IS there a guide for setting up An existing Elite Dangerous installation to use Occulus Rift?

Silversmith

S
I may be missing an obvious thread.. if so apologies.
I have an existing Elite Dangerous Horizons installation on my PC with an existing Commander I don't want to lose.

What do I have to do to allow me to play ED using Occulus Rift?

Do I have to install a new version of ED via Occulus Home (I have found a thread on how to get a 'Partner key')
Do I have to uninstall my existing install of Elite Dangerous (i.e. can two versions co-exist)
Or can I simply plug in the Rift and go with my existing ED installation without having to completely reinstall the game?

If anyone can point me at a simple 'How to convert an existing ED installation to use Occulus Rift' thread I'd be grateful.
I have seen threads on how to configure the options for using Occulus Rift, but not how to do a basic migration from an existing setup .. which these days is the most likely scenario a new OR user will experience.
 

TorTorden_VR

T
Just enable "external sources" somewhere in oculus settings and fire up the game, then select "hmd headphones" in 3d settings.

That should realy be all that is needed.

But don't worry about loosing your save.
That is all stored server side and is tied into your frontier account.
 
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CMDR MAIN SEQUENCE

CMDR MAIN SEQUENCE
No need to reinstall anything. Just set up the Rift and use ED as-is.

You will need to do one thing in the Oculus app - go to Settings->General and tick "Unknown Sources".

The above assumes that you want to continue launching the game from the ED Launcher. Alternatively you can launch the game from the Oculus app but for this you'll need to get the partner key (see the Support site).

I've also made the assumption that you are not using Steam as you didn't mention it.

To get ED to output to the Rift you will need go into Options->Graphics and under 3D select 'HMD Headphones'.
 

[HJ]-RedRaven

[HJ]-RedRaven
Welcome to VR! :)

You can use your normal installation; that's how I play. No Steam Key or need to download through the Oculus Store.
As TorTorden said, your save game is set on FD's server; you won't lose anything even if it all goes horribly wrong :D.

Once the Rift is set up (I'm assuming you can see the 'living room', library etc in VR. Make sure your interpupillary distance is set properly (Oculus button on the little remote control, then use the option with the green cross to set the little slider under the bottom right of the headset to set it as clear as possible. Otherwise you'll slowly get a headache. Or explode.
When the Rift is set up, go into the Options/Settings and make sure the box is checked for "Allow External Apps/Content". You'll only have to do that once.
Oculus Home won't show Elite Dangerous in your library.
Close Oculus Home.

Just start the Elite Launcher, and play 64-bit etc.
The Oculus Home software will pop up ( you could leave it open but I prefer to have Elite pop it up by itself. Then minimise Oculus Home. Don't close it, or the Rift will shut down.

By now ED should have started - a window will be on your monitor, and if you pout the Rift on, it should give you the grey screen while you stare at the on-bar, than dump you into the ED environment.
ED might not start 'in front of you', but eventually it will load into the hangar view where you can see an SRV and an Eagle parked.

I think in addition to setting the sound output, I think there is also a video/graphics setting to enable the VR and send it to the Rift. At work so can't check.

You may not get any sound through the Rift headphones.

If you hear sound through your normal speakers, but not the Rift headphones, you'll also need to right-click in the system tray sound/speaker icon. Select "Palyback Devices. Then right-click on the Rift HeadpHones item and set it to default.

Then you should get sound in the Rift but nowhere else.

When you want to hear something in your other headphones (ie not in VR), you'll need to set your other speakers as default.

Its an Elite bug, not a problem with the Rift.
 

TorTorden_VR

T
Yeah for sound I think when running ED from outside the oculus home you need to set the rift as default audio device in sound device settings.

I got a audio device switcher app running so I now havery a button my g13 to cycle through devices if needed. Just Google for audio switcher if you want.
 

[HJ]-RedRaven

[HJ]-RedRaven
TorTorden said:
Yeah for sound I think when running ED from outside the oculus home you need to set the rift as default audio device in sound device settings.

I got a audio device switcher app running so I now havery a button my g13 to cycle through devices if needed. Just Google for audio switcher if you want.
Click to expand...

Cool, thats a good tip!
 

Cliché

Cliché
I got the Oculus Home and Steam keys ahead of time, just in case, but I just use the launcher (I don't have a Steam version). Regardless, I couldn't figure out how to apply the Oculus Home key so I could launch from within Home. [knocked out]
 

[HJ]-RedRaven

[HJ]-RedRaven
Seneleron said:
You can also look for how to get/apply steam keys for Elite: Dangerous via google. It's free and it makes things a HECK of a lot easier.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/148965-Elite-Dangerous-Steam-Keys

Just as an alternative for anyone who comes along with a similar question.

Then just log in with your regular old account and you're good to go.
Click to expand...

Still unsure how Steam actually "makes things easier". I just launch GTAIV and Skyrim from desktop icons, although both are Steam purchases. Maybe I'm just old-skool :D

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Cliché said:
I got the Oculus Home and Steam keys ahead of time, just in case, but I just use the launcher (I don't have a Steam version). Regardless, I couldn't figure out how to apply the Oculus Home key so I could launch from within Home. [knocked out]
Click to expand...

Essentially you'll end up with two separate installations of ED (one in your default drive - like you I purchased before the Steam/Oculus versions). You can delete the regular one, but I don't think it really makes much difference. You just have to go into Oculus Home before starting ED.

I just use the desktop icon, and let ED start Oculus Home (which I then minimise), slap on the HMD and press space to recentre. Done, in. Launch!
 
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