Dual Oculus DK2 and CV1 support

fleetstreet

F
With the Oculus Rift CV1 now announced, those of us who will upgrade (everyone I'd expect) will either have to resell their DK1/DK2 units, or keep them as a second unit.

If ED supported dual Rifts then an observer could tag along on flights and be shown why we are spending some much time playing ED.

I currently fly a Python so it'd be cute to see the empty seat beside me with the other observer in it.

The processing and frame rate would be demanding, I'm not sure how close to bleeding edge this is.
 

CMDR_UKmouse

CMDR_UKmouse
I've been thinking the same thing, ever since my 5 year old has got into exploring with me. He loves finding new planets and "Bubble Nebulae" (he calls all Nebulae "Bubble Nebulae" after I took him there to show him).
So, when we play together, it's on the monitor.
How great it would be if you could have a co-pilot or navigator in the 2nd seat!
 

777Driver

777Driver
Has been asked for quite a few times. Shared cockpit is available on most flight simulators these days. Simplest way to achieve it is via networking, the second person logs into the game in observer mode.

I can't see it all happening on one machine, the load would be too much.
 
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Ancipital

Ancipital
777Driver said:
I can't see it all happening on one machine, the load would be too much.
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This seems pretty bang-on, barring an unexpected jump in CPU, GPU and interconnect power. Shared cockpits would probably still require separate machines, given that this is a shared engine/content game with the content not built to target VR (favouring framerate and lightweight rendering etc.). That's leaving aside the fact that Windows can get a bit weird with too many USB devices plugged in (and ED players, especially VR users, tend to have rather a lot of controllers plugged in).

Sadly, given the practical limitations of asynchronous timewarp, failing to deliver useful results in VR systems with positional headtracking due to the nasty quality downsides, there is still no alternative to the raw power of fast GPUs with stable drivers (despite it seeming for a while that near-free lunches were possible).
 
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Ancipital

Ancipital
Cpt.America said:
Would get sick as a DOG flying shotgun in a ship... in a rift, no?
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Probably not- as you control the "camera". It's not like watching someone play an FPS- which can be uncomfortable. It's like riding on a player-controlled vehicle in an FPS- which is usually only frustrating when they faceplant :)
 

ranix

ranix
They're doin' two pilots to one ship. You might need another computer but at some point your kid's gonna need his own anyway. Might as well start him off with a bang.
 

Raptoyd

Raptoyd
ranix said:
They're doin' two pilots to one ship. You might need another computer but at some point your kid's gonna need his own anyway. Might as well start him off with a bang.
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Slick Willy would give the one he has now to his kid and the wife would be so touched by this he gets permission to by a new one all for himself. Have a nice build.
 

fleetstreet

F
My current machine has buckets of headroom, ED and the rest of Windoze stuff never goes over 25% CPU or RAM. Yes it's a high spec request, but owning two Rifts (as the ED developers would likely do in a few months as well) indicates your machine spec could have a chance.

It's close to the functionality of the debug window which you can enable now with some XML in the config file... my FPS aren't affected if I switch that on for someone to tag along.
 

777Driver

777Driver
fleetstreet said:
It's close to the functionality of the debug window which you can enable now with some XML in the config file... my FPS aren't affected if I switch that on for someone to tag along.
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It is nowhere like the functionality of the debug window. As I mentioned previously, shared cockpit is not anything new. The company I contract for at the moment is implementing shared cockpit along with many other flight sim developers. The CPU & GPU overheads are incredibly high, that's not even with DK2. Networking machines has always been the sensible option.

One of the main reasons I can't wait for the DLC expansions, you will be able to board other players ships. I'll definitely get a duplicate rig with VR so others can fly along with me.
 
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CMDR Holycow

CMDR Holycow
fleetstreet said:
My current machine has buckets of headroom, ED and the rest of Windoze stuff never goes over 25% CPU or RAM. Yes it's a high spec request, but owning two Rifts (as the ED developers would likely do in a few months as well) indicates your machine spec could have a chance.

It's close to the functionality of the debug window which you can enable now with some XML in the config file... my FPS aren't affected if I switch that on for someone to tag along.
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It won't be possible on a single PC, so your single PC headroom won't matter. No GFX card, or pair of cards out now.. or even in the near future, will be able to render the game at 90hz x2, and 75hz x2.

But on two PCs? that would be awesome. But would it require a second account? I imagine it would if there are "tasks" to do on the ship as a co-pilot... or maybe you can only sit in the seat and observe and run it from a single account? Either way, would be fun.
 

777Driver

777Driver
Cpt.America said:
But would it require a second account? I imagine it would if there are "tasks" to do on the ship as a co-pilot... or maybe you can only sit in the seat and observe and run it from a single account? Either way, would be fun.
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Some developers allow you to run an observer client on the second PC, I can't see FD doing that. I reckon the best we will get is two separate accounts.
 

nightsmoke

N
This would be pretty amazing too for giving newbies or non-computer gamers altogether "tours" of the galaxy. I've already done that once while trying to guide the person wearing the Rift by watching via OBS and commandeering the controls when needed. I guess an eventual "copilot" mode should allow swapping of the main controls during flight.
 

RaistlinUK

R
Hopefully we will get to the stage of Star Wars. Ship on auto pilot and you and co-pilot go to the upper and lower turrets. Or even better one person flies and multiple turret positions for capital ships.
 

Ancipital

Ancipital
777Driver said:
Some developers allow you to run an observer client on the second PC, I can't see FD doing that. I reckon the best we will get is two separate accounts.
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Yeah, though making a "passenger only" free account type would be an amazingly clever promotional tactic. Assuming shared cockpits were already up and running, it'd be an almost cost-free thing to add to the game. It'd probably never happen, but still.. imagine new Vive/CV1 owners going for a joyride with a friend- minds blown. There'd be a fair bit of "shut up and take my money".
 
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spacehamburger

S
Guys, after the CV1 get release they'll drop DK2 support. It's been confirmed many times. At some point, you'll have to buy a CV1 kit. DK2 is only a "prototype" and won't get supported much longer after CV1...

Edited: I didn't meant Frontier will drop DK2 support, I meant Oculus Rift will drop support of the DK2 soon after CV1. No more drivers, updates...nothing. Will it keep working with Elite? Maybe, maybe not.
 
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Ancipital

Ancipital
spacehamburger said:
Guys, after the CV1 get release they'll drop DK2 support. It's been confirmed many times. At some point, you'll have to buy a CV1 kit. DK2 is only a "prototype" and won't get supported much longer after CV1...

Edited: I didn't meant Frontier will drop DK2 support, I meant Oculus Rift will drop support of the DK2 soon after CV1. No more drivers, updates...nothing. Will it keep working with Elite? Maybe, maybe not.
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Remember to cite your references when saying things like that. Link away :)
 
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