So, ED Beyound (ch4) vs VR...

[Rudal]

I finally decided to join the ranks of Oculus Rift owners (well ordered it like a couple of days ago so still waiting...) but wanted to ask for some advice, tips and opinions when it comes to Elite.

- I do own T16000M FCS but I don't really have a room for full HOTAS, will using my T16k with keyboard be a real pain in the back side or is it doable? (I do have xbox controller but I hate it and refuse to use it)

- I should have space for room scale VR (2x2 meters or so) will the sensor placement on the walls to cover that area be efficient or will I run into problems cause my desk is situated in one of the corners?

- Are there any issues with the game/new chapter (visual, technical, other) that "everyone" runs into that I should be aware of?

- I read somewhere (reddit or Oculus forum, don't remember now) that to use VR I HAVE to download the game via Oculus Home, is that true? If it is, can I have two clients installed, one for VR the other for normal gameplay, and run one or the other depending on what I want to do? (apparently there's an issue with updates for VR version and you have to reinstall the whole game every time there's an update) :S


Thanks in advance Commanders o7

UPDATE: As I noticed some of you talk about sensors. My OR should arrive with 2 sensors in the bundle and I ordered one extra so it'll be a 3 sensor set up.

 

[Vandaahl]

I'm using the controllers that came with the Rift, they are a bit like the PS4 controller, but I like these as well. Sometimes I keep on using mouse and keyboard while on VR and depend on muscle memory. You'll just need to figure that out yourself.

My Sensors are on either side of my screen. It was all the room I had and it doesn't give me any trouble.

I installed the game through Oculus Home. Switching between desktop and VR is a bit easier. Also, when you PC is always on (like mine) chances are your game is already updated when an update is released. Oculus Home will be doing it for you (like steam). Granted, I had an issue once, but an uninstall did not remove the whole game. Effectively the still existing game got updated after a 'new install'.

Oh, and get something to wipe the drool of your chin (and a bucket for driving the RSV). God I wish I could relive those first moments again.

 

[Arioch]

- Shouldn’t be a problem, but I use an Xbox controller

- No problems as long as the sensors can see the headset, my setup is 3x2 for standing games with a couch along one wall for Elite. I just switch off the Guardian system so I don’t have the neon safety cage visible.

- Pretty much all the visual bugs in VR have been sorted in 3.3, the current freezing problem is not too pleasant in VR though.

- Not true, I have the stand-alone Elite installation, I just need to have Oculus Home open in the background.

 

[Craith]

Using a HOTAS is no problem in VR, keyboard takes some time getting used to ... depending on how good you are on touch-typing. I suffer from the "one key off" syndrome sometimes, but I use it only to chat ... flying is probably easier since you will have less keys regularily in use.

Concerning bugs, the only remaining bug that is really visible in VR is some fog effects, that move with the camera - it exists from day one, but was not very visible most of the times (apart from some solar flares). Now when you blow up an asteroid during mining it is very visible, but luckily not nauseating.

As others mentioned you don't need to install through Oculus Home, I use a Vive myself but you can just set the VR device ingame (or use a tool like EDProfiler - useful if you want to switch between different settings fast, like 2D for some screenshots and then back to full 3D glory)

 

[Pville_Piper]

I like to use the Razor Orbweaver to supplement the HOTAS rather than using the keyboard or binding a shift key to get the extra functions. This way I can have all my time critical and combat related keys, things that I don't want to move my hand from the stick or throttle, bound to the stick and throttle.

Then things like the SET 75% POWER or TARGET NEXT SYTEM are done on the Orbweaver. It is also an easy way to setup macros, such as one I use for turning off the HUD or ones for the Camera.

The Orbweaver sits along side my throttle and finding it with the Rift on is easy as I slide my hand off the throttle, my palm finds the palm rest and my finger then reach out and feel the raised spot on the 34 key. My hand is now anchored on the Orbweaver and find other keys is a breeze.

Spoiler

 

[BL1P]

I like to use the Razor Orbweaver to supplement the HOTAS rather than using the keyboard or binding a shift key to get the extra functions. This way I can have all my time critical and combat related keys, things that I don't want to move my hand from the stick or throttle, bound to the stick and throttle.

Then things like the SET 75% POWER or TARGET NEXT SYTEM are done on the Orbweaver. It is also an easy way to setup macros, such as one I use for turning off the HUD or ones for the Camera.

The Orbweaver sits along side my throttle and finding it with the Rift on is easy as I slide my hand off the throttle, my palm finds the palm rest and my finger then reach out and feel the raised spot on the 34 key. My hand is now anchored on the Orbweaver and find other keys is a breeze.

I use the same thing but mines a Belkin n52te, Same HOTAS though

 

[Pville_Piper]

I use the same thing but mines a Belkin n52te, Same HOTAS though

I had been using an N52 te for years, finally the button I use to run with in FPS games went bad. Rather than fix it, I wanted to have the extra keys that the Orbweaver had so I bought one. It took some getting used to the extra row of keys in an FPS shooters, but it was worth it. I wouldn't game without either one, never have to learn new keys when playing a new game, I just map them where I need to and forget about it.

 

[VR George Smiley]

Until my new games room is built I am in restricted space, so to speak. I have the rift sensors each side of my laptop screen and an x52pro on a tea tray on my lap. The Xbox controller is plugged in just because I prefer it for the SRV on planet surfaces. I still need to take my rift headset off to type in destinations on the galmap. You’ll be fine, have you had a look in VR yet? It’s astoundingly beautiful! I would dare to use our ‘cousins’ much overused phrase “awesome” in this instance it would be true!

 

[Ashnak]

I finally decided to join the ranks of Oculus Rift owners (well ordered it like a couple of days ago so still waiting...) but wanted to ask for some advice, tips and opinions when it comes to Elite.

Good on you - and say goodbye to everything else.

- I do own T16000M FCS but I don't really have a room for full HOTAS, will using my T16k with keyboard be a real pain in the back side or is it doable? (I do have xbox controller but I hate it and refuse to use it)

Depends on how good you are at blind typing. You won't be able to see the keyboard. But you could simply replace the keyboard with the FCS Throttle - stick plus throttle have about the same footprint as a regular keyboard with a numeric block, and you (ok, I) don't really need the keyboard in the game except for voice chat.

- I should have space for room scale VR (2x2 meters or so) will the sensor placement on the walls to cover that area be efficient or will I run into problems cause my desk is situated in one of the corners?

You play ED while seated, so room scale won't be an issue here. However - no idea which Rift package you got, but if you really want roomscale/move around (for other games), you should get two sensors. From my very limited experience, 2x2 meters is possible, but limiting. The Rift software will tell you so when you set up the boundaries.

- Are there any issues with the game/new chapter (visual, technical, other) that "everyone" runs into that I should be aware of?

Check out the VR subforum. Graphics settings (ok, maybe not if you run a 20xx Titan), cockpit colour schemes (see DrKaii's EDProfiler), the problem of ingame chat, navigating the galmap (never had any trouble with that myself),...

- I read somewhere (reddit or Oculus forum, don't remember now) that to use VR I HAVE to download the game via Oculus Home, is that true? If it is, can I have two clients installed, one for VR the other for normal gameplay, and run one or the other depending on what I want to do? (apparently there's an issue with updates for VR version and you have to reinstall the whole game every time there's an update) :S

Nope. I downloaded the game form Frontier directly and set it up for VR in the game (graphics options, HMD something). Updates go also via Frontier, and run with only the usual hiccups. I start the game from the Frontier launcher, and if Oculus isn't running already, it starts on its own.
Only problem I have is that Oculus regularly misses out on the sensors, i.e. whenever I sleep the PC and resume later, Oculus tells me that there are problems with the sensors. The Oculus problem resolution usually points this to the USB card drivers and/or bad cable connections - don't believe them. Signing my user out and back in again fixes this issue in most cases, occasionally I actually have to reboot the PC.

 

[VR jefranklin18]

I finally decided to join the ranks of Oculus Rift owners (well ordered it like a couple of days ago so still waiting...) but wanted to ask for some advice, tips and opinions when it comes to Elite.

Welcome to the club and trying out the different ships in VR is a blast. The Sidey is cramped

- I do own T16000M FCS but I don't really have a room for full HOTAS, will using my T16k with keyboard be a real pain in the back side or is it doable? (I do have xbox controller but I hate it and refuse to use it)

I use this and keyboard as well but supplement with VoiceAttack (around £8 i think) which just sends the keypresses for the relevant bindings (the OccRift has a built in microphone in case you weren't aware).

- I should have space for room scale VR (2x2 meters or so) will the sensor placement on the walls to cover that area be efficient or will I run into problems cause my desk is situated in one of the corners?

You should be ok - my room is around the same size but I have the sensors mounted on my desk on the stands they come with.

- Are there any issues with the game/new chapter (visual, technical, other) that "everyone" runs into that I should be aware of?

None for me so far although I am rebuilding my bindings and mapping them to voice commands still (I have been far too busy with real life unfortunately).

- I read somewhere (reddit or Oculus forum, don't remember now) that to use VR I HAVE to download the game via Oculus Home, is that true? If it is, can I have two clients installed, one for VR the other for normal gameplay, and run one or the other depending on what I want to do? (apparently there's an issue with updates for VR version and you have to reinstall the whole game every time there's an update) :S

I have installed via OccHome to have it seamlessly integrated but it is entirely optional (I still install the beta via the Frontier launcher). The reason for doing it is to use the Occulus screen integration but not actually got it working yet,

 

[Rudal]

Thanks Commanders.

I updated the original post with info about my sensor bundle.