Can't believe I'm not seeing anything about this here. The Quest is not only getting promoted to a PC+standalone device, making the Rift S virtually obsolete but it's also getting hand tracking which the Rift S could well get too, but apparently isn't getting. And yeah, I know the speech about the Rift S having 8 Hz better refresh, supposedly better subpixel layout, and some milliseconds less latency, but when the time comes to resell it, nobody will care. Also, the Quest has IPD adjustment and OLED panels.
If the Rift is left so much behind the Quest, it will become garbage you can't sell unless you practically give it away. A slap in the face of the people who paid the exact same money as those who bought a Quest.
When Rift S released, the message to current Rift owners was: "This is not a required upgrade, you can happily keep using your CV1 and everything will continue to work on it." Now, they could always decide to throw that by the wayside, but Rift S is not Rift 2--it's a refresh, not an upgrade or next generation. As Rubin said, a true Rift 2 would be expected to break compatibility and introduce new things that couldn't be done on a CV1, but that's not what Rift S is.
That said, they could still implement the feature and stipulate to developers that it must not be a necessary feature for any aspect of their software--as long as everything can be done with controllers as an alternate input, then it's fine. They could also just let developers forget about CV1 users and go all-in on features that only Rift S can use, but that would be kind of shitty for those who haven't rushed to replace their headset.
Well I mean - CV1 should still use it no problem. It just wont have access to that feature. Even still and I think most ppl are really over hyping it - hand tracking isn't that good - yet - for massively different game play. More or less they would still have to allow controllers for anything that can be done with them. I feel right now it's more of a demo/starting to get the idea that we could with AR later down the road than it is useful right now other than for UI of course.
I wouldn't worry about it - just yet - I am sure it's coming it just takes longer to create because of the fact the hardware is different built for different needs at the time as well. It is - after all - possible to do almost anything software even if it is a bit slower in some cases.
Rift S really needs the hand tracking. Give us a mouse cursor on the point of either hands tip of index finger (priority on right hand when pointed) so flight and driving simulator gamers can operate the cockpits while flying with HOTAS.
Think as well a VR chess game where you could really pick up a piece with virtual hand. A RTS game that allows you to use hand gestures and moves to command the units etc.
This is why the 25€ gadget did amazing things years ago!
I bought Rift S and I am more concerned with the fact that Oculus has not released an add on for sound yet?
They need to release an addon for built in earphones or a whole new deluxe audio strap of some kind. I don't know what's taking so long.
This 1000 times. I'm holding on to my Rift CV1 while dealing with the Quest vs. Rift S analysis paralysis... The one thing I continue to think is that I'd be fart happier with the weird 1+1 headphone arrangement on the Quest.
I am neither too concerned with hand tracking or being portable. I'd rather have the LCD sub-pixel arrangement and if I *really* want portable VR I'd pick up a laptop or build a very small PC. The Rift S though, seems to be getting the cold shoulder and a lot of the opinion about it being a "developer device" seems to be holding true, which means the Quest (where the consumers are) is going to get a lot more love.
Rift S really needs the hand tracking. Give us a mouse cursor on the point of either hands tip of index finger (priority on right hand when pointed) so flight and driving simulator gamers can operate the cockpits while flying with HOTAS.
This would be amazing for us gamers -- and it also would make VR a much more viable medium for flight training! Taking it a step further to virtual switches that are actuated with virtual hands (rather than simulating mouse clicks) would be a game changer. We already have something similar using touch controllers on some sim programs, but those aren't really compatible with HOTAS throttles and sticks -- you have to choose one or the other. And touch controls are terrible compared to physical controls for the stick and throttle.
Tens of thousands are spent on cockpits with functioning switches, but if one $400 VR headset could help train the muscle memory of actuating those switches, it would be a no-brainer.
I, for one, could stop mapping random stuff to random switches on my HOTAS for the P-51 start sequence lol.
What gets me is it feels like they are taking a massive dump on those that do have the cv1 and the rift s. They should understand that PC market does a lot of VR gaming, yeah being able to move around is nice but still having a powerful pc to run it is nice. I for one do not want to feel like i pissed money into the wind with buying the rift s
Taking it a step further to virtual switches that are actuated with virtual hands (rather than simulating mouse clicks) would be a game changer.
Fly Inside lets you use a Leap Motion for finger tracked control of a plane.
Warning: don't google for "fly inside hands" to get a hand tracking demo video, you'll end up instead with videos of bot fly lavae being surgically removed from people's hands. URGH.
