I don't really have any point to make, other than a stream of consciousness about what my ideal setup for this game will be, so if that is boring, kindly disregard and apologies for taking up your time. If you feel the same kind of obsessive and insane attachment to the Elite universe that i do, please feel free to throw in a comment, or tell me where i am going wrong, etc.
I had originally thought to strive toward getting a pilot seat setup with three large (40" plus) screens for a wraparound cockpit view and a row of tablets set up as Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) just behind a HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle And Stick) control system that would be configurable (hopefully) for things like a rear view camera, system statuses, target information, system map, etc.
That kind of setup would obviously be pretty expensive, but it would be worth it given the amount of time i would put into ED if it's even half decent (and so far it's looking way better than that). In some ways, we're very lucky these days, because things like cheap TVs can be used for the monitors, and the quality is way higher and the price way lower than even just a few years ago now. And tablets can be cheap too. I personally prefer iPad, but for a dedicated cockpit setup, a row of cheap android tablets will do, and you can get those dirt cheap now, even quite high-end ones. Still, even with the individual parts of it being cheap, it all adds up and becomes a lot of money in the end. Not to even mention the fact i am going to need a brand new high-end computer to make all this hardware remotely worth using.
The most important thing for me was the game experience though. I'm after absolute immersion if i can achieve it. With this in mind, i would't care about the cost really, and could even split it into separate purchases over time, starting with a simple setup and adding to it to achieve this setup within a year or two (and then hooking up the IV drip and playing until they came to take me away to the funny farm).
Now though, after the announced support for Oculus Rift and having watched many videos of it in action, i think that has got to be the way to go. There's a video on youtube of a guy playing ED Alpha with Oculus Rift. Just watching him look around his cabin, at various displays, out various windows... Just WOW!
My thinking now is heavily towards Oculus Rift, which obviously makes the triple display and MFD setup pointless, as you can't see any of that with the VR headset on. The added bonus also is that, although TVs and tablets are pretty cheap now, a single Oculus Rift is even cheaper. The current dev kits retail for around £200 (plus tax and shipping), and give wraparound vision that tracks your head movement. The only real problems i have heard about it so far is that sometimes the tracking is not perfect and that the resolution is blurry. Sounds like those problems are being addressed though, and they are looking at ways to improve tracking in the retail version, and maybe even in the dev 2.0 version, and are already saying the resolution will be upped to at least 1080p.
So, Oculus Rift then. Control is still going to be HOTAS, though no need for MFDs anymore. I already own a Saitek X52 Pro, which was extremely nice to use. I used it extensively in various space sim-type games, and a lot in Oolite, which i loved playing, but found a little limiting, especially in the controls department (no lateral thrusters, etc.). I don't know if they still do, but Saitek used to go on about how hard wearing their products are. While my X52 Pro lasted longer than a cheap £15 stick would have done (the X52 Pro was around 15 times as expensive), they don't last forever. My X52 Pro broke after about 2 years of playing (not physically, it's fine physically, but maybe internal switches or something, because the rudder doesn't work and left doesn't work), so i will need a new HOTAS. There are some HOTAS systems around that look absolutely amazing, and have prices to match. The sort of prices that make even Saitek look cheap.
Even though i'd love to be able to say money is no object at all, i really can't. I can go a bit crazy, but not insane with it. With that in mind, and only looking at crazy expensive, not insane expensive, i am really liking the look of the Saitek X55 right now. Hopefully modern components are a bit more reliable, and that thing looks SOLID, much more so than the X52 with the plastic case and all.
Some of those buttons and switches might not work out with an Oculus Rift on, but i imagine at least the finger and thumb controls would be quite easy to get used to blind, and at least some of the other switches could be useful.
With a move to a simpler setup like this (computer, controller, Oculus Rift), it would be quite easy to make this a portable setup, and not have it tied to the house (i can still have a pilot seat at home, and just not bring that when i move the setup around). So rather than a giant desktop, maybe a laptop of SFF (Small Form Factor) computer could manage it. The specs right now are very high-end, but they will come down with optimisation. It will still have to be high-end, but with where we're looking for final release now, they might be another computer generation making affordable small hardware possible and it shouldn't be quite as high as the current Alpha requires. The requirement is going to be, assuming Oculus rift is 1080p, to be able to run everything in the game, including intense battles, in full 1080p and 60 frames per second (Two eyes, 30 fps each, making it require 60fps, apparently). Dropping frames will break the immersion and probably make me dizzy, so that's to be avoided.
As a final thought, and with portability in mind (could then bring it to, say, LaveCon for a LAN gaming party, etc.), my personal preference is for Macintosh. I know Windows is more geared towards optimised gaming, and slightly cheaper in general (but not always, take a look at ultrabooks compared to Macbook Air), and i know a lot of people simply irrationally hate Macs for no reason, but i prefer the OS, find it works better for me, and use it extensively for other things, like video and photo editing. Anyway, not wanting to bother with any of that nonsense about why something else is better, i think it would be nice if the next generation of Mac Mini came with Gfx good enough to drive Oculus Rift with ED (i know it's not likely, but i can dream). The Mac Mini is an ultra-SFF pc, and you could get that computer, the Rift and the controller in a single gym bag, which would be pretty awesome.
Sorry for going on so long, and for it being quite droll, but i really do feel a ridiculous amount of excitement for this. Far too much for someone of my age really.
Please feel free to tell me your thoughts and criticisms, or even just comment about what your ideal setup would be.
I had originally thought to strive toward getting a pilot seat setup with three large (40" plus) screens for a wraparound cockpit view and a row of tablets set up as Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) just behind a HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle And Stick) control system that would be configurable (hopefully) for things like a rear view camera, system statuses, target information, system map, etc.
That kind of setup would obviously be pretty expensive, but it would be worth it given the amount of time i would put into ED if it's even half decent (and so far it's looking way better than that). In some ways, we're very lucky these days, because things like cheap TVs can be used for the monitors, and the quality is way higher and the price way lower than even just a few years ago now. And tablets can be cheap too. I personally prefer iPad, but for a dedicated cockpit setup, a row of cheap android tablets will do, and you can get those dirt cheap now, even quite high-end ones. Still, even with the individual parts of it being cheap, it all adds up and becomes a lot of money in the end. Not to even mention the fact i am going to need a brand new high-end computer to make all this hardware remotely worth using.
The most important thing for me was the game experience though. I'm after absolute immersion if i can achieve it. With this in mind, i would't care about the cost really, and could even split it into separate purchases over time, starting with a simple setup and adding to it to achieve this setup within a year or two (and then hooking up the IV drip and playing until they came to take me away to the funny farm).
Now though, after the announced support for Oculus Rift and having watched many videos of it in action, i think that has got to be the way to go. There's a video on youtube of a guy playing ED Alpha with Oculus Rift. Just watching him look around his cabin, at various displays, out various windows... Just WOW!
My thinking now is heavily towards Oculus Rift, which obviously makes the triple display and MFD setup pointless, as you can't see any of that with the VR headset on. The added bonus also is that, although TVs and tablets are pretty cheap now, a single Oculus Rift is even cheaper. The current dev kits retail for around £200 (plus tax and shipping), and give wraparound vision that tracks your head movement. The only real problems i have heard about it so far is that sometimes the tracking is not perfect and that the resolution is blurry. Sounds like those problems are being addressed though, and they are looking at ways to improve tracking in the retail version, and maybe even in the dev 2.0 version, and are already saying the resolution will be upped to at least 1080p.
So, Oculus Rift then. Control is still going to be HOTAS, though no need for MFDs anymore. I already own a Saitek X52 Pro, which was extremely nice to use. I used it extensively in various space sim-type games, and a lot in Oolite, which i loved playing, but found a little limiting, especially in the controls department (no lateral thrusters, etc.). I don't know if they still do, but Saitek used to go on about how hard wearing their products are. While my X52 Pro lasted longer than a cheap £15 stick would have done (the X52 Pro was around 15 times as expensive), they don't last forever. My X52 Pro broke after about 2 years of playing (not physically, it's fine physically, but maybe internal switches or something, because the rudder doesn't work and left doesn't work), so i will need a new HOTAS. There are some HOTAS systems around that look absolutely amazing, and have prices to match. The sort of prices that make even Saitek look cheap.
Even though i'd love to be able to say money is no object at all, i really can't. I can go a bit crazy, but not insane with it. With that in mind, and only looking at crazy expensive, not insane expensive, i am really liking the look of the Saitek X55 right now. Hopefully modern components are a bit more reliable, and that thing looks SOLID, much more so than the X52 with the plastic case and all.
Some of those buttons and switches might not work out with an Oculus Rift on, but i imagine at least the finger and thumb controls would be quite easy to get used to blind, and at least some of the other switches could be useful.
With a move to a simpler setup like this (computer, controller, Oculus Rift), it would be quite easy to make this a portable setup, and not have it tied to the house (i can still have a pilot seat at home, and just not bring that when i move the setup around). So rather than a giant desktop, maybe a laptop of SFF (Small Form Factor) computer could manage it. The specs right now are very high-end, but they will come down with optimisation. It will still have to be high-end, but with where we're looking for final release now, they might be another computer generation making affordable small hardware possible and it shouldn't be quite as high as the current Alpha requires. The requirement is going to be, assuming Oculus rift is 1080p, to be able to run everything in the game, including intense battles, in full 1080p and 60 frames per second (Two eyes, 30 fps each, making it require 60fps, apparently). Dropping frames will break the immersion and probably make me dizzy, so that's to be avoided.
As a final thought, and with portability in mind (could then bring it to, say, LaveCon for a LAN gaming party, etc.), my personal preference is for Macintosh. I know Windows is more geared towards optimised gaming, and slightly cheaper in general (but not always, take a look at ultrabooks compared to Macbook Air), and i know a lot of people simply irrationally hate Macs for no reason, but i prefer the OS, find it works better for me, and use it extensively for other things, like video and photo editing. Anyway, not wanting to bother with any of that nonsense about why something else is better, i think it would be nice if the next generation of Mac Mini came with Gfx good enough to drive Oculus Rift with ED (i know it's not likely, but i can dream). The Mac Mini is an ultra-SFF pc, and you could get that computer, the Rift and the controller in a single gym bag, which would be pretty awesome.
Sorry for going on so long, and for it being quite droll, but i really do feel a ridiculous amount of excitement for this. Far too much for someone of my age really.
Please feel free to tell me your thoughts and criticisms, or even just comment about what your ideal setup would be.
