Trying to justify spending £600 on a VR headset
- Thread starter Greyhawk
- Start date
Yeah....I guess soUnless some people link graphical fidelity to immersion. I guess 'immersion' is pretty subjective in of its self.
It's subjective plus I think I used to mean something different with that word back before I had VR (seems such a long time ago now)
I don't look for "immersion" in flat games anymore.
I believe there is a Vive 2 due for release at the end of the year or early next year that maybe cheaper and has a number of decent improvements over the present one, just to keep in mind before making a purchase now. Personally I am saving towards a purchase and will wait until early next year to see what the next generation are like.
I've had my Rift a week and it is literally a game changer. It would be tragic if it doesn't get a foothold. If anything will kill it it's that it is so hard to understand what it's like without trying it. It's fantastic despite its shortcomings like resolution. I wasn't the least bit interested in Lucky's Tale but decided to try it out and even that is Epic but I wouldn't begin to know how to describe why it is so good and why I was so wrong that a platform game in VR seems pointless.
I showed my 70 year old Dad who hates computer games the Rift when he came over last week. 'What does it do' he asked 'No point trying to explain it, stand here I will just put it on for you... Can you see in focus?', 'Yes'. So I start up dreamdeck. 'BLOODY HELL, but, what the, how is this even possible?'. Watching him try to cover his face when the t-Rex gobbed in his face and him backing into the wall with the skyscraper was brilliant. He then spent over an hour playing the training demos in ED. Technology that can get my Dad to enjoy a computer game is pretty ground breaking! He loved it.
Best £550 I ever spent. If you really aren't sure find somewhere to try it first, but unless the resolution really bothers, you'll end up buying it I reckon.
I showed my 70 year old Dad who hates computer games the Rift when he came over last week. 'What does it do' he asked 'No point trying to explain it, stand here I will just put it on for you... Can you see in focus?', 'Yes'. So I start up dreamdeck. 'BLOODY HELL, but, what the, how is this even possible?'. Watching him try to cover his face when the t-Rex gobbed in his face and him backing into the wall with the skyscraper was brilliant. He then spent over an hour playing the training demos in ED. Technology that can get my Dad to enjoy a computer game is pretty ground breaking! He loved it.
Best £550 I ever spent. If you really aren't sure find somewhere to try it first, but unless the resolution really bothers, you'll end up buying it I reckon.
in August 2000 I paid £505 for a 22" CRT monitor. I've always had a burning desire to have VR. If you don't have that desire, then I really do wonder what makes you tick when it comes to gaming. Be in the simulation with 3d and breathtaking scale or look at a shrunken 2d version on pathetic monitors, the choice is yours. And your choice will say a lot about you.
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It definitely helps to try before you buy (if you can).
As some posters in this thread attest, the resolution in the Vive/CV1 is lower than that of a standard 1080p monitor. There is more aliasing because the resolution is lower. You're seeing 1080x1200 for each eye - that's a lot less than a regular 1080p resolution of 1920x1080. Its just a little more than half the res.
Some VR owners do prefer the crispness of a 2D monitor with its higher resolution, and those with a 4K monitor probably have a really hard time switching between VR and monitor because the difference is very noticeable.
This varies between different people - some are sensitive and annoyed by it, others less sensitive or are not annoyed by it or accept the shortcoming and concentrate on the benefits.
The feeling of true depth, presence, being able to completely look around, shift in your seat and see that reflected in the image you're seeing. Marvel at the bits and pieces that are part of the cockpit that aren't visible when you're using 2D. Completely natural tracking of targets, station entry mail slots, landing on planets and tearing about in the all-glass SRV cockpit = INDESCRIBABLE. Magic. Awesome. [Add another 50 superlatives here].
I don't like the low resolution either, and I recognise it will take some time to improve. And the screen-door effect gets on my nerves a bit.
But I can overlook those issues as minor. I still won't take it off... the depths to which you can lose yourself in VR are great!
As some posters in this thread attest, the resolution in the Vive/CV1 is lower than that of a standard 1080p monitor. There is more aliasing because the resolution is lower. You're seeing 1080x1200 for each eye - that's a lot less than a regular 1080p resolution of 1920x1080. Its just a little more than half the res.
Some VR owners do prefer the crispness of a 2D monitor with its higher resolution, and those with a 4K monitor probably have a really hard time switching between VR and monitor because the difference is very noticeable.
This varies between different people - some are sensitive and annoyed by it, others less sensitive or are not annoyed by it or accept the shortcoming and concentrate on the benefits.
The feeling of true depth, presence, being able to completely look around, shift in your seat and see that reflected in the image you're seeing. Marvel at the bits and pieces that are part of the cockpit that aren't visible when you're using 2D. Completely natural tracking of targets, station entry mail slots, landing on planets and tearing about in the all-glass SRV cockpit = INDESCRIBABLE. Magic. Awesome. [Add another 50 superlatives here].
I don't like the low resolution either, and I recognise it will take some time to improve. And the screen-door effect gets on my nerves a bit.
But I can overlook those issues as minor. I still won't take it off... the depths to which you can lose yourself in VR are great!
As I said, if Elite is YOUR game, VR is the way to play it. It's simply awesome. You can never achieve this immersion on a flat screen, or 3 screens or whatever. You're simply in the game.
For me, VR vs. 4k monitor is a 100% ... 1:0 for VR.
I'm running Battlefield 4 in Ultra now since I got my GTX 1080. The GFX is awesome, 4K wouldn't make such a big difference than the switch from MID settings to ULTRA settings.
For me, VR vs. 4k monitor is a 100% ... 1:0 for VR.
I'm running Battlefield 4 in Ultra now since I got my GTX 1080. The GFX is awesome, 4K wouldn't make such a big difference than the switch from MID settings to ULTRA settings.
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Don't buy it. Wait for 4K version.
Does the current OSVR still run 60Mhz/fps screens?
I waited a year+ for the CV1, procrastinated over the VIVE vs RIFT debate before they were launched, waited until I tried both, worried about VIVE having room VR and hand controllers, blah blah blah... DEAR GOD .. - Why o Why did I wait!!!!
If I dropped and broke my RIFT tomorrow, 10 seconds later there would be another order placed for a new unit shipping, in my currency its over $1100 shipped without touch controllers etc, and I honestly would not even blink an eye - and no, I am not well off, I have a family ,mortgage, kid, wife blah blah.
Both wife and I work full time 50-60?+ hr weeks and quality time with the family & kid (who also has medical conditions to tend with), things on sat\sun to do etc... so honestly, it'ts not about Quantity for me, nor is it about the "image quality" (as lets face it.. its not high res) - but its about the EXPERIENCE ... even for the limited time I currently get to use VR for weeknights... makes it FAR SUPERIOR to flat monitor (even 4K) - it makes the game feel ALIVE rather than a game on a screen.
So .. all the arguments aside, for and against, eg little time to use VR, out of touch with family\world when in VR, lots of $$$$, early entry products\not mature enough, low visual quality - at the end of the day it boils down to how much you FEEL its going to improve your gaming\PC\experience TODAY. If you dont care enough about the experience of VR [yet], dont have the $$$, dont think its "mature" enough technology, if you reguarly care\listen what other people on forums write about how "bad" or like me "good" the image quality\viewing is .. then meh .. I guess dont get it as you will 'never' be satisfied.. you REALLY need to decide for yourself.
Me, I am normally an early adopter, keen to play with new experiences and new technology - and suffice to say, the experience for me is OUTSTANDING and I am damn sorry I waited so long...
Best of luck with your deliberations...
If I dropped and broke my RIFT tomorrow, 10 seconds later there would be another order placed for a new unit shipping, in my currency its over $1100 shipped without touch controllers etc, and I honestly would not even blink an eye - and no, I am not well off, I have a family ,mortgage, kid, wife blah blah.
Both wife and I work full time 50-60?+ hr weeks and quality time with the family & kid (who also has medical conditions to tend with), things on sat\sun to do etc... so honestly, it'ts not about Quantity for me, nor is it about the "image quality" (as lets face it.. its not high res) - but its about the EXPERIENCE ... even for the limited time I currently get to use VR for weeknights... makes it FAR SUPERIOR to flat monitor (even 4K) - it makes the game feel ALIVE rather than a game on a screen.
So .. all the arguments aside, for and against, eg little time to use VR, out of touch with family\world when in VR, lots of $$$$, early entry products\not mature enough, low visual quality - at the end of the day it boils down to how much you FEEL its going to improve your gaming\PC\experience TODAY. If you dont care enough about the experience of VR [yet], dont have the $$$, dont think its "mature" enough technology, if you reguarly care\listen what other people on forums write about how "bad" or like me "good" the image quality\viewing is .. then meh .. I guess dont get it as you will 'never' be satisfied.. you REALLY need to decide for yourself.
Me, I am normally an early adopter, keen to play with new experiences and new technology - and suffice to say, the experience for me is OUTSTANDING and I am damn sorry I waited so long...
Best of luck with your deliberations...
I understand the OP's concern. I really enjoy Elite, but was holding off awaiting content to justify the purchase. Another game I am passionate about is Aces High, which I have been playing for 13 years. Well, Aces High III just went live and supports VR. VR users are just as adamant about never going back to a monitor in AHIII as they are in Elite. That has convinced me to begin computer upgrades to make it Rift-ready. The content is coming steadily.
For those interested, Aces High III is a W.W.II combat sim that combines air, land, and sea combat in on-going battles of 100+ players. The full game is free to download and play unlimited offline. Online has a two week free trial as well. If you want to try out a new game for your VR free of charge here you go:
http://www.hitechcreations.com/
Elite and AHIII are good enough to justify a Rift!
For those interested, Aces High III is a W.W.II combat sim that combines air, land, and sea combat in on-going battles of 100+ players. The full game is free to download and play unlimited offline. Online has a two week free trial as well. If you want to try out a new game for your VR free of charge here you go:
http://www.hitechcreations.com/
Elite and AHIII are good enough to justify a Rift!
I'll bet the price won't come down too much, if at all. It's a niche product, expensive to develop and the corporations that spend hundreds of millions to develop this tech will want to recoup that capital, then draw in the profit after dev costs are paid off. They are selling them today at 600 quid because lots of people are paying 600 quid for it.The price is ridiculous. It will come down, and improvements are surely going to be made to it, and software will improve.
I suggest waiting twelve months - well, that's what I intend to do anyway
In my opinion, the Vive was worth it for me and I paid close to $1,000 for mine.
So, what's your decision now?
Sounds like you're setting yourself up to fail big. Or love it, people are split hard. Perhaps you're not the sort of person to make these types of financial decisions without proper/complete hands on research. It's a lot of money, and from the posts since the OP I'd suggest you need to figure out a way to try one, spend $100 on a bus ticket to somewhere that has one. I don't know.
The Vive was an exciting buy for me, a risk and fortunately worth every cent. I'm thrilled that I was thrilled with it. Reading various forums had lowered my expectations but the second I was in a VR experience I was satisfied. Every different VR experience I tried solidified that more. It's forever changed the way I compute/game, and I've had computers since the Apple IIe.
Others think it's junk.
The Vive was an exciting buy for me, a risk and fortunately worth every cent. I'm thrilled that I was thrilled with it. Reading various forums had lowered my expectations but the second I was in a VR experience I was satisfied. Every different VR experience I tried solidified that more. It's forever changed the way I compute/game, and I've had computers since the Apple IIe.
Others think it's junk.
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I've never seen a PC peripheral cause so much polarisation in the community.
Vive vs Rift... and the fence-sitters that want to get their feet wet but don't want to dive in (to the tune of 600-odd quid).
Thos of us in here with HMD's are all early adopters. We agreed when we pressed "SUbmit Order", to VR's oddities;
Early hardware.
Poor performance,
Ratty half-resolution
Limited FOV.
We signed up for judder and reliance on heavy GPU and cpu resources.
Uncomfortable cables and god-rays.
Think... you have all these reasons NOT to buy VR... and if any one really bothers you - then don't buy it.
But then we will still be here, playing ED, in the game, mopping up your debris for engineer parts - gleefully oblivious to our families who think we're drooling idiots.
A crisp 4K monitor.. meh its just a sequence of screenshots compared to VR.
To VR or Not to VR... that is the question.
Vive vs Rift... and the fence-sitters that want to get their feet wet but don't want to dive in (to the tune of 600-odd quid).
Thos of us in here with HMD's are all early adopters. We agreed when we pressed "SUbmit Order", to VR's oddities;
Early hardware.
Poor performance,
Ratty half-resolution
Limited FOV.
We signed up for judder and reliance on heavy GPU and cpu resources.
Uncomfortable cables and god-rays.
Think... you have all these reasons NOT to buy VR... and if any one really bothers you - then don't buy it.
But then we will still be here, playing ED, in the game, mopping up your debris for engineer parts - gleefully oblivious to our families who think we're drooling idiots.
A crisp 4K monitor.. meh its just a sequence of screenshots compared to VR.
To VR or Not to VR... that is the question.
Lack of a way to actually give it a go is probably the biggest tissue. I am sold on getting a HMD, just not 100% sure which. I'm leaning to the Vive, but the CV1, at present, is the clear leader for ED (only ED, though). And seeing as ED is my primary game, it becomes a bit of a head bashing exercise to convinc emyself to buy the "lesser" product because it work better for a particular game.
Partly, also, because I hate FB and all it stands for (the worlds biggest peeing contest, as far as I'm concerned...), however... I may just bite the bullet on a CV1, and move to the "better" product down the line when gen 2 emerges from the shadows.Room scale sounds awesome, but when game time is limited, you really tend to just play strictly what you want to play... And that's ED and DCS for me.
Z...
Good points. Ed and DCS are both seated - I bought the Rift for ED and for driving games when ED wears off (no signs yet).
Non-hyperactive crouch-stand-crouch-stand room-scale VR will be great (knees are on the way out), and viable once Touch is released for the Rift.
I don't fancy FB either, mainly for its 'pay attention now' intrusion-centric delivery model and others' obvious real-life draining addictions to content for the sake of content. I don't let anyone else in the house use it either.
But I couldn't care less Palmer's political leanings, or that my Rift is sending back usage data to FB.
It was an investment decision by FB to acquire Oculus, probably nothing more (if it was I feel the Carmack would have bailed out quick-smart, and he didn't). Wise decision? Time will tell.
Buying VR for one game is a tough decision. But what a game ED is in VR. If ED was my only reason I would still not regret it. I, however, also play DCS which is great and still developing it's VR chops. Being in my aircraft and choppers is the only way to fly now. I was using a 147 inch HD wall projection and Trackir and there is just no comparison. IRacing has steadily improved VR and is now the best VR experience of all my racing sims. Assetto Corsa is coming along well and PCars is acceptable but the physics are a little to arcade for my tastes. That there is so much VR development going on is encouraging for it's future.
This, as said here before, is early adopter stuff and one should have a stomach for such things. Try before you buy is always the best course. If ED is your main motivator the Rift is currently the best experience if this forum is any indication. This also seems to be the consensus in the DCS and IRacing forums.
Neither Rift nor Vive is without issues as this is first gen tech, but the experience is truly groundbreaking and hasn't worn off for this gamer in four months of play. As always YMMV
This, as said here before, is early adopter stuff and one should have a stomach for such things. Try before you buy is always the best course. If ED is your main motivator the Rift is currently the best experience if this forum is any indication. This also seems to be the consensus in the DCS and IRacing forums.
Neither Rift nor Vive is without issues as this is first gen tech, but the experience is truly groundbreaking and hasn't worn off for this gamer in four months of play. As always YMMV
After having the Oculus for 1 week, I returned it as was my original plan. I was going to get the Vive, to try out, but, I've decided to wait that out. Here is why:
1) I have 3 small kids and a wife, with the Oculus on, I cut them out of my life.
2) I cannot do a 30 minute quick repositioning log on with VR.
3) The Galaxy map drove me nuts, I couldn't deal with it.
While 4K doesn't offer the same immersion, it's good enough until the Galaxy map is fixed. That alone was enough for me to not use it!
but, the SRV was AWESOME
1) I have 3 small kids and a wife, with the Oculus on, I cut them out of my life.
2) I cannot do a 30 minute quick repositioning log on with VR.
3) The Galaxy map drove me nuts, I couldn't deal with it.
While 4K doesn't offer the same immersion, it's good enough until the Galaxy map is fixed. That alone was enough for me to not use it!
but, the SRV was AWESOME