Is the vive worth it for ED?

Saool · Mar 4, 2017

Last year, around this time. I considered treating myself to a Vive. I'm not really interested in the Rift as I think it does the transmit/receiver the wrong way round. However I decided not to bother for two reasons:

1. Limited games to use it in (although I am playing ED 90% of the time)
2. Cost (I can afford it, I just find it a lot to justify as a luxury purchase, for what it is)

I decided to wait a year to see if the situation got better, if the tech got better, and if the price dropped. But today, on the vive site, they are still showing at £760.

So my question, to Vive users, is, is it worth it for ED (and whatever else I might use it for)?

BaronVonDoon · Mar 4, 2017

Saool said:
Last year, around this time. I considered treating myself to a Vive. I'm not really interested in the Rift as I think it does the transmit/receiver the wrong way round. However I decided not to bother for two reasons:

1. Limited games to use it in (although I am playing ED 90% of the time)
2. Cost (I can afford it, I just find it a lot to justify as a luxury purchase, for what it is)

I decided to wait a year to see if the situation got better, if the tech got better, and if the price dropped. But today, on the vive site, they are still showing at £760.

So my question, to Vive users, is, is it worth it for ED (and whatever else I might use it for)?

I paid full whack for my Rift pretty much to play Elite and Assetto Corsa, so yes, Id say it's completely worth it, it makes the game into something else entirely, and the level of immersion cannot be understated, the first time you leave a hangar and your ship rises up into a station, your jaw will hit the floor.

I also wouldn't discount a Rift, especially if you want it primarily for Elite, it's had a recent price drop, and have the option of buying the HMD alone (though the touch controllers are superb and a worthy addition) and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the tracking, however you perceive it to be

bitstorm · Mar 4, 2017

Yeah I have a Vive, would recommend.

But your question is "for ED"?

I mean I wouldn't rule out the Rift, it's great for ED and it's "not as good" tracking system is totally fine for Elite. And like Mr VonDoom said it's just had a (permanent) price drop.

But yes Vive is great too.

Globusdiablo · Mar 4, 2017

Saool said:
Last year, around this time. I considered treating myself to a Vive. I'm not really interested in the Rift as I think it does the transmit/receiver the wrong way round. However I decided not to bother for two reasons:

1. Limited games to use it in (although I am playing ED 90% of the time)
2. Cost (I can afford it, I just find it a lot to justify as a luxury purchase, for what it is)

I decided to wait a year to see if the situation got better, if the tech got better, and if the price dropped. But today, on the vive site, they are still showing at £760.

So my question, to Vive users, is, is it worth it for ED (and whatever else I might use it for)?

Abso--lutely!

I love my Vive, and would never play E: D without it again.

Performance was a bit iffy at launch, but after they introduces asynchronous reprojection, FPS are up there. I will recommend a high end rig for best resolution though. I've got an i5 6600k clocked at 4.6 and an Asus 1080.

And don't expect a resolution like on monitors. It takes a big hit i VR, but the immersion is out of this world.

TorTorden_VR · Mar 4, 2017

Saool said:
Last year, around this time. I considered treating myself to a Vive. I'm not really interested in the Rift as I think it does the transmit/receiver the wrong way round. However I decided not to bother for two reasons:

1. Limited games to use it in (although I am playing ED 90% of the time)
2. Cost (I can afford it, I just find it a lot to justify as a luxury purchase, for what it is)

I decided to wait a year to see if the situation got better, if the tech got better, and if the price dropped. But today, on the vive site, they are still showing at £760.

So my question, to Vive users, is, is it worth it for ED (and whatever else I might use it for)?

1: Absolutely agreed.
2: See 1.
3:

Regular elite =

Me in Vr =

So in conclusion, it's an expensive, pointless toy.
But it's sooooo awesome!!

Saool · Mar 4, 2017

Thank you for the responses. All positive as well.

Hmmmmm.

CMDR Heisenberg B. Damned · Mar 4, 2017

Well I'm annoying enough to have both the Vive and the Rift. For Elite the Rift wins (almost) every time.

It's far easier than the Vive to setup, it weighs less and is more comfortable, the cables are less noticeable and the display is better on the Rift (for Elite) than on the Vive (although not a massive amount in it & YMMV).

Elite is mostly sedentary anyway and the Rift will allow some movement even with only one sensor but it's not as good as the Vive in this department. The new camera suite though allows views from a number of different locations on the bridge anyway so you can still explore your ship. Not sure if there's anywhere you can try them out but I rarely use the Vive for Elite since the Rift arrived, it'd definitely be worth trying them both before spending that much on one or the other.

Mostly though it's a comfort thing, both are great but I can play for hours in the Rift and not notice I'm wearing it, the Vive not so much.

mindfaQ · Mar 4, 2017

If I had to decide again, I probably would not buy a VR headset for the reason of playing Elite. But for other content like Google Earth VR, MasterpieceVR and stuff it has its merits, so I stuck with it.

It's a luxury buy. The advantage of buying now is that you can immediately explore VR. You won't miss not having it, but there is fun to be had with it. A canopy breach in VR was one of the coolest gaming experiences I've had in a while. Being able to sculp in 3D-space and then 3D-print your model is awesome.

Regarding headsets - it's hard to tell how the price will develop. Rift is a really good offer now in comparison (despite coming from a less likeable company). It's possible that the Vive will get cheaper soon after Rift's price drop - who knows.

SystemShift · Mar 4, 2017

Yes.
But be prepared to not want to the play on a monitor ever again, I get board with 2D very easy now.

Tepescovir · Mar 4, 2017

You haven't played elite , until you play it in vr.

If you go for either, just make sure you get touch with the rift if you dont go for a vive

Mendaharin Tusca · Mar 4, 2017

I'm a viver, but I have to say if you want it JUST for ED, then get the Rift instead. It is way cheaper, especially if you don't need the touch controllers.

And yes, TOTALLY worth it

Elite won't ever be the same again.

randommagic · Mar 4, 2017

once you go vr, there is no turning back

- rifter here

Gortron · Mar 4, 2017

Saool said:
Last year, around this time. I considered treating myself to a Vive. I'm not really interested in the Rift as I think it does the transmit/receiver the wrong way round. However I decided not to bother for two reasons:

1. Limited games to use it in (although I am playing ED 90% of the time)
2. Cost (I can afford it, I just find it a lot to justify as a luxury purchase, for what it is)

I decided to wait a year to see if the situation got better, if the tech got better, and if the price dropped. But today, on the vive site, they are still showing at £760.

So my question, to Vive users, is, is it worth it for ED (and whatever else I might use it for)?

VR is brilliant and which ever solution you go for you will almost certainly wish you had pulled the trigger before.

If you are 90% playing Elite and that is what you are buying VR for then Rift is the one for you. It is cheaper (especially now) and by most accounts the better experience for ED. Do yourself a favour and buy either

Jake Savage · Mar 4, 2017

Yes, yes, and yes.
Everything in VR is huge!
When you approach a station it's massive.
Also much better for combat.
It's like as close as we can get to really flying a spaceship.

Cruise · Mar 4, 2017

I love my Vive, & wouldn't consider playing ED without it.
The immersion is simply fantastic, seeing is believing.
I would sincerely recommend it Cmdr.

Shanaeri · Mar 4, 2017

Been using my vive to test some of the Beta content and its greatly improved both in performance and visuals.

Some of the mega ships and new structures are just :O

Derek Speare [VR] · Mar 4, 2017

I have both the DK2 and CV1 Oculus on two separate PC's and have been using vr with ED since the Beta. Even though the OP asked about the Vive, I will think a corollary question to be "Is VR good in ED?" I can say emphatically YES. VR is good no matter what but ED and VR are like...

Peanutbutter and jelly...
Bangers and mash...
Chicken and Waffles...

So yes, get it. You'll be BLOWN away.

Globusdiablo · Mar 4, 2017

Shanaeri said:
Been using my vive to test some of the Beta content and its greatly improved both in performance and visuals.

Some of the mega ships and new structures are just :O

Have to agree that optimisation for VR is looking sweeter by the update. Minor issues aside, the game is running smoothly and looking gorgeous.

[HJ]-RedRaven · Mar 5, 2017

Agree, VR is a definite must-see. There are many other experiences to be had too, once you have a Rift, or a Vive.

As others have said, Rift is now cheaper, and Touch controllers are great.

Ignore the usual bickering over the tracking differences... 9 times out of ten its just edge case scenarios that would throw any sort of tracking system out for a six. ED doesn't even work the tracking hard on either the Rift or the Vive.
Rift tracking is great but was never aimed at massive room-scale accuracy. Having said that, in your ED cockpit, its so fine you can see yourself breathing. Even just on the single sensor. If that ain't good enough tracking, well... nothing will be.
While I have a Rift, I've tried the Vive, and couldn't really see the difference tracking-wise.

Vive will be superior if you need to track over a large area (my Rift tracks perfectly over about a 3m x 4m area, possibly further, but... walls.

However, be warned that the resolution in VR is low. There is aliasing. You need a beefy PC. And you might not like the way the lenses work.
Tough. Get in here in VR or go home.

Nara · Mar 5, 2017

I got a Vive only 5 days ago.

I was a little disappointed with how pixally distant object look, especially ships. I've also spent quite a lot of time trying to get the performance right, playing with settings, despite having a gtx 1080. My CPU isn't great though, so that's probably my issue. I feel I should be getting better than 50-60fps sitting in a station.

But overall I am really happy with the immersive experience. It really is pretty stunning. I feel like the entire game is new and I have to redo and re-explore everything.

And the character creator in beta.... just wow. You can create a person that looks like they're actually sat infront of you. Even get up and have a look around them.

I have no idea if you should go with a vive or rift though. I can only say I'm totally happy with my Vive and I'm also having a lot of fun exploring room scale stuff that works out of the box. Minecraft (Vivecraft) and Pavlov VR (basically Counterstrike VR) are both mind-blowing and totally change everything. It's a good time to be alive