The Oculus Rift - Virtual Reality is finally here!

Hey guys!

I just wanted to look for some ATS´ers to discuss my favourite new gadget of them all.

I am talking about the first actually working VR headset, the oculus rift. For those of you who haven´t heard of it so far here is a quick recap.

The founder wanted a matrix like experience. Meaning a headset that fully immerses you in the environment. So far VR headsets were more like a bigscreen TV floating in space, but they never managed to create the illusion of actually being IN the scene.

Well, he didn´t find any product that suited his needs, so he started a kickstarter campaign to develop his own.

This "little" project has snowballed intensively since then and has become very well funded.

There is already a "development kit" for sale, so that software can be developed for the launch of the consumer version.

Needless to say that I have bought the Dev Kit (it´s around 300 $) and although the resolution still is holding it back a little, the effect of acutally BEING in these worlds is already there and very convincing.

Believe me, I have tried that thing every night for the past weeks. It will be a game changer!

So I am looking for like minded VR freaks like me, who followed that dream since the early 90ies when the first VR dreams were born.

So, what do you guys think? Just another gadget that soon will be forgotten? Or the next big step towards the holodeck?

What applications outside and inside of the entertainment industry are possible?

I for one am thoroughly excited by this product, especially because it´s not theory. It´s already working!

Long-distance surgery (need some robot arms to go with the OR).

reply to post by Elton


Great point! Actually developing a "telepresence" as it´s apparently called is one of the targeted uses for this device. Surgeons can operate on a global level (literally hehe).

But also take disasters like fukushima, where no human can physically intervene because of radiation. But with a complete telepresence (an asimo like robot that is controlled down to finger movements by a human X miles away) you could help in these situations without risking human life.

I really do think that this will be a game changer as the immersion is so complete and the experience so fascinating.

Actually, here is a clip of Jamie Hyneman testing the Rift, some of you may know him from the mythbusters. And he talks quite a bit about telepresence.

I havd not been able to try this I really want to, it sounds awesome. I have tried early attempts at vr that pretty much sucked. On shark tank a few weeks ago one of the inventions was a device that allows one to walk and run in the real world to control your movements in the vr world. The matrix/holodeck is probably closer than we think.

reply to post by abe froman


It actually IS closer than we think hehe. I too have tried a lot of different VR thingies, starting with the cybermaxx in the 90ies and ending with the vuzix glasses a few years back. Needless to say, all of them were disappointing in their own way.

But the rift, well that puppy is different!

Here is a well commented video about the dev kit of the rift and what it can do already today.

The guy really made a few great videos and gave a much better description of the feeling than other videos did. This is just the first video in a series of 6 or 7 I think. These clips eventually lead me down the rabbit hole and to the order button.

Enjoy!

A friend of mine let me borrow his Oculus Rift for a couple of weeks. Resolution is not great but its best thing available at moment. Also the head gear is a very uncomfortable after a few mins of having it on.
Its like wearing diving goggles.

I couldnt wear it for long so i didnt play any commercial games with it. I just stuck to the tech demos and stuff to get the feel of it. My 3yr old loved it tho she spent most time in the roller coaster demos and the space walking demo.

The day when its 1080 res and wireless in everyway and small and comfortable then it will be great.

Yea I've actually been keeping a distant eye on this and the Virtuix omni (360 treadmill.)
The combination should make for a pretty immersive experience.


You guys notice that the guy from mythbusters didnt look up too often? he looked down a few times but up not so much. I'm expecting game developers to take advantage of that with falling objects. incoming, moving aerial targets ect

reply to post by Nightaudit


I want one now please. Thank you Santa! But yes, this is something I want to try and maybe own, and once more people get their hands on making gaming and other experiential programs for it the sky's the limit (or at least the kind of sky they put up in the forum at Vegas to make you think it's the limit). Thanks for the thread.

I remember when I first got a 19" monitor and the Unreal fly through demo came out and I lost my mind. This is close so close in fact I think it will be marketable finally. It looks light and practical and might actually catch on this time. I cannot wait! I am thinking I would not be a bleeding edger on this like I have on most tech because it has bit me in the butt more recently but I will be on board by 2.0 or 3.0 for sure!

I'm gonna wait until the quality is better. I've heard nothing but mixed reviews. By that time they also might have more companies on board developing stuff for it and potentially even things like gloves or other add ons which I think could be pretty cool. But it does look like it has some potential.

This is going to boost the PC game market by loads, MWO and Star citizen have said they will support it so I will buy one when released.
A question for anyone in the know...do you control your movement by looking left or right etc? or is it just your view what you control?..

This isn't virtual reality.

This is tricking your brain through your eyes to Think it's virtual reality. Point in case, folks with sight in only one eye cannot use that device, it simply won't work. In other words, they present an illusion to you and your brain buys it hook line and sinker.

Like you all I can say is, "It's about damn time!!"

The gaming industry is huge now and that will surely drive this thing to bigger and better versions very quickly. However, just wait until the porn industry joins in too. Then there will massive innovation and technological leaps even faster. Whether you're into games or girls/guys, those two forces will push VR into the forefront for sure.

I just heard about the OR not too long ago.

This thing looks pretty amazing, especially when it comes to horror games. OR is going to take horror to an all new level. Even though the graphics may not be the best currently, it's the immersion that counts, atleast when it comes to horror games with the OR. (OR + headphones = best experience. No outside distractions.)

If anyone here watches Markiplier, here's his first reaction while playing Dreadhalls with the OR. It's supposed to be the scariest horror game out there on the OR currently. He starts crying eventually. (I really want to play this now.)

I think I'll wait for this as well. Technology keeps growing. It will only get better.

If I got one of these, the next gen would come out the next day, for sure. lol