Virtual Reality games

[Onkel Neal]

You've heard of VR, right?


So, I've been hearing about VR for years, and in the last few, Oculus Rift. I could imagine what it would be like, to have a 360 view from inside a game, I'm sure you have the same concept.

Then I tried it.....

Ok, can you imagine describing what a cloud looks like to a blind man? Or how chocolate tastes to someone who has never eaten anything except rice and water? That's what it's like to describe the first VR experience. You have to see it to understand.

I got my first hit of VR last week at the Stockholm University, the Project X devs are working up a demo of the game for VIVE VR. They asked me if I wanted to try it, I said, sure, ok. They set up a basic introductory demo, with castle, some wizards and trolls, a laboratory, and simple game with a bow and arrow. A space experience. And best of all, a trip inside the world of Portal. It was so cooool! Yes, you have no concept of borders between you and the virtual world. Everything is 3D. The resolutions is not as crisp as a monitor, but quite reasonable.

So, next we set up our U-boat game. And this sold me. We've all been playing subsims for years, and the ocean and sky portrayed in the games are fun to look at and we like to imagine we are out to sea aboard a sub. Well, with VR, you are really "there". All around you are huge waves, some higher that the deck. The boat has scale, it feels like you are standing on it. And without any way to resist, your body immediately tries to compensate for the "swaying" deck, the motion of the waves. You know you are in a room miles from the coast, but the VR is so compelling your body says, "Nuh uh, I know what I am doing and this is necessary for the place you've taken us to".

So, yes,I will be going VR soon, maybe by Christmas. Game selection is still limited and a 2nd version will probably make the current version obsolete soon. Still, this was a great experience, and I am excited about future VR games.

[Eichhörnchen]

Of course I'd love to have that, but how much would it cost? Not gonna happen, I'm afraid...

[Fubar2Niner]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

Of course I'd love to have that, but how much would it cost? Not gonna happen, I'm afraid...

If memory serves, around £500-£600 for a basic Oculus setup

[Dowly]

The price is way too steep and if your PC isn't up to par, you'll need to throw money at upgrading it too.

[Skybird]

Wait 'til the goggles use 4K or 8K displays. Thats the time I put money on the table.

The past two years I got absorbed by racing simulators, Assetto Corsa in the main, also Raceroom. Has completely knocked out flightsimming and tank simming. VR is perfectly made for this. You grab the wheel and have buttons on it you can use blindly, and no need to interact with anything more in the real world around you - when wearing the goggles, needing to see where your keyboard is and the wanted key, is a - well, its not so easy.

For racing, VR must be excellent once it really matured. Right now its overpriced imo. You must still add to the high costs the costs for a sufficient system if you happen to own one that is not new and top class already. Like with all new tech, prices for VR goggles will drop.

For the time being, 38" ultrawide displays. Easier to set up than triple screen displays. But again: beefier GPU needed.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Dowly

The price is way too steep and if your PC isn't up to par, you'll need to throw money at upgrading it too.

Yeah, true. And I need a bigger living room than what I have now, so I will have to upgrade my living quarters, that's another $200,000 too.

[Gerald]

Release submarine game that you get the money by launching a new living room.

From everyone who ever tried VR I heard what you said Neal, you gotta see it for yourself to understand it.
However, it is pointless without a strong machine and investing right now into VR isn't too smart since the technology will advance rapidly very soon.
What is going on right now can be considered a prolonged beta-test, a very expensive one as well.

I'm gonna wait a year or two.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

Of course I'd love to have that, but how much would it cost? Not gonna happen, I'm afraid...

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

You've heard of VR, right?



So, next we set up our U-boat game. And this sold me. We've all been playing subsims for years, and the ocean and sky portrayed in the games are fun to look at and we like to imagine we are out to sea aboard a sub. Well, with VR, you are really "there". All around you are huge waves, some higher that the deck. The boat has scale, it feels like you are standing on it. And without any way to resist, your body immediately tries to compensate for the "swaying" deck, the motion of the waves. You know you are in a room miles from the coast, but the VR is so compelling your body says, "Nuh uh, I know what I am doing and this is necessary for the place you've taken us to".

Well (damn!) i'm not doing VR with a pacemaker at age 65...too many variables; and i'm already deaf! Those depth-charge attacks could cause seizures for '1 in 4,000' people! The 'true cost' may B a little iffy statistically: 117266 captains /4000 =30

 

https://static.oculus.com/documents/health-and-safety-warnings.pdf

[STEED]

Not interested at all, need my money to pay bills.

Originally Posted by STEED

Not interested at all, need my money to pay bills.

But that doesn't mean you can't be interested in it?

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by STEED

Not interested at all, need my money to pay bills.

You'd just re-injure your back in a 'crash dive' goin' thru the hatch!

[Eichhörnchen]

Originally Posted by Nippelspanner

But that doesn't mean you can't be interested in it?

Good point. STEED's still interested in women, too.

[AVGWarhawk]

Sounds interesting for sure. What will be needed in the future of 3D Virtual is the smells and other sensory machines. Imagine the smell of a foul bay where your sub is docked getting ready for a patrol. A fan blowing mist at you as you sailing the high seas!

[Buddahaid]

Ah yes, the heady aroma of unwashed men, fear, and vomit. I'm sold!