Is VR worth it?

[TheFamousDr.Scanlon]

I'm planning to buy a VR headset, and the space portion of Elite has always had a good reputation. But I also do alot of on foot stuff, and the floaty 2D screen looks awful..

Is it still worth it?

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

VR is worth it even if only to play this game, alone (the space part). And there are other games that you will be able to play, too. Go for it!

[enderbeta]

How does vr work with a hotas? Can you see your controls or is it all by touch?

[Swans]

The space stuff is still good in VR, I don't play on foot and that is partly as I don't want to use the ghastly pancake screen thing, but also on foot is mediocre game play IMO so just not worth getting into for me personally.

That said, I think I get more out of Squadrons as a VR space shooter nowadays. So I think that even if ED is your trigger to buy VR, there are lots of fun options once you have a VR headset.

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Originally posted by enderbeta:

How does vr work with a hotas? Can you see your controls or is it all by touch?

It works perfectly with a HOTAS. Basically, when you look down, you see a HOTAS in the game (modeled from the X52 HOTAS, from what I know). You don't see your own HOTAS - you should know your HOTAS controls by touch. But the in game HOTAS visual mirrors your actual movements. You pull your own HOTAS up - the in game HOTAS does the same. It even mirrors pressing buttons on your HOTAS.

Keep in mind the the game does not support VR motion controllers. You can get buttons and touch pads on those working, but there is no "hand waving" or reaching to press something on screen. There are some third party tools like virtual joysticks that can help with that. But if you already use a HOTAS - you will be much better with it.

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Originally posted by TripleSix:

elite doesnt have full vr support, meaning all you can do is look around, you cant touch anything.

And it works much better like this for a flight simulation. You don't have to take a look away from your HUD to find a virtual button to touch - all your controls are under your fingertips of your HOTAS. And during combat you often have to press 3-4 buttons every second, while still monitoring your stats and looking at your enemy ship.

its also been basically abandoned by fdev, they aren't polishing it despite really needing it.

There is nothing to polish for flight VR - it works perfectly.

And FDevs did not abandon it. They explicitly stated that flying/driving VR is still supported, and they will fix anything that is needed fixing, if this need will arise. They also added the full VR support for a new SRV (Scorpion), which proves their support.

[enderbeta]

Originally posted by Dolphin Bottlenose:

Originally posted by enderbeta:

How does vr work with a hotas? Can you see your controls or is it all by touch?

It works perfectly with a HOTAS. Basically, when you look down, you see a HOTAS in the game (modeled from the X52 HOTAS, from what I know). You don't see your own HOTAS - you should know your HOTAS controls by touch. But the in game HOTAS visual mirrors your actual movements. You pull your own HOTAS up - the in game HOTAS does the same. It even mirrors pressing buttons on your HOTAS.

Keep in mind the the game does not support VR motion controllers. You can get buttons and touch pads on those working, but there is no "hand waving" or reaching to press something on screen. There are some third party tools like virtual joysticks that can help with that. But if you already use a HOTAS - you will be much better with it.

That sounds awesome. I'll have to give it a try sometime.

[-=ToX=-]

I played VR on PS4, and must say- its fun. But i nearly puked when was driving SRV :D

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Originally posted by -=ToX=-:

I played VR on PS4, and must say- its fun. But i nearly puked when was driving SRV :D

There are some video settings in this game that can help with it: settings that reduce the camera shaking and keep the horizon stable.

[Swans]

Originally posted by -=ToX=-:

I played VR on PS4, and must say- its fun. But i nearly puked when was driving SRV :D

Ha, yes, that is grim. As Bottlenose says, enable 'srv maintain horizen', prevents this (I think that's what it's called).

[Peter Pan]

I purchased the PICO 4 headset, but when I launch ED via Steam VR Odyssey launches and:
- Pico controllers do not work;
- the visor does not show a 3D rendering, but shows the standard game like on a cinema screen and it is as if you are watching a virtual panoramic LCD monitor on a gray background.
I think it's primitive and inadequate.

[Dolphin Bottlenose]

Originally posted by Peter Pan:

I purchased the PICO 4 headset, but when I launch ED via Steam VR Odyssey launches and:
- Pico controllers do not work;

This game does not support VR motion controllers. Use a joystick/HOTAS, a gamepad, or/and a keyboard & mouse.

- the visor does not show a 3D rendering, but shows the standard game like on a cinema screen and it is as if you are watching a virtual panoramic LCD monitor on a gray background.

On foot activity is shown in a virtual flat screen. Flying spaceships and driving SRVs work in full VR.

[Nero]

Any recommendations for a good hotas that doesn’t cost a fortune?
I‘ve already got an Index headset but never had any use for a hotas

[Swans]

Originally posted by Nero:

Any recommendations for a good hotas that doesn’t cost a fortune?
I‘ve already got an Index headset but never had any use for a hotas

You don't need HOTAS for ED, I use my XB1 Elite controller with VR and it's been perfect. That said, if you want one, many people use the Logitech X52 setup, which I use for DCS as it's cheap and reliable. You can really go to town on this stuff and I am sure there are many specialised solutions, but as the X52 works well in DCS, then it'll easily be sufficient for ED.

[funkynutz]

Originally posted by Nero:

Any recommendations for a good hotas that doesn’t cost a fortune?
I‘ve already got an Index headset but never had any use for a hotas

Check out VKB. They're not cheap, but they're not as expensive as some. VKB Gladiator joystick is pretty much the best bang for buck stick available. Pair it with a throttle of your choice (or a second stick for a HOSAS - dual stick - setup).

[FluffyBob]

Elite is one of the best VR games. It is amazing in VR. It can chug, don't expect to run with everything maxed. No, the cockpit is not clickable, vr controllers aren't supported, on foot is just flat screen. I like to play vr fps and aim with controllers, so that's a shame. That said, nothing else I have played in VR gives the sense of scale that Elite does. Flying is best in VR. There is a reason all the big combat flight sims support VR.

I certainly would not recommend an X52 or x56. The pots for minor axis and encoder wheel wear out quickly and become unreliable. The throttle mechanism is cheap plastic. I went from the more expensive x52 to the T16000 fcs. Way better throttle. A lot of people have trouble with the twist rudder, but I have pedals.

After a few years the pots on the T16000 are starting to go, so the paddle axis on the throttle and the encoder wheel sometimes get wonky now.

I now ordered the VKB evo with the Omni throttle and it comes today. This is a significant cost increase - total after import duties was just under $570 cad.

One youtube reviewer recommended the basic Gladiator (with its built in throttle lever) as the best value for money, and adding the T16000 throttle later.

Anything cheaper than the VKB is eventually going to have issues because of the use of pots instead of better quality sensors. I think the T16000 FCS is a great place to start though. Should be able to get it for about $200 cad.