SteamVR Headset From HTC To Release Windows Only First

What the hell, man. First, Valve delays the Linux version of Dota 2: Reborn, and now this? It's like a slap in the face to us Linux users from the least expected direction. And I call bullshit on their "Steam machines are too weak to run a VR headset" excuse since they have to know that a lot of gamers are running Linux on how powered PCs.

I don't think that "Gattis smiled mischievously" is a good translation within this context, probably "Gattis smiled half-jokingly" is more accurate.

I don't think that "Gattis smiled mischievously" is a good translation within this context, probably "Gattis smiled half-jokingly" is more accurate.

Maybe "impishly", "tricksy" or "waggishly" fit better (never heard any on these), but there's no joke in "schelmisch".
http://dict.leo.org/ende/index_de.html#/search=schelmisch

That's disappointing.

Disappointing if true. Could this be some kind of misunderstanding? I thought the Vive worked with SteamVR, which is on Linux. Maybe he was talking about specific games?

Edit: I did some searching, and it might be more of an issue with engine plugins. The SteamVR plugins for Unity and Unreal currently don't support Linux (for Unity: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/32647).

I'd say who cares, but I know a lot of you do. Personally I can't see myself investing into anything VR related until they come up with an implementation without the bulky headset. Hell, even 3D glasses are barely worth the annoyance.

Grumpy old man out.

Fuck you Valve!

I'd say who cares, but I know a lot of you do. Personally I can't see myself investing into anything VR related until they come up with an implementation without the bulky headset. Hell, even 3D glasses are barely worth the annoyance.

Grumpy old man out.

I could care less about VR goggles myself, but it's frustrating to see one of Valve's partners releasing a product with the Steam brand that won't support Linux/SteamOS.

As for 3D technologies that don't require you to strap anything to your face, the Nintendo 3DS is an excellent example that works quite well. I'm sure that kind of technology could be scaled up to the size of computer monitors, but they'd probably be incredibly expensive.

I still think it's a fad that will fade with time, I don't want to strap a bloody device to my face. I'm not bothered personally.

So there's Valve doing a lot a great efforts for Linux gaming and if they don't (and with that I mean delay!) on two instances people get angry and insulting.. that's how you leave a good impression of your community.. thx!

I still think it's a fad that will fade with time, I don't want to strap a bloody device to my face. I'm not bothered personally.

There are three things that need to be done to make VR successful:
1- Light headset, i.e. something not much larger than regular sun glasses. The current VR headsets will probably tire your neck very quickly.
2- Large FOV. You need to feel the image surrounding you rather than seeing a rectangular image that feels to be half a meter away from you.
3- Low latency. Latency in VR will be much easier to notice than in monitors and will be annoying.
If they manage to fix the upper three then it will definitely be a success (assuming reasonable pricing). I don't know how the Vive do in terms of latency and FOV, but it's size definitely doesn't look right and neither does Oculus.

Valve's OpenVR SDK supports 32-/64-bit targets:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/openvr

I tend to say don't worry.

After all, we don't actually know much about that HTC guy Jeff Gattis.

OTOH, if some of the editors have good contacts to Valve, it might be
interesting to hear from them if Gattis' statement is also valid for Valve. :D

Sarmad have you used current VR? I have. The headset being light is about the only thing that hasn't been solved by current generation VR. It's relatively light, but it might be possible to make it even lighter. Now personally for me it's the resolution holding back VR. Even the Samsung Gear VR has a visible pixel grid and that's running at 2560x1440. 1280x1440 per eye. The resolution will need to be at least 2560x2880 per eye to be acceptable, and those screens are still a while off. I suspect that true presence won't happen until we're at 5120x5760 per eye so someone will need to invent a phone screen that's 10240x5760. Of course then you need a computer system to drive it and that's a whole other ball game. We are definitely starting to come up against Moore's law limitations. Look at the lack of GPU development, we're still stuck on 20-28nm manufacturing. I really hope that we can get down to 10-14nm on GPUs and it's enough of a performance boost to handle immersive VR. Right now it seems to be a bit of a pipe dream.

Btw before people jump in claiming I don't know what I'm talking about, I've used the Samsung Gear VR (2560x1440), and the Occulus Rift DK1 (720p) and DK2 headsets (1080p). I've also used a really craptastic 1990s VR headset that had the square picture and it was terrible. I like VR, but I'm trying to be realistic about where the technology sits for me. (I will also add that the Unreal Engine 4 tech demo was magical, the 3D effect was crazily good and I can see the potential for interactive worlds is immense.)

Edit: I did some searching, and it might be more of an issue with engine plugins. The SteamVR plugins for Unity and Unreal currently don't support Linux (for Unity: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/32647).

I did some research too and it seems that all the libraries provided by Valve are multi-platform Win/OSX/Linux, so one thing for sure it is not Valve's fault.

And I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Gattis did said something like "depending on some factors the HTC Vive might initially only work on Windows[...]" and that the journalist turned it in a way to make it looks like he didn't care about Linux at all to make it more dramatic.

So there's Valve doing a lot a great efforts for Linux gaming and if they don't (and with that I mean delay!) on two instances people get angry and insulting.. that's how you leave a good impression of your community.. thx!

I guess the people at Valve will take it with humor (as it was meant). I couldn't care less for VR (although I must admit it leaves a bitter taste as to where priorities lie).

BUT: Valve isn't doing this because they see Linux as the great platform it is, they do all this, because they wanted to break free from Microsoft when the rumors about a (n even more) walled garden aka MS Store first appeared.

At least that explains lack of plugins and other infrastructure for VR on Linux, despite having SteamVR release recently. Ok, now we know they don't care at this moment.

However one thing is interesting - is it me or there's general consensus between engine/VR crowd that OpenGL is somehow unworkable for VR? If that's true, why they just don't openly say so? I personally think it's nonsense, but it seems there's more challenges than we know.

I don't blame Valve on this one though - it's HTC product, it's their drivers. Their decision to support or not to support Linux atm. Reasoning given is weak, but I guess that's just PR talk "it's not our objective at the moment". As for 'guy smiling' check out his LinkedIn profile - that's how he smiles. No hidden agenda imho.

Feeling disappointed? Kinda. But kinda expected that after few months of disappointing news on VR front on Linux. They don't care about us. We don't register on their radar yet.

Edit: I did some searching, and it might be more of an issue with engine plugins. The SteamVR plugins for Unity and Unreal currently don't support Linux (for Unity: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/32647).

I did some research too and it seems that all the libraries provided by Valve are multi-platform Win/OSX/Linux, so one thing for sure it is not Valve's fault.

And I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Gattis did said something like "depending on some factors the HTC Vive might initially only work on Windows[...]" and that the journalist turned it in a way to make it looks like he didn't care about Linux at all to make it more dramatic.

I think it's relatively easy to verify - contact this person and ask to clarify his comments. Media does it all the time, and GamingOnLinux is prominent enough to get an answer.

I still think it's a fad that will fade with time, I don't want to strap a bloody device to my face. I'm not bothered personally.

Much how I felt until I tried the 2nd gen Occulus on a driving game. For any kind of cockpit game, this will (easily) change the world. Apparently it's incredible with Elite 2.

I'm still to be convinced by FPS environments though. Perhaps something like the Talos Principle. I could see that being pretty impressive.

And yeah, VR won't go away. This is it guys - if VR is not on Linux in next 2 years, gaming will stagnate here. It's just how it is.

BUT: Valve isn't doing this because they see Linux as the great platform it is, they do all this, because they wanted to break free from Microsoft when the rumors about a (n even more) walled garden aka MS Store first appeared.

Microsoft can still potentially kill Valve business easily (and most probably will eventually try), this hasn't change at all. Windows is already moving from a product oriented business to a service oriented business, which means that services like Steam will be competitors that need to be put down and imagine how easy that would be for Microsoft.