Oculus Rift Development Kit 2: Another Eyes-On
We take a look at the new development kit.
This week during GTC 2014, Oculus VR was showcasing its latest developer kit for the Oculus Rift, DK2. Unlike what I experienced back in November, this $350 kit featured a near infrared CMOS sensor, with an update rate of 60 Hz, placed directly in front of me to catch every single body movement.
As previously reported, this version of the Rift features a resolution of 1080 x 960 per eye, and it clearly shows. The visuals look a lot more refined than the HD version I tested back in November. With this version I didn't see any pixilation whatsoever, allowing me to jump eyes first into an immersive experience.
Read more: How Facebook's Oculus Buy Changes Future of Rift, VR
According to the specs, the refresh rates are 75 Hz, 72 Hz and 60 Hz, and the persistence is 2 ms, 3 ms and full. The viewing optics provide a nominal 100 degree field of view. The headset also features a gyroscope, accelerometer and a magnetometer, with an update rate of 1000 Hz.
"DK2 isn't identical to the consumer Rift, but the fundamental building blocks for great VR are there. All the content developed using DK2 will work with the consumer Rift. And while the overall experience still needs to improve before it's consumer-ready, we're getting closer everyday — DK2 is not the Holodeck yet, but it's a major step in the right direction," states Oculus VR in a recent blog.
For this demo, Oculus allowed two people to play Couch Knights, a deathmatch title from Epic Games involving swords, shields, a virtual living room and the UE4 engine. Players sit in a virtual chair, controlling action-figure sized avatars in a living room setting. You can move the warrior avatar all around the immediate area, but the players remain glued to their seats.
What was seemingly new in my experience was the ability to turn my head in a number of directions and angles while the room remained in place. In other words, the camera can see that I'm turning or tilting my head, leaning forward to see my feet, and more. Thus the game renders the environment so that you feel that you're really sitting in a room with furniture and another player.
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That said, I didn't see the blurred visuals I experienced with the first developer kit and the HD version shown back in November. My experience was incredibly smooth, and a sign that Oculus VR is getting closer to a retail release. When that will be I don't know, but the Rift will definitely be worth the wait.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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stevejnb Reply12976530 said:I think everyone lost all their interest in Oculus once facebook bought them.
I still can't believe how cliquey the PC tech world is. Same product, more funding, backing, and lobby power to get it supported by other companies, but tied to a company that isn't "with it" to gamers/PC geeks? All of the sudden it's "OMG I HATE THIS ICKY ICKY ICKY!"
This could be a harbinger of Facebook taking a very different turn - though, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Their social-network roots could only take them so far. I'll be curious to see what they're like. -
everlast66 Sony could not have hoped for a better present!And, yes, Project Morpheus is not only PS4, it has been demoed on the PC.http://www.roadtovr.com/sony-project-morpheus-dev-kits-delivered-early-june/Reply -
stevo777 They pretty much made Oculus from off the shelf parts. I don't see why some people from Tom's don't get together and start their own project. Most of us build PC's from off the shelf stuff.Reply -
Dexter Kairaiuak I was going to take the red pill. Now i'll take the blue pill. Thank you Morpheus.Reply -
tristangl ReplyI think everyone lost all their interest in Oculus once facebook bought them.
I did not!! -
ikaz The problem is that now FB can decide what direction the rift goes as far as development goes. FB is not an investment firm as far as stocks goes so when they spend 2B on it they have a good idea of what they want to do with the tech and I'm not aware of FB developing any full pc games (which is what most people were excited about).Reply -
tristangl ReplyI think everyone lost all their interest in Oculus once facebook bought them.
I did not!!