Misconceptions about VR

[JMC002]

This isn't directly associated with ED but it's a VR forum, so....

To those who have a Rift, do you sometimes find it irritating when people claim that VR is a "gimmick", or a "fad"? I do. But I've found that the experience of VR is impossible to describe; you have to try it to discover what all the fuss is about. Then you want it!

I find that a lot of people believe that VR is all about the stereoscopis 3D. Sure, that's part of it, but not the key point; the "winning" factor is being able to look around with your head - as you do in the real world. If it's fast and smooth enough and there is no perceptible lag then your subconscious is fooled and, therefore, you feel like you're there. And that's awesome!

I offer myself as an example; as I use only one eye, I don't get the 3D effect but looking around in VR is amazing! It's like having a spherical monitor wrapped around your head!

I've observed that the group of people who believe that VR is a "fad" or "gimmick" with no longevity, and the group of people who haven't tried it, are pretty much the same group.

 

[Tony Spaniels]

This isn't directly associated with ED but it's a VR forum, so....

To those who have a Rift, do you sometimes find it irritating when people claim that VR is a "gimmick", or a "fad"? I do. But I've found that the experience of VR is impossible to describe; you have to try it to discover what all the fuss is about. Then you want it!

I find that a lot of people believe that VR is all about the stereoscopis 3D. Sure, that's part of it, but not the key point; the "winning" factor is being able to look around with your head - as you do in the real world. If it's fast and smooth enough and there is no perceptible lag then your subconscious is fooled and, therefore, you feel like you're there. And that's awesome!

I offer myself as an example; as I use only one eye, I don't get the 3D effect but looking around in VR is amazing! It's like having a spherical monitor wrapped around your head!

I've observed that the group of people who believe that VR is a "fad" or "gimmick" with no longevity, and the group of people who haven't tried it, are pretty much the same group.

As it happens, my own brother is one of the biggest naysayers out there who frequently likes to tell people its all just a gimmick or all it ever will be at best is 'niche' , and yet bizarrely he steadfastly refuses to try it (weird stance to take I know, but then again my brother is a strong headed eejit) but remember at the end of the day the tech can speak for itself, and you and me both know that barring a disaster VR will become a huge sector that will branch out in to many areas of entertainment, education and communication (and god knows what else) , and we are at the very front of this new era. So best try not to let the naysayers bother you disproportionally.

I am an unashamed evangelist myself, and generally use my energy positively by just demoing my rift to friends,colleagues and family. Thats enough for me

 

[JMC002]

Everyone who's tried my Rift loves it. And now that I know there's a camera that can video real scenes in VR, the sky's the limit! I really believe that VR is the next "medium".

 

[thenickmove]

Might have something to do with 3d movies, where in my eyes it really is a gimmick.
Seeing something in 3d is not that amazing...BEING the person inside the game is a whole different thing.

The fact that you can't see ANYTHING except the rift-screens makes such a huge difference. If you could somehow still see your livingroom while playing on the rift (impossible I know) it would be much less immersive.

 

[jumbobreakfast]

I'm glad that I'm not that hung up on the resolution of the rift but there are those who cannot get past that. It's a fair criticism but I feel sorry for them because they are missing out on the most immersive experience you can have in home gaming.

 

[CATPAIN KIRK]

Agreed - it's impossible to describe. When I preordered it, I knew it wasn't just a stereoscopic screen with positional headtracking strapped to my face, but experiencing it just blew me away.

Have almost exclusively played ED in the rift since early August and can definitely say that it's not a fad to me - I wont play these types of games on a normal screen again. I just can't - briefly tried it on my triple screen setup with trackIR when VR was broken and turned it off after 5 minutes, played something else. It just wasn't elite:dangerous, it was a picture of elite:dangerous.

 

[rennarda]

It just wasn't elite:dangerous, it was a picture of elite:dangerous.

Thats' the best way of describing it I can think of.

I love putting the DK2 on people who've never used one before - their reaction has been universally positive. The OP is right that it's the lack of lag (on a good rig) and immediacy of the response when you look around that really convinces you that this is 'real'.

I can only imagine what it's going to be like when the visuals are high def enough, and the headset light enough, to really complete the illusion. Can't wait !

 

[thafred]

I offer myself as an example; as I use only one eye, I don't get the 3D effect but looking around in VR is amazing! It's like having a spherical monitor wrapped around your head!
.

Hi,

Same thing for me. I wasn´t sure if the rift is for me because I cannot see stereoscopic 3D although I use both eyes to some extend. Also I think it´s much harder to fool us non stereo people with a headset because a Sony HMZ for example just looks like a small monitor in front of my head...not impressive at all! (remember the 90s VR headsets....similar effect as the HMZ for me..)

I ordered anyways, thinking I can sell the thing for the same money if it doesn´t work out...well got it, fired up Tuscany and immediately saw what the fuzz is all about. Sure you have lowish Resolution and FOV is like wearing a helmet but the Headtracking and immersion is unlike everything I experienced before.

Had a lot of friends over to play on the Rift and the male friends mostly like it, although none of my male friends could play for longer than an hour because hey got sick eventually. the Girls that tried it on he other hand got sick much more quickly and most had to quit VR after just a few minutes (allthou I adjusted IPD individually..).

Me, I can play for hours on end until my face hurts. Even Half Life or Alien isolation do not give sickness to me so 1 more plus point for non stereoscopic people (we will rule the VR shooters... well if we learn not to bump into walls by mistake

 

[JMC002]

we will rule the VR shooters... well if we learn not to bump into walls by mistake

LOL yeah, I push my chair back a foot or two every time I wear the Rift, so that I won't hit my desk or knock over a drink or similar. Before I decided to buy my DK2, I had laughed at people in videos trying it, hitting their heads on the desk in front of them.... then I did just that on the test scene.

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When I preordered it, I knew it wasn't just a stereoscopic screen with positional headtracking strapped to my face, but experiencing it just blew me away.

Likewise, I knew it was going to be good (otherwise why would I buy it?) but I was amazed by the "experience" when I first tried it. Simply put, you are "there" and forget the real world around you - which can be problematic if you move around a lot!

 

[JMC002]

Might have something to do with 3d movies, where in my eyes it really is a gimmick.

Agreed. Was a gimmick in the 50s and is again now. Plus, not rendered for each viewer or have tracking, so more likely to cause nausea.

Seeing something in 3d is not that amazing...BEING the person inside the game is a whole different thing.

Yep.

The fact that you can't see ANYTHING except the rift-screens makes such a huge difference.

I believe so; your subconscious has nothing to go on but the virtual world you're seeing, so it believes that and you go from there!

 

[CommaNerd]

I used to play a lot of Battlefield 2. A lot. I spent many hundreds of hours in Strike at Karkand, so many that I can remember it as a place- I sometimes have dreams of walking around those stone passageways, across the square, under the flag and down the ramp. Playing it on a monitor for all those hundreds of hours, it eventually became a place I've actually experienced and been in.

Playing Elite Dangerous in my DK, within seconds, I have the utter conviction and experience of being in a Cobra Mark 3. It didn't take hours to have an impression of being there, I was there.

It's nothing to do resolution or tracking accuracy or frame rate, they are just facets of a box of electronics. Until you've tried it, you haven't been there.

 

[Graywolfe]

Hi,

Same thing for me. I wasn´t sure if the rift is for me because I cannot see stereoscopic 3D although I use both eyes to some extend.

Me, I can play for hours on end until my face hurts. Even Half Life or Alien isolation do not give sickness to me so 1 more plus point for non stereoscopic people (we will rule the VR shooters... well if we learn not to bump into walls by mistake

I have limited stereoscopic vision and I was highly sceptical of this VR thing. My boss very kindly loaned me a DK1 for while. I was completely converted within the first hour of trying Elite with the DK1 and ordered the DK2 that evening. No regrets at all.

I also have no motion sickness issues, but then I never have in the real world either. I do sometimes suffer from vertigo and I find that can happen in the Rift as well.

 

[JMC002]

I also have no motion sickness issues, but then I never have in the real world either. I do sometimes suffer from vertigo and I find that can happen in the Rift as well.

Same here; the only VR experience (so far) that makes me feel odd is the "Cyberspace" thing. I don't like heights and it really messes with my head!

 

[Graywolfe]

Same here; the only VR experience (so far) that makes me feel odd is the "Cyberspace" thing. I don't like heights and it really messes with my head!

I only really get vertigo from looking up at things, and some geometries are worse than others, curved and domed ceilings tend to be the worst for me, but only some; my currently theory is that how they're lit might be a factor.

So, flying close to one of the stations and having it towering above me, particularly one of the Coriolis ones as they have a larger front, can add an extra dimension to immersion; wobble... Good job I'm sat down when docking =)

 

[freehotdawgs]

The only people who think it's a gimmick or a fad are the ones who haven't tried it and their opinions are completely worthless.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Anyone who has tried it and does not like it, I fully respect them for saying so. Its not without its issues.

What annoys me is people who try to down play it as rubbish who have not even tried it. If anyone wants to disagree with me fine, I am up for a good debate, but I have used my DK2 for probably over 50 hrs now, so please do not tell me I am wrong and that it is rubbish*** if you have not even tried one out!.


***this is not aimed at anyone here, just a response in general!.

 

[Ttaskmaster]

Might have something to do with 3d movies, where in my eyes it really is a gimmick.

On that point, I'd disagree.
It's no less a gimmick than Surround Sound, Technicolour, talking in films or even moving pictures.

What matters is how it's used - Because film makers *think* it's a gimmick, they misuse it to have things Comin' At Ya, rather than as an enhancing effect that sits mostly unnoticed in the background.
Yes, you notice it when you first sit down to watch the film, just like surround sound, but once the film gets started it should just be one more thing that makes the film just look 'right'.

As it happens, I do *love* 3D films, but they must be done properly. The technology and principles haven't really changed since the 1950s, yet modern film makers (even James Cameron, for all that Avatar was hyped) are still making glaring fundamental mistakes that prevent 3D from becoming the useful tool it should be.

It pretty much goes without saying that I will be diving wholeheartedly into the Occulus Rift - Either when I can afford it and it's consumer-ready, or if I get lucky this Christmas and my darling wifey gets me the DevKit one!!!!


It's not a fad... it's just taking too long for me to get one!!

 

[Sebastiaan]

In the beginning I was very afraid it would be a fad. Because this is not the first time VR is introduced to the community.
When I tried the DK for the first time I was impressed but could not yet see how games would work great on it. Most of the games you would expect that would work like FPS games just make you sick in just a few minutes.
Then came along the space-sims we all love. And it seems to be one of the best game genres to use it with. You are sitting stationary in your ship which helps a lot. The scale of things is amazing, looking to a star upclose or an astroid can not explained but has to be experienced.

Yesterday I tried to go back in playing E on my screen with head tracking. Within a few minutes i revered back to my DK2. It may look better on my screen (higher res) but the experience was so different.
Al the people who I have introduced to the DK2 with E were amazed and giggled when they first experienced being in a cockpit looking in to space.
My girlfriend's first experience with E almost resulted in a fight, she simply refused to give back the rift and let me play, hahaha.

Given the right games or media on the Dk2, CV1, will convince most people. It will be the future of gaming and most-likely beyond.

 

[vanfanel]

As it happens, my own brother is one of the biggest naysayers out there who frequently likes to tell people its all just a gimmick or all it ever will be at best is 'niche' , and yet bizarrely he steadfastly refuses to try it (weird stance to take I know, but then again my brother is a strong headed eejit) but remember at the end of the day the tech can speak for itself, and you and me both know that barring a disaster VR will become a huge sector that will branch out in to many areas of entertainment, education and communication (and god knows what else) , and we are at the very front of this new era. So best try not to let the naysayers bother you disproportionally.

I am an unashamed evangelist myself, and generally use my energy positively by just demoing my rift to friends,colleagues and family. Thats enough for me

Wait. Your brother who is a naysayer and a complete skeptic has access to the rift and won't even try it? Nevermind his opinions on VR because your brother really is a moron.

 

[cherbert]

I'm glad that I'm not that hung up on the resolution of the rift but there are those who cannot get past that. It's a fair criticism but I feel sorry for them because they are missing out on the most immersive experience you can have in home gaming.

Don't you find though that you get used to it? Even dogfighting seems just fine these days - I think the subtle improvements with both Elite Dangerous builds and the Oculus SDK updates have slowly made some subtle improvements where needed.

I cannot play this game without my Rift.