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Oculus Rift Review: Virtual Reality is Almost Here

Posted by msmash on from the virtual-reality-is-here dept.

In what can be seen as a major milestone in the nascent, but fast-evolving virtual reality technology space, Facebook-owned Oculus on Monday began shipping the commercial version of the Rift. Several technology publications have posted their reviews of the Oculus Rift. The Verge, for instance, says: The high cost of buying and running high-end VR headsets makes them inaccessible to many people, and the Rift in particular is relentlessly focused on gaming. Within these limitations, though, the Rift makes a good case for seated VR, and it lays a solid foundation for what's to come. The headset you can buy today is not Oculus' most ambitious vision for virtual reality -- but it's a vision that Oculus has successfully delivered on. The publication has given the Rift a score of 8 out of 10, noting that the retail price of the Rift, and the accompanying gaming PC, is a tad too expensive. It also found the lack of motion controls a weakness. Cnet writes: You simply must try the Oculus Rift. It's breathtaking. I just wouldn't buy one right now -- and there's no reason you should feel the need to, either (especially with its arch-rival, the HTC Vive, also just days away). The longer you wait to buy, the better it will get. This is just day one for Oculus -- and for the future of virtual reality.

12 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. The longer you wait... by gweihir · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...the better the chance this hype will have fizzled and that you will not have to buy anything! VR is about as "ready" as 3D television, which is completely over because it does not really work at this time. The same is true for VR.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    1. Re:The longer you wait... by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But Oculus wants you to believe it's ready because they're already a couple billion dollars in the hole and would need to a few million units just to break even.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:The longer you wait... by ProzacPatient · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'm also wondering why everyone is complaining about the lack of motion controls with the Rift. Is really using a Keyboard+Mouse with a headset really that tough? I mean I can use my keyboard with my eyes closed (I just tried it).

      For me the real appeal of the Rift is not so much total immersion as it is having depth perception into a virtual environment without having to deal with the idiosyncrasies of 3D monitors.

    3. Re: The longer you wait... by samkass · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yes, keyboard controls are problematic. Yes, it's possible to type with your eyes closed, but if your hands lose the keyboard entirely it really brings you out of the experience to find it again and reposition. And many times the movement keys are not necessarily on the "home row" so you end up hunting around a bit. Plus, oftentimes the experiences work better if you're a bit back from your desk with some space to lean forward or shift a bit. Keyboards really detract from the experience.

      --
      E pluribus unum
    4. Re:The longer you wait... by WaffleMonster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      ...the better the chance this hype will have fizzled and that you will not have to buy anything! VR is about as "ready" as 3D television, which is completely over because it does not really work at this time. The same is true for VR.

      Disconnect between those who've tried it and commentary from peanut gallery is striking.

      Those with crappy dev kits are saying they won't go back to playing on monitors. Spend some time on the Elite forums or any of racing or flight sims with VR support... it isn't just one person it is virtually everyone.

    5. Re:The longer you wait... by PCM2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's possible that VR will fizzle out, but to compare it to 3DTV is showing the extent of your experience with the technology (i.e. zero). The biggest problems VR will face are applications and costs, not whether the technology actually works.

      Which was ... the exact same problem with 3DTV? I have a 3DTV. Trust me, the technology works quite well. But people didn't want to buy in because it was costly and they didn't see a reason for it. Audiences were already getting bored with 3D movies in theaters by the time the costs of the sets came down. Then they were told they'd have to buy extra sets of battery-powered glasses if they wanted to be able to watch with their families. The 3D sports content never really materialized. The 3D Blu-Rays cost more than the regular ones. Etc.

      Similarly, I have tried some of the VR technology -- not Oculus, but a couple others (some still in development). It's impressive. The first time you put one of those headsets on, you will go, "Whoa!" If you're like me, you will proceed to tell many of your friends about it and how neat the experience was. But you will not buy one.

      --
      Breakfast served all day!
    6. Re:The longer you wait... by NotDrWho · · Score: 3, Funny

      Agree, these naysayers are like the short-sighted fools back in the 50's who said flying cars would never happen.

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  2. Osborne effect by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    The longer you wait to buy, the better it will get.

    I didn't think it was actually possible to flunk Marketing 101. Until now.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. WTF by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Okay what the hell has happened to the internet? Both of the linked articles were unreadable, unsearchable, and psychedelic garbage that looks like it was coded on LSD.

    I do appreciate the summary though. 8 out of 10, verdict: not recommended.

  4. More pixels please. by SuricouRaven · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Never mind gaming, I'm interested in VR for data visualisation. Like graphs with tens of thousands of nodes, or heat maps in three dimensions.

  5. RIft Vs Vive by JustNiz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've been trying to figure out which to buy: The Oculus or the Vive. Note: I have no personal experience of either so this is all about info just gleaned from reviews ete. I really hope to try both before I place an order but I have a feeling it wontt be easy.
    The Vive is about $100 more expensive but it seems well worth it for the difference, since it can also support standing up and moving around, and also comes with VR controllers. Yes I'm presuming the seated experience is as good as the Oculus, which is pretty important since I'm guessing that will actually be the most commonly used scenario, but having the option to stand up and move around would be nice.
    The BIG decision factor for me is that Oculus is primarily targetting Windows only, with Linux support at best being an afterthought (they announced several months ago that they have put their Linux dev effort on hold)
    Linux support remains a core goal to the Vive team.
    That alone would be enough for me to STRONGLY favour the Vive over the Oculus.
    My fear/expectation is that most windows game developers will stupidly only support oculus not vive, because they consider it the "de facto" VR headset, even if it it is more limited/not as good as the vive.
     

  6. those are worship words, you will not speak them by Thud457 · · Score: 4, Funny
    no no, no No NO!
    The canonical form of any tech gadget review must be submitted in the form:

    No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame. [*]

    These words have been handed down from our forefathers since time immemorial you damn dirty Kohm.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff