Half-Life: Alyx, Valve's return to the Half-Life franchise in VR-only form released for Windows last month and it appears they're now preparing a Linux version. You can see so on SteamDB.
Good news, although not unexpected. When we spoke to Valve a few days before release, they did mention their plan was to hopefully have a Linux version of Half-Life: Alyx with Vulkan API support out post-release.
Taking place between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2, you play as Alyx Vance instead of Gordon Freeman in a seemingly impossible fight against the alien Combine. It's already managed to hit an Overwhelmingly Positive user review score on Steam, with that being from over twenty thousand players. Considering it's a Virtual Reality game, which requires you buy the VR kit on top of a PC good enough to run it, it's an impressive number.
If you didn't see it, after release Valve put up a video going into more detail about the movement systems in Half-Life: Alyx. It does support three different movement types including: blink teleport, shift teleport and continuous locomotion (which is the closest you get to WASD style). Check it out:
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Wow - perfect news. I received my Index TODAY! I actually started downloading Alyx but I'll cancel it then and wait for the proper version.
I got plenty to play in the meantime. Both Super Hot and Serious Sam VR (the two I've tried so far) are AWESOME.
I'm blown away by the tracking precision too - it's like watching my own hands!
I got plenty to play in the meantime. Both Super Hot and Serious Sam VR (the two I've tried so far) are AWESOME.
I'm blown away by the tracking precision too - it's like watching my own hands!
6 Likes, Who?
Quoting: BeamboomWow - perfect news. I received my Index TODAY! I actually started downloading Alyx but I'll cancel it then and wait for the proper version.
I got plenty to play in the meantime. Both Super Hot and Serious Sam VR (the two I've tried so far) are AWESOME.
I'm blown away by the tracking precision too - it's like watching my own hands!
Longbow in Valve's "The Lab" is my favorite game to show people on their first attempt at VR. That, the slingshot game in the lab and SuperHot are a guaranteed blast.
3 Likes, Who?
Cant wait! We finally removed the damn ceiling fan in our living room, so now i can actually stand up and play VR games..lol.
5 Likes, Who?
Quoting: drlambLongbow in Valve's "The Lab" is my favorite game to show people on their first attempt at VR. That, the slingshot game in the lab and SuperHot are a guaranteed blast.
I need to check that one out!
But one thing is the massively impressive immersion from 1st person games - it was as expected only even better - but so far the game that actually maybe impressed me the most was a game I very rarely read about in this context: Moss.
Partially because it is drop down gorgeous visually, but technically because it demonstrated how a "traditional" platformer/puzzler, 3rd person view can work using the controllers in a traditional way, analogue stick to steer your character and buttons to jump and fight.
And it works WONDERFULLY. Yourself is placed in the middle of the scene with this gorgeous fantasy world surrounding you, and you control your character and certain elements in the world and watch the events. And as you (physically) move close up to your character or objects in the world you can inspect every little detail, you can look behind things, treat the scene like a "real" 3D world, only you're this big invisible "godlike" helper. The "reader" of the adventure. It's spectacular.
Fantastic concept, and really really well made both technically and visually.
This fully demonstrates for me that VR can work on a far, far more wider scope than just 1st person action.
Last edited by Beamboom on 25 April 2020 at 11:54 am UTC
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Quoting: MohandevirSorry, I didn't follow the latest developments on this one... How are VR performances on Linux, recently?
My very first impression (disclaimer: Have only owned it for 24 hours yet!) is that it works much, MUCH better than expected and what I was prepared for.
I noticed the latest version of SteamVR was released only last week, so maybe that took care of some glaring shortcomings. But Steam detected my set automatically, the setup went totally fine, the Steam VR lobby seems to work fine, and the games worked perfectly, both native and via Steam Play. Great visuals, no stutter, silky smooth. The headset and stereo imaging was impressive, it worked really really good.
This was actually the biggest positive surprise for me - I feel like a first rate citizen on the VR train and I was TOTALLY prepared to have patience in that respect.
I'm very, very happy about the current state and it can only get better.
Last edited by Beamboom on 30 April 2020 at 10:41 am UTC
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Quoting: BeamboomMy very first impression (disclaimer: Have only owned it for 24 hours yet!) is that it works much, MUCH better than expected and what I was prepared for.
Sounds very good! What are you using, the full Valve VR hardware bundle?
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Quoting: EikeSounds very good! What are you using, the full Valve VR hardware bundle?
Yes, full set.
Dude, it's fantastic. Wish you were living in my neighbourhood, I'd invite you over in a heartbeat. It has to be experienced to be fully believed.
I can not wait to see where this train leads, but I'm so totally in it for the ride.
4 Likes, Who?
If that's not dedication to Linux, I don't know what it is! :D
The amount of gamers being both on Linux and with a VR headset must be ludicrously limited :D
The amount of gamers being both on Linux and with a VR headset must be ludicrously limited :D
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When we have the new VR Glasses from HP/Microsoft/Valve, I'll reinstall Ubuntu and play this.
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ElectricPrism Apr 26, 2020
Excellent. My Index just entered "Shipping Soon" status today. So excited.
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