Vive vs Rift: Help me decide what to buy!

[Soda Popinski]

2 things: budget and hardware limitations

In addition, a lot of these criticisms are against games developed for HTC Vive. Unlike the Rift, the Vive was only announced relatively recently. Developers haven't had years of lead time to create high fidelity, long games for it. I just started Chronos, and it looks better than anything I've played on Vive, except maybe Call of the Starseed (but that's been in development for years, but only has 2 hours of gameplay).

In addition, the Vive developers tend to be very small indy groups. Often one developer (Vanishing Realms). Without a big art department, you won't be getting a photo-realistic experience.

Given time, as VR matures, and developers have more time to develop, we can expect better looking games.

 

[CATPAIN KIRK]

And why not?! I think anyone that has used the Vive would agree that the most simple of concepts have not only been, by far, the most fun to play but have also been the most immersive VR code they've come across. We've learnt time and time again that fancy graphics don't make a game.

Mind providing any examples of those most immersive simple concepts? I'm open to suggestions.

And yes, I've already stated that good graphics don't make a good game - at least that was what my EA example was aimed at. However nowadays it almost appears people assume they're mutually exclusive. It's usually not even that important to me and the game I've put the most hours into during the last two years after ED was CK2 which is hardly known for its great graphics.

In VR, graphics matter to me though. They don't have to be stellar and ED, DCS, Dirt, Project Cars and Assetto Corsa do the job well enough, all those deliberately blocky/cartoon style games don't.

____


Other than that, I know it's budget/performance limitations. However Valve and FB aren't exactly poor and they'll need to invest more to make VR take off. If they don't, it'll burst. I wouldn't worry about performance. If there's a killer app, people will upgrade for it.

Actually leaves me wondering what the talented people having done robot repair are currently working on.

 

[dogbite]

Given that this thread is about deciding which HMD to buy, I think it is worth pointing out that this is an "early adopter" type purchase and these are first generation devices. One should expect that like your video card you will want the next iteration or so when the features compel you to upgrade. So I wouldn't sweat the differences too much. Both HMD's will improve going forward.
I have been gaming on the pc since the dawn of man so I feel confident that this is not a fad, but it is just the beginning of the next big thing. Of these first 2 similar choices. I have also been weighing the pros and cons and feel I would be happy owning either device.
As an old guy I have chosen CV1 as it is sufficient to my sit in the FFB chair gaming style. If I were younger and more agile I would likely have gone to the Vive.

The overall differences between these 2 will converge as time goes by. Both will do room scale. Camera solutions for CV1 will come forward. Improvements in framerates through software and hardware will arrive. and then both will be obsolete before you can say holy crap.

To me your only question might be do I pay the price of admission on the first go around or wait till this is mainstream? Food for thought.

 

[Aio]

Both devices will probably be obsolete within a year or two. New versions will appear and other vendors will release HMDs that is better. So I would not consider which set is most future proof but which one I will have most fun with the next year. And looking at most of the reviews it is quite obvious the vive.

 

[dogbite]

Get Steam VR because Steam is the platform with a future. The closed Oculus platform and store somehow limits the possibilities.

Agreed
Expect that will change in time. Don't need to be on Oculus Home or Steam to play ED or DCS World or Iracing or (Skyrim or Fallout 4 through Vireio or Vorpx) etc . I will even be playing Half Life 2 and Left For Dead 2 with my Rift on Steam VR.
Valve may have a vested interest in Vive but they know how many of us have a lot of Steam titles and are first and foremost a software developer so it makes sense that they would support any viable VR HMD. The more the merrier. A large installed base is good for business.
As a soon to be rift owner I can tell you that if a Rift game is available on both I will buy it on Steam until Oculus Home opens their multi-player compatibility.
Steam knows this and Oculus will need to learn it for there to be a CV2

 

[Raptoyd]

Both devices will probably be obsolete within a year or two. New versions will appear and other vendors will release HMDs that is better. So I would not consider which set is most future proof but which one I will have most fun with the next year. And looking at most of the reviews it is quite obvious the vive.

Future proof? how about getting one of them working correctly that would be the one to buy.

 

[Lupin]

10c worth.
Hardware wise they are similar. But prefer to have system supported by software company (Steam/valve) then facebook.
Also VR room setup not just sitting around looks to be important for future developement.

 

[SLeeC]

This. Make up your own mind. If you choose the wrong HMD based on someones advice, you'll blame them for leading you astray. It's going to be on your face, so you need to make up your mind. All the points you made were valid, but VR tech is in early stages. You could always get both and play it safe.

Get the Vive.. for me its like the old ST vs Amiga... where the Vive is Amiga and CV1 is the poor ol' ST Caveat emptor ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1F0X-rK8HY

although both obviously were engineering miracles!

 

[govny]

Get Steam VR because Steam is the platform with a future. The closed Oculus platform and store somehow limits the possibilities.

actually it's the opposite.
With oculus you can play every game, be it on steam vr or oculus home. With the vive you can play only steam vr games.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Both devices will probably be obsolete within a year or two. New versions will appear and other vendors will release HMDs that is better. So I would not consider which set is most future proof but which one I will have most fun with the next year. And looking at most of the reviews it is quite obvious the vive.

I do not think it is that simple.
IF you have access to greater than a 3m x 3m clear space and you are interested in full room VR the vive is a no brainer. (even when touch launches its full room VR, if configured as the fantastic contraption dev demonstrated is likely to struggle above 3m x 3m)

if you only have a very small space or are not so bothered about full room then I think the vive is a much harder sell.

if you must have motion controls right now, then vive is the only option.
however if you are happy to wait for those and are actually interested in sims like ED or FSX then right now the rift is the better choice.

if you have a DK2, then there is a strong argument for sticking with what you have for another 4 months or so and seeing how the land lies then.

edit.. oh and if you wear glasses do your homework. Glasses in the CV1 are hit and miss, i think the vive is better in this respect

 

[Wolfox]

Other S**t is coming out here!!(Pro VIVE)[knocked out][ugh]

[video=youtube;8YcprVTPUY0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YcprVTPUY0[/video]

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

strange... i have not tried a vive long term however i have no problems using my cv1 long term and do not get hot.

possibly i was conditioned by my DK2.

also for lets plays and what not, the mic in the CV1 is much better tha nthe vive.

 

[CMDR Muy Bien Gato]

I do not think it is that simple.
IF you have access to greater than a 3m x 3m clear space...

Wat. My current space is 1.8m x 2m and I'm having an absolute blast and haven't had any issues at all.