1. #1

    The Oculus Rift VR Headset...

    Ahem.

    Theres been much buzz, chit-chat, rambling, and rumoring over next-gen consoles... which are soon to be revealed, if you asked me. It's about time, anyways.. the 2005 hardware of the PS3 and X360 are being pushed to the limits as it is, and technology will soon become too much unless a new console series is released.

    New controllers, new OS, new games, new hardware... many things will be available to both PS3 and X360 audiences in order to coerce the consumer to buy a certain product. Kinect 2.0, Move, Illumiroom, PS Home.. all these things are gimmicks in my eyes, meant to snatch the gullible and simply sell. None of them ever really live up to their name, because none of them are what they promised. None of them truly innovate, nor explore, to the level we saw in all those advertisements and those of us that ended up buying them often felt we didn't necessarily get our money's worth. I feel it's about time an independent company presented us with some new technology, a new upgrade from things tried once before, yet didn't have the tech to properly display itself.

    Namely VR (Virtual Reality). Now, before I hear anybody saying how much more of a gimmick a VR headset is than a Kinect system, just let me get to where I'm going.

    Recently there's been talk of the new Oculus Rift VR headset. The Rift is exactly what it both sounds and looks like: an external stereoscopic displayed headset with peripheral screens and full orientation tracking -not position (yet). This means that when you tilt your head left and touch your ear to your shoulder, the screens and 3D world will also tilt sideways. However, you cannot lean your head forward and try to peak around a corner, since that is dealing with position, and not orientation.

    The team producing the Rift had a Kickstarter event in which they needed $250,000 from August 1 to September 1. Within the first WEEK they received over $400,000, and finished with $2,437,429 in total, being backed not only by hyped up fans, but also by AAA developers such as Crytek, Valve, Epic Games, and more. The Rift has already been integrated into the Unity engine and Unreal 3, which means that once it's released, consumers will be able to use it with games such as StarForge, Slender, Borderlands 2, Chivalry, and virtually any other game using these 2 engines, and that's just so far. Eventually, I suspect that ALL first person games, and perhaps other ones, will be using this technology to make the most immerse and convincing experiences ever had.

    To put some of these in perspective, I want you to close your eyes and imagine you are playing this game with the Rift VR.

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    ...you are flying the A-10 Thunderbolt jet in BF3, and you've just made a run through the objective, C. You fly upwards, tilting backwards to make a full loop, yet stop halfway through so you can fly over the wreckage and mayhem you have just wrought. Now, with the VR headset, you will be able to look up with your physical head, yet in game see the map below you, through the canopy and scratched up glass, and all the destruction and war that is happening beneath you. You could also look back down, at your character's hands and feet in the cockpit, controlling all the little gadgets and doohickeys imaginable.

    Oh, you like racing games instead? Well in that case...

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    ...you are on a rally track with a 300bhp Ford Focus WRC, breaking speeds of 50mph. You look to your left with your physical head, yet in game see your driver-side window, and the scenery displayed as rocks, gravel, and countless debris gets kicked up by your wheels. You look forward and down, seeing your hands on the steering wheel, feet on the pedals, and full interior of your car as it rocks violently from the unpaved road of the track. You look up at the road, realize you weren't paying attention at all, veer off a cliff at 75mph, and finally die.

    Oh, I'm sorry. That's not in your taste? Shame.. Well, let's try one more then, shall we?

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    ...you are slowly reaching the end of an unlit stone corridor, one of many that are maze-like and unrelenting, as you search for a way out. You have merely an oil lamp, of which the fuel is very limited, and nothing to protect yourself. You hear a squeal, like that of a pig, as a huge creature begins chasing you from behind. It's Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs.

    Just imagine how much more involving and exhilarating games will become once the Rift is used to it's full potential. These are just a few scenarios I've come up with on the spot, but there is sure to be countless amounts of new ideas possible now. Imagine Skyrim, DayZ, AvP, CoD, Crysis, Planetside, Portal, or maybe Trackmania... ENDLESS amounts of awesomeness, just around the corner.

    Now, if you've stuck around this long to read to here, you're a trooper.. but now I figured it's time for me to show you all what I'm referring to, instead of promises and wordiness.

    I humbly present... the OCULUS RIFT.


    From what I've read, its quite comfortable, with no discernible lag. It doesn't generate motion sickness, from the people that have tried it anyways, and feels completely real. It's very lightweight for it's size, 250 grams (or about half a pound), so there won't be any sliding or bulkiness feeling from moving too fast. Here's the full specs, in case you were wondering.

    `Type---------------Head-mounted display
    `Invention date-----2012
    `Inventor(s)--------Palmer Luckey (founder)
    `Manufacturer------Oculus LLC
    `Cost---------------Developer kit: $300, Consumer version: $200-$300
    `Resolution---------Developer kit: 1280×800 (640×800 per eye), Consumer version: >=1920x1080
    `Horizontal FOV-----Developer kit: > 90 degrees, Consumer version: TBA
    `Diagonal FOV------Developer kit: > 110 degrees, Consumer version: TBA
    `Head Tracking-----Developer kit: 1000Hz absolute 3DOF orientation (gyr/acc/mag), but no position. Consumer version: TBA
    `Platform-----------PC and Android
    `Connection--------Developer kit: DVI / HDMI and USB, Consumer version: TBA

    "But wait, Idol! You've still only just showed us a picture and good word about the Rift... let's see some gameplay!"

    Shut the hell up. I was getting there. Here it is, turds. If you are too impatient to wait, skip to 2:25.


    Now I know not as many people will be excited for this as I am. Some will prefer controllers and a flat screen, which I believe will still be the higher selling platform, but for me.. the Rift is a dream come true. What I value in a game is its ability to convince me I'm in the world it creates, and VR is the answer to all my problems. Some games won't necessarily work with the Rift so well, though... games like Trials probably. CoD might be too fast paced for it, and even then, the controller and flat screen players will probably have an advantage. Yet the experience as a whole will be greater on the Rift, imo.

    What do you think? Are you as bonerfied as I am over this new hardware? With a pricetag of around $200-$300, will you buy it?
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  2. #2

    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset... (aka The FUTURE)

    idk.... The turtle beaches i have weigh a bit, so long sessions start hurting... I also dont want to wear glasses, that seem to be very buff on me while i play.

    I do understand people who want more immersion with their games. it just doesnt feel very comfortable for me, 3D glasses at cinemas are horrible, and that looks no better
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  3. #3
    RetiredRonin's Avatar Senior Community Manager
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    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset... (aka The FUTURE)

    Actually, from what I have heard from developers talking about this, there IS motion (or simulation) sickness. Severity depends on how much time you spend with the units as well as other physiological factors.

    #1, #2, #3, #4
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  4. #4
    s0ad667's Avatar Senior Member
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    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset... (aka The FUTURE)

    Around 20 years ago, when the first VR fever came, i kinda thought it was a joke from the very beginning. And turned out it was.

    This time, it looks a lot more promising. I have high hopes Oculus will be a success and having huge companies supporting it is a good sign. It won't be for everyone, that's for sure. I'm wondering if you will have to pass certain medical exams before buying it. I can't imagine how it will be to play a survival horror game like Amnesia with such a thing. Or Hawken.
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  5. #5

    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset... (aka The FUTURE)

    Looks like ****. I'll stick with my 2005 hardware, and I'm not gonna read all that when I have to scroll left and right because the picture is a inch too big. Sorry man.
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  6. #6
    RetiredRonin's Avatar Senior Community Manager
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    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset... (aka The FUTURE)

    I've had very bad experiences with VR and 3D, and it's because of the way my brain interprets what my eyes are seeing.

    I am highly right eye dominant. I see everything with my right eye and my left just fills in the gaps. When I try to watch 3D movies it appears as if everything is perfectly clear with my right eye, but my left only sees outlines. I have to concentrate on seeing with my left eye, and then I just end up with a migraine. If I close my right eye it's like there is a brain lag before my left adjusts and starts showing detail.

    VR does the same thing, but I also have mild hearing loss in my right ear, so my balance is jacked up when I am viewing movement without feeling it. (This caused hell in BCT convoy simulations)

    End result, no matter how cool this ends up being, I will never be able to comfortably use it.
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  7. #7
    nannerdw's Avatar Senior Member
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    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset... (aka The FUTURE)

    I'm really looking forward to this, but not for $200-$300. If I can find it on sale for ~$100 or less, I'll consider it. I'd definitely need to try it out for myself first, though.

    Originally Posted by ShartRelief
    Looks like ****. I'll stick with my 2005 hardware...
    What 2005 hardware?
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  8. #8

    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset... (aka The FUTURE)

    This piece of advanced hardware + The old first person roleplaying immersive sims with inevitable graphical overhauls that will be developed because of the hardware's existence= The definitive gaming experience by far.
    Although the newer but not so good FP/RP/IS' such as Bioshock would be much improved by this too.

    I bet it gets heavy after a while though. But a lite version would probably see a release in the future anyway if the product is successful.

    But yes, as nannerdw says- definitely a try before you buy type thing. Read multiple reviews before too.

    Originally Posted by nannerdw
    What 2005 hardware?
    He probably is talking about the lackluster Xbox360.
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  9. #9

    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset... (aka The FUTURE)

    Originally Posted by ShiftySamurai
    End result, no matter how cool this ends up being, I will never be able to comfortably use it.
    That sucks hard, man. Now that you mention it, I feel like I'm the same as you with my eyes, my right is much better with my left. Although I'm gonna try and get used to it if this Rift is as good as I'm hoping it is.

    The way I'm seeing it described, it doesnt look like just regular 3D glasses that hurt like they do in the movies.

    Maybe I'm too hyped at what it could be, than what it probably is, but if they really do this well, I'm going to enjoy it completely.

    I love immersion in games the most, and it feels like playing a survival adventure game with good visuals with this thing would be amazing, like Miasmata.

    Originally Posted by apdenton1
    He probably is talking about the lackluster Xbox360.
    Yeah, I was. 2005 meaning the 360 came out in 2005, so I figured it was technically 2005 hardware.
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  10. #10

    Re: The Oculus Rift VR Headset...

    I've been watching this since the beginning.

    About 20 years ago or so (god that makes me sound older than I am) I had a VR Surfer that came with one of the Descent games.

    It was shutter based and the headset was kinda heavy and somewhat clunky but WOW. It opened my eyes to the awesomeness that gaming in VR / 3D can be.

    It was far better than the 3D games I've played recently on my dads 3D TV (Assassins Creed III and Crysis 2).

    This device has definitely piqued my interest, and if it has John Carmack interested, it sounds like it has great potential.
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