Oculus Rift

Oculus has been showing off a new prototype, which is said to be pretty close to what we should expect from the retail. There's no new devkit on the way so this is basically the last stop before retail.

The new features include 360 degree tracking, 3D audio, and an improved combination of optics and screen that have eliminated a lot of the graininess (this seems to be more than just a resolution bump, and reportedly solves much of the problem of visible subpixels). The net result is a sustained sense of presence much stronger than DK2.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/9/22/682...aser-prototype

shutupandtakemymoney.jpg

Maybe they ditched the pentile screen.

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Originally Posted by Diff-chan

Maybe they ditched the pentile screen.

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That's what I'm thinking, but they also said the optics are a big part of it, so it's probably a combination of factors. In any event it's good that they're making headway on this problem in ways independent of just bumping up the resolution to levels that will bring a high end video card to its knees.

I think the biggest problem they're going to face with early adoption is that no matter how cheap they make it it will require a $1000+ gaming rig to deliver the resolutions and frame rates needed. Maybe we'll see some optimized rendering that scales down detail in the periphery or something.

Apparently Gear VR software is generally sub-native, which makes sense give that a phone will have trouble rendering 1440p 3D visuals, yet still looks great. If anything, a high resolution display eliminates the pixel grid visibility issues and we can always render sub-native (though ideally we won't have to). And async timewarp (which nVidia suggested they'll be doing at a driver level) should be a big boon for when hardware can't quite keep 90fps.

Gear VR will be shit, because it's Samsung.

Missing the point, diff

Although sub-pixel graininess is only part of the problem. Rendering sub-native won't help things like text and HUD legibility or long distance visibility.

I don't see why the HUD couldn't be rendered at native resolution while the polygonal stuff renders at a lower resolution.

Interesting speculation on Rift vs. Morpeus

Ultimately, if you can't use the Oculus for PS4, putting a substandard but still good Morpheus on the market so I can use it on the PS4 is OK.

The question is whether I give a damn about VR on a PS4. It could probably do Wipeout HD well enough (so in that respect, yes, I do care) but it isn't like its going to run UC4.