The game runs on all Oculus 6DOF headsets:
Rift CV1
Rift S
Quest, with Oculus Link cable and PC.
Half-Life: Alyx
- Thread starter bluntslide
- Start date
The game runs on all Oculus 6DOF headsets:
Rift CV1
Rift S
Quest, with Oculus Link cable and PC.
Rift S is the latest refreshed version of the Rift. They are different models but can be regarded as the same from a compatibility point of view. The key difference is that the Rifts S doesn't require external sensors and so is easier to setup for ad hoc VR.
Last edited:
There has been some brilliant games released for VR, especially lately with Asgard's Wrath and Stormland.
But, is this finally the game that's going to get mainstream PC gamers into VR? The Half Life name is so strong in the PC world.
I reckon March 2020 will see a massive jump in Headset sales
But, is this finally the game that's going to get mainstream PC gamers into VR? The Half Life name is so strong in the PC world.
I reckon March 2020 will see a massive jump in Headset sales
Associate
- Joined
- 26 Aug 2016
- Posts
- 561
I've only bought the Index controllers and I got this added to my library for free. 
Seems if you've bought any Index component you get it... which is nice of Valve! Hope they don't backtrack though.
Looking forward to playing it!
Seems if you've bought any Index component you get it... which is nice of Valve! Hope they don't backtrack though.Looking forward to playing it!
Associate
Might be the game that entices me to get the knuckles controllers. Already got the index headset
Soldato
- Joined
- 22 Nov 2018
- Posts
- 2,743
I'm so incredibly buzzing for this game. I remember Half-Life getting higher reviews than any other game. Then Half-Life 2 came out and broke that record with a score of 96% in some reviews. I was blown away by the whole franchise and a huge Counter-Strike fan as well back it the day.
I seriously can't wait for Half-Life: Alyx
I seriously can't wait for Half-Life: Alyx
Looks like I have to buy VR now. - The trailer for this looks amazing. I love Half-Life, and I kind of predicted the next Half-Life would be in VR, but will HL3 ever come out? It would have to be something special to live up to expectations and the over-hype.
Soldato
Yep, my birthday in March too a good time for this game. But, games that have overly done swaying motions have made me feel a bit bad before. I'm fine with most FPS games but the odd ones that overdo the camera sway and stuff really put me off. So I dunno how I'll deal with VR.
Well the swaying will only happen in vr if you are physically swaying so hopefully that'll help, but otherwise as long as you have a decent frame rate and don't overdo it you should acclimatise to it over time. From personal experience when I first got my CV1 some games and experiences made me feel nausea instantly, these days it's extremely rare and only ever momentary. The best advice is to make sure you do not try to push through it and stop as soon as you feel at all nauseous.
I hope it doesn't become yet another "stand in one place and shoot/point at stuff" VR game - like RoboRecall, Arctica, Arizon sunshine and so on. Full locomotion - like in Alien Isolation - is an absolute must. No locomotion=same old, same old = no buy for me.
All transport modes are supported - teleport, free movement via thumbstick, a 'smooth transition' mode where you smoothly move between teleport locations, and roomscale.
The issue is I find that thumbstick movement does often translate into standing in place and strafing like in normal FPS games which isn't always immersive. I find when using my Quest in larger spaces that firefights can be much more realistic with the ability to move around and duck without tethers.
Soldato
Quick question, I'm still on the fense about VR, but have to admit this game and some of the helpful responses in the thread in PC gaming have started to change my mind about it. I'm still going to wait for reviews before buying anything, but just want to get an idea of what i'd need. An Index is out of the question for me, but i'd maybe drop £400-£500 if the game has amazing reviews etc. What would be my best bet to look into specifically for this game and any similar games in future?
There are really only two well supported options for properly tracked VR systems under £500.
Oculus Rift S (Currently £350)
Oculus Quest (£400+Link cable)
The Windows Mixed Reality headsets can go cheaper, but the controller tracking is subpar compared to the Oculus headsets.
An alternative is a second hand Rift CV1 setup, but this is lower resolution and older headsets can suffer from audio issues, due to wear and tear. Also replacement headset cables are no longer available. You also need to setup external sensors which can be a pain.
Or there's second hand Vives, which are also lower resolution and have out-of-date controllers (Vive Wands). However you can use these with the Knuckles controllers for a better experience but that adds £250 on top.
Considering dropping £150-£200 on a Lenovo Explorer. I don't have much interest in playing VR games, at least at this point, but I want to play HL. Kinda just feels like money wasted though, since I could be replacing it in the near future if VR takes off. The dilemma is real. I really don't like the thought of a subpar experience but £1000 is so much
Last edited:
I really wouldn't bother with Windows Mixed Reality due to the controller tracking issues. The controllers also eat batteries. The headsets only have two cameras and it's easy to put the controllers in a position where they lose tracking. If you can get one mega cheap then sure, but controller tracking and ergonomics in VR is fundamental to a good experience, and there are only two companies that have nailed it - Oculus with the touch controllers (either with sensors on CV1 or inside out tracking on Rift S/Quest) or Valve with the Index controllers and lighthouse technology.
Pony up the cash and get a Quest for £399.
The Quest offers use-cases which both the Rift S and Index can only dream of due to the portability (VR films anywhere in the world, VR porn in bed, using social media apps, taking it to friends house).
Once the finger tracking is released for the Quest, you won't need to carry controllers for basic tasks too which will be awesome in terms of it being a portable device.
The Oculus Link gives you 80% of the visual fidelity of an Index/Rift S whilst providing MUCH better colours and black levels. It trades blows and therefore some games like Vader Immortal look amazing on the Quest's OLED screen, whilst other games like Asgard's wrath clearly look better on a Rift S or Index. Regardless though, you'll get a similar gameplay experience from both.
The kicker with the Quest is its refresh rate is low and on fast paced games, they'll feel better on the other two headsets. However, once again swinging in roundabouts, being TETHERLESS is something I personally prefer to buttery smoothness as the wire itself is very jarring and offers an inferior experience in games such as Superhot etc. You can be as smooth as you want but if I'm confined to one room or a couple of metres before feeling a wire pull on my head from above or the floor, its not ideal.
____
Its now basically a 2 in 1 device which offers tremendous value over every other headset and its OLED panel gives it a clear edge in colour which for its price point, it doesn't deserve to have if you compare it to the Index's £919 price tag.
VR Build:
1. Oculus Quest 399
2. Amazon USB 3.1 to USB C cable 3m 8.99
3. Mamut grips for quest controllers 29.99
[4. Optional USB extension cable (active) 14.99]
[5. Optional Short headphone cable (right angled headphone jack on one side) 1.99]
6. Your favourite over ear headphones or IEMs
That will give you 80-90% of the Index/Rift S experience with a portable VR solution for infinite roomscale and large playspace support (with an obvious hit to graphical fidelity).
As an entry point to VR, I can no longer look past the Quest as the best recommendation with Oculus Link. The only true negative would be its comfort (which isn't an issue for myself but its a matter of personal opinion).
If you're prepared to always be tethered to the PC and have a wire, then the Index is very expensive but best-in-class compared to the Rift S. However it's software and eco system is inferior. There are prevalent QA issues with the controller's and valve's RMA process is inconsistent and can result in waiting 1 month for replacements. The Rift S excellent value for money for a PCVR headset but in all respects from audio to refresh rate to fov, a budget headset with compromises given we're at the generation 1.5 point of VR. Both have the big big advantage of better clarity and eliminating the screen door effect at the cost of LCD panels rather than OLED. This DOES reduce the pop of images coming at you which OLED had offered us previously. The impact of this will vary game to game and it becomes a question of (for PCVR gameplay) a soft but infinite contrast OLED image of a quest or a crystal clear but LCD panels of the Index/Rift S.
I still struggle despite comparisons to decide which I prefer and usually switch based on a game by game basis.
Last edited: