Oculus Rift is here!

[David Robles FSX]

It's here It's here!

Finally:

Oculus Rift VR headset costs $600

View Link:

https://shop.oculus.com/en-us/cart/

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/games/...d=ansmsnnews11

[YoYo]

600? In the end of the year will be at 300.
Im suprised this price, proposition for the market in the last summer was on the level 300-350$.

[Daube]

Well, not there but quite. It's just a preorder.
And for us in Europe, that's a nice 740 euros deep into our...
Not for me, not at that price. So now I wait to see how the prices will evolve once the other brands will release their helmets.

[YoYo]

Fortunately, will begin competition....

[awstub]

Anything new consumer-wise on the VR front is good, but I think I'll wait for CastAR....... http://castar.com/

[Timmy74]

Looks very exciting!!! However, I am confused as to how "keyboard" interaction will work? Will you be able to see the keyboard or will I have to buy a joystick/yoke that can be programed to "hot key" all of my keyboard commands?

[Daube]

Looks very exciting!!! However, I am confused as to how "keyboard" interaction will work? Will you be able to see the keyboard or will I have to buy a joystick/yoke that can be programed to "hot key" all of my keyboard commands?

With the right devices, you won't need your keyboard anymore

[MarkH]

However, I am confused as to how "keyboard" interaction will work?

It won't. That's the HMD's 'elephant in the room'.

[CodyValkyrie]

Back in the day when I worked with Vuzix, this problem was easily resolved because the unit had a small gap from which you could peer through for typing, etc. These units nowadays are much more sophisticated, with higher resolutions and now wrap around your eyes. If you're able to touch typist, then you might be okay, but I understand how this could present problems for many others.

[Alan_A]

If you're able to touch type, then you might be okay...

Even if you can (I can), it might be a problem, since looking for a single key or a couple of them in the middle of a flight isn't like normal typing - it's more hunt-and-peck.

On the other hand, you've got me thinking... how many keyboard commands do I really use? Maybe just transferring a couple more of them to the HOTAS and...

Hmmm...

[checks budget...]

Hmmm...

[YoYo]

[Tony G]

Been using the DK2 since September and I bought in for the Cv1 in the first three minutes. I don't know if I can ever return to simming with monitors.

Been flight simming since FS98, all the Janes titles, the whole CFS series, moved to triple monitors in 2012, and this has been the biggest game changer I've 'seen'.

[spatialpro]

Daube is absolutely right. Watch the video he posted and do some reading over at the FlyInside website. By using a Leap Motion (a fantastic device, I have one myself) you can use hand gestures to flick switches/turn dials etc. in the virtual cockpit, using virtual "hands" in the cockpit. It seems weird at first, but soon becomes second nature. If you need to do something which isn't clickable in the VC you can bring up a window in FlyInside in your 3D space.

When OC CV1 hit the streets I'll definitely get one and will be using Leap Motion with FlyInside. My keyboard will simply be redundant.

Andy

[MarkH]

I'll definitely get one and will be using Leap Motion with FlyInside. My keyboard will simply be redundant.

This thread is getting way too evangelical. I watched the LeapMotion video and it looks incredibly clunky. As for browsing windows inside the cockpit, I expect they will be unreadable. Don't forget you're doing all of this on a 1080-pixel-wide display that fills your field of view. (That's 1080 pixels advertised - I believe the DK2 is only 960 pixels wide.)

[Tony G]

I'm amused by all the people stating how poor this is going to be without even trying it. Windows within the DK2 are readable, and the resolution will be even better with the CV1.

Why would you expect the windows to be unreadable? Have you experienced the DK2?

[Daube]

This thread is getting way too evangelical. I watched the LeapMotion video and it looks incredibly clunky. As for browsing windows inside the cockpit, I expect they will be unreadable. Don't forget you're doing all of this on a 1080-pixel-wide display that fills your field of view. (That's 1080 pixels advertised - I believe the DK2 is only 960 pixels wide.)

Well, it's cluncky because it's a prototype, first of all. And for being a prototype, I think it's already quite appealing already
Then, we don't know anything about the screens of the retail version of the Occulus.
Finally, it depends what you want to read. For reading maps and stuff, you won't need such a high resolution anyways. Of course, if you plan to read the news during your flight, you can wonder... and you can bring that popup closer too

[TuFun]

frooglesim posted yesterday his experience with DK2.

[StormILM]

Froogle is right, unless you have a system that can consistently hold at or above 75fps in FSX/P3D, OC is a waste of time. Not saying some users aren't going to be able to obtain such FPS but many won't. As time goes by and other VR projects now in development come to fruition, things may change. By that time, there may end up being other core simulator options available.

[Tony G]

Good review, aside from his comments about FSX and P3D. Flyinside has worked out a system through asynchronous time warp that produces 75 FPS to the rift, even though the sim may be running at 10-20. It makes it a smooth experience.

More reading on flyinside. http://forum.flyinside-fsx.com

Anyone in the Van, BC area is welcome to contact me to take a closer look inside the Rift