Make your HTC Vive wireless with the £175 TPCAST upgrade kit

[HEXUS]

Does this official accessory make those new backpack VR PCs redundant?

Read more.

[Spud1]

Do readers think that this kind of accessory will kill the market for PCs such as the newly launched MSI VR One?

The question pre-supposes that there ever was a market for the backpack PCs

Personally wireless VR doesn't appeal that much to me with any current implementation (that may change in the future as the tech evolves). The cable on my Rift doesn't get in the way as it is, and as you'd still need to setup your positional sensors around the room anyway, removing the cable doesn't really give you that much more freedom. Add to that the fact that the best, most immersive VR experiences are all seated anyway and the appeal drops somewhat.

[darkKnight54]

Would be good if you put a link to the webstore in the article!

[darkKnight54]

Oops! my bad, the link IS infact in the article *sorry*

[Jacxel]

...the best, most immersive VR experiences are all seated anyway...

Are you serious?

[Spud1]

Are you serious?

100%. I am not talking about demos, 10 minute sessions etc, but actual use when you own a system, in VR for a while. The most immersive experiences i've had have been Eve Valkyrie, Project Cars and Elite Dangerous (with appropriate tracking updates so you can use your hands). Yes "The Lab", "Job Simulator" and "The Gallery" are cool, but I personally don't find them anywhere near as immersive.

The problem with "room scale" at the moment is that it's very limiting - its cool to be able to walk around your room in VR and pick things up (virtually) etc, but you are limited to very small spaces or to jarring teleportation type movement to go any further. Wireless doesn't solve this as you still need the sensors in place, so you are still limited in terms of how far you can go. To solve it you need to go further and ideally move to a treadmill style system (like Virtuix Omni but better) which removes those limits.

Just my opinion, but 99.9% of my VR time is spent sitting down (whether using the touch controllers or not). I've logged over 100 hours in VR since the summer (yes I am that sad...)

[jimbouk]

Are you serious?

I'm guessing the limitations of only being able to move around a small amount out way the benefits? Got the PSVR and the movement is only about sq meter really. Enough to move your head around naturally when seated (in a VR cockpit for example). Being able to take a couple of steps in one direction - I'm not sure it what situation that's going to provide good immersion?

You beat me to it Spud

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

It wouldn't surprise me if more people buy the PS4 VR setup at this rate.

[EvilCycle]

Whilst I am a bit of a semi-pauper (I have a capable rig but not the funds for the vr tech yet) and have only tried VR using google cardboard (I know, I know) - I have to agree that from what I gather so far is that the seated in-vehicle experiences are the most immersive as there isn't anything breaking said immersion, once you are sat in that cockpit you can drive/fly/ride to your hearts content without ever feeling like the experience is forced. Looking at pointers to move your character further than sensors allow, automatic movement on rails, using a controller to walk when you are stood still or even straight up teleporting with no context for it just feels utterly wrong. The only way I can see full movement working properly in VR is with one of these omni-directional treadmills. The VR industry is all just a little too messy, fragmented and expensive for me right now.

[WyldeStile]

It doesn't make that backpack redundant. With the backpack you do not have to lug around your heavy PC. You can also connect wireless device to the backpack so you have the best of both worlds.

[Axle_Grease]

Just my opinion, but 99.9% of my VR time is spent sitting down (whether using the touch controllers or not). I've logged over 100 hours in VR since the summer (yes I am that sad...)

I spend 95% of my VR time standing. The rest is due to porno.

[Strawb77]

if i just want to move my head i use a trackir to do it- a damn sight cheaper than my vive and it doesn`t shut off your view (ed is great btw)
as for sitting down being more immersive i would like to hear stephen hawking`s opinion on that one ;}