henke on 26/11/2020 at 06:34
Been meaning to do this for half a year now, but finally went ahead and ordered a Valve Index. :)
I could really use a GFX card upgrade from my GTX 1070 as well, but now I'm kinda doubting my case could even fit the full 30 centimeters of a RTX 3080. Also I only got PCIe 3 but it says it requires PCIe 4? Man... maybe a full computer upgrade is in order. I'd keep my SSD drives but switch out pretty much everything else.
Briareos H on 26/11/2020 at 08:40
You'll see a massive performance increase by upgrading your GPU, a 1070 will not be enough to play comfortably at 120 Hz, which is so, so nice. Two things to know about the Index: internal reflections and glare are awful (like, if there is a small white on black logo in the center of the screen, there is not a single pixel in your field of vision that will not contain some of that glare bleeding through) and the black levels are very sad. But everything else makes up for it.
Since we are talking about faves, this speaks about the state of VR games at least in my subjective view, but my best single player gaming experience in VR has been a non-VR original Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, on the same level as HL:Alyx + custom maps. I hadn't played it before and was blown away, I didn't expect third person to work so well in VR, the port is amazing.
Other SP games I liked: Beat Saber, Pistol Whip, Elite: Dangerous, Superhot, Rez Infinite, Paper Beast, The Exorcist VR, Overload, Budget Cuts
Multiplayer faves: Vivecraft, Windlands 2 and Onward before the massive downgrade (don't buy it now if you're on PCVR)
Also try out the Goldeneye 64 maps ported to HL:Alyx by ChimonaHehe, especially The Dam. They are really good, really different from the base Alyx game (and actually better IMO, the combat in Alyx is soooooooo slooow)
Next games for me to try out:
* Reentry
* SW Squadrons, as long as it does not need to install an EA launcher such as Origin to run (does it?)
* Vertigo Remastered
* The Room VR: A Dark Matter
* Doom 3 and TDM VR
* Polybius, thanks for the recommendation HOLY NAUSEA BATMAN!! I can take fast 6DOF movement in VR but mess with stereo separation and I'll have you refunded you in a microsecond
* Compound (liked the demo, but the full game is quite expensive)
Can't wait for VR support in FS2020.
Starker on 26/11/2020 at 10:20
Quote Posted by henke
Also I only got PCIe 3 but it says it requires PCIe 4? Man... maybe a full computer upgrade is in order. I'd keep my SSD drives but switch out pretty much everything else.
I very much doubt the 3080 would actually
need PCIe gen 4, as I don't think it will fill the bandwidth for gen 3 and it should work on gen 3 regardless, because they are backward and forward compatible.
I'd say whether you need a full upgrade depends more on the CPU you're running.
henke on 26/11/2020 at 15:16
I got an 8-core i7-4770K 3.5GHz, which is probably ok.
Guess it's possible I might only really need a new, bigger case.
Starker on 26/11/2020 at 16:19
Yeah, it should last a while longer, if you're satisfied with it now. But you would need a new case sooner or later, so might as well get one. There have been some pretty good cases for very affordable prices around recently.
For example, Phanteks 400A is just great and can be fairly affordable, if you can find one in stock. You can get a "digital" verson with RGB bling, if you're into that sort of thing (and it also comes with an extra fan, which makes it even cooler).
I myself have a Cooler Master NR600 that's a bit older by now, but you can pick it up fairly cheap as a result and, true to its name, it's like a refrigerator, especially if you add a fan to the front (which you absolutely should). You can even find a version with an optical drive bay, if you happen to be into retro cases or something.
Either one of the cases has plenty of GPU clearance and would be able to fit a 3080 easily.
Thirith on 26/11/2020 at 20:51
If anyone would like some Steam codes for VR games (they're the ones from the Humble Bundle that I either already have or am not interested in):
- I Expect You To Die: EMLEW-E9QVM-6LZKD
- Archangel: Hellfire - Fully Loaded: RTB5G-IA8HM-EAYZM
- A-Tech Cybernetic: 9TQ5A-84F78-GXA35
Thirith on 27/11/2020 at 15:12
Oh, and after finding out that Paper Beast only runs like shit on SteamVR (at least with my Oculus Rift S setup) and that it launches in Oculus native mode if you don't go via SteamVR, I've fallen in love with it. It may not be a brilliant game, but it creates a wonderful surreal world that's a joy to inhabit. Well worth checking out, even if it's probably more of an experience than a game (and depending on what your thoughts are when you read this, you'll know whether it's a game/experience for you).
I then booted up Star Wars Squadrons, hooked up my HOTAS and indulged in that childhood fantasy of piloting an X-Wing or a TIE Fighter. It's only the second game I've played it (I had about a month of barely any VR time at all) and the first time with HOTAS, and while I suck, it is highly enjoyable.
Renault on 27/11/2020 at 18:42
Had a little Black Friday fun over at the Oculus store this morning. I don't know much about their sales compared to Steam, but it seems like they're running some decent deals. It's only good for today, btw. I picked up most of this stuff at 50% off (or more):
Stormland
Lone Echo
Xing The Land Beyond
Edge of Nowhere
Wilson's Heart
I also grabbed In Death Unchained for the Quest 2, only 20% off but it's a game I've been wanting to snag for awhile anyway.
Briareos H on 27/11/2020 at 19:18
Paper Beast was smooth as silk for me using SteamVR. I loved it, and I think it's a bit more of a game than what Thirith credits it for. There are definite elements of god game, although in the service of a very contemplative experience.
SW Squadrons needs an EA account so fuck that shit. I'll pirate it one day.
Vertigo (Remastered) is a very enjoyable and not too clunky FPS adventure, I don't know how it compares to the 2016 original and I assume they brought in a lot of modern systems. I was pleasantly surprised at how fun and polished it is.
Next is The Room, which already seems quite beautiful and atmospheric but displays very strange controller bugs and stutters.
I would love to test Lone Echo but I'd need Revive and I'm not sure it's going to play well with my system.
I also would love to test (
https://www.reddit.com/r/Morrowind/comments/jzozr9/vr_morrowind_in_proper_virtual_reality_openmw/) this port of Morrowind / OpenMW to VR but I'm not sure I have the patience to properly set it up, especially as I know I'll be disappointed by how awkward the gameplay ends up being.
Briareos H on 28/11/2020 at 22:56
The Room VR was great. A bit on the expensive side, but it's a good and very atmospheric experience. It uses VR beautifully with a few really inspiring tricks, and the puzzles are nice as per usual fare with The Room. I can really recommend it, I just wish it was twice as long.