General VR and AR chinwag - The Bear and Badger

AJ

I don't think Beat Saber does anything special to make the tracking better - it's just the fact that Sony's system relies heavily on movement to stay calibrated and you move about a lot in that game.

Something interesting I noticed recently is that while I barely get nauseous at all (I think four or five hours is the longest I've played without a break) it happens more when I'm standing than sitting. Luckily, most games where you move a lot are just as good, if not better, played sitting, though.

If you can't try it before you buy a headset, it's worth checking what the returns policy of various places is and buying online. While we're still in the EU, online shops have to accept a return within 30 days, so a lot of places won't even put up a fight.

AJ

If I didn't have so many games to play, I'd be building a new forum.

tin_robot wrote:

So I'm considering Playstation VR as an Xmas present to myself for enduring a shitty year. Have had a little look in here but what's the general consensus? Worth it? Any decent deals?

Having had one from launch, I'd say it's now worth it. However, I'd say that exactly how much you get out of it depends in part upon your tolerance for VR - as such it's worth trying to have a go before you buy one. (Make sure you give it a reasonably long trial at that. I tried 5 minutes of Battlezone and thought I'd be fine. I wasn't.) Your tolerance for VR improves the more you use it, but spending a couple of hundred quid on something you might have to acclimatise to is a big ask.

Still, of the games I've found most compelling - Thumper, Superhot, Beat Saber, Tetris, Astrobot - it's only the latter that I've found at all nauseating, and even then only rarely. So even with my tendency to hurl at the slightest provocation, PSVR's now at the point where you can fairly confidently put on the headset, and find something entertaining.

As AJ says, the Move controllers are increasingly essential. Yes, they're incredibly old tech by now, but the best games overcome their limitations and make them sing. (Beat Saber in particular employs some kind of voodoo magic.)

It's worth fiddling around with the set up of the room if possible too. I suspect at least some of the stuff I'm moaning about above is that I'm generally playing in our lounge, with a whole bunch of reflective surfaces and unhelpful lighting. Have a look at guides to optimum set up, and do it if you can.

I'll warn you as well, most of the VR games are short. Even Astrobot's over pretty quickly. I suspect this is because there really is a limit to how long you (well, I at least) can sit in there before you need to come out. If you're expecting to spend long evenings in there exploring alien lands, you might be disappointed. (Though Skyrim and RE7 are notable exceptions.)

Still, I can honestly say that Beat Saber and Astrobot both provided my most gleeful moments in gaming this year - the latter is up there with Nintendo's best, and Beat Saber makes you feel like an Awesome Disco Jedi, which is a thing I didn't know I needed, but is addictive once you've done it.

AJ

Oh, a mate of mine didn't realise, so it's probably worth pointing out that the camera doesn't have to be lined up with (or anywhere near) the TV.

jdanielp

AJ wrote:

Oh, a mate of mine didn't realise, so it's probably worth pointing out that the camera doesn't have to be lined up with (or anywhere near) the TV.

Good to know.

Olimite

Thanks Tin (and everyone else), that is a really excellent post. I will look to have an extended trial somewhere before committing.

SpaceGazelle

I've made tons of people try VR and most are ok. There are some games like Elite Dangerous that make you want to hurl at first but like sailing, you need to get your VR legs by experience. It is definitely something that can be overcome even when the devs have not really thought the experience through.

mistercrayon

The thing with VR is that as long as games only move you at a constant pace or keep you stationary you should be okay.

SpaceGazelle

Valve has bought some crazy VR patents from a military hardware company.

Valve Patent has many eMagin display characteristics

https://patents.google.com/patent/US9829710B1/en

2K x 2K & + 70% fill factor :

Valve Patent :

11. The display panel of claim 10 wherein the multiple pixels are created on the top surface of the silicon substrate using a plurality of pixel emission arrays that together form at least a 2000 pixel by 2000 pixel display area with a fill factor of at least 70% and that are individually formed using feature sizes of 500 nanometers or more and a pixel pitch of 30 micrometers or less for each pixel, and wherein the plurality of pixel emission arrays are tiled on the top surface of the silicon substrate.

eMagin :

eMagin is introducing an OLED microdisplay with true 2k x 2k (2048 x 2048 pixels) with fill factor over 70% specifically to address the needs of the VR market
http://emagin.com/industries/military/?fwp_resolutions=2048-x-2048

SpaceGazelle

I knew that wasn't going to end well.

Edit: Readable now.

Diluted Dante

Going all in on fonts are they?

jdanielp

Is there 2K x 2K per eye?

SpaceGazelle

Yup.

jdanielp

Nice

AJ

Micro displays? Does that mean smaller headsets?

Sounds like a worthwhile stop gap until somebody figures out lightfield displays.

SpaceGazelle

I sometimes suspect Valve and all their many billions and silence, remarkable in that there are no shareholders, are secretly starting the next phase of world domination. Astonishingly, Newell claims they can now manufacture their own microchips.

SpaceGazelle

AJ wrote:

Micro displays? Does that mean smaller headsets? Sounds like a worthwhile stop gap until somebody figures out lightfield displays.

I think it just means very high resolution.

Edit: I mean PPI

AJ

Boo. I want smaller headsets like swimming goggles.

SpaceGazelle

That'll come as the PPI goes up.

djchump

That patent's from 2016, and Valve/Apple/LG dropped out of the Emagin thing back in feb this year: https://www.roadtovr.com/apple-valve-and-lg-invest-in-oled-microdisplay-maker-emagin/

SpaceGazelle

They didn't invest in the company. That doesn't mean they don't own the patent for the tech.

jdanielp

It hadn't occurred to me to try watching YouTube videos on the PSVR until a friend mentioned this to me. Whilst the resolution is terrible, I just saw Free Solo 360 (National Geographic), a short film about climbing, which was somewhat terrifying...

AJ

I find 360 videos a bit disappointing on it, if I'm honest. Guess my brain's expecting to see stereoscopic things.

Can't comment on the quality, but apparently you can download VR porn from the standard sites to watch on it.

jdanielp

I also saw a feature film about climbing, Meru, by the same filmmakers; that was also somewhat terrifying despite merely being presented in 2D (but at the cinema). Being able look down the sheer face of El Capitan in VR was impressive though.

SpaceGazelle

Have you played Richie's Plank Experience? It started simple but has morphed into lots of ideas. It's quite good.

Diluted Dante

AJ wrote:

I find 360 videos a bit disappointing on it, if I'm honest. Guess my brain's expecting to see stereoscopic things.

What have you watched? I've seen a few on Youtube and that Littlestar thing that are quite cool. Mostly WWE ones, but some F1 car stuff as well. (weirdly with that one the default seems to be set to looking at the rear of the car).

AJ

Can't remember exactly, but a handful. While I don't think I've seen anything that being able to look around has added anything to, the videos themselves are fine; it's just the lack depth which disappoints. Proper VR videos fare better, but it always feels odd that lateral head movement doesn't do anything. Allumette is still the best piece of linear media I've seen on the platform

jdanielp

SpaceGazelle wrote:

Have you played Richie's Plank Experience? It started simple but has morphed into lots of ideas. It's quite good.

Nope. Sounds intriguing.

SpaceGazelle

Think it's just out for PSVR. If not already, wait until it's under £10.

jdanielp

SpaceGazelle wrote:

Think it's just out for PSVR. If not already, wait until it's under £10.

Will do, especially while I'm merely borrowing a headset.

AJ

It's 1p under £10.

What other bits are there than the plank bit and the flying thing?

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