HTC Vive

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NewbSaibot United States. Sep 10 2016 05:02. Posts 4946

Dunno how many nerds we have here, but I'm sure most of you have probably heard of the new virtual reality headsets. I lit my allowance money on fire in the early 90's to play those shitty VR machines they had in the arcade, bought an Oculus development kit when it came out just to see what all the hype was about, bought a Galaxy S6 smartphone just so I could use GearVR with it, and had been waiting to see who the victor would be in the new Oculus vs Valve wars. Finally some local shops had both on display for customers to demo with so I was able to experience both and decide which one was best for me.

Hands down the HTC vive is the most incredible gaming experience I have ever received. Oculus is under the belief that gamers wont really want to walk around in a VR environment, that we'll all eventually prefer to just sit down and hold a controller and play cockpit simulators or something. They dont really support this whole "roomscale" thing that involves being able to freeroam around in empty space. Valve on the other hand see's it the exact opposite, that being able to just look around is a gimmick, and that the real power in VR is being able to move around. Personally I think Valve couldnt be more right. I dont have a very big play space, however even just being able to walk 2 steps forward or backwards is game changing. The tiny head movements and bobbing you experience as a bipedal species are perfectly tracked by the Vive. When you tilt your head to lean down and look at something it's all there. These experiences are sorely lacking in the Oculus Rift which usually just has you sitting there looking straight ahead. Sure you can look and lean anywhere you want in the Rift too, however there is no incentive to do so. Most of their games are designed to just look 3D without the need to actually look anywhere. Vive games go out of their way to encourage you to move around and explore the area. When you reach the confines of your playspace you can "teleport" further down the road and just start walking the opposite direction. It sounds silly but it makes all the difference.

I havent even purchased any games yet, the little demo suite valve provides so far is astounding. So much in fact that Vive demo's have more playability than full blown Rift games. It is truly an amazing experience. Both systems cost the same, $800 USD (if you want wireless VR touch controllers at least) and Oculus may eventually get with the program and start encouraging roomscale development. Any dev could produce roomscale games if they wanted, they just dont seem to be doing it yet. But if you have some disposable income I highly recommend you try it. If you get bored of the system, sell it on ebay and consider the loss as just rent for VR for the few months you keep it.

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ClouD87 Italy. Sep 11 2016 05:04. Posts 524

I was curious as to whether to buy it or not. You have a passion for it so of course it's a snap for you, but would you say the 800$ investment is worth it right now that the technology and games are still in the first stages of development?

Last edit: 11/09/2016 05:04

NewbSaibot United States. Sep 11 2016 15:50. Posts 4946

Gosh it's so hard to say. Make no mistake, the games are truly experiences. I felt things playing them, I felt the kind of excitement you only get the first time you visit disney world.

If you can comfortably light $1000 on fire by doing something like playing poker, then go ahead and get a Vive. If the money is in any way necessary to you, then put it off. The people who I have demo'd it for so far have expressed no desire to demo it again. They were in awe while they played it, but they were fine not playing it again. Nobody is calling saying "hey dude did you get tiltbrush yet? I gotta try it out!"

But take for instance this game I played for the first time this morning http://store.steampowered.com/app/436820/ and not to sound like a cheese dick but honestly the game was enchanting. Just playing wizard and making potions and levitating things and being chastised by omnipotent beings was almost inspiring for lack of better terms. I'll have 1000 hours in Overwatch by the end of this year no doubt, and probably only 50-100 hours in VR related stuff spread out over the next year. So clearly I dont love it as much as a good ole fashioned PC game, but I'm still glad I got to experience it than to have never experienced it at all.

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Netherlands. Sep 11 2016 23:04. Posts 7080

We are sponsored by HTC and I've done a demo with the Vive in its earlier stages. It was already amazing back then and our players are consistently taking part in Vive experience at live esports events they travel to. I can only say good things about it.

You almost twin-caracked his AK - JonnyCosmo

NewbSaibot United States. Sep 13 2016 13:32. Posts 4946

Holy mother of christ, just downloaded this free game called recroom, where you can play games like ping pong and bastketball and darts and throw frisbees and stuff with real people. There were about 10 people in this thing when I got there. But the most incredible moment was when we all entered the paintball field. Mother of god this was the real deal. I was ducking and crouching behind big rubber tires and barrels and shit, leaning out from side to side taking shots at people. I cannot believe how immersive it was. If anyone has a Vive definitely download Recroom.

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