PlayStation VR

[Distinct muttering]

14 minutes ago, jonamok said:

So many of us are already pre-justifying the PS4 Pro. Just needs DF to detail all of the sexy benefits (hopefully) it brings to PSVR and it will be preorder city.

yeah, now I know how much I love the experience any decent tangible benefit could have me getting a one.  I need to increase my hard drive space anyway...

[RIKT]

17 minutes ago, jonamok said:

So many of us are already pre-justifying the PS4 Pro. Just needs DF to detail all of the sexy benefits (hopefully) it brings to PSVR and it will be preorder city.

 

The rear USB socket has me 90% of the way there.

[jonamok]

Keep talkin' dirty big guy.

[Slartibartfast]

While I was trying to hold out on a PSVR purchase until next year at some point, one advantage of buying now is hopefully the expense will be forgotten about by the time I want a Pro at Christmas.

As someone who knows first hand just how amazing super sampling can be to the experience, if Pro allows for super sampling in some / most of the PSVR library then it will be a no brainer. I'd say that is far more important than extra graphical flourishes...just having the resolution or perceived resolution increased makes a massive difference in most cases. As I've outlined before, a perfect example in my case on the Rift is Future Pinball. Now this was very playable without super sampling, but on most tables I would struggle to read things on the backglass, especially any detail on the DMD telling me abouy modes etc. With Super Sampling turned on the DMD display is now clear which actually makes the game significantly more playable

[ridgeracer]

Just tried to buy 

1 hour ago, Slartibartfast said:

Ok, so it seems like camera extension cables are like gold dust (until some release on the 8th November). So if anyone wants to sell one they are not using you know where to come

 

Now I have to tell the Mrs about the impulse purchase and convince her we need to sit a couple of metres closer to the TV for a month!

 

Why not just buy a longer HDMI cable and a power extension lead and move the PS4 and camera closer? Or maybe you have enough length as is by moving the PS4?

[siread]

39 minutes ago, jonamok said:

So many of us are already pre-justifying the PS4 Pro. Just needs DF to detail all of the sexy benefits (hopefully) it brings to PSVR and it will be preorder city.

I'm hoping it will allow for (dare I say it) No Man's Sky in VR, especially if they add a decent content update. I expect Frontier are also looking at Elite Dangerous VR with that bit of extra grunt available. People are in for a serious treat if that does happen - the sense of scale when docking is incredible. Also flying by planets or stars and watching them shrink into the distance behind you is unforgettable.

[Distinct muttering]

The launch demo/experiences really could have done with some sort of chill out star gazing type thing.

 

An on rails solar system tour would be awesome as well.

[McSpeed]

My definitive Batman Arkham VR experience:

 

 

[jonamok]

See Sean, nothing to worry about...

[jonamok]

39 minutes ago, siread said:

I expect Frontier are also looking at Elite Dangerous VR with that bit of extra grunt available.

From your lips to the ear of God/Braben!

 

This would be my killer PSVR app. But with the demands of Horizons I'm sure it would definitely need the extra grunt of the Pro to hit 60fps.

I would buy a PS4 compatible joystick in a heartbeat (assuming there is such a thing?).

 

I assume the problem is that the man from Sony would say no, as not allowed a game that works on Pro but not on the base PS4.

 

 

[Harrisown]

1 hour ago, jonamok said:

So many of us are already pre-justifying the PS4 Pro. Just needs DF to detail all of the sexy benefits (hopefully) it brings to PSVR and it will be preorder city.

I'm going to pre order on Friday , I already have 2 buyers for my PS4 which I'll sell for 100. The upgrade will only cost me £170.

For that do I expect almost every current PSVR title to run native 1080p. Basically I hope for wayward sky/bound type of clarity but that's all up in the air and I can't see anyone finding out until DF get hold of one maybe a couple of days before release.

[Slartibartfast]

56 minutes ago, ridgeracer said:

Just tried to buy 

 

Why not just buy a longer HDMI cable and a power extension lead and move the PS4 and camera closer? Or maybe you have enough length as is by moving the PS4?

Yep, that will be my plan B. Moving the PS4 is an option, was just trying to keep everything neat. So the ideal solution would be to have the camera under the TV and move it to the coffee table when in use.

[Slartibartfast]

47 minutes ago, Hean Dog said:

The launch demo/experiences really could have done with some sort of chill out star gazing type thing.

 

An on rails solar system tour would be awesome as well.

This needs to come to PSVR. I doubt its that intensive graphics wise so would convert pretty easily I would have thought.

 

 

 

[cavalcade]

[Ignore this post, more impressions to follow. My glasses are shit]

[Eighthours]

22 minutes ago, jonamok said:

From your lips to the ear of God/Braben!

 

This would be my killer PSVR app. But with the demands of Horizons I'm sure it would definitely need the extra grunt of the Pro to hit 60fps.

I would buy a PS4 compatible joystick in a heartbeat (assuming there is such a thing?).

 

I assume the problem is that the man from Sony would say no, as not allowed a game that works on Pro but not on the base PS4.

 

 

 

But haven't they got some wriggle room there? The base game would still work on PS4. I don't know if there is a specific 'no' rule regarding exclusive VR modes. Even if there is, there could be an N64 expansion pack-type deal, eg. have a really cut-down VR mode for ordinary PS4 in order to tick the box, and the full-fat mode for Pro users. 

 

I'm sad that it looks like Driveclub VR won't be making use of the Pro. Visually it's the game that needs the extra grunt most. Imagine getting the resolution up and the weather effects back!

[cassidy]

So my no VR tonight may already be out the window. Had £10 game credit so Driveclub for £20 was too much to ignore 

[CactuarBill]

Played it for the first time yesterday, the diving shark encounter was fun and terrifying.  Then I did rush of blood and that was scary as hell.  Loved the experience.

[jonamok]

19 minutes ago, cavalcade said:

The first thing I tried was VR Playroom with the platformer. And I'm afraid I can't join the rapturous reception for it. I don't think the VR really adds a great deal to it

 

Get out and stay out.

 

 

Only kidding.

 

You can come back in if you find your soul.

[Slartibartfast]

34 minutes ago, cavalcade said:

Well, I decided to forego work for a couple of hours on it. Now, just as some background I've never used VR (apart from a couple of exhibits at science fairs, but they were static images), and while I have a gaming PC it's very old now and I spend most of my time as a console peasant on a 40 inch 1080p TV which is about 5 years old. I also wear glasses and have the eyes of a 40 year old. So I have fairly low image quality standards. 

 

I'll start with the hardware. It's very Sony. Very slick from the moment you open the box and an absolute doddle to set up. I think the headset is comfortable, light and well designed. No issues there. It feels worth the money. 

 

But, my issues now begin. I'll start with image quality. Now, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I don't think I was 100% convinced it was going to be flawless. Which is a good job as I think charitably I could describe the IQ as sub-par. The off-centre drop off in quality is alarming, as is the general pixel density. But I could take that without what is, I assume, the screen-door effect. I had always assumed that this would manifest itself as visible pixels, with little black lines around them, but of course the pixels are sliding about and the effect remains fixed. Doh! I wasn't expecting this at all, so, on top of the glasses, I find my eyes constantly adjusting and readjusting through different planes of focus and trying desperately to remain focused in the middle. I have tried adjusting the eye distance and as far as I can tell there's no plastic on the lenses, so I assume this is just as it is? I'm not sure there's any getting around this - I did assume that the quality would be better. Indeed, I'm surprised in this era of "retina" style screens that this sort of thing is even an issue - but I asusme there's lots to it. 

 

But, IQ aside, how about the games? The first thing I tried was VR Playroom with the platformer. And I'm afraid I can't join the rapturous reception for it. I don't think the VR really adds a great deal to it - you just have a flexible camera really. It sort of feels different, I guess, but it didn't have the sense of "place" I thought it would. It was still very game-like and artificial. Very much a tech-demo, and not an entirely convincing one - I guess I could see something like Ratchet and Clank in a similar setting - but I'm not sure it would make the game any better. I also had one small stomach lurch in this one when the tracking seemed to shift.
 
The other Playroom VR titles were forgettable, but might improve with other players. 

 

What did impress me was Allumette. At least after the blurry opening. The first "scene" was a genuine moment of immersion. The tangibility of this other place just flickered at the edge of my consciousness. The IQ was decent. And I could see at that moment that while PS VR isn't much now, it certainly teases with a vision of what entertainment might be in the future. I was impressed, and will come back to this and run it from start to finish. it still had the feeling, a little bit, of a Science Museum display rather than something that existed for my entertainment, but it was, at least, impressive. 

 

Tumble I liked. It had a slightly weird feeling to it - as if "why would I want to simulate doing this?" but as a technical proof of concept it was interesting. I'm not sure I'd buy it, but I'm glad it exists. 

 

And that was it. I will try some of the bigger hitters tonight. My immediate impressions are of disappointment. I think it's far more of a Kinect/Waggle device than I thought it would be. A stepping stone rather than a destination. But I will go in again. I will wear contacts and I will see how I go. 

Mmmm...that has slightly dampened my enthusiasm for mine arriving tomorrow

 

It will be interesting going in as a Rift / Power PC user. I think it could go one of two ways...either I will be pleasantly surprised as I have low expectations....OR I will be horrified as it pales in comparison to the Rift screen. I guess we will see. Regarding Screen Door though, I think my eyes may be old in just the right way, as I really do not see it at all on the Rift unless the screen is all white and I REALLY look for it. Whereas on the DK1 there was no mistaking it!!! Also, I had read that out of the three headsets the PSVR suffers least from SDE, so I'm certainly looking forward to making the comparison myself!

 

[cavalcade]

Well, maybe there's something up then. 

 

I can see the lenses, essentially. Or at least that what it feels like. Sort of like you can see the frames of glasses if you're wearing them and look for them, but a lot of the time your brain just filters them out. 

[jonamok]

Having tried the Vive, the PSVR is comfortably the better headset for me. The SDE is negligible compared to the Vive, the OLED is lovely and bright, the headset is waaaaaaay more comfy, the FOV is slightly worse, but that disappears in moments, and the audio feels better. The extra res of the Vive is certainly a factor, but again, apart from in stuff like DriveClub, I don't have a problem with the PSVR resolution. The head (and hand) tracking can never compare of course.

[Qazimod]

I just tried Driveclub on the demo disc and was surprised at how easy it was to get acclimatised to it - I thought that the speed and the sudden stops would be too much but it all seemed manageable. That said it was only a short session; if my experiences with Rez were anything to go by I might have trouble with extended play...  

[RIKT]

1 hour ago, Harrisown said:

I'm going to pre order on Friday , I already have 2 buyers for my PS4 which I'll sell for 100. The upgrade will only cost me £170.

 

CEX seem to be offering £124 for an unboxed one at the moment.

 

I'm also wondering if Game might do some kind of trade in deal when the time comes too.

[Dudley]

On 15/10/2016 at 19:44, Wiper said:

 

Resisting the urge to say mean things about Mario 64, the closest thing I can think of is when I first played Shenmue, the feeling of being in an actual world. With Shenmue that was thanks to being able to have Ryo interact with or pick up (seemingly) every object, every person in a dense world. With VR, it's the sense of presence, literal immersion in a world.

 

I really, really hope that a great story-led adventure game comes out sooner rather than later for this.

 

Not a PS game (yet) but have a look at 

 

On Pc you can VR with a teleportation mechanic.

 

On 15/10/2016 at 21:23, Cyhwuhx said:

I'm just back from an evening chatting, playing pool and mucking about. 

 

HOLY SHIT GET SPORTS BAR VR. 

 

It's not the best simulation or game, but its sense of presence with others online is fucking amazing. This is what VR will add to social. 

 

Another non-PS one but you should look out for Pierhead Arcade if they port it.  That's much the same experience.

 

 

[jonamok]

If* I do trade up to a Pro, I want to be able to transfer the contents of my PS4 HDD across to it, I'm not downloading all that again! Am I right that it will offer a way to connect a cable up and do a straight disk image to the Pro's HDD? Of course, that means I can't get a trade in offer, so will have to go the fleabay route - which I'm sure by then will mean its worth well under £100.

 

*Day 1, who am I kidding.

[Slartibartfast]

11 minutes ago, cavalcade said:

Well, maybe there's something up then. 

 

I can see the lenses, essentially. Or at least that what it feels like. Sort of like you can see the frames of glasses if you're wearing them and look for them, but a lot of the time your brain just filters them out. 

With all 3 current headsets you will see edges / lenses and get a kind of binocular effect. That's just the way it is at the moment. The main pull of current models (although I've yet to try the PSVR) is that after a while you forget that and just become immersed in the content. Much like if you watched a movie on DVD after getting past the lower resolution in comparison to HD, you would still be immersed in and enjoy the movie. That's the theory anyway...but of course tolerance to screen quality can vary, as can expectations going in.

 

As I hadn't tried VR between my DK1 and the retail Rift I was suitably blown away by the quality and continue to be. As Jonamok mentioned the camera and move controller are going to be second tier to Rift with Touch and Vive with Wands, but the key factor is going to be for me....'is it good enough'. The Rift is in my opinion, The Vive is. Hell even my Razer Hydra that I'm using to emulate Vive wands in the Rift is occasionally good enough. Generally I find if the content is immersive I soon don't see the imperfections.

[PaB]

13 minutes ago, jonamok said:

If* I do trade up to a Pro, I want to be able to transfer the contents of my PS4 HDD across to it, I'm not downloading all that again! Am I right that it will offer a way to connect a cable up and do a straight disk image to the Pro's HDD? Of course, that means I can't get a trade in offer, so will have to go the fleabay route - which I'm sure by then will mean its worth well under £100.

 

*Day 1, who am I kidding.

Yes the 4.0 firmware introduced a direct transfer method I believe  . It won't be quick though. You are probably looking at about 6 hours if the time to back up and restore for a HDD upgrade is anything to go by 

[Flub]

I'm going to cut mine down to just the bare essentials before I do it. I have a 2TB drive in my original but I'll just make do with the 1TB in the Pro. I have more on the PS4 than I'd ever want to play anyway

[sid]

I've read that the vr box doesn't support pass through of HDR 4K what the actual fuck

[Slartibartfast]

8 minutes ago, sid said:

I've read that the vr box doesn't support pass through of HDR 4K what the actual fuck

Yep, that is a massive and incredibly annoying oversight.