[Review] 3D Vision Surround vs. Oculus Rift Development Kit 2
  5 / 5    
I also have the hmzT2 as well as large screen projector. Both have advantages and disadvantages over dk2. For me the hmzT2 is too uncomfortable but sharper image. Dk2 is much better for long wear sessions. My 85 inch projection screen doesn't have head tracking, but having track ir on my monitors, I have experienced it. The dk2 head tracking is a couple levels above in my opinion. When I show people how you can swivel your head around 180 degrees and look behind you in a space ship, under water or in a racing car it kinda freaks you out. It's like "yikes how do I get out of here?". You are definitely in the middle of a world, not on the edge peering in.
I also have the hmzT2 as well as large screen projector. Both have advantages and disadvantages over dk2.

For me the hmzT2 is too uncomfortable but sharper image. Dk2 is much better for long wear sessions.

My 85 inch projection screen doesn't have head tracking, but having track ir on my monitors, I have experienced it. The dk2 head tracking is a couple levels above in my opinion. When I show people how you can swivel your head around 180 degrees and look behind you in a space ship, under water or in a racing car it kinda freaks you out. It's like "yikes how do I get out of here?". You are definitely in the middle of a world, not on the edge peering in.

#61
Posted 09/01/2014 02:45 PM   
[quote="bo3b"]Great stuff, thanks for sharing. Do any of you with DK2 have a 3D projector also? When I used DK1, I think I was also underwhelmed, because I'm already accustomed to playing in "life-size" with the giant screen. Having just recently gotten a 3D monitor, I can agree that having things scaled to more life-like is a big bump to immersion. When I play on projector in a dark room, I got far better immersion than with DK1, even with no head-tracking. So, just curious if anyone has also tried projector for comparison.[/quote] Yeah, I have the Acer H5360BD set to 100" and sitting 8ft away. Playing games on there feels like looking out of a window into somewhere else, much more than my 27" Asus VG278H. I would say I'm more impressed on the projector than immersed. You can never escape the two speakers mounted either side of the image on the wall and the centre speaker beneath it :-) The projector is great for scale and deep 3D, the monitor is great for fine detail, and the DK2 is great for immersion and blows the projector away as far as scale goes, the projector will never get close.
bo3b said:Great stuff, thanks for sharing.

Do any of you with DK2 have a 3D projector also? When I used DK1, I think I was also underwhelmed, because I'm already accustomed to playing in "life-size" with the giant screen. Having just recently gotten a 3D monitor, I can agree that having things scaled to more life-like is a big bump to immersion.

When I play on projector in a dark room, I got far better immersion than with DK1, even with no head-tracking.

So, just curious if anyone has also tried projector for comparison.


Yeah, I have the Acer H5360BD set to 100" and sitting 8ft away. Playing games on there feels like looking out of a window into somewhere else, much more than my 27" Asus VG278H. I would say I'm more impressed on the projector than immersed. You can never escape the two speakers mounted either side of the image on the wall and the centre speaker beneath it :-)

The projector is great for scale and deep 3D, the monitor is great for fine detail, and the DK2 is great for immersion and blows the projector away as far as scale goes, the projector will never get close.

i7 4790k @ 4.6 - 16GB RAM - 2x SLI Titan X
27" ASUS ROG SWIFT, 28" - 65" Samsung UHD8200 4k 3DTV - Oculus Rift CV1 - 34" Acer Predator X34 Ultrawide

Old kit:
i5 2500k @ 4.4 - 8gb RAM
Acer H5360BD projector
GTX 580, SLI 670, GTX 980 EVGA SC
Acer XB280HK 4k 60hz
Oculus DK2

#62
Posted 09/01/2014 04:40 PM   
DORK ALERT: Here's a pretty good difference in the level of immersion. When I wave my hand to the crowd (sim racing) with 3D Vision, I'm aware I'm just being a goofy dork. When I do it with DK2, I wonder why my hand is missing from the view. Still being a dork, but the immediate sensation is "where's my hand"?
DORK ALERT: Here's a pretty good difference in the level of immersion. When I wave my hand to the crowd (sim racing) with 3D Vision, I'm aware I'm just being a goofy dork. When I do it with DK2, I wonder why my hand is missing from the view. Still being a dork, but the immediate sensation is "where's my hand"?

#63
Posted 09/01/2014 10:06 PM   
Out of curiosity if you were to switch off the headtracking, and just use the Rift as a display, would it be any good at all for 3'rd person games? Would something like Dragon Age or Tomb Raider be completely unplayable on it? When I try to imagine what it's like using the rift I honestly can't tell what it would be like to see DA in 3'rd person but with that giant FOV, but also to scale.. but, but..? I'll stop here before going into the TR but(t) jokes.
Out of curiosity if you were to switch off the headtracking, and just use the Rift as a display, would it be any good at all for 3'rd person games?

Would something like Dragon Age or Tomb Raider be completely unplayable on it?

When I try to imagine what it's like using the rift I honestly can't tell what it would be like to see DA in 3'rd person but with that giant FOV, but also to scale.. but, but..? I'll stop here before going into the TR but(t) jokes.

#64
Posted 09/02/2014 02:29 PM   
Not sure what you're asking for. You can't just use Rift as a display. It needs support to account for the way the display/optics work. You could use the Virtual Desktop application to turn your Rift into a usable screen. And yes, it looks huge on there. Head tracking even works if you want to zoom into the image and have some display visible left/right. But it's a 2D image. It's basically the equivalent of playing a game on a massive movie screen.
Not sure what you're asking for. You can't just use Rift as a display. It needs support to account for the way the display/optics work.

You could use the Virtual Desktop application to turn your Rift into a usable screen. And yes, it looks huge on there. Head tracking even works if you want to zoom into the image and have some display visible left/right. But it's a 2D image. It's basically the equivalent of playing a game on a massive movie screen.

#65
Posted 09/02/2014 02:46 PM   
Sorry, no I meant enabling 3D through tri-def or what not for 3'rd person games and playing using the Rift.
Sorry, no I meant enabling 3D through tri-def or what not for 3'rd person games and playing using the Rift.

#66
Posted 09/02/2014 02:49 PM   
To me third person ruins the immersion which is the main benefit of the dk2. You lose the scale immersion as soon as you see that little person in front of you. The field of view I am getting doesn't seem that much more noticeable than being close up to my monitor or projection tv. For third person at this point anyway with the dk2's lower resolution and 3 d realistic vs high depth, I think I prefer the monitor for 3rd person games. I am still experimenting. I usually preferred 3 rd person games but now with the rift I am really enjoying first person games like thief and skyrim. I still enjoy my strategic games best like total war and war game red dragon, and rift and doesn't seem to add much there. The one hope I have on that front is the treatment they do in elite dangerous with the strategic galaxy view.. You are essentially floating in the galaxy. That's a pretty impressive treatment which may offer some help for strategy games.
To me third person ruins the immersion which is the main benefit of the dk2. You lose the scale immersion as soon as you see that little person in front of you. The field of view I am getting doesn't seem that much more noticeable than being close up to my monitor or projection tv.

For third person at this point anyway with the dk2's lower resolution and 3 d realistic vs high depth, I think I prefer the monitor for 3rd person games. I am still experimenting. I usually preferred 3 rd person games but now with the rift I am really enjoying first person games like thief and skyrim. I still enjoy my strategic games best like total war and war game red dragon, and rift and doesn't seem to add much there. The one hope I have on that front is the treatment they do in elite dangerous with the strategic galaxy view.. You are essentially floating in the galaxy. That's a pretty impressive treatment which may offer some help for strategy games.

#67
Posted 09/02/2014 02:58 PM   
[quote="Drayth"]Sorry, no I meant enabling 3D through tri-def or what not for 3'rd person games and playing using the Rift.[/quote] Technically there's some support. But support is extremely limited with TriDef. And if you go through some forums, it seems they haven't posted about DK2 in months. Last post was "If they received a DK2 kit, they'd look into supporting." Like they expected Oculus to send them one for free or no dice. I'm hesitant to even try the free 14 day trial, because support just seems like a mess. Can't justify rewarding them with 40 dollars under the current circumstances.
Drayth said:Sorry, no I meant enabling 3D through tri-def or what not for 3'rd person games and playing using the Rift.


Technically there's some support. But support is extremely limited with TriDef. And if you go through some forums, it seems they haven't posted about DK2 in months. Last post was "If they received a DK2 kit, they'd look into supporting." Like they expected Oculus to send them one for free or no dice.

I'm hesitant to even try the free 14 day trial, because support just seems like a mess. Can't justify rewarding them with 40 dollars under the current circumstances.

#68
Posted 09/02/2014 03:11 PM   
I am finding VorpX to work well with many games, quite a few are 3rd person (including a few Tomb Raider games you mentioned) although I haven't tried many of them yet. Only Thief and Skyrim. Both work great. Some of the games use 'fake 3d' others real geometry mode or what we here call real 3d. For some reason the fake 3d, for example in thief 2014, isn't as noticeable as it is on my monitor. Skyrim is real 3d and there you can try third person or first person to see the difference.
I am finding VorpX to work well with many games, quite a few are 3rd person (including a few Tomb Raider games you mentioned) although I haven't tried many of them yet. Only Thief and Skyrim. Both work great. Some of the games use 'fake 3d' others real geometry mode or what we here call real 3d. For some reason the fake 3d, for example in thief 2014, isn't as noticeable as it is on my monitor. Skyrim is real 3d and there you can try third person or first person to see the difference.

#69
Posted 09/02/2014 04:29 PM   
Just a heads up, Minecraft mod for DK2 has been released a few days ago: http://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/2f5yid/minecrift_official_preview3_release_with_ipd_fix/
Just a heads up, Minecraft mod for DK2 has been released a few days ago: http://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/2f5yid/minecrift_official_preview3_release_with_ipd_fix/

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

#70
Posted 09/04/2014 07:03 PM   
I have had my DK2 for 3 days now, just want to give my ipressions so far. The whole time I have been reading other peoples reviews and I never really believed people when they said things like "you really feel like you are in the game" , well they were right and it is an awesome experience, but this is only my third day and that effect is sorta dwindling down so the magic is being lost. However I am very excited about VR's future , if they can keep you feeling immersed and the feeling of presence is not lost then it will be golden. I think one of the coolest experience I have had so far is the application called Riftmax , you can actually watch 3d content in a theater which works very well. I am sure someday soon it will be possible to sit in a theater on Riftmax and play 3d games that are more suited for non VR, (basically any 3rd person games) Games/demos I have tried: Assetto Corsa, Live for Speed, Half life 2, Elite Dangerous, Riftmax, UE4 rollercoaster, couch knights, Ocean Rift, JanusVR, Welcome to oculus, Titans of Space. And a few others.
I have had my DK2 for 3 days now, just want to give my ipressions so far. The whole time I have been reading other peoples reviews and I never really believed people when they said things like "you really feel like you are in the game" , well they were right and it is an awesome experience, but this is only my third day and that effect is sorta dwindling down so the magic is being lost. However I am very excited about VR's future , if they can keep you feeling immersed and the feeling of presence is not lost then it will be golden. I think one of the coolest experience I have had so far is the application called Riftmax , you can actually watch 3d content in a theater which works very well. I am sure someday soon it will be possible to sit in a theater on Riftmax and play 3d games that are more suited for non VR, (basically any 3rd person games)

Games/demos I have tried:
Assetto Corsa, Live for Speed, Half life 2, Elite Dangerous, Riftmax, UE4 rollercoaster, couch knights, Ocean Rift, JanusVR, Welcome to oculus, Titans of Space. And a few others.

#71
Posted 12/12/2014 07:47 PM   
  5 / 5    
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