Oculus Rift Journal / Impressions
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Im not doing anything fancy since I am not a great writer. Theres not going to be a review, so you got to draw your own conclusions. Im trying out a few games and writing down my thoughts on the rift/game implementation as I play them. It might not be every day that I make a post. Its alot of downloading/configuring. Can follow along on my blog. [url]http://ramblingsofa3dgamer.blogspot.com/[/url] If you have a request of a game that I should check out thats [u]currently[/u] available on the Rift. That you want me to try out leave a comment and I will [u]probably[/u] try it.
Im not doing anything fancy since I am not a great writer. Theres not going to be a review, so you got to draw your own conclusions. Im trying out a few games and writing down my thoughts on the rift/game implementation as I play them. It might not be every day that I make a post. Its alot of downloading/configuring. Can follow along on my blog.
http://ramblingsofa3dgamer.blogspot.com/

If you have a request of a game that I should check out thats currently available on the Rift. That you want me to try out leave a comment and I will probably try it.

Co-founder of helixmod.blog.com

If you like one of my helixmod patches and want to donate. Can send to me through paypal - eqzitara@yahoo.com

#1
Posted 07/19/2013 05:40 AM   
Interesting read. Overall are you impressed/looking forward to the full release? Your notes don't seem all that positive.
Interesting read. Overall are you impressed/looking forward to the full release? Your notes don't seem all that positive.

#2
Posted 07/19/2013 06:04 AM   
I was very impressed with Tuscany and felt if resolution can surpass the "screen door effect" then I'd like that. TF2 didn't impress me one way or another. I liked TF2 as a game and played it a good deal prior. Rift made me feel severely handicapped. Not even saying it in a competitive nature. The game is at least 50% too fast for it to feel right. Default mode is way too awkward to play. The best mode was this one.. 1: Aiming with the rift, steering with the mouse. This mode may be buggy and "drift" after a while. It still felt off but it was best balance for the game.Though you can turn off headtracking but that seemed kind of pointless so I didnt try it. Maybe they made these 8 modes because of the speed issue. The 3D was good, less then I'd like but I was more or less happy with it. 50%ish of what I am used to.
I was very impressed with Tuscany and felt if resolution can surpass the "screen door effect" then I'd like that.

TF2 didn't impress me one way or another. I liked TF2 as a game and played it a good deal prior. Rift made me feel severely handicapped. Not even saying it in a competitive nature. The game is at least 50% too fast for it to feel right. Default mode is way too awkward to play. The best mode was this one..
1: Aiming with the rift, steering with the mouse. This mode may be buggy and "drift" after a while.
It still felt off but it was best balance for the game.Though you can turn off headtracking but that seemed kind of pointless so I didnt try it. Maybe they made these 8 modes because of the speed issue.

The 3D was good, less then I'd like but I was more or less happy with it. 50%ish of what I am used to.

Co-founder of helixmod.blog.com

If you like one of my helixmod patches and want to donate. Can send to me through paypal - eqzitara@yahoo.com

#3
Posted 07/19/2013 06:24 AM   
Thanks for that second/third opinion. Is there a demo with a cockpit you could play with? Racing game or space/flight sim? Unlikely but a game like Shogun would also be nice - even if it is just watching the replays. (I have no idea how a 2D mouse would look!) As you can tell these are the only types of games (maybe 3rd person - maybe) where I would prefer VR over something like triple 27" screen 3d. I was also interested in reading about the aiming issues for FPSs. That has always been a concern for me with the Rift.
Thanks for that second/third opinion.

Is there a demo with a cockpit you could play with? Racing game or space/flight sim? Unlikely but a game like Shogun would also be nice - even if it is just watching the replays. (I have no idea how a 2D mouse would look!) As you can tell these are the only types of games (maybe 3rd person - maybe) where I would prefer VR over something like triple 27" screen 3d.

I was also interested in reading about the aiming issues for FPSs. That has always been a concern for me with the Rift.

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
-------------------
Vitals: Windows 7 64bit, i5 2500 @ 4.4ghz, SLI GTX670, 8GB, Viewsonic VX2268WM

Handy Driver Discussion
Helix Mod - community fixes
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#4
Posted 07/19/2013 07:57 AM   
[url]http://www.riftenabled.com/[/url] Just make sure its not listed as vierieo/vorpx.
http://www.riftenabled.com/

Just make sure its not listed as vierieo/vorpx.

Co-founder of helixmod.blog.com

If you like one of my helixmod patches and want to donate. Can send to me through paypal - eqzitara@yahoo.com

#5
Posted 07/19/2013 08:19 AM   
[quote="eqzitara"]The 3D was good, less then I'd like but I was more or less happy with it. 50%ish of what I am used to. [/quote] I'm curious about this because I can't think of a technical reason for why it couldn't give as strong as 3D effect as any other display. Do close objects not appear close enough? Do distant objects not look distant enough? Maybe you didn't get the IPD setting quite right. Do you know what the max separation of distant objects is when playing on your projector? I know a fair amount of 3D gamers use depth hacks to separate left and right objects beyond their interpupillary distance. That would mean they're used to diverging their eyes somewhat when playing 3D games, and wouldn't get that sensation when switching to a device that's set to their actual IPD. If that were the case, the solution would be to just get used to the more natural setting, or just cheat Rift's IPD setup. Or perhaps its some other subjective factor, like the screen door impacting the overall visual experience.
eqzitara said:The 3D was good, less then I'd like but I was more or less happy with it. 50%ish of what I am used to.


I'm curious about this because I can't think of a technical reason for why it couldn't give as strong as 3D effect as any other display. Do close objects not appear close enough? Do distant objects not look distant enough? Maybe you didn't get the IPD setting quite right.

Do you know what the max separation of distant objects is when playing on your projector? I know a fair amount of 3D gamers use depth hacks to separate left and right objects beyond their interpupillary distance. That would mean they're used to diverging their eyes somewhat when playing 3D games, and wouldn't get that sensation when switching to a device that's set to their actual IPD. If that were the case, the solution would be to just get used to the more natural setting, or just cheat Rift's IPD setup.

Or perhaps its some other subjective factor, like the screen door impacting the overall visual experience.

#6
Posted 07/19/2013 08:50 AM   
[quote="eqzitara"][url]http://www.riftenabled.com/[/url] Just make sure its not listed as vierieo/vorpx.[/quote] Would you give this a try please? It looks free. Space War. Probably rubbish but I thought I could see a cocpit... [url]http://www.riftenabled.com/admin/app/267[/url] Thanks!
eqzitara said:http://www.riftenabled.com/

Just make sure its not listed as vierieo/vorpx.



Would you give this a try please? It looks free. Space War. Probably rubbish but I thought I could see a cocpit...

http://www.riftenabled.com/admin/app/267

Thanks!

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
-------------------
Vitals: Windows 7 64bit, i5 2500 @ 4.4ghz, SLI GTX670, 8GB, Viewsonic VX2268WM

Handy Driver Discussion
Helix Mod - community fixes
Bo3b's Shaderhacker School - How to fix 3D in games
3dsolutionsgaming.com - videos, reviews and 3D fixes

#7
Posted 07/19/2013 09:19 AM   
[quote="andysonofbob"]Is there a demo with a cockpit you could play with? Racing game or space/flight sim? Unlikely but a game like Shogun would also be nice - even if it is just watching the replays. (I have no idea how a 2D mouse would look!) As you can tell these are the only types of games (maybe 3rd person - maybe) where I would prefer VR over something like triple 27" screen 3d.[/quote]The best one I've seen is First Law. Pretty compelling cockpit flyer. It's fascinating to turn your head and see your wings and engines. The game itself is interesting, and pretty hard. [url]http://theriftlist.com/Home/Game?name=First%20Law[/url]
andysonofbob said:Is there a demo with a cockpit you could play with? Racing game or space/flight sim? Unlikely but a game like Shogun would also be nice - even if it is just watching the replays. (I have no idea how a 2D mouse would look!) As you can tell these are the only types of games (maybe 3rd person - maybe) where I would prefer VR over something like triple 27" screen 3d.
The best one I've seen is First Law. Pretty compelling cockpit flyer. It's fascinating to turn your head and see your wings and engines. The game itself is interesting, and pretty hard.

http://theriftlist.com/Home/Game?name=First%20Law

Acer H5360 (1280x720@120Hz) - ASUS VG248QE with GSync mod - 3D Vision 1&2 - Driver 372.54
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#8
Posted 07/19/2013 09:23 AM   
[quote="bo3b"]The best one I've seen is First Law. Pretty compelling cockpit flyer. It's fascinating to turn your head and see your wings and engines. The game itself is interesting, and pretty hard. [url]http://theriftlist.com/Home/Game?name=First%20Law[/url][/quote] That looks awesome! Is it responsive? Say if you quickly move your head to look at a target above and behind you is it nimble enough to feel like you are there? (Ignoring the physical presence of the OR of course!)
bo3b said:The best one I've seen is First Law. Pretty compelling cockpit flyer. It's fascinating to turn your head and see your wings and engines. The game itself is interesting, and pretty hard.

http://theriftlist.com/Home/Game?name=First%20Law


That looks awesome! Is it responsive? Say if you quickly move your head to look at a target above and behind you is it nimble enough to feel like you are there? (Ignoring the physical presence of the OR of course!)

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
-------------------
Vitals: Windows 7 64bit, i5 2500 @ 4.4ghz, SLI GTX670, 8GB, Viewsonic VX2268WM

Handy Driver Discussion
Helix Mod - community fixes
Bo3b's Shaderhacker School - How to fix 3D in games
3dsolutionsgaming.com - videos, reviews and 3D fixes

#9
Posted 07/19/2013 09:40 AM   
[quote="andysonofbob"]That looks awesome! Is it responsive? Say if you quickly move your head to look at a target above and behind you is it nimble enough to feel like you are there? (Ignoring the physical presence of the OR of course!)[/quote]Yes indeed, it's got very low latency, and looking around is the only way to spot the enemy ships. No visual lag that I could tell, pretty much like the Tuscany demo, and very much unlike the Museum of the Microstar demo. The other interesting part of having a cockpit like that is that dramatically lowered the vr-sickness by apparently having a static frame of reference with a 'ship' flying through space to not mess with your inner ear. Neither I nor my friend had any sense of sim-sickness in this one.
andysonofbob said:That looks awesome! Is it responsive? Say if you quickly move your head to look at a target above and behind you is it nimble enough to feel like you are there? (Ignoring the physical presence of the OR of course!)
Yes indeed, it's got very low latency, and looking around is the only way to spot the enemy ships.

No visual lag that I could tell, pretty much like the Tuscany demo, and very much unlike the Museum of the Microstar demo.

The other interesting part of having a cockpit like that is that dramatically lowered the vr-sickness by apparently having a static frame of reference with a 'ship' flying through space to not mess with your inner ear. Neither I nor my friend had any sense of sim-sickness in this one.

Acer H5360 (1280x720@120Hz) - ASUS VG248QE with GSync mod - 3D Vision 1&2 - Driver 372.54
GTX 970 - i5-4670K@4.2GHz - 12GB RAM - Win7x64+evilKB2670838 - 4 Disk X25 RAID
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#10
Posted 07/19/2013 11:04 AM   
It should be noted in case anyone is unfamiliar, the motion blur when moving your head isn't really related to the refresh rate of the screen. It's a brain issue. Valve's Michael Abrash has a wonderfully technical article on the subject: [url]http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/abrash/why-virtual-isnt-real-to-your-brain/[/url] Just another of the technical hurdles that needs to be addressed and solved.
It should be noted in case anyone is unfamiliar, the motion blur when moving your head isn't really related to the refresh rate of the screen. It's a brain issue. Valve's Michael Abrash has a wonderfully technical article on the subject:

http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/abrash/why-virtual-isnt-real-to-your-brain/

Just another of the technical hurdles that needs to be addressed and solved.

#11
Posted 07/19/2013 11:49 AM   
Reading eqzitara saying that he was very impressed with the Tuscany demo is great to hear, it has to be really good indeed, and your lack of any nausea seems encouraging. Also 50% of 3d vision level looks acceptable to me, I was also worried with some of the comments about the lack of 3d strength. Thanks for the info, I'll check daily your website for more updates.
Reading eqzitara saying that he was very impressed with the Tuscany demo is great to hear, it has to be really good indeed, and your lack of any nausea seems encouraging.

Also 50% of 3d vision level looks acceptable to me, I was also worried with some of the comments about the lack of 3d strength.

Thanks for the info, I'll check daily your website for more updates.

All hail 3d modders DHR, MasterOtaku, Losti, Necropants, Helifax, bo3b, mike_ar69, Flugan, DarkStarSword, 4everAwake, 3d4dd and so many more helping to keep the 3d dream alive, find their 3d fixes at http://helixmod.blogspot.com/ Also check my site for spanish VR and mobile gaming news: www.gamermovil.com

#12
Posted 07/19/2013 04:57 PM   
What you need is Oculus Rift on your smart phone? [url]http://www.edge-online.com/news/oculus-rift-aiming-for-2014-release-consoles-not-a-focus-but-mobile/[/url]

#13
Posted 07/19/2013 06:50 PM   
[quote="Airion"][quote="eqzitara"]The 3D was good, less then I'd like but I was more or less happy with it. 50%ish of what I am used to. [/quote] I'm curious about this because I can't think of a technical reason for why it couldn't give as strong as 3D effect as any other display. Do close objects not appear close enough? Do distant objects not look distant enough? Maybe you didn't get the IPD setting quite right. Do you know what the max separation of distant objects is when playing on your projector? I know a fair amount of 3D gamers use depth hacks to separate left and right objects beyond their interpupillary distance. That would mean they're used to diverging their eyes somewhat when playing 3D games, and wouldn't get that sensation when switching to a device that's set to their actual IPD. If that were the case, the solution would be to just get used to the more natural setting, or just cheat Rift's IPD setup. Or perhaps its some other subjective factor, like the screen door impacting the overall visual experience.[/quote] It may be possible to cheat IPD, but I dont think I did it wrong. I really don't know enough about IPD to cheat it though since it will effect where images go. It has no depth % adjuster like 3d vision so it probably plays in safer ranges. 3DVision-blog also mentioned less 3D effect. 50% is really not that bad, I'm not complaining about it. I thought it was going to be worse but it had a good 3d effect. Convergence is what had me most worried but it maintained a good amount in both games. Though the people that go very high with convergence may be a bit dissapointed. @Paul33993 Maybe in part refresh rate because they mentioned in a few articles they've improved it in a few prototypes.
Airion said:
eqzitara said:The 3D was good, less then I'd like but I was more or less happy with it. 50%ish of what I am used to.


I'm curious about this because I can't think of a technical reason for why it couldn't give as strong as 3D effect as any other display. Do close objects not appear close enough? Do distant objects not look distant enough? Maybe you didn't get the IPD setting quite right.

Do you know what the max separation of distant objects is when playing on your projector? I know a fair amount of 3D gamers use depth hacks to separate left and right objects beyond their interpupillary distance. That would mean they're used to diverging their eyes somewhat when playing 3D games, and wouldn't get that sensation when switching to a device that's set to their actual IPD. If that were the case, the solution would be to just get used to the more natural setting, or just cheat Rift's IPD setup.

Or perhaps its some other subjective factor, like the screen door impacting the overall visual experience.


It may be possible to cheat IPD, but I dont think I did it wrong. I really don't know enough about IPD to cheat it though since it will effect where images go. It has no depth % adjuster like 3d vision so it probably plays in safer ranges. 3DVision-blog also mentioned less 3D effect. 50% is really not that bad, I'm not complaining about it. I thought it was going to be worse but it had a good 3d effect. Convergence is what had me most worried but it maintained a good amount in both games. Though the people that go very high with convergence may be a bit dissapointed.


@Paul33993
Maybe in part refresh rate because they mentioned in a few articles they've improved it in a few prototypes.

Co-founder of helixmod.blog.com

If you like one of my helixmod patches and want to donate. Can send to me through paypal - eqzitara@yahoo.com

#14
Posted 07/19/2013 08:20 PM   
One really interesting thing to me is that in Half Life 2, the [i]water [/i]looks right. How is it possible that water effects work correctly on the Rift, and have all the noted shader flaws in 3D Vision? This doesn't look to me to be a case of the -vr flag turning off effects, or simplifying the water. It still has reflection and refraction, but it looks right, instead of the botched up mess you see with 3D Vision.
One really interesting thing to me is that in Half Life 2, the water looks right.

How is it possible that water effects work correctly on the Rift, and have all the noted shader flaws in 3D Vision?


This doesn't look to me to be a case of the -vr flag turning off effects, or simplifying the water. It still has reflection and refraction, but it looks right, instead of the botched up mess you see with 3D Vision.

Acer H5360 (1280x720@120Hz) - ASUS VG248QE with GSync mod - 3D Vision 1&2 - Driver 372.54
GTX 970 - i5-4670K@4.2GHz - 12GB RAM - Win7x64+evilKB2670838 - 4 Disk X25 RAID
SAGER NP9870-S - GTX 980 - i7-6700K - Win10 Pro 1607
Latest 3Dmigoto Release
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#15
Posted 07/20/2013 05:06 AM   
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