Joystiq

Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Forest inspired by Cannibal Holocaust, walking the paid alpha path]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-forest-inspired-by-cannibal-holocaust-walking-the-paid-alph/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-forest-inspired-by-cannibal-holocaust-walking-the-paid-alph/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-forest-inspired-by-cannibal-holocaust-walking-the-paid-alph/#comments

Last week, we got our first taste of The Forest, an upcoming first-person survival-horror game for PC and Oculus Rift, set in a mysterious forest where players must scavenge supplies, build and prepare to defend against a nocturnal indigenous society of cannibals. If you read that last sentence aloud in one dizzying breath, then you have a good idea how excited we are for The Forest.

But here's the thing: there isn't much information out there. So we contacted developer Ben Falcone for a tour of The Forest.

Gallery: The Forest

Continue reading The Forest inspired by Cannibal Holocaust, walking the paid alpha path

The Forest inspired by Cannibal Holocaust, walking the paid alpha path originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben-falconeoculus-riftpcsteamsteam-greenlightsurvival-horrorthe-forestMon, 13 May 2013 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Among the Sleep free public alpha coming tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/among-the-sleep-free-public-alpha-coming-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/among-the-sleep-free-public-alpha-coming-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/among-the-sleep-free-public-alpha-coming-tomorrow/#comments

Everyone can freak out at Among the Sleep as of tomorrow, when developer Krillbite releases an alpha build of the indie horror game for free. Krillbite told Polygon it's delivering the free version via its Kickstarter page, freely available for all.

Among the Sleep places you in the eyes of a two-year-old, and significantly at the eye level of a two-year-old, experiencing the daunting scale of the world around you. If it's funded on Kickstarter - with five days to go it's at around $180,000 of its $200,000 goal - it'll chill the spines of PC, Mac, Linux, and Oculus Rift (see for yourself) in Q4 this year,

Among the Sleep free public alpha coming tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>among-the-sleepkickstarterkrillbite-studiolinuxmacoculus-riftpcMon, 13 May 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2 on the Oculus Rift looks like double the trouble, fun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/half-life-2-on-the-oculus-rift-looks-like-double-the-trouble-fu/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/half-life-2-on-the-oculus-rift-looks-like-double-the-trouble-fu/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/half-life-2-on-the-oculus-rift-looks-like-double-the-trouble-fu/#comments

Oculus Rift owner and YouTuber Vaecon recorded a 15-minute session of Half-Life 2 on Oculus Rift, and the entire experience can be summed up in a few words, spoken less than two minutes into his gameplay demo: "Whoa. This is really cool."

Valve launched official support for Half-Life 2 on the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, in beta form, on Friday. Valve programmer Joe Ludwig cautioned that this beta was "a bit more raw" than Team Fortress 2's Oculus Rift prowess, noting HUD and UI issues.

Vaecon sported some anti-motion-sickness bands during his Half-Life 2 session, since previous games on the system left him woozy. Whether because of the bands or the game itself, Half-Life 2 on Oculus Rift didn't appear to affect Vaecon's stomach.

"This is the perfect scene to show on the Oculus because there's a lot of action, jumping and - oh, I feel like I'm swimming," he said.

Half-Life 2 on the Oculus Rift looks like double the trouble, fun originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Half-Life-2HL2oculus-riftpcvalveVirtual-RealitySun, 12 May 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2 gets official Oculus Rift support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/half-life-2-gets-official-oculus-rift-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/half-life-2-gets-official-oculus-rift-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/half-life-2-gets-official-oculus-rift-support/#comments HalfLife 2 gets official Oculus Rift support

HalfLife 2 gets official Oculus Rift support

Valve has updated Half-Life 2 with Oculus Rift compatibility, Valve programmer Joe Ludwig announced on the device's developer forums. "We just shipped a beta for Half-Life 2 that includes Oculus Rift support," Ludwig writes. "To get it, open the properties for HL2 in Steam, set your command line to '-vr,' and opt-in to the SteamPipe beta. This should ship to everybody in a few weeks."

Ludwig also cautions that Half-Life 2's Oculus Rift support is "a bit more raw" than the implementation found in Valve's other provisionally Rift-supporting game, Team Fortress 2. Specifically, he mentions slight UI issues and acknowledges that the game's HUD is difficult to read, and encourages developers to let Valve know of any issues they encounter while charging around City 17.

In other Half-Life 2 news, a Linux version of the game has been released as a beta - the client can be downloaded from your Steam Library like other Steam Play-enabled titles. Well, assuming you own Half-Life 2, of course. It's not that beta.

[Thanks, Rasmus!]

Half-Life 2 gets official Oculus Rift support originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 May 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaexperimentalHalf-Life-2HL2oculus-riftofficialpcValvevitual-realityVRFri, 10 May 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA['The Forest' puts on Oculus Rift, goes exploring]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-forest-puts-on-oculus-rift-goes-exploring/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-forest-puts-on-oculus-rift-goes-exploring/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-forest-puts-on-oculus-rift-goes-exploring/#comments
The Forest is a first-person horror game currently in development for the PC and Oculus Rift. After surviving a plane crash at the outset of the game, players must build and thrive in a mysterious forest, scavenging materials throughout the day and defending against an indigenous enemy by night.

Developer Ben Falcone promises changing weather and tides that shift with the day/night cycle. Players will have to chop down trees to build and make fires, scavenge food or plant seeds to grow, while traps will be necessary to maintain a safe perimeter and defend the home. On the game's about page, the nocturnal ne'er-do-wells are described as "a clan of genetic mutant enemies that have beliefs, families and morals."

The Forest is tentatively scheduled to launch in late 2013, and is now vying for a spot on Steam Greenlight.

'The Forest' puts on Oculus Rift, goes exploring originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben-falconeexplorationoculus-riftopen-worldpcsteamsteam-greenlightsurvival-horrorthe-forestThu, 09 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Heads-off display: Oculus Rift experiment puts players in a guillotine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/heads-off-display-oculus-rift-experiment-puts-players-in-a-guil/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/heads-off-display-oculus-rift-experiment-puts-players-in-a-guil/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/heads-off-display-oculus-rift-experiment-puts-players-in-a-guil/#comments

An Oculus Rift-enabled experiment to come out of the Exile Game Jam in Vallekilde, Denmark, puts players on the chopping block of a guillotine in a title dubbed Disunion.

Developed in two days by the warped and creative trio of Erkki Trummal, André Berlemont and Morten Burnjberg, Disunion's effect is further amplified by a well-timed strike to the player's neck as the guillotine performs its duty. Mean, but hilarious shenanigans ensue!

Disunion is available for download to those with Oculus Rift units, but note that hitting yourself in the back of the head as the blade touches down will not provide the same effect. It's just weird.

Heads-off display: Oculus Rift experiment puts players in a guillotine originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DisunionExile-Game-JamOculus-RiftpcMon, 06 May 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Road Redemption Kickstarter adds XBLA, Oculus Rift stretch goals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/road-redemption-kickstarter-adds-xbla-oculus-rift-stretch-goals/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/road-redemption-kickstarter-adds-xbla-oculus-rift-stretch-goals/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/road-redemption-kickstarter-adds-xbla-oculus-rift-stretch-goals/#comments
Down to its final nine days, the Road Redemption Kickstarter campaign is hoping to entice the rest of its needed financing by announcing some stretch goals. If developer Dark Seas Games secures $178,000, the developer says a Xbox Live Arcade port is possible; $198,000 will guarantee Oculus Rift support.

Road Redemption is the spiritual successor to Road Rash developed by fans of the franchise, centered around motorcycle gangs fighting over drug distribution routes. Built with Unity, Road Redemption will launch on Mac OSX, PC, Linux and Wii U should the Kickstarter campaign yield the $160,000 needed in funding. At the time of publishing, the project sits at under $100,000.

Road Redemption Kickstarter adds XBLA, Oculus Rift stretch goals originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 May 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dark-seas-gameskickstartermacmicrosoftnintendooculus-riftpcroad-redemptionwii-uxboxFri, 03 May 2013 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus Rift already has a Virtual Boy emulator]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/oculus-rift-already-has-a-virtual-boy-emulator/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/oculus-rift-already-has-a-virtual-boy-emulator/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/oculus-rift-already-has-a-virtual-boy-emulator/#comments
While the Oculus Rift is currently the world's great hope for a future lived inside digital spaces, it's not the first stereoscopic box developers have asked us to cram our faces into. For most of us, that honor goes to Nintendo's Virtual Boy, herald of vectorized headaches (in 3D!) to 700,000 or so hopeful people with $180.

If you're one of the lucky people with an Oculus Rift development kit, however, you can now recreate that ol' black-and-red magic with VBjin-ovr, a freeware Virtual Boy emulator for the Oculus Rift. As seen in this video from YouTuber Cymatic Bruce, wherein VBjin-ovr is used to play the obscure first-person survival horror game Insane Mouse Mansion, the Rift primarily functions as a head-mounted display, as Virtual Boy games have no use for the device's various bells and head-tracking whistles.

Still, the experience seems about as accurate as one could hope for without the real deal. Is there an Excedrin emulator out there?

Oculus Rift already has a Virtual Boy emulator originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emulationInsane-Mouse-MansionOculus-RiftpcVBjin-ovrVirtual-BoySat, 27 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skyrim can run on Oculus Rift, please remember the real world]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/skyrim-can-run-on-oculus-rift-please-remember-the-real-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/skyrim-can-run-on-oculus-rift-please-remember-the-real-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/skyrim-can-run-on-oculus-rift-please-remember-the-real-world/#comments
Chris Gallizi has gotten Skyrim running on the Oculus Rift, ushering in a new, dark age for the human race.

Thousands of people will now banish themselves into a harsh virtual world for days at a time, emerging only when they remember that the sweet rolls and porridges they've been desperately snarfing will only satisfy their imaginary dragonman body, and not the one that wastes away outside of the game world.

Skyrim can run on Oculus Rift, please remember the real world originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elder-scrolls-5oculus-riftpcskyrimthe-elder-scrolls-v-skyrimMon, 22 Apr 2013 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Attach more things to your head with Oculus Rift sensor, camera clips]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/attach-more-things-to-your-head-with-oculus-rift-sensor-camera/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/attach-more-things-to-your-head-with-oculus-rift-sensor-camera/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/attach-more-things-to-your-head-with-oculus-rift-sensor-camera/#comments

Oculus Rift dev kits have been out in the wild for just under a month and the gameplay videos and mods keep trickling in. The latest mod comes for the hardware itself, two clips to add extra motion sensors or cameras to the back or front of the headset, both 3D-printed. Hackaday's Caleb Kraft designed and printed the attachments, one for extra, heavier sensors that threads through the flexible strap on the back of the Oculus Rift, and one that snaps right onto the front of the system, mainly for cameras.

"While browsing an Oculus Rift thread on Reddit, I saw someone mention how nice it would be to have some actual mounts for external sensors on their Rift," Kraft writes. "The idea is that adding additional sensors or cameras will allow us to expand the capabilities of the Rift."

The Oculus Rift attachment designs are available for free for other 3D printing and VR headset aficionados via Makerbot's Thingiverse.

Attach more things to your head with Oculus Rift sensor, camera clips originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-printingmotion-controlmotion-sensingoculus-riftVirtual-RealityvrSun, 21 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This is what playing TF2 with an Oculus Rift and an omni-directional treadmill looks like]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/this-is-what-playing-tf2-with-an-oculus-rift-and-an-omni-directi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/this-is-what-playing-tf2-with-an-oculus-rift-and-an-omni-directi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/this-is-what-playing-tf2-with-an-oculus-rift-and-an-omni-directi/#comments
In order to demonstrate the functionality of its "Omni" prototype treadmill, which the company calls a "natural motion interface for virtual reality applications," technology start-up Virtuix has released the above video of the contraption being used in conjunction with an Oculus Rift and Team Fortress 2.

The setup essentially works like this: The Oculus Rift handles head tracking and display duties, while a Kinect tracks how the player walks/runs on the the Omni, and then converts that input into in-game commands. The Kinect is an in-development solution, however, and Virtuix says the Omni will include its own sensor when/if it ships to consumers.

The company plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in May, with final production units costing somewhere between $400 and $600, sans shipping. A second example video, this time showing a better look at a prototype of the device while in use, has been tucked away beyond the veil.

Continue reading This is what playing TF2 with an Oculus Rift and an omni-directional treadmill looks like

This is what playing TF2 with an Oculus Rift and an omni-directional treadmill looks like originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Oculus-RiftOmniomni-directional-treadmillOmni-VirtuixpcTeam-Fortress-2Valvevirtual-realityVirtuixVRSat, 20 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[See Faith run in Mirror's Edge on Oculus Rift]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/see-faith-run-in-mirrors-edge-for-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/see-faith-run-in-mirrors-edge-for-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/see-faith-run-in-mirrors-edge-for-oculus-rift/#comments
We're pretty sure this would make us vomit, but those with stronger constitutions may be interested in playing Mirror's Edge on Oculus Rift. YouTube user Cymatic Bruce uploaded nearly ten minutes of the game in action.

If you have an Oculus Rift and Mirror's Edge, you can get this running by installing Viero Perception and the FOV mod.

Oculus Rift dev kits began shipping late last month to Kickstarter backers and include a free Oculus version of the Unreal Development Kit, though the promised Doom 3 BFG Edition is no longer included. Oculus has not announced a launch date for retail units yet.

See Faith run in Mirror's Edge on Oculus Rift originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cymatic-brucediceeaMirrors-Edgeoculus-riftpcvirtual-realityThu, 18 Apr 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[UnderCurrent aims to bring deep sea exploration to Oculus Rift]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/undercurrent-aims-to-bring-deep-sea-exploration-to-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/undercurrent-aims-to-bring-deep-sea-exploration-to-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/undercurrent-aims-to-bring-deep-sea-exploration-to-oculus-rift/#comments
UnderCurrent is an Unreal-powered deep sea exploration game designed for Oculus Rift from a group of university students over in the UK. The group became fascinated with VR technology and has already put together three different levels, though the collective notes that some of the core mechanics of UnderCurrent are still undetermined.

These students are also maintaining a work blog chronicling each step of the design process, covering everything from music to artwork and team bios. The developers promise more videos and updates as work continues over the coming summer.

[Thanks, Rasmus]

UnderCurrent aims to bring deep sea exploration to Oculus Rift originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deep-sea-explorationexplorationoculus-riftpcundercurrentvirtual-realityWed, 17 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus Rift first-person adventure game The Gallery hits Kickstarter goal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/oculus-rift-first-person-adventure-game-the-gallery-hits-kicksta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/oculus-rift-first-person-adventure-game-the-gallery-hits-kicksta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/oculus-rift-first-person-adventure-game-the-gallery-hits-kicksta/#comments
The Gallery: Six Elements recently reached its $65,000 Kickstarter funding goal before its April 17 deadline. The project from CloudHead Games is a first-person adventure game designed with the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset in mind, though the developer notes that it will not be required to play the game. The Gallery draws influences from the Myst adventure series, and has players traversing through six painted portals that represent the "core elements of life."

The project is currently sitting at $70,036, just enough to achieve a stretch goal that grants the game Razer Hyrdra support, Sixense's PC motion controller. The Gallery will launch on PC and Mac, and is currently vying for a spot on Steam through Steam's Greenlight service.

[Thanks, Rasmus!]

Oculus Rift first-person adventure game The Gallery hits Kickstarter goal originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurecloudhead-gameskickstartermacmystoculus-riftpcRazer-Hydrathe-gallery-six-elementsSun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Thirty minutes of Team Fortress 2 in virtual reality caught on camera]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/thirty-minutes-of-team-fortress-2-in-virtual-reality-caught-on-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/thirty-minutes-of-team-fortress-2-in-virtual-reality-caught-on-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/thirty-minutes-of-team-fortress-2-in-virtual-reality-caught-on-c/#comments

The team at Tested got a chance play around with Team Fortress 2 using the upcoming Oculus Rift headset, and they recorded half an hour of gameplay for us to virtually enjoy. Not "virtually" as in we'll "almost" enjoy it, but "virtually" as in "virtual reality"-based enjoyment. Just watch the video.

Kickstarter backers should receive their Oculus Rift dev kits by mid-April, with pre-orders hitting a little later in the month. For those expecting a kit, check out Valve's list of handy tricks for setting up VR in TF2.

Thirty minutes of Team Fortress 2 in virtual reality caught on camera originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>oculus-riftpcTeam-Fortress-2TestedvalveVirtual-RealityvrMon, 08 Apr 2013 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus Rift dev kits are shipping]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/oculus-rift-dev-kits-are-shipping/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/oculus-rift-dev-kits-are-shipping/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/oculus-rift-dev-kits-are-shipping/#comments

Oculus Rift dev kits are shipping

Oculus VR people are very carefully putting Rift dev kits into swish-looking cases and shipping them off as of this week. Shipping began on Wednesday, March 27, meaning Oculus met its projected window with a few days to spare.

Going by Oculus's projections in line with that March window, Kickstarter backers can expect their kits to arrive by mid-April, and those with pre-orders later in the month. With kits on their way, Oculus also launched a Developer Center site, providing access to the Oculus software development kit, integration for Unity and Unreal Engine, and other useful things like wikis, forums, documents, and videos.

We can imagine devs are excited about receiving their kits, but we caution celebrating arrivals with booze. As Rift inventor Palmer Luckey told us, make sure you use the VR rig sober, or be prepared for some unpleasant effects.

Oculus Rift dev kits are shipping originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>oculusoculus-riftpcvrFri, 29 Mar 2013 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[On the hazards of drinking and driving the Oculus Rift]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/on-the-hazards-of-drinking-and-driving-the-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/on-the-hazards-of-drinking-and-driving-the-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/on-the-hazards-of-drinking-and-driving-the-oculus-rift/#comments

"You know, it's funny. People, when they are intoxicated, don't enjoy the Rift nearly as much."

Oculus Rift inventor and co-founder Palmer Luckey shared a cautionary tale of sorts when we asked for anecdotes on the VR rig's testing procedures. After a short pause, Luckey dropped some sage advice for future Rift owners and developers alike.

The Rift, which has been known to cause motion sickness in some users (Joystiq staff included) due to the disarming intensity of the experience, apparently has the ability to exacerbate one's inclination toward intense nausea after a night of partying.

"What happens is, when you get severely intoxicated, you end up throwing up," Luckey said. "One of the reasons for that is that your body knows something is wrong; your reaction time is slow, things seem to blur. And if it gets bad enough, it says 'Wow, I'm screwed up, I need to get whatever it is out of my stomach that's causing this.' The Rift doesn't do that much, but when you stack it on top of someone already being intoxicated, they tend to not enjoy it nearly as much."

Under normal, non-intoxicated testing conditions, the disconnection between what a Rift user sees and what their body experiences - the cerebral disparity that can cause nausea - wasn't much of an issue.

"So, use the Rift sober."

On the hazards of drinking and driving the Oculus Rift originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alcoholdrunkGDC-2013oculus-riftpcTue, 26 Mar 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus Rift dev kit includes access to free Oculus version of Unreal Development Kit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/oculus-rift-dev-kit-includes-access-to-free-oculus-version-of-un/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/oculus-rift-dev-kit-includes-access-to-free-oculus-version-of-un/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/oculus-rift-dev-kit-includes-access-to-free-oculus-version-of-un/#comments

Epic custom UDK shipping with Oculus Rift For 1030AM JST

To help Oculus Rift developer kit owners develop things, Oculus will give a custom version of the Unreal Development Kit to everyone who has purchased the VR goggles. It will be released through the Oculus Developer Center in April. The UDK will include a VR-enhanced version of the Epic Citadel demo.

Even if you don't have an Oculus, you'll be able to develop games for its stereoscopic display, as all full source licensees of Unreal Engine 3 will be provided with code to integrate Oculus support into UE3. Oculus is now part of Epic's "UE3 Integrated Partners Program." Of course, if you're developing for Oculus without an Oculus, we don't know how you'll test the 3D. Perhaps scoot two monitors right up into your face?

Continue reading Oculus Rift dev kit includes access to free Oculus version of Unreal Development Kit

Oculus Rift dev kit includes access to free Oculus version of Unreal Development Kit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicoculus-riftpcudkunreal-engine-3Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve offers Team Fortress 2 'VR mode' tips and tricks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/valve-offers-team-fortress-2-vr-mode-tips-and-tricks/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/valve-offers-team-fortress-2-vr-mode-tips-and-tricks/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/valve-offers-team-fortress-2-vr-mode-tips-and-tricks/#comments

Team Fortress 2 turns on VR mode, not that you can use it yet

In anticipation of VR mode in Team Fortress 2, Valve has put together some resources on how to activate VR mode.

Before you boot up Team Fortress 2, hook up your Oculus Rift, add "-vr" to your command line options in Steam and you should be good to go. You can save shortcuts to your desktop with or without the modified command line for quick-launching in VR or vanilla modes.

You can find all of the above and more on Valve's Oculus Rift user guide. The Oculus Rift will have its first dev kits shipped this month; Kickstarter backers should expect theirs around mid-April. Pre-orders are currently open on the Oculus site, though these folks are last in line to receive their goggles sometime near the end of April.

Valve offers Team Fortress 2 'VR mode' tips and tricks originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macoculus-riftpcsteamTeam-Fortress-2valvevirtual-realityvr-modeWed, 20 Mar 2013 04:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve experimented with VR in other games, Team Fortress 2 'obvious choice' for Oculus Rift]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/valve-experimented-vr-other-games-team-fortress-2-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/valve-experimented-vr-other-games-team-fortress-2-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/valve-experimented-vr-other-games-team-fortress-2-oculus-rift/#comments

Valve revealed that Team Fortress 2 will be the official first game to support Oculus Rift's VR headset, something Valve programmer Joe Ludwig told Engadget was an "obvious choice" for Valve - not only because of the size of the community, but because of how rapidly Valve is updating the game, meaning the community is used to being sort of a test group for new concepts.

"Team Fortress was sort of the obvious choice for this," Ludwig said. "The Team Fortress community is large and healthy. There are millions of people playing TF every week, but they're also used to us shipping a lot of updates." Team Fortress 2 receives updates nearly on a weekly basis, but it's not uncommon for players to see multiple updates to the free-to-play shooter in one week.

Ludwig said Valve is currently experimenting with VR in its other games, but is hardly committing to anything beyond testing at this point. "We've played a bit in Left 4 Dead; we've played a bit in Half-Life 2. We haven't taken any of those other games to the point where they're anywhere close to being ready to be shipped; we've just sort of experimented with head tracking a little bit."

Valve chose to partner with Oculus as opposed to creating its own display simply because it made more sense to go that way - the two companies each had something the other wanted. "We've done a bunch of experiments with various bits of hardware, but we don't have a display that we can ship. Oculus is actually out there doing this, and so we're partnering with them because they have the hardware and we have the software and we can help each other out. And we can both learn a lot in the process."

"We don't know how strongly people will react to VR," Ludwig concluded. "We don't know how popular it will be, what people wanna see. It might be that we need to learn a lot more from TF before we move on to other titles. We just don't know what's gonna happen."

Valve experimented with VR in other games, Team Fortress 2 'obvious choice' for Oculus Rift originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joe-ludwigoculus-riftpcTeam-Fortress-2valvevirtual-realityvrMon, 18 Mar 2013 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 is Oculus Rift's first official game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/team-fortress-2-is-oculus-rifts-first-official-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/team-fortress-2-is-oculus-rifts-first-official-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/team-fortress-2-is-oculus-rifts-first-official-game/#comments
Our pals at Engadget toured the Valve offices last week to check out virtual reality support in Team Fortress 2, something Valve programmer Joe Ludwig has been working on for quite a while now. Ludwig reveals that Team Fortress 2 will be Oculus Rift's first official game and that Valve will push a VR mode update to players "sometime within the next couple of weeks."

"This is a mode that everybody who has a Rift dev kit and access to Team Fortress 2 will be able to play, just on public and in the same servers that everybody else is playing in," Ludwig told Engadget. Initially, VR mode will be available to only Windows PC players - Mac OS X and Linux platforms are a possibility down the line, after Valve gets access to SDKs for those platforms. "We don't have a Mac or Linux SDK from Oculus quite yet, but once we get those, we'll get it ported over to those other platforms."

Ludwig will provide a talk on Valve's hurdles porting the free-to-play shooter over to virtual reality at GDC in San Francisco in two weeks. The Oculus Rift is an upcoming VR headset that was successfully funded through Kickstarter and ships to backers in April. Oculus Rift's 40 "pilot" dev kit prototypes will begin shipping this month and pre-orders are currently open through Oculus Rift's website.

Team Fortress 2 is Oculus Rift's first official game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joe-ludwigoculus-riftpcTeam-Fortress-2valvevirtual-realityvr-modeMon, 18 Mar 2013 13:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Doom 3 BFG not shipping with Oculus dev kits]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/doom-3-bfg-not-shipping-with-oculus-dev-kits/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/doom-3-bfg-not-shipping-with-oculus-dev-kits/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/doom-3-bfg-not-shipping-with-oculus-dev-kits/#comments

Oculus Rift development kits purchased through Kickstarter were originally to be bundled with a Rift-enabled Doom 3: BFG, and Oculus and id Software have been working together closely. We've learned today that Doom 3 will not be ready at shipping time.

"Unfortunately, we've been informed that DOOM 3 BFG Edition will not support the Rift development kit by the time we begin shipping," the Oculus blog notes. "Since DOOM 3 won't be available, we'd like to try and make it up to you."

The conciliatory gestures include your choice of either $20 to spend at Steam, $25 at the Oculus store, or to have your Kickstarter pledge refunded. You'll find those options at the Oculus Order Manager.

Doom 3 BFG not shipping with Oculus dev kits originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doom-3-bfg-editionoculus-riftpcMon, 18 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modder adds Oculus Rift support to Crysis and CryEngine 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/modder-adds-oculus-rift-support-to-crysis-and-cryengine-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/modder-adds-oculus-rift-support-to-crysis-and-cryengine-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/modder-adds-oculus-rift-support-to-crysis-and-cryengine-3/#comments
Modder Nathan Andrews, last seen working on an Oculus Rift mod for Half-Life 2, has set his sights on making the head-tracking 3D rig compatible with another popular shooter: Crysis. Andrews has released a video showing off Crytek's initial suit-powered shooter being controlled with the head-tracking system and a Mag II gun controller, and says that Crysis Wars and CryEngine 3 compatibility aren't far behind.

There's still a bit of work to be done, as Andrews notes the head-tracking isn't quite right yet with the crosshairs on the screen. Still, it look impressive, and considering how far the Rift itself has come, both software and hardware are getting polished up. The Rift headset went out to developers starting last year, with a consumer version supposed to arrive sometime in the future.

Modder adds Oculus Rift support to Crysis and CryEngine 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compatibilitycompatiblecryengine-3Crysiscrysis-warsmodnathan-andrewsoculus-riftpcportingWed, 27 Feb 2013 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus Rift still on for March, has lens caps for vision-impaired, adjustable assembly now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/oculus-rift-still-on-for-march-has-lens-caps-for-vision-impaire/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/oculus-rift-still-on-for-march-has-lens-caps-for-vision-impaire/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/oculus-rift-still-on-for-march-has-lens-caps-for-vision-impaire/#comments

Oculus Rift still on for March, now has lens caps for visionimpaired, adjustable assembly

With Oculus Rift's initial developer unit launch scheduled for next month, the folks at Oculus have understandably been busy. After CES, they went to Hong Kong to oversee the initial manufacturing run of their "pilot" dev kit prototypes - 40 in total - and are on-track to meet their March ship deadline for the final Oculus Rift. Kickstarter backers will receive their units sometime in April.

With the extra time, Oculus added two small features the start-up hopes will make for a better experience: swappable lens caps for the inside viewing area and an adjustable assembly for a more fine-tuned fit. So if you're near-sighted or far-sighted, the three different lens caps will allow you to adjust your depth of focus to meet your vision needs; and with the adjustable assembly, now you can possibly leave your glasses on when using the Oculus Rift and get the best fit possible.

If you're late to the Oculus Rift party, know it's a virtual reality headset that has mesmerized some of the industry's most notable talent, including John Carmack and MineCraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson. In fact, they aren't the only ones - a recent Half-Life 2 head-tracking and gun-tracking mod created by Nathan Andrews, designed for the Oculus Rift, has gotten a lot of attention. Andrews put up his own AMA on Reddit to answer questions and provide more information - if you want to see the mod in action, head past the break for a video demonstration. Trust us, it's totally neat!

Continue reading Oculus Rift still on for March, has lens caps for vision-impaired, adjustable assembly now

Oculus Rift still on for March, has lens caps for vision-impaired, adjustable assembly now originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half-life-2HL2kickstarternathan-andrewsoculusoculus-riftpcWed, 06 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget goes hands-on with Oculus Rift]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/engadget-goes-hands-on-with-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/engadget-goes-hands-on-with-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/engadget-goes-hands-on-with-oculus-rift/#comments
Former Joystiq heartthrob Ben Gilbert, now officially known as Bengadget, got some hands-on time with the Oculus Rift VR set at this year's CES. While Oculus isn't letting out the latest prototype for use, Ben took an old one through a new demo of the Unreal Engine 3-based Epic Citadel.

Engadget goes hands-on with Oculus Rift originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engadgetoculusoculus-riftpcvirtual-realityvrTue, 08 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus Rift distribution pushed back, shipping begins March 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/oculus-rift-distribution-pushed-back-shipping-begins-march-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/oculus-rift-distribution-pushed-back-shipping-begins-march-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/oculus-rift-distribution-pushed-back-shipping-begins-march-2013/#comments

Oculus dev kits going out March 2013

Oculus Rift developer kits aren't shipping until March 2013. Kickstarter backers can expect to get their hands on one by mid-April, while those with pre-orders must wait until late April. Oculus originally expected to complete backer and pre-order deliveries by January 2013, but it turns out finalizing design, testing, and mass production of a VR headset takes a lot of time. You can get an idea of just how extensive the task is on Oculus' Kickstarter page, which depicts the process in detail.

As our friends at Engadget note, there are some signficant differences between the final dev kits and the prototypes first unveiled. There's now a 1280x800 7'' display as opposed to the original 5.6'' LCD, making the headset 30g heavier than it was before. Oculus says "the new display beats the old display in almost every key area including response time, switching time, contrast, and color quality," so an extra 30g is probably worth it.

Oculus Rift distribution pushed back, shipping begins March 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>oculusoculus-riftpcvrvr-headsetWed, 28 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus Rift headset up for pre-order]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/oculus-rift-headset-up-for-pre-order/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/oculus-rift-headset-up-for-pre-order/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/oculus-rift-headset-up-for-pre-order/#comments

You can still enjoy the future of face-based displays, even if you didn't support the Oculus Rift Kickstarter in the past. The "Developer Kit," which includes one of the fancy VR headsets and access to the SDK so you can make your own VR dreamscapes, is now available for direct pre-order from the Oculus website. Delivery of the head gear is expected by January.

The kit costs $300 in the US, and $345 shipped elsewhere. By the January ship date, you'll already be able to play Hawken and Doom 3 BFG Edition, although it should be noted, this release is more intended for developers than for consumers.

Oculus Rift headset up for pre-order originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>oculus-riftpcvrvr-headsetThu, 27 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hawken will support Oculus Rift when it launches on Dec. 12]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/hawken-will-support-oculus-rift-when-it-launches-december-12/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/hawken-will-support-oculus-rift-when-it-launches-december-12/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/hawken-will-support-oculus-rift-when-it-launches-december-12/#comments

The Oculus Rift may not technically be a tangible thing yet, but as of December 12 it can boast support for one more game: Hawken. It makes sense: every time we've seen something with mechs in it, the pilots are always wearing goofy goggles. Appropriate.

In an interview with Forbes, publisher Meteor Entertainment's Mark Long offered some insight on why Oculus Rift and Hawken make such a great match. "Why Oculus works so well is the sense of presence. You have to experience it. When the graphic world is all around you, it takes the experience to a completely different level."

"Hawken is perfect for Oculus because its environments are well-suited for the level of visual density and distances you're looking it," Long added. "The shapes that are close and far away lend themselves well to 3D. When you're in a typical first-person shooter, you're a slave to the direction your weapon is pointing, which is unnatural. Being in a Mech, this offers a more realistic virtual reality experience."

Of course, the question of lag is ever-present with VR headsets, but Long says Unreal Engine has certain things built in that alleviate that concern. "With Unreal we can dynamically change the point-of-view and make sure that the latency is as low as possible for the viewers to eliminate motion sickness. We're going to build out a cockpit that players can buy so they can see the inside of the Mech with Oculus for a more immersive gameplay experience. This is a subset of something we're going to be bringing to the PC game."

And in the end, the cost for Adhesive Games to add Oculus Rift support was minimal. "The cost of an Oculus Dev Kit with two systems will be less than $300," Long said. "The technology uses a DVI connection and USB to do head tracking off a PC," so with some wires, a headset and a fairly nimble neck, it was a fairly inexpensive feature to implement.

Hawken will support Oculus Rift when it launches on Dec. 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adhesive-gameshawkenMeteor-Entertainmentoculus-riftpcvirtual-realityvrvr-headsetwindowsMon, 27 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus Rift will cater to those who wear glasses]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/oculus-rift-will-cater-to-those-who-wear-glasses/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/oculus-rift-will-cater-to-those-who-wear-glasses/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/oculus-rift-will-cater-to-those-who-wear-glasses/#comments

Upon first learning about the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, you may have had one of two reactions. Most of us would look at the promising headset and think, "that looks really promising." Others, however, have only one question: "Will it fit over my glasses?"

The short answer is no, it won't. The longer, much more positive answer is that even those with impaired vision will be able to use the Oculus Rift when it's finally available to consumers. While the unit won't fit over eyeglasses - creator Palmer Luckey tells us it would put the headset too far away from the user's face - it will have adjustable optics. Exactly how these will be implemented hasn't been finalized, though two possibilities include binocular-like dial adjustment or special optical inserts. The only impairment that could be problematic, says Palmer, is cases of severe astigmatism, though that may be correctable via software.

In other words, years of destroying your eyes by sitting too close to the screen won't stop you from strapping this one directly to your face.

Oculus Rift will cater to those who wear glasses originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescom-2012oculus-riftpalmer-luckeypcThu, 16 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[See Engadget try out the Oculus Rift]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/see-engadget-try-out-the-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/see-engadget-try-out-the-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/see-engadget-try-out-the-oculus-rift/#comments
You've read our impressions of the Oculus Rift from our Doom 3 session at QuakeCon, but now you can see it in action as Engadget's Mat Smith takes the prototype for a spin (with yours truly manning the camera). Head over to Engadget for lots of pictures and Mat's detailed impressions.

See Engadget try out the Oculus Rift originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescom-2012oculus-riftpcThu, 16 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Looking into the world of Carmack's Doom through the Oculus Rift]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/looking-into-the-world-of-carmack-s-doom-through-the-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/looking-into-the-world-of-carmack-s-doom-through-the-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/looking-into-the-world-of-carmack-s-doom-through-the-oculus-rift/#comments

"When people have sort of hacked together first-person demos with head mounts before, they usually have to wind up pretending they're a mouse, which gives you this very limited interface," master of the Doom franchise John Carmack told me in a meeting during QuakeCon 2012. "It's like using it as a controller rather than really looking into the world."

Carmack would like to fix that, and he is now working with Palmer Luckey and the highly talked about Oculus Rift in order to do so. By combining Luckey's hardware with Carmack's software, they hope to remove a lot of barriers gamers typically experience when trying to immerse themselves in a virtual world.

When I put on the VR headset to look into the new and improved world of Doom 3 BFG Edition, I almost lost balance. My brain seemed to be fighting with itself in terms of where my body was, physically. I knew I was standing in a hotel room of the Hilton Anatole and that moving my feet wouldn't have any impact on my gameplay, while at the same time I felt like I was running through corridors on Mars, dodging fireballs from imps as I played Doom.

Gallery: Doom 3 BFG Edition (QuakeCon 2012)

Continue reading Looking into the world of Carmack's Doom through the Oculus Rift

Looking into the world of Carmack's Doom through the Oculus Rift originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doom-3-bfg-editionJohn-CarmackOculus-RiftpcQuakeCon-2012Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Notch wants 0x10c, Minecraft to support Oculus Rift]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/notch-wants-0x10c-minecraft-to-support-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/notch-wants-0x10c-minecraft-to-support-oculus-rift/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/notch-wants-0x10c-minecraft-to-support-oculus-rift/#comments

Notch wants 0x10c, Minecraft to support Oculus Rift

Furthering the notion that developers just love the Oculus Rift, Minecraft maestro Markus "Notch" Persson has revealed his excitement for the device. Taking to Twitter, Notch stated he is "very excited" for the device and "can't wait to start playing with it."

Furthermore, he's already promised that his upcoming project, 0x10c, will support the device so long as it works with Java. Finally, he's interested in seeing Minecraft feature Rift support, though the decision will come down to Minecraft's current lead designer, Jens Bergensten.

For our part, we're hoping Minecraft never supports the device. Creepers are scary enough when they're not coming right at you.

Notch wants 0x10c, Minecraft to support Oculus Rift originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0x10cminecraftmojangnotchoculusoculus-riftpcMon, 06 Aug 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Doom 4 to be compatible with Oculus Rift VR headset]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/05/doom-4-to-be-compatible-with-oculus-rift-vr-headset/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/05/doom-4-to-be-compatible-with-oculus-rift-vr-headset/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/05/doom-4-to-be-compatible-with-oculus-rift-vr-headset/#comments

Doom 4 will be compatible with Oculus VR headset tech

Doom 4 will be compatible with the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset (the one that was over-funded via Kickstarter in less than 24 hours last week), just like its baby brother, Doom 3 BFG Edition. id Software has been involved with Oculus Rift for some time, showing off Doom 3 BFG running on Rift at this year's E3 and including a copy of the game with every Rift dev kit.

"I'm excited for once Doom 3 ships, and gets out there, I'll put all this stuff into the Doom 4 platform, which will be nice to take our current top-of-the-line stuff and have that in virtual reality," id's John Carmack told Polygon at QuakeCon. "I'm looking forward to doing that."

The Oculus Rift Kickstarter has so far raised more than $1.26 million of its desired $250,000, with 26 days to go.

Doom 4 to be compatible with Oculus Rift VR headset originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Aug 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doom-3-bfg-editiondoom-4id-SoftwareJohn-Carmackkickstartermicrosoftoculus-riftpcplaystationps3Virtual-RealityvrxboxSun, 05 Aug 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Oculus Rift' VR headset Kickstarter funded in 24 hours]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/oculus-rift-vr-headset-kickstarter-funded-in-24-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/oculus-rift-vr-headset-kickstarter-funded-in-24-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/oculus-rift-vr-headset-kickstarter-funded-in-24-hours/#comments

Oculus Kickstarter funded in 24 hours

Our future is starting to look more like the future of the early '90s, with gamers signing up to have TVs strapped to their faces. The 21st-century iteration on the long-lost VR headset concept (remember Sega VR?) is the Oculus Rift, a headset that combines a 1280x800 viewing area with head tracking technology.

It's apparently a much better execution on the VR idea than those past headsets, as the Oculus has the thumbs-up from designers like Cliff Bleszinski iD's John Carmack - so much so that every dev kit will include a copy of Doom 3: BFG. It also has the explicit financial support of a bunch of Kickstarter users, who have contributed over $800,000 of its $250,000 goal in just one day of funding.

The development version of the Rift is designed only for PC, but the team hopes to "make the headset compatible with major consoles and all other platforms, including mobile, and as soon as possible."

'Oculus Rift' VR headset Kickstarter funded in 24 hours originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doom-3-bfg-editionkickstarteroculus-riftvirtual-realityvr-headsetThu, 02 Aug 2012 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Oculus virtual reality headset looking for funding on Kickstarter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/oculus-virtual-reality-headset-looking-for-funding-on-kickstarte/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/oculus-virtual-reality-headset-looking-for-funding-on-kickstarte/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/oculus-virtual-reality-headset-looking-for-funding-on-kickstarte/#comments

Most "virtual reality" helmets tend to be disappointing to say the least, but the Oculus Rift has gained a bit of buzz this year. Developer Palmer Luckey is now looking for funding via Kickstarter. "The reason we're using Kickstarter is so that we can get these dev kits into the hands of developers as fast as possible," Luckey says in the pitch video above. "That way they can try it for themselves and start integrating support into their games and engines."

The crowd-funding route has worked already, with the project securing more than double its $250,000 goal as of this writing. Limited prototype dev units - at $275 each - have all been claimed, leaving the $300 level as the cheapest route to get your hands on the hardware, which includes a copy of the upcoming, Rift-enabled revamp, Doom 3 BFG. In a related endorsement, id Software's John Carmack called the device "the best VR demo probably the world has ever seen."

That price is likely higher than what consumers will eventually pay for everything once the software is optimized and the design is finalized. The dev kits are set to be shipped out in December, so we could see a final product as soon as next year.

Oculus virtual reality headset looking for funding on Kickstarter originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dgearheadsetkickstarteroculus-riftstereoscopicvirtual-realityvrWed, 01 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST