ANNOUNCEMENT Odyssey: Update on VR and Ship Interiors

[thistle]

And that's exactly the caveat, what "many" people don't get right. FP-VR doesn't need "proper" FP-movement. "Movement" is literally moving the FP-camera to a new position, like in a SRV but without a rendered cockpit. And "interacting with environment" isn't really an issue either. Why? Because, right now, you can lock-on targets with a movement of your head only and "lock target ahead". I'm doing that all the time during ship-pvp or gathering materials. There is no difference between targeting via headlook or centering your view above the target with a mouse-sweep in 2D.

Sure, it WOULD be nice to have "full motion control" everywhere, but that's a whole other story. I'm sticking to KISS (Keep It Simple, Sweetheart). I just suggest, that FDev should stick to already implemented features instead of "reinventing" the whole VR thing. So, yes! Just place a HUD onto our FOV and finish the last 95% of FP-VR ability what is already in-game.

No, again we're talking two different things. I'm not suggesting full motion control. I'm saying adding VR to the full current FPS would take work, to make it playable, to be able to interact, and have the same movement mechanics**.

What others keep demanding is just adding a hud to the freecam, but that doesn't have first person controls and functionality.

All I'm saying is "just do it, it's easy" is never true. It's always possible, but it always takes work.


**Just to make this point, the bug/hack to play VR in first person that involved pressing certain buttons at the same time, it "worked". But the movement was jank, because it wasn't the coded first person controls. it was effectively the camera controls.

 

[Eliza]

No, again we're talking two different things. I'm not suggesting full motion control. I'm saying adding VR to the full current FPS would take work, to make it playable, to be able to interact, and have the same movement mechanics**.

What others keep demanding is just adding a hud to the freecam, but that doesn't have first person controls and functionality.

All I'm saying is "just do it, it's easy" is never true. It's always possible, but it always takes work.


**Just to make this point, the bug/hack to play VR in first person that involved pressing certain buttons at the same time, it "worked". But the movement was jank, because it wasn't the coded first person controls. it was effectively the camera controls.

Sure, that "hack" wasn't proper FP-movement. Point given. On the other side, it's not THAT difficult to implement "proper" VR into Odyssee. That's all I'm saying. Sure, some work has to be done, but not much (disregarding the general FPS issues we have right now even in 2D). So first, optimize FPS, then fixing hillarious bugs like invisible rocks, then introduce us to "proper" VR.

 

[thistle]

Sure, that "hack" wasn't proper FP-movement. Point given. On the other side, it's not THAT difficult to implement "proper" VR into Odyssee. That's all I'm saying. Sure, some work has to be done, but not much (disregarding the general FPS issues we have right now even in 2D). So first, optimize FPS, then fixing hillarious bugs like invisible rocks, then introduce us to "proper" VR.

No argument here.

 

[Adinor]

Sure, that "hack" wasn't proper FP-movement. Point given. On the other side, it's not THAT difficult to implement "proper" VR into Odyssee. That's all I'm saying. Sure, some work has to be done, but not much (disregarding the general FPS issues we have right now even in 2D). So first, optimize FPS, then fixing hillarious bugs like invisible rocks, then introduce us to "proper" VR.

Also remember, that proper full-body VR experience is much-much more physically intense and energy-consuming compared to a seated FP-VR, meaning whoever would want to play more than an hour, will have to choose -- either struggle with fatigue or switch to a 2D mode. That's why I'd vote for the FP-VR as a primary (and perhaps even only) mode. Not to mention that merging the "walking" and seated (HOTAS) experiences seamlessly is a monumental task.

 

[Cohen the Worrior]

Sure, that "hack" wasn't proper FP-movement. Point given. On the other side, it's not THAT difficult to implement "proper" VR into Odyssee. That's all I'm saying. Sure, some work has to be done, but not much (disregarding the general FPS issues we have right now even in 2D). So first, optimize FPS, then fixing hillarious bugs like invisible rocks, then introduce us to "proper" VR.

I see some console players gesturing they would like to have a word with you.

 

[NULUSIOS]

So... any news?

 

[Riverside]

So... any news?

Not in this year old thread

Patch 7 was released today though, you could have a look there maybe? (TL;DR: No.)

 

[Mase2105]

I'm not playing in VR, I have and it's amazing. But seriously, why can't they give VR players a 'freelook' experience instead of a theatrical one? So they can get out of their chairs and have a VR 'out of body experience'. You can put a blurry, dark-screen error if they are too far from their center position. I admit, VR expectations from a sitting position holding a HOTAS, to down right full blown FPS is a bit risky without knocking into your rig/ desk. It should be an all-in sitting experience, that transitions into a freelook... just like in the ships. Or do we have to wait for Frontier stocks

Imagine if Frontier had the brain capacity to add blockchain/ NFT to the game, bring value to almost anything we do/ own and provide a sense of ownership. Frontier would likely make more money with an initial token sale than Elite has ever raked in it's lifetime.

 

[MarcoPolo7]

Feeling a little left out of the whole BANNING PEOPLE circle
Hey FRONTIER TAKE YOUR GAME AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ARX.
There I feel better
Back to Star Citizen now where the cool kids are playing...

 

[MarcoPolo7]

Darn

 

[MarcoPolo7]

Dang

 

[KillZoneGB]

Also remember, that proper full-body VR experience is much-much more physically intense and energy-consuming compared to a seated FP-VR, meaning whoever would want to play more than an hour, will have to choose -- either struggle with fatigue or switch to a 2D mode. That's why I'd vote for the FP-VR as a primary (and perhaps even only) mode. Not to mention that merging the "walking" and seated (HOTAS) experiences seamlessly is a monumental task.

Being physical disabled I wish I could stand up without the fear of falling over and also the fear of getting wrapped up in the VR cord.

Anyhoo I have been playing Sniper Elite VR, sitting down of course.

Using the Left stick to move and turn around, the Right stick down to crouch up or down.
too zoom I just bring the controller`s closer towards my HP G2 Headset.
Aiming you use both controllers as if you holding the machine gun or rifles, pistol you can use with one hand.
you can hold two pistols but reloading them are a different kettle of fish.

Coming on to reloading, take the mag out, grab a mag, slot it in, then c.o.c.k the weapon.

It`s Eyeopener and FD should look into this game for ideas.

Elite Dangerous Odyssey would be 100 times better than 2D VR, where is the Depth perception in 2D. ¯\(ツ)/¯

Sorry, FD design nothing personal.

 

[CodeJunkie]

Being physical disabled I wish I could stand up without the fear of falling over and also the fear of getting wrapped up in the VR cord.

Anyhoo I have been playing Sniper Elite VR, sitting down of course.

Using the Left stick to move and turn around, the Right stick down to crouch up or down.
too zoom I just bring the controller`s closer towards my HP G2 Headset.
Aiming you use both controllers as if you holding the machine gun or rifles, pistol you can use with one hand.
you can hold two pistols but reloading them are a different kettle of fish.

Coming on to reloading, take the mag out, grab a mag, slot it in, then the weapon.

It`s Eyeopener and FD should look into this game for ideas.

Elite Dangerous Odyssey would be 100 times better than 2D VR, where is the Depth perception in 2D. ¯\(ツ)/¯

Sorry, FD design nothing personal.

You can also do what you're doing with an XBox controller ... or any controller really. I recently bought X-Rebirth VR and when I transition from my ship using my HOTAS I use my xbox controller to walk around and do stuff on foot.

 

[KillZoneGB]

You can also do what you're doing with an XBox controller ... or any controller really. I recently bought X-Rebirth VR and when I transition from my ship using my HOTAS I use my xbox controller to walk around and do stuff on foot.

Indeed, bet you cant fire from the hip tho j/k

Sniper elite VR does have the option for auto-reloading and c.o.c.king the weapon.

I guess it`s how deep you want to be.

 

[jojon]

With the state of its VR, I find myself running around using HOTAS in Odyssey as well, only reaching for the mouse when needing to point at something below eye level (a viable enough proposition, given I do no pew-pew).

 

[Adinor]

Indeed, bet you cant fire from the hip tho j/k

Sniper elite VR does have the option for auto-reloading and c.o.c.king the weapon.

I guess it`s how deep you want to be.

I've fixed my HOTAS to the armrests of my chair, yet keep the keyboard on my laps and mouse to the right of the stick at a small flat surface. It is very easy to switch from HOTAS to WASD+Mouse and back.

 

[Scubadog]

When I played Call of Duty, Titan Fall, etc., I only used keyboard and mouse. As far as I'm concerned, in an FPS that's the only way worth playing. Sadly, I convinced myself to buy Odyssey because I believed that the VR experience in terms of visual improvements and performance would be as good or better than Horizons. I had ZERO desire to use the on-foot aspects of Odyssey. Nothing has changed my mind on this. Just to be able to say "I tried it" I did do some disembarking and found the whole "projected presence" in VR to be unacceptable. I DID switch to my keyboard and mouse from my HOTAS so at least that part of the behavior would be what I considered "traditional". Again, I find nothing worthwhile in walking around stations or planets or bases, and I have no interest in any of the on-foot combat in Elite Dangerous. So, I stuck to concentrating on analyzing the VR experience flying and driving. Even after update 7, the visuals are horrible and performance is even more so compared to the experience in Horizons. Planets/moons are boring. At this point I just spend most of my time in Horizons mode, only switching to Odyssey to test out the latest update. I'm of the opinion that FDev has no intention of improving this, so I suspect I'll continue to live in the Horizons instances for quite some time.

 

[CaptainPugwash]

When I played Call of Duty, Titan Fall, etc., I only used keyboard and mouse. As far as I'm concerned, in an FPS that's the only way worth playing. Sadly, I convinced myself to buy Odyssey because I believed that the VR experience in terms of visual improvements and performance would be as good or better than Horizons. I had ZERO desire to use the on-foot aspects of Odyssey. Nothing has changed my mind on this. Just to be able to say "I tried it" I did do some disembarking and found the whole "projected presence" in VR to be unacceptable. I DID switch to my keyboard and mouse from my HOTAS so at least that part of the behavior would be what I considered "traditional". Again, I find nothing worthwhile in walking around stations or planets or bases, and I have no interest in any of the on-foot combat in Elite Dangerous. So, I stuck to concentrating on analyzing the VR experience flying and driving. Even after update 7, the visuals are horrible and performance is even more so compared to the experience in Horizons. Planets/moons are boring. At this point I just spend most of my time in Horizons mode, only switching to Odyssey to test out the latest update. I'm of the opinion that FDev has no intention of improving this, so I suspect I'll continue to live in the Horizons instances for quite some time.

The problem is that we the players campaigned to get VR into Odyssey (at first it was going to be ditched entirely as they couldn’t find a clean way to transition to on foot gameplay, and full VR wasn’t on the roadmap). So what we got was considered a victory at the time, if only a victory of compromise.

 

[Adinor]

There are so many problems with the current state of ED in general and Odyssey in particular. The VR is, arguable, the least of them.
I'd place them in the following order:
1. Grind-based gameplay. Sure, one can play without the grind, but there is next to nothing else in the gameplay development apart from it.
2. Ageing design of visual elements. Compared to other titles of a similar kind, it does not look too elite or too dangerous. It looks rather childish and cartoonish.
3. Lack of consistency in elements that would create bonds between players and game elements (e.g. players can't really express themselves using game elements).
4. Poor emersion especially when the VR experience is broken.

All of those are really strange to see in 2021, knowing how great the game was (and still is in some areas) and how much potential it has: the wast and physically correct universe, rich lore, big and (still) active player base etc. But unless they will really re-invest in the game development, I'm afraid the future looks rather grim. Especially having UE5 based games on the horizon.

 

[Jean Luc Picard 2305]

VR is still almost useless in Odyssey. I use a HTC Vive with an Nvidia 1080Ti... I have to reduce my VR settings to low when driving on an Odyssey world in my SRV. Even then the graphics are 'wobbly' and the frame rate choppy. So much so that I have completely given up trying and always revert back to the solid, tried and trustworthy, Horizons.

Unfortunately, as I only game in VR, I could not even think of going back to playing on a flat screen. So basically I am stuck, though still very happily, with Horizons.

What is a shame though is that the separate versions of Horizon and Odyssey has effectively split the player base in two, with the result that I now I only see half the number of Commanders in Open that I did before Odyssey launched.

The worse that could happen in the future is if FDev dropped Horizons and forced everyone to play Odyssey. That might, indeed could be, the final nail in the coffin for a number of players.

I really want to see Odyssey optimised for driving around worlds in VR but alas that still seems to be far off in the distant future.