Razer Announces 400$ Open Source VR Headset, 2160x1200 screen, IQE, 90 FPS, no motion controller - Polidicks

[url]http://www.polygon.com/2016/6/13/11913140/razer-hdk2-virtual-reality[/url] [QUOTE]Razer has announced a new virtual reality headset for its open-source virtual reality platform at E3 2016. The hardware is launching this July, for a retail price of $399.99. "The HDK [Hacker Development Kit] 2 is equipped with custom designed lenses and an OLED dual-display for a total resolution of 2160 by 1200," the press release stated. "It also includes IQE (Image Quality Enhancer) technology for a reduced screen door effect. Capable of displaying VR experiences at 90 frames-per-second, the HDK 2 hardware specifications are comparable to the best virtual reality headsets available now." The headset all be compatible with games designed for the OSVR platform, but it will also work with Steam VR games that are playable with a standard controller, and it's possible a motion-control solution will be released for the platform in the future. Razer noted that the open nature of the platform will allow hardware companies to create and release their own controllers.[/QUOTE]

What does it use for positional tracking? There seems to be no mention of that.

Could be dead reckoning. At that price range it wouldn't surprise me.

[QUOTE=Wii60;50510231]"The HDK [Hacker Development Kit] 2 is equipped with custom designed lenses and an OLED dual-display for a total resolution of 2160 by 1200,[/QUOTE] Good news, but: [QUOTE=Wii60;50510231][Hacker Development Kit][/QUOTE] Really?

For all the 'Razr saves pc gaming once again' jokes, I'm glad they're there to try and create hardware, if only for the sake of choice and competition. $400 is more then competitive in this space, and I hope it's a fair contender for VR.

I really don't trust Razor with making a VR headset hopefully it isn't cheaply built at all. Having your headset break because the strap broke or lens fell out would be fucking awful

[QUOTE=J!NX;50510517]I really don't trust Razor with making a VR headset hopefully it isn't cheaply built at all. Having your headset break because the strap broke or lens fell out would be fucking awful[/QUOTE] well alot of people in the vr community from what i seen likes swapping parts/straps on the headsets so.

I want a VR headset as a TrackIR replacement. Not to play the gimmicky VR games. If this can do that, and with that resolution it looks like tiny details like gauges in cockpits can still be read, sign me up. Please have 6DOF

[QUOTE=Wii60;50510637]well alot of people in the vr community from what i seen likes swapping parts/straps on the headsets so.[/QUOTE] I want to swap my own vive-s strap too yeah only issue I can see the entire thing holding the strap to the headset falling off in this case :v:

Mixed feelings. On one hand they call it open source, on the other hand they call their sdk a hacker development kit

[QUOTE=J!NX;50510650]I want to swap my own vive-s strap too yeah only issue I can see the entire thing holding the strap to the headset falling off in this case :v:[/QUOTE] yeah I'm expecting the build quality to not be worth the 400 bones they're asking, which will make it a bit more painful since everybody's been saying "oh yeah I'll get into VR when it's not more expensive than a console". It's still a huge price given the old expectation for oculus' pricing to be $3-400 in the first place

[QUOTE=Karmah;50510683]Mixed feelings. On one hand they call it open source, on the other hand they call their sdk a hacker development kit[/QUOTE] hacking according to razor [t]http://il3.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/3337643/thumb/1.jpg?i10c=img.resize(height:160)[/t] well I mean, that's an improvement that's for sure [QUOTE=dai;50511199]yeah I'm expecting the build quality to not be worth the 400 bones they're asking, which will make it a bit more painful since everybody's been saying "oh yeah I'll get into VR when it's not more expensive than a console". It's still a huge price given the old expectation for oculus' pricing to be $3-400 in the first place[/QUOTE] hopefully other people release cheaper VR. It'd suck to be the guy who doesn't have cash and can only access ~400$ headsets at best.

Don't worry, price will come down... I mean smartphones are at same price and have more features than VR headset.

[QUOTE=TheTalon;50510642]I want a VR headset as a TrackIR replacement. Not to play the gimmicky VR games. If this can do that, and with that resolution it looks like tiny details like gauges in cockpits can still be read, sign me up. Please have 6DOF[/QUOTE] To be honest I don't really get the hype for motion controllers and the likes in VR. They're a gimmick. VR excited me for the possibility of being able to play simulators with mouse+kb/controller/joystick/whatever but with the added benefit of being able to move my head in space to peek around corners or look around the cockpit or anything like that.

[QUOTE=TheTalon;50510642]I want a VR headset as a TrackIR replacement. Not to play the gimmicky VR games. If this can do that, and with that resolution it looks like tiny details like gauges in cockpits can still be read, sign me up. Please have 6DOF[/QUOTE] Freespace and X-Wing/Tie Fighter would be amazing in VR, if a little disorienting at first

[QUOTE=taipan;50510479]Good news, but: Really?[/QUOTE] I'm hoping it's referring to the older more correct use of hacker of someone who is innovative at solving problems in ingenious ways. If it did it'd basically be the same as gearVR having an "innovator edition" this is razer though... really dumb branding is their forte.

I want a VR headset just for simracing, but I don't really want to pay vive-amount of money so I'm intrested

[QUOTE=Major_Vice;50510487]For all the 'Razr saves pc gaming once again' jokes, I'm glad they're there to try and create hardware, if only for the sake of choice and competition. $400 is more then competitive in this space, and I hope it's a fair contender for VR.[/QUOTE] I, personally, never wanted to get into VR for two reasons. One: the price, and two: the motion control nonsense. I just wanted the headset, and the area around my PC is too cramped for motion controls anyway. That being said, Razer might be what gets me to try VR.

[QUOTE=Fourier;50511331]Don't worry, price will come down... I mean smartphones are at same price and have more features than VR headset.[/QUOTE] this [i]is[/i] the price coming down, and they're probably using that as an excuse to keep it at 400 for a while. Oculus is 700 and vive is 800, it's essentially half the price of the competition

[QUOTE=Stopper;50511342]To be honest I don't really get the hype for motion controllers and the likes in VR. They're a gimmick. VR excited me for the possibility of being able to play simulators with mouse+kb/controller/joystick/whatever but with the added benefit of being able to move my head in space to peek around corners or look around the cockpit or anything like that.[/QUOTE] You wouldn't get the hype for VR with motion controls if you haven't tried it. If you had tried it in a good demo, you absolutely would get all the hype. It's playing games in a way that is so beyond anything that's been possible before.

why does my hobby have to be so fucking expensive

:SNIP: stupid mouse

[QUOTE=simkas;50510274]What does it use for positional tracking? There seems to be no mention of that.[/QUOTE] Cameras and image processing, would probably work really well in most places with minimal setup.

[QUOTE=Downsider;50514010]Cameras and image processing, would probably work really well in most places with minimal setup.[/QUOTE] I thought oculus had done some work on a system like that

[QUOTE=viperfan7;50514254]I thought oculus had done some work on a system like that[/QUOTE] John Carmack is working on that for next-gen gear vr, the system will use the phone's camera and the objects and walls around you as reference points

[QUOTE=meppers;50515246]John Carmack is working on that for next-gen gear vr, the system will use the phone's camera and the objects and walls around you as reference points[/QUOTE] Pretty sure that's what AMD's is doing as well.

no motion controllers is a deal breaker for me

[QUOTE=Karmah;50510683]Mixed feelings. On one hand they call it open source, on the other hand they call their sdk a hacker development kit[/QUOTE] At $400 it's the best VR bang for your buck. It indeed isn't cheap enough to buy two or three and fuck about with them until you get really weird hardware hacks but at almost half the price of the competition it begs for people to just buy one and fuck around with it.

well, razer is known for their l33t shit so calling their dk "hacker" seems about right

[QUOTE=thelurker1234;50511378]I'm hoping it's referring to the older more correct use of hacker of someone who is innovative at solving problems in ingenious ways. If it did it'd basically be the same as gearVR having an "innovator edition" this is razer though... really dumb branding is their forte.[/QUOTE] I am still amazed at how Razer is still alive spending so much R&D dollars on crap nobody really buys.