Valve-HTC VIVE Available for Pre-order

[btarunr]

HTC and Valve today announced their 2016 CES Best of Show winning VR system is available now for pre order with first shipments targeted to begin on Tuesday, April 5th. A complete VR solution, Vive includes two wireless VR controllers, room scale movement, a full 360° of tracking, and an HMD featuring a built-in camera to create what many critics are calling the most convincing VR experience launching this year.

In addition to the VR system, and for a limited time, those who pre order will also receive a free copy of three new VR titles: Tilt Brush from Google, Fantastic Contraption from Northway and Radial Games, and Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives from Owlchemy Labs. "We are delighted to help usher in the next generation of virtual reality," said Cher Wang of HTC. "Launching Vive with Valve has helped us ignite the creativity of thousands of content developers around the world." Vive is the first SteamVR system, giving it the backing of full integration with the leading online platform for PC games.



"Our collaboration with HTC and the VR development community has allowed us to create the most compelling and complete VR solution," said Valve's Gabe Newell. "In the coming weeks, many of these developers will launch an incredible first generation of VR titles to consumers around the world." To help consumers prepare for the Vive launch, Valve has issued the SteamVR test application for free on Steam. It provides a fun and easy way to find out if your PC is ready for Vive.

For more information, including details on upcoming SteamVR titles, please visit this page.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[m4gicfour]

Welp. Not going to be ordering one of those.

It's $829USD, shipping included, for the US, BTW. 950-990€ ish for the Euro countries depending on location (not including the additional VAT charge), and £746.60 for the UK.

 

[Bansaku]

"Shut up and take my money!" said no one!

 

[xkm1948]

 

[xvi]

It actually looks really cool, but I think I might wait for the second revision (with, hopefully, a drop in price).

Here's a rather long video of an artist playing around in Tilt Brush. Looks REALLY awesome actually.

 

[m4gicfour]

Yeah I bought an Oculus DK2 and that was a mistake. I should know myself well enough by now to know I'm not going to get back into coding for that (and my limited experience nowhere approaches 3D game design, especially in a cutting-edge field). The DK2 is neat to play with, but the hardware just isn't there yet. The res is way, way too low on the DK2. I will say that the tracking was quite good, and the immersion is great but I'm not yet convinced that the Oculus CV1 and/or Vive have a high enough res per eye to both not make me sick and not screen-door.

Tiltbrush is definitely cool, but I'm not at all the creative type so media consumption is going to be my usage.

 

[AsRock]

Yeah give it time to mature unless you have money to burn.

 

[Mindweaver]

I was in for an April ship date, but I backed out.. I know I want a Vive over the rift for room scale, but it needs more games.. I just hope I can hold out.. lol

 

[AsRock]

I was in for an April ship date, but I backed out.. I know I want a Vive over the rift for room scale, but it needs more games.. I just hope I can hold out.. lol

Better wait too as one might go belly up, wait until shit settles should be cheaper then too.

 

[Mindweaver]

Better wait too as one might go belly up, wait until shit settles should be cheaper then too.

True, I've been following this every since the start and if Vive would have came in around $599 then I would have bought one without even thinking about it. I pre-ordered the Rift and have a June shipping date.. but I'll probably cancel that and just get a Vive. It all depends on the games and content at this point. Someone from HTC said that they sold 15k in 10 minutes. I'd like to know what the total number of units sold for the first batch that's shipping in April.

 

[AsRock]

a lot , but sick of being a beta tester for shit so expensive. Bad enough with games.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I think I'm steering clear until there is VR standardization. This nonsense of being hardware locked so stinks of the 1990s graphics card/game market.

 

[deemon]

I think I stand clear until they don't think 1$ = 1.2€ anymore.

 

[tehehe]

I think I stand clear until they don't think 1$ = 1.2€ anymore.

That's basically difference in VAT. EU prices have VAT US prices don't.

 

[Fluffmeister]

"Shut up and take my money!" said no one!

I remain to be convinced by this tech too, but it's selling just dandy:

http://hexus.net/ce/news/audio-visu...-orders-flying-start-despite-lofty-price-tag/

 

[xkm1948]

I used Google Cardboard V1 for over a year and the experience was simply amazing. That was just with some cardboard with cheap plastic lense. I am so into this new tech and that I would gladly pay the premium.

Not every new tech will become cheaper over the years. For example the flagship smartphones from both Apple and Samsung have always stayed above 600 dollars. For people who are not convinced I would recommend you try out Google cardboard first.

 

[xkm1948]

And I have already downloaded quite a small collection of VR porn. I have tried on Google cardboard and it is a good enough experience. According to this site it will " feel like losing virginity again"

http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/virt...-feels-like-we-just-lost-our-virginity-again/