with VR, that isn’t changing.

Tim, the VR users here are clearly VERY concerned. And I believe we deserve a straight answer on the following simple question, and we deserve it NOW, not somewhere down the road until release:

Is FDev currently working (actively and with all serious efforts) on adding VR support to Odyssey ?

This whole "currently, at release, will not support VR" and a lame statement about how FDev like VR but avoiding any faint commitment of implementing VR is unworthy of the relationship the backers & users have developed with FDev over the years. Please don't give us this duck & cover approach to try to cover the whole extent of the FDev decision re VR by releasing bits of information only every couple of months.

Please clarify the intentions of FDev with regards to VR - I am very sure this is not something FDev are currently still debating internally. This decision must have been made months, more likely years ago.

The below quote confirms what many VR users think:

FD have clarified their position, they have stated "no VR at launch", they have also NOT stated, "we commit to VR after launch".
ergo, the current factual situation is that FD are not supporting VR in Elite from Odyssey forward.

Seeing FDev try to avoid being upfront and honest to us is really embarassing.

 

[21 Tauri]

Given the crisis due to the lack of VR. I hope Frontier will use a few engineers to study the subject closely. And who knows, they can find a good compromise. Maybe not for the launch. But it is not impossible, they are very good engineers at Frontier. Otherwise farewell Elite, happy to have known you ...

 

[VR StarLightPL]

So there might still be a split?

This can be interpreted both ways: either a positive split (fps bits not working in VR), or, mac-users-like-split, where we remain confined on horizons. And frankly I'd prefer bitter truth upfront than months of uncertainity. A strong committal answer like the one with base building. VR won't be in the game, VR will be implemented in the game. Currently as it stands "VR won't be in the game".

 

[Deleted member 110222]

I do think this is a fitting comparison - for us VR users it means that this is where ED's development stops, end of journey. I think most of the experienced users know exactly that FDev are not planning to provide VR later for Odyssey, and how could they then consider to include it in any future season if they left it out for Odyssey ? It's the end of VR for ED, as simple as that.

So while we may continue to play the currently existing game, this announcement made it clear that FDev will no longer pursue VR support. Which in turn means that it will create more and more of a disconnect with the rest of the community, feeling left behind and at disadvantage for any competitive action (just remember how well non-Horizons players are doing with their unengineered vessels in PvP...) and many VR users will be looking for a new home sooner or later.

So yes, for us it is a bit as if FDev are starting to switch off the servers, making it unattractive to even continue playing the current game, because the other players can evolve in a way we can't.

I suppose when that event, switching the servers off for all users, happens, some of those mocking the VR users now may start to understand. Don't worry, we will then be around to let you know that it's not that bad and just a game, get over it, etc..

I'm already over it. Lost a couple games to the pandemic. They couldn't get through lockdowns and the resultant financial troubles.

Yes. It's just a game. You're quite right.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

I like you Dude... even watched one of your twitch streams, but you are so wrong on this VR issue. Most people complaining won’t get over it. Not even close. I don’t expect or ask you to understand because VR is not your thing and that’s ok.

also as much as you may love half life and be frustrated that the latest in the series is VR exclusive, you didn’t help fund the game. ED exists as much because of the VR kickstarters as anyone else. Id argue the “stamping feet” are more warranted over ED than half life

I'd disagree myself.

As I keep saying. You can play on a monitor. You just don't want to. I'm still waiting for you to prove otherwise.

That's the difference mate.

Seriously. Look around the world. Is a damn video game really so important?

 

[VR captpopup]

Four days in and I'm still in the doldrums!
I have tried to understand, I've even tried to play in 2D mode... but its useless to me. I will get the update free as a LEP holder and I will probably have a look... just to see what extraordinary addition has pushed out the greatest development in gaming in my lifetime (62 and still playing... 27 when I first started playing Elite). I had such a desire to see this game and Frontier flourish that I even bought Planet Coaster, a good game that appeals to my creative side but really to support.

Yesterday I spent all my remaining ARX's on stuff I didn't really want (almost bought some sunglasses). I'm going to continue to use Horizons for as long as it's supported, keep one eye on the unfolding truth of Odyssey, watch ruefully via youtube as others run around under blue skies... shooting everything that moves, unlocking new engineers and new upgrades... and ponder to myself as to what could have been... for every commander no matter how they play.

You know that feeling of loving something so much... and then it leaves... that's how I feel. I've tried 'SNAP OUT OF IT', 'GET A GRIP', 'IT'S ONLY A GAME'... but it's not, it's an absolute gem and I've invested in it in so many ways.

And now I've suddenly become aware that I am talking as if it died... but it hasn't... it's just about to run off with someone else.

Come back Shane!

 

[nrage]

Disclaimer: I haven't had time to read this entire thread..

I have VR (Oculus Rift) which I use almost exclusively for Elite Dangerous.. but I am (personally) not too surprised or worried about Frontier's "will not be VR-compatible at launch"(*) statement.

Firstly, because despite Half Life Alyx's success, less than 2% of gamers own VR(*). I am sure the percentage is higher among Elite players, however I would still be surprised to hear that it was over 10%. As such, it makes perfect sense that it would not be an "on release" feature, especially given my next point.

Secondly, because VR isn't (yet) a great experience for FPS gameplay (in my experience). I get nauseous driving the SRV and the times I have tried to play a game where you "walk" around (more like slide sickeningly about the place) I've felt even worse. Sure, you could use the "teleport" mechanism for movement, but for a multiplayer FPS experience.. I just don't think it would work.

The main reason I'm not worried is this statement ".. we had to re-examine if we could deliver that same experience without compromise .."(*). This, is a good thing. It means that if we do get VR space legs it will actually be a good experience and not some horrid sickening nightmare implemented just so they can rubber stamp it and say "we have VR support".

I can imagine 3 possible outcomes for the future. If not #1, then #2 (but preferably both) and least likely #3.

1. We get VR space legs "some time" in the future and it's actually a good experience.
2. We get a good way to switch from VR to monitor and back as/when required.
3. We get a way to switch off head tracking and reset the view, perhaps a key press.

Even if #1 is good, some people might prefer #2.. I suspect I am one of those.

#2 has to be good. I don't want to be playing FPS Elite in a tiny window on my desktop with the view canted up because of the headset being on my forehead. So, if possible, I would love for the VR viewpoint to auto-reset at some point during the transition from VR to desktop BUT for it to include an adjustment to counter the backward tilt of the headset on my forehead (to calibrate such that this angle is "level"). If this gives me enough time to move the headset to a stable position on my forehead, then this transition could be fairly seamless, with some practice.

#3 is a last resort and the absolute minimum I would expect from Frontier. If we simply have a button to press to disable head tracking and reset the view to "forward" then at least we can transition from VR to FPS.

 

[who?]

Can you imagine taking a shot every time someone moans about no VR?

Take an Aspirin every time someone complains about people complaining about VR, and you'll be fine.