The Vive discussion Thread

Moorkh · Apr 22, 2016

I finally got my Vive yesterday and got it running after some snags. It's fantastic!
But so far I have not managed to break out of the SteamVR environment in order to get any non-steamVR games to run on the Vive, such as, of course, ED. Is there a guide how to get that running? I can start ED from the desktop, but that doesn't put it in VR mode...

blammotoken · Apr 22, 2016

Moorkh said:
I finally got my Vive yesterday and got it running after some snags. It's fantastic!
But so far I have not managed to break out of the SteamVR environment in order to get any non-steamVR games to run on the Vive, such as, of course, ED. Is there a guide how to get that running? I can start ED from the desktop, but that doesn't put it in VR mode...

1. Run SteamVR and make sure all the components are green and tracking
2. Run Elite
3. Go in options and select HMD (headphones) for the '3D' item near the top
4. Scroll down a little and select 'VR Low' or 'VR High' for the quality

Bare in mind that some hard-to-pin-down issues are causing ED on the vive to look significantly worse than we think it should (in comparison to Rift and to other Vive games), and FD are supposedly working on a fix

tsh · Apr 22, 2016

NeilF said:
If the Vive Chaperone could somehow let you see your actual keyboard when you want, brilliant. And if you could see your hands too... Great!

Alternatively, release a VR compliant keyboard that these devices support. ie: Can detect where it is. The application than then simply render a keyboard in game/application exactly where the real keyboard is. However, I guess the problem would then be, the problem of not seeing your hands moving over the keyboard in VR world. Might be confusing!

I think finger sensors are necessary to interact with anything other than the sensors you hold. Already I find some visualisations of the vive controllers easier to touch than others.

Grimbil · Apr 22, 2016

NeilF said:
If the Vive Chaperone could somehow let you see your actual keyboard when you want, brilliant. And if you could see your hands too... Great!

Alternatively, release a VR compliant keyboard that these devices support. ie: Can detect where it is. The application than then simply render a keyboard in game/application exactly where the real keyboard is. However, I guess the problem would then be, the problem of not seeing your hands moving over the keyboard in VR world. Might be confusing!

I haven't had any problems using a keyboard - being a touch typist comes in handy (pun intended). Learning to touch type was one of the best things I've ever done, it's worth your time to learn. I simply take my hands off the joystick/throttle and start typing. Couldn't be easier!

That said, I still like the idea of a virtual keyboard....

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

I was finding the text really hard to read without leaning forward. Now I've configured my seating position (via the Vive settings) and it's much better. I open up the general settings, then lean back slightly and click the recalculate seating position button (using the wand). Afterwards, in ED, it's like i'm sitting a couple of inches closer and the text is much easier to read. Less blurry, etc. Just be careful you don't lean too far back when you recalc your seating position or you'll end up with Tyrion length arms!

BillD · Apr 22, 2016

What we really need is a Speech to Text option in Voice Attack. Issue your normal commands to activate comms for example and then just say "Type This". Rather than interpreting what you are saying and typing it in Its window, it sends it out to focused window. OK there will be some words it does not get right but you could get some basic chat going.

EDIT! Dah... its already in there. I had no Idea.
http://plays.tv/video/5554a02430baf18ddc

Although being an Aussie, it might go something like this "Send Message...... Mike Shoot the guy behind me" ... translating......."Might have Shoes to buy me" ;-) Thats not their fault its ouse. We all speak the same way we drive, As fast as hell and no stopping.

tsh · Apr 23, 2016

Tried it, and I'll wait till there's an update before trying again. I think the resolution is possible to live with (and ought to improve), but I had issues with tracking being a bit choppy, frame rate (or jitter in the tracking, not sure), sound cutting in and out, and nausea. Lets hope it improves, when I had a brief go in a DK1 a while back, it seemed much more compelling.

I'd like to see the vive controllers present in the cockpit eventually, even if only as a mug of tea and an old paperback - they are useful physical reference points.

The other content that I've played with so far is mostly quite limited in length, but shows far better technical presentation, so I am happy to assume that Elite can be tweaked to run well. I am absolutely convinced that seated play styles are not where I'll be spending most of my VR time though.

Frank · Apr 23, 2016

BillD said:
What we really need is a Speech to Text option in Voice Attack. Issue your normal commands to activate comms for example and then just say "Type This". Rather than interpreting what you are saying and typing it in Its window, it sends it out to focused window. OK there will be some words it does not get right but you could get some basic chat going.

EDIT! Dah... its already in there. I had no Idea.
http://plays.tv/video/5554a02430baf18ddc

Although being an Aussie, it might go something like this "Send Message...... Mike Shoot the guy behind me" ... translating......."Might have Shoes to buy me" ;-) Thats not their fault its ouse. We all speak the same way we drive, As fast as hell and no stopping.

You only need a handful of stock phrases anyway, and there are easy enough to set up in Voice Attack. The only ones I've ever needed to use are "Please don't kill me! I surrender!" and "Oops... sorry"

NeilF · Apr 23, 2016

Frank said:
You only need a handful of stock phrases anyway, and there are easy enough to set up in Voice Attack. The only ones I've ever needed to use are "Please don't kill me! I surrender!" and "Oops... sorry"

Good luck building in the stock phrases for 400,000,000,000 system names...

wstephenson · Apr 23, 2016

NeilF said:
Good luck building in the stock phrases for 400,000,000,000 system names...

Actually I was idly showerthinking about the game having a procedural radio alphabet generator to reflect local system diversity. Given that over a dozen were generated on this planet in half a century, why wouldn't they all have different ones? Similarly to the way the game procedurall generates system names, it could put together nonsense spoken words starting with the right initial from a stock of sampled/synthesized phonemes. So when I'm landing at Armstrong Depot around Kulabiya II, the STC could greet me with "Hello Lakon Wubu Saon Tevi, you are cleared to dock at pad 13"

sirvigh · Apr 23, 2016

Hi,

I recently got the Vive, and it took a couple hours to get it working. All because I have an SLI system with three screens. (on Win10) Well, it works now, more or less.

I decided to finally try ED with Vive (as with OSVR it did not work).

All I get is a hard reset. I mean literaly the game starts to load in VR, and then I notice that PC is restarting. Which is >#&>&@đĐĐ# , because ED would be a leading title with VR.

Anyway, does anyone have any meaningful idea what it would be?

The Eventlog shows only that system was unexpectedly restarted (not really helpful)...
Power should be adequate, everything works, even in VR...

WHY ED FAILS? :S [cry]

Frank · Apr 23, 2016

NeilF said:
Good luck building in the stock phrases for 400,000,000,000 system names...

I'm usually only interested in one new system. Elite lets you copy and paste text and so one of my Voice Attack commands is "type paste". If it's a system I'm going to be going back to quite a few times then I'll set up a command for it. It doesn't take long to add new names.

grodenglaive · Apr 24, 2016

My Vive arrived yesterday and I am really happy with the improvement in E.D. compared to the DK2. All I can say is wow.

sirvigh · Apr 24, 2016

sirvigh said:
Hi,

I recently got the Vive, and it took a couple hours to get it working. All because I have an SLI system with three screens. (on Win10) Well, it works now, more or less.

I decided to finally try ED with Vive (as with OSVR it did not work).

All I get is a hard reset. I mean literaly the game starts to load in VR, and then I notice that PC is restarting. Which is >#&>&@đĐĐ# , because ED would be a leading title with VR.

Anyway, does anyone have any meaningful idea what it would be?

The Eventlog shows only that system was unexpectedly restarted (not really helpful)...
Power should be adequate, everything works, even in VR...

WHY ED FAILS? :S [cry]

#########################

Well, I figured out the following (if anyone interested):

- SLI configuration has to be "Maximize 3D performance" (if you have more than one screen, you can still enable the others)
- on nVidia (I have not yet tested on AMD) all your screens should connect via DisplayPort, to leave the HDMI ONLY for the Vive
- One has to be very careful what resolution and full screen options you set. I'm not sure why, but fullscreen plus 4k resolution plus Vive could lead to reboot...

So, I could start now things in VR. Not really easy. Btw, how can one set higher resolution for ED in VR? Currently it sucks, I mean it feels like sitting in the cockpit with shortsightedness (because I can read the panels, but anything farther is 'shaky')...

BigDuke6ixx · Apr 24, 2016

sirvigh said:
#########################

Well, I figured out the following (if anyone interested):

- SLI configuration has to be "Maximize 3D performance" (if you have more than one screen, you can still enable the others)
- on nVidia (I have not yet tested on AMD) all your screens should connect via DisplayPort, to leave the HDMI ONLY for the Vive
- One has to be very careful what resolution and full screen options you set. I'm not sure why, but fullscreen plus 4k resolution plus Vive could lead to reboot...

So, I could start now things in VR. Not really easy. Btw, how can one set higher resolution for ED in VR? Currently it sucks, I mean it feels like sitting in the cockpit with shortsightedness (because I can read the panels, but anything farther is 'shaky')...

The res is locked in VR mode. If you've gone from 4k triples to VR then it will be like getting into a cold bath. You could tough it out, but you'll hate it and probably put your Vive on eBay and then start making declarations on the current state of VR.

BillD · Apr 24, 2016

sirvigh said:
#########################

- on nVidia (I have not yet tested on AMD) all your screens should connect via DisplayPort, to leave the HDMI ONLY for the Vive
...

damn this is a problem for me...i have a 4k tv as a monitor. through my 980gtx the 4k @60hz only works on the hdmi port. i was hoping to use the display port to mini display port to power the vive

sirvigh · Apr 24, 2016

There is a trick: I use DP->HDMI cables. And one converter cable for my middle screen ( that used to be plugged into HDMI...and that is the reason I figured it out)

So just get Displayport->HDMI converters/cable(s) and you'll be fine on the screen. I'm not sure about the @60Hz though...but worth testing it, right?

I don't think it would work the other way (connecting the Vive to a DP port via converter). Reason: on nVidia (and probably on AMD soon/as well) this port is necessary for the 'Direct Mode'.

Rhombus · Apr 24, 2016

I have Major issues getting E : D running at all... Vive and Lighthouse controller work perfect in other VR apps, but when starting E : D, the window for VR opens and then I get a hard error (incl. the error report). When I turn the headset off (powerless), I can start E : D from in the desktop-window. I run the latest SteamVR version... are there any clues regarding a stable version or this type of error? Using HDMI for Vive and DVI for PC-monitor. The Vive-controllers are off. Nividia Driver 364.72 (working with the DK2 without issues).

Thanks,
Rhombus

Adam Lusardi · Apr 24, 2016

What controllers have you plugged in. Try without USB controllers (stick / pad etc) see if it runs with k/b mouse. If it does try another USB port for Vive.

Rhombus · Apr 24, 2016

I have a Thrustmasters HOTAS, but when unplugging - same error. No issues with other VR apps like The Lab, Audioshield, Zombie Training Sim., etc.

Adam Lusardi · Apr 24, 2016

Logged a problem with mine. Worked with wireless mouse not wireless k/b (strange as both linked). Unplugged hdmi headset lead from headerbox got k/b and mouse to work.
Swapped to USB 3 port got stick to work but not in combo with pad. So just use stick now. Think Vive is a bit harsh on USB ports. Good luck. Maybe try a powered USB port.
<Edit>I had no problem with other VR apps too.