Elite Dangerous in Oculus Rift Direct Mode

[bambam_ofc]

Is ED successfully driving the Rift in Direct Mode yet?

I got the DK2 in September and was slightly misled with the 'ED migrated to Oculus SDK 0.4.3' news last summer - i.e. the game was recompiled with the new SDK but actually still using the old codepath, so it wasn't really news.

I don't mean to offend ED lovers but the original dev/alpha/temporary Oculus method of having the DK1 as simply a distorted HDMI windows desktop display is *really* old and never intended to be the production solution. For multiple reasons 'extended mode' is inconvenient on my rig (yes I could spend a long time juggling my graphics configuration each time I use my PC for ED or regular use). I don't need advice 'you're mistaken extended mode is fine' because I really do know what I'm doing (honestly) and on my rig it's not.

 

[Mazhurg]

You can set the rift to direct mode however the performance and visuals will be poor and you will get mucho jitter.

FD has to address this as the next SDK update will remove extended mode and will instead use a dll based addressing system (and hide the rift from the OS) as indicated in they way forward talk at GDC http://www.roadtovr.com/oculus-presents-developing-vr-apps-with-oculus-sdk-live-blog-1245-pst/

So, expect changes as we move forward.

 

[bambam_ofc]

thanks Mazhurg for the quality reply... it looks like the API changes again with the latest 'VR compositor / dll' method, also with the Oculus 'direct mode' display driver being end-of-lifed (although I assume the new app codepath will look similar to the 'direct mode' codepath, hence nothing like extended mode). I'm all for the new 'proper' API but there's no doubt Oculus is leaving behind most of their current developers after their enthusiasm of coding for DK1/extended mode. I hope ED makes it into the new world, but I'm sure it'll be easier for later games that program for the new API from the get-go.

 

[Bevz]

Thanks from me too Mazhurg, coincidentally I logged on tonight to ask an almost identical question to bambam_ofc so it was nice to see it was already asked and answered. Interesting times ahead!