Oculus Quest 2 + HOTAS... Worth it?

[Dave Johnson]

(basically completely new to Elite)
Would you say this game is worth getting a $299 Oculus Quest 2 headset for?
(I know, I know, Facebook bad)
There are of course other games that I'd like to own a VR headset for, but the main thing I'd be looking forward to is getting immersed in a deep space-sim.

[-OrLoK- Слава Україн]

Ive not played ED for a while but it used to look and run great in VR.

even if its not well catered for in ED anymore, VR is great if ones PC can handle it.

[morbeious]

VR + Hotas is awesome but not for everyone.. I recommend playing ED outside of VR to learn the game. Once your good with the controls, etc. then move VR.

VR for Odyssey is buggy and crashes a lot at this time, in a few weeks it should be stable.

I also recommend getting Ed Discovery it will make your life much easier, and if you like companions check out the HCS Voiceattack packs, it gets very lonely in space.

Cheers,

[Princess Pilfer]

I don't recommend the facebook spyware masquerading as a headset to anyone, tbh. Like, cameras and a mic in my house controlled by facebook? No. Not to mention you have to be logged in with a facebook account to use it which means it can track *everything.*

It's also not actually 299. The link (which is a requirement for Steam VR compatibility) is 75 extra dollars, bumping it up to 374. If you want to use it wirelessly ever and have more than like 2 or 3 games on it, it's 474.
In either case, I'd spend the extra money and get an HP Reverb G2 (it's 569 USD atm. Can save between 100 and 200 bucks if you're willing to hunt down a used one.)


As for 'would I spend 350+ extra dollars on VR for this game alone,' no, I wouldn't. I primarily play in VR (enough so that I don't actually know how to access the menus normally anymore, I'm too used to just looking at them to bring them up) too so I'm basing this on my VR experience.
If there's a bunch of other games you're interested in playing, then sure. But just for 1 game? Not worth it.

[ape]

i have a rift s and i only play this game in vr mode. I played it for a bit out of vr before i got my headset and idk i just never got deep into it. But when i got my vr and tried this again on a "why not, its a vr game ill download it again and try it out" type thought I got sucked in and havent been able to stop playing. I use a 360 controller which feels easier than using my logitech stick in vr - that way i can just sit back in my chair and i dont have to worry about my hand placements and remembering where buttons are.

[roblambden]

This is the same setup I use which is a big step up from the RIFT S. The quest 2 is an excellent headset for the money but you will need a high spec GPU if you want to run it via Oculus link. Horizons does not support VR

[funkynutz]

It is like different game in VR, you feel the scope and size of the game much better.

[Nafta]

I think if it is your budget, you must take it, you will enjoy also if it is not the best headset in the world

[Godrik Underscore]

I own a HOTAS and an Index and I play the game exclusively in VR. If it wasn't for VR the grind would be too much for me. VR at least gives me the immersion required to tolerate the grind.

To answer your question, yes it is absolutely worth it. As for not knowing where the buttons are on a HOTAS in VR, it is the exact same as if you are using a game controller. Your hands know where the buttons are. It is only kbm + VR where you have to be able to glance from time to time.

[Pataties]

100% worth it, I use the quest 2 wirelessly + a HOTAS setup and it's great, Odyssey has some framerate issues but horizons is still great, I'm sure the latest dlc will get there eventually.

[Princess Pilfer]

Originally posted by roblambden:

This is the same setup I use which is a big step up from the RIFT S. The quest 2 is an excellent headset for the money but you will need a high spec GPU if you want to run it via Oculus link. Horizons does not support VR

Yes it does? Horizons very definitely supports VR.

[ждун]

i have never played this game on a flat screen. Only VR from the beginning. For sure worth it. Once played in VR you won't ever want to play it on flat monitor.

I don't know much about oculus 2, don't know why its hiped so much, propably of the cheap price and the wireless feature, which is in my opinion overrated for a sim-like game like ED where you don't have to jump around in your room anyway. So wireless is useless for ED.

I would suggest rather to spare some extra money and invest into some higher class VR gear such as HP reverb or valve index.

Tip: I would not spent on hotas, instead on VR controllers. There is a 3d party tool called elite-vr-cockpit by dantman. It enables virtual controlls in ED cockpit. You can literelly grab the controls in the cockpit with your hands. Very immersive and accurate, wouldn't want to exchange that for hotas on my table in front of me.

[Godrik Underscore]

Originally posted by ждун:

i have never played this game on a flat screen. Only VR from the beginning. For sure worth it. Once played in VR you won't ever want to play it on flat monitor.

I don't know much about oculus 2, don't know why its hiped so much, propably of the cheap price and the wireless feature, which is in my opinion overrated for a sim-like game like ED where you don't have to jump around in your room anyway. So wireless is useless for ED.

I would suggest rather to spare some extra money and invest into some higher class VR gear such as HP reverb or valve index.

Tip: I would not spent on hotas, instead on VR controllers. There is a 3d party tool called elite-vr-cockpit by dantman. It enables virtual controlls in ED cockpit. You can literelly grab the controls in the cockpit with your hands. Very immersive and accurate, wouldn't want to exchange that for hotas on my table in front of me.

That's great that the hand controllers work for you! I've only experienced this type of virtual joystick in No Mans Sky and the experience while ok, cannot compare to using a HOTAS. There is too much playroom and margin for error with air controls and I find myself constantly having to reposition my hands. yymv ofc.

[ждун]

Originally posted by Godrik Underscore:

That's great that the hand controllers work for you! I've only experienced this type of virtual joystick in No Mans Sky and the experience while ok, cannot compare to using a HOTAS. There is too much playroom and margin for error with air controls and I find myself constantly having to reposition my hands. yymv ofc.

i didn't try No Mans Sky, so can't judge on that.

However in the elite vr cockpit you can reposition the flightstick and throttle and also all the buttons to a compfortable position for you. In the cockpit virtual controls are rendered as a thin hologram. barely visible so doesn't disturb.

I put my hands on the my chairs arm rests and configure the virtual controls to match that position. That works quite well. They are resting on the arm rest and not floating in the air.

Here is a video on that tool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndIan0YCL-I

old one, it has progressed already a bit from that, but you get the idea.

[Godrik Underscore]

Originally posted by ждун:

Originally posted by Godrik Underscore:

That's great that the hand controllers work for you! I've only experienced this type of virtual joystick in No Mans Sky and the experience while ok, cannot compare to using a HOTAS. There is too much playroom and margin for error with air controls and I find myself constantly having to reposition my hands. yymv ofc.

i didn't try No Mans Sky, so can't judge on that.

However in the elite vr cockpit you can reposition the flightstick and throttle and also all the buttons to a compfortable position for you. In the cockpit virtual controls are rendered as a thin hologram. barely visible so doesn't disturb.

I put my hands on the my chairs arm rests and configure the virtual controls to match that position. That works quite well. They are resting on the arm rest and not floating in the air.

Yes that is the way to do it! The fact that the controllers aren't fastened to the surface though makes me constantly lose my "position" and then I have to readjust.

But I can only go off NMS, so perhaps the 3rd party implementation you use is better than what NMS managed to implemement. Don't get me wrong it's still great fun, just not as accurate. Could also be that it's a "me" problem as I tend to overcompensate at times and even rock my joystick off angle from time to time.

[Princess Pilfer]

I would strongly recommend against VR controllers, tbh. They're not fast or precise enough for...well anything except space trucking. (and a controller doesn't have enough buttons) A HOTAS is and does.

And if you have a HOTAS that doesn't suck (ie not a thrustmaster) you'll be able to feel all the buttons you need without actually moving your hand so there won't be much worry in remembering where they are.
(avoid logitech hotas too, they are well known for serious reliability issues and low quality parts. still better button placement than the thrustmaster stuff though)

(the only reason I ever touch my keyboard is to type system names into the galaxy map, or to type in chat. Everything else is on the HOTAS comfortably, I actually have a bunch of spare buttons that don't do anything)