HTC Vive

D3K · 3 Jul 2016 at 21:53

Haven't fired this up for a long time.
Tried tonight and it kept flipping out on me. As soon as I bring up the steam interface, it goes grey, comes back, without the controllers visible.
Brought back a few memories of why I haven't jumped in as frequently.

edit: firmware update was needed

pdhenin · 3 Jul 2016 at 22:24

Is there any calibration software or steps for this? I got mine today and found that unless the text is in the center its blurry.

sgavan · 4 Jul 2016 at 06:09

pdhenin said:
Is there any calibration software or steps for this? I got mine today and found that unless the text is in the center its blurry.

There's a dial on the right for eye spacing but the HMD may just need to be moved up or down, if you do you will see it either get worse or better.

dalepearson · 4 Jul 2016 at 08:05

pdhenin said:
Is there any calibration software or steps for this? I got mine today and found that unless the text is in the center its blurry.

Get a friend to measure your IPD. Get a ruler and measure from the outside of one pupil to the inside of the other, this will give your IPD value, normally around 60, then adjust the dial on the VIVE plus change your lense distance by using the side adjustment.

Also make sure the glasses are nicely centred on your eyes. You wear them more like ski googles than sunglasses.

D3K · 4 Jul 2016 at 09:21

Or you could just be aware of the fresnal rings movement as you adjust. Once both sides appear concentric, thats your IPD.

XeNoN89 · 4 Jul 2016 at 11:19

Had a go on my brothers Vive yesterday - the first time I've used any VR and it was pretty good! I can see massive potential and it seems like the future of games. Looks like it just needs the software as he only had what were essentially tech demos rather than any full blown games. Once the games are there this is going to be amazing.

D3K · 4 Jul 2016 at 11:23

I tried out the "Observatory: A VR pack" demo last night and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

I won't spoil it because I went into it knowing nothing. I just followed the on screen instructions then got comfy. That was after turning up super sampling to 1.5 and graphics to Super. I think the smoothness of the visuals really made this standout. Super sampling is definitely a massive boost for quality.

andybird123 · 4 Jul 2016 at 12:25

XeNoN89 said:
Had a go on my brothers Vive yesterday - the first time I've used any VR and it was pretty good! I can see massive potential and it seems like the future of games. Looks like it just needs the software as he only had what were essentially tech demos rather than any full blown games. Once the games are there this is going to be amazing.

Yep. Although you can easily waste a couple of hours in each of most things, the only "full" games on VR at the moment really are things like Project Cars, Asseto Corsa, Warthunder, Elite, DCS... which whilst they are great in VR, if you don't have that much interest in sims to begin with then its a bit limited

H3VR is shaping up and is constantly updated, battledome is apparently very good (but again in alpha/beta stages), out of ammo is also getting very good.
Thats the nature of the beast at the moment, these are games in early access, but the low prices make it easy to get a whole bunch and switch between them as they are updated.

Budget cuts demo is awesome, can't wait for the full version.

Warthunder is probably what I spend most time playing at the moment. I'm also looking forward to Dirt Rally VR mode which is supposed to be soon.

a lot of games without a full VR mode are also pretty good fun in virtual desktop or whatever

pdhenin · 4 Jul 2016 at 12:56

Played around with this yesterday and its really cool. Project Cars was awesome felt like I was actually on oulton park. I tried the no limits roller coaster demo as well, but my brain went into melt down and I had to stop it half way through.

D3K · 4 Jul 2016 at 13:20

Did No Limits work in VR for you? It's only launches in theater mode here.

hyperseven · 4 Jul 2016 at 13:29

D3K said:
Did No Limits work in VR for you? It's only launches in theater mode here.

well turn theatre mode off then silly boy

you know before you launch it, in the normal steam client, right click on the game, properties, uncheck desktop vr thingy.

caved in and bought the full version since has oodles of coasters in workshop as well and many fan sites.

pdhenin · 4 Jul 2016 at 13:31

D3K said:
Did No Limits work in VR for you? It's only launches in theater mode here.

If you run it from the desktop shortcut then it comes up saying VR detected do you want to run in VR mode. It is impressive but made me feel very disorientated.

D3K · 4 Jul 2016 at 13:52

hyperseven said:
well turn theatre mode off then silly boy you know before you launch it, in the normal steam client, right click on the game, properties, uncheck desktop vr thingy.

caved in and bought the full version since has oodles of coasters in workshop as well and many fan sites.

Interesting. Maybe that's why 3dmark was fubar.

Anyway I just ran it through revive and it was indeed awesome. I may have to purchase it.

lokiss · 4 Jul 2016 at 18:58

andybird123 said:
"full" games on VR at the moment

I honestly think Pool nation VR deserves some creds. The Bar could do with being a little more alive, but in ultra it's shines fantastic and plays so perfectly.

ZeroG · 4 Jul 2016 at 19:01

lokiss said:
I honestly think Pool nation VR deserves some creds. The Bar could do with being a little more alive, but in ultra it's shines fantastic and plays so perfectly.

I agree, I tried the beta last night and the air hockey is good fun, albeit very buggy still. The options for different darts games too it a nice addition. I believe they are going to be adding other mini games too.

sprite- · 5 Jul 2016 at 21:01

lokiss said:
I honestly think Pool nation VR deserves some creds. The Bar could do with being a little more alive, but in ultra it's shines fantastic and plays so perfectly.

I refunded Pool Nation, it's just not very fun for me personally. It looks great - but times i went on it nobody else was on and it just didn't appeal. Also refunded Hordez (Prefer Brookhaven for atmosphere).

I'm completely addicted to Hover Junkers at the moment, it's a fantastic multiplayer. Took me a while to get hang of shooting - now i have i can actually put up some competition. My only issue is, by the time i've finished playing i'm drenched in sweat.

My in-laws visited the other day.. They tried the Vive... Put on TheBlu for them.

Father in-law was gobsmacked
Mother in-law literally said "The jellyfish won't sting me will they...."
My sister in-law was laughing at her parents, in that way that she thinks they're being silly... Like it couldn't possibly be that realistic.. Then as soon as she tried it, she was "Oh - My - God. This is crazy".

It's such a fantastic thing to demo to people who aren't into gaming or even people who are, they don't get quite how immersive it is until they try it. You can tell them it's amazing, hype it up as much as you like - they'll still stand there shocked how great it is.

sgavan · 6 Jul 2016 at 06:28

Just had a go of the full brookhaven game and it's great,atmospere is amazing and the guns and shooting have a great feel to them.

trentlad · 6 Jul 2016 at 08:56

pdhenin said:
Is there any calibration software or steps for this? I got mine today and found that unless the text is in the center its blurry.

There isn't really much official instruction about setting it up to obtain the best possibly clarity and widest FOV. It's difficult to get right but possible.

1.) measure your IPD by measuring center of eye from center of eye (close one eye and line up then close the other and line up) and then twist the dial on your headset to the correct IPD value
2.) bring in the lens as close as possible to the eye by pulling out the circular strap joints and rotating (careful if you wear glasses as the lens can easily get scratched)
3.) use the foam mod to connect the lower section of foam below the velcro, or better yet use the sleep mask mod so your face is even closer to the screen
4.) now give the wire strap a lot of slack where it connects to the headset and that allows your strap to seat correctly, the bottom strap should rest on your occipital bone for best comfort so adjust until it does (personally I can't do this as it cuts into my ears so it rests ever so slightly higher)

That's how I get the best FOV and it actually increases the area where text appears clear. Not sure of any other tricks to increase that area unless others would like to suggest?

hyperseven · 6 Jul 2016 at 09:52

pdhenin said:
Is there any calibration software or steps for this? I got mine today and found that unless the text is in the center its blurry.

IPD = If you have a lappy/PC/tablet with webcam use this

64.37mm here

chid76 · 6 Jul 2016 at 10:40

I received my Vive from OcUK just over a week ago and I have to say that to me it's been worth every penny.
The thing I found shocking is the sense of scale it gives you. No video on youtube can ever do it proper justice, in fact until you have actually tried out a headset I would say that you can't really prepare yourself for the mind bending experience that it actually gives you.

I have my Vive set up in my front room and am really enjoying Assetto Corsa at the moment. I play on the Vive with a wireless surround headset, using a G29 and wheelstand pro. I have also cobbled together a racing seat from a second hand leather Peugeot 206 cc passenger seat, some 2x4 and 4 castor wheels and it some of the best fun in gaming I have ever had.
It's genuinely daunting when you're booting around in a Caterham 7 and a BMW Z4 GT3 car roars up behind you and overtakes! Because it's 1:1 real life scale, you have never seen anything like it! Also hills on race tracks are like real hills, what you wouldn't even notice on a monitor suddenly becomes a 30 ft life sized hill in front of you.

Here is a quick gameplay recording I shot yesterday and I get out of the car and have a little look. It blows me away that I have a full scale racing car in my front room

Also my new favorite thing is driving a Mk1 Escort RS 1600 as sideways as possible around every corner I can find