Where can we get Helix Vision now that it is no longer for sale on Steam?

[bobn]

I've looked all over the VK3DVision and HelixMod sites and the internet in general and all links to purchase point back to steam, which says it is no longer available. Really wanted to try and get Doom Eternal running on the Quest 2. Anyone know how to do this without Helixvision, or is it Not Needed anymore due to updates? Any help appreciated!

[Cer]

That are bad news. Seems that B3b is not with us (at least here in steam) any more.

[Riva ZX]

There were no updates since spring 2021 and i think the project is dead. But we have the geo-11 driver from the developer of Helix since some month and i hope that a new installer gui with Katange will be released soon, because it makes no sense to ignore VR but release a geo-11 driver.

[Riva ZX]

I have no time to test it today, but you can try to run VR with the 3Dfix Manager instead of helixvision !

https://duselpaul86.s3.amazonaws.com/fix_manager_1.85.7z

[Riva ZX]

You can configure a SBS Output in the 3DfixManager and capture it with Virtual Desktop, Bigscreen or the Vorpx Desktop Viewer and set SBS capture in these tools !

[Gamma Lyrae]

Seems it's still available to download for existing customers, at least. Users that were already using the katanga_vr output of geo-11 won't lose anything, for the time being.

I don't know what's going on with bo3b, I just hope they're OK. Having been on the discord, mtbs3d forums, etc etc I could see he was getting increasingly frustrated with users that did not understand how to use the tools he was providing for next to zero income. Not sure if all of that's related necessarily.

It looks like dx9 development on geo-11 has stopped, as well.

[Riva ZX]

(Possible) Workaround:

1. Install a 3dfix with the 3dfixmanager and close it

https://duselpaul86.s3.amazonaws.com/fix_manager_1.85.7z

2. Start SteamVR

3. To use the Katanga VR app, we need to launch it manually with command line parameters to tell it what game to find.

But first we need Katanga VR app !
Use Helixvision Demo Katanga App ?
Or can anybody upload a portable Katanga.exe ?

or

Find your HelixVision game directory, and go to Tools->Katanga.
Make a shortcut of the Katanga.exe app. This is a Unity VR app.
Drag the shortcut someplace more handy, like the root of your game, or the desktop.

Get Properties on the shortcut.

In the Target field, add two parameters after the katanga.exe path:
--game-path "c:\your\path\to\game.exe"
--launch-type DX11Exe

Edit the d3dxdm.ini to set direct_mode = katanga_vr.

Also put dm_separation = 20, 80 is too high for this big screen.

Edit the d3dx.ini file, and change force_stereo=2

Launch your game however you want. Game should launch in TAB mode. The game window just shows TAB output to indicate it is in stereo mode, but katanga receives full-sbs images.

Make sure katanga is not already running, but SteamVR can be running.
Double click that shortcut to launch kataga in waiting mode, and katanga should automatically connect and show stereo.

Here is an example full Target specification as setup for Witcher3. Your file paths will of course be different.

W:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\HelixVision\Tools\Katanga\katanga.exe --game-path "W:\Games\The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt\bin\x64\witcher3.exe" --launch-type DX11Exe

[COEzbay]

It's a pity that I became aware of it so late. Is there any way to get the program outside of Steam or what about the Katanga.exe?

[Cer]

If you find a friend that already owns Helix Vision, he can share it with you.

[COEzbay]

Originally posted by Cer:

If you find a friend that already owns Helix Vision, he can share it with you.

I don't have any friends who owns Helix Vision

[Riva ZX]

You can try to ask the nice Bo3b, the developer of the Katanga VR App as a part Helixivision on github ! But on the mtbs forum you can ask the helpfull community, too !

https://github.com/bo3b/katanga

https://www.mtbs3d.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=181

[COEzbay]

Originally posted by Riva ZX:

You can try to ask the nice Bo3b, the developer of the Katanga VR App as a part Helixivision on github ! But on the mtbs forum you can ask the helpfull community, too !

https://github.com/bo3b/katanga

https://www.mtbs3d.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=181

Thank you very much man

[Greed Is Addiction]

Originally posted by Cer:

That are bad news. Seems that B3b is not with us (at least here in steam) any more.

He has worked very hard behind the scenes in the nvidia 3D community which led to Helix Vision and likely does not get enough credit. People were complaining about how to use the software, and while it's comparable to 3D Fix Manager it requires a little patience and making sure everything is set correctly.

[Cer]

Yes, and I appreciate his work. Unfortunately you don't (and can't) get good resuts if you have a low end grafik card (like GTX 1070) and a high end headset (like Reverb G2) as I could experience myself.
Sadly, some pepole tend to shoot the messenger if they don't get good results.

[COEzbay]

Originally posted by Cer:

Yes, and I appreciate his work. Unfortunately you don't (and can't) get good resuts if you have a low end grafik card (like GTX 1070) and a high end headset (like Reverb G2) as I could experience myself.
Sadly, some pepole tend to shoot the messenger if they don't get good results.

The general problem is that most of them are only casual gamers and understand little or nothing about the technology. As a dev, you shouldn't take statements from laymen so much to heart or personally. Or simply make the announcement that if someone knows better, they should do it themselves or jstfu.

[Greed Is Addiction]

Originally posted by COEzbay:

Originally posted by Cer:

Yes, and I appreciate his work. Unfortunately you don't (and can't) get good resuts if you have a low end grafik card (like GTX 1070) and a high end headset (like Reverb G2) as I could experience myself.
Sadly, some pepole tend to shoot the messenger if they don't get good results.

The general problem is that most of them are only casual gamers and understand little or nothing about the technology. As a dev, you shouldn't take statements from laymen so much to heart or personally. Or simply make the announcement that if someone knows better, they should do it themselves or jstfu.

Getting nvidia 3D up and running isn't exactly plug and play. I had to do a bit of research and still on occasion need to ask if something isn't clear - only to be reminded to read and research. I'd sooner think the issue is more about entitled (yet lazy) steam patrons who want software which just easily works with a simple, single click.

Nvidia 3D and HelixVision isn't for those simple, single-click kind of people. It's not rocket science but I agree you need to be in the loop as far as the hardware goes and to a degree, the software.

I bet Bo3b is taking a much needed break, and he'll be back with some kind of software surprise at some point.