Review on HTC VIVE

Welcome to the studio "CROCOAPPS. GAME DEVELOPMENT. We are pleased to present to your attention new and especially attractive technological creations. How often have you thought about what it would be like to live in another world? What's there? And you probably wanted to experience the whole palette of extraordinary sensations.

In this article, we will introduce you to new developments in the digital world that are at the peak of VR gaming. We will tell you in detail about the HTC Vive helmet and its configuration. We will also reveal in detail the main strengths and capabilities of this installation.

So, the first star of our show is the HTC VIVE VR headset. The annual MWC showed us the successful and interesting creation of the HTC and Valve companies. The main nail was a helmet called Vive. If we talk about the features, they are similar to technologies from other manufacturers. However, there are a number of unique features. HTC Vive allows you to move in virtual space, to be more precise, in real space you can move around the room. It is absolutely mobile installation which does not constrain movements. The VR Game Rig Kit, developed by HTC, will give you the opportunity to experience the world of your dreams. In general, initially the essence of the device was that a “box” was put on a person’s head, which projected an image. As a result, a person experienced a feeling of immersion in another space.

This was back in 1957, and Morton Hayling created this. At the same time, for the full effect of immersion, additional equipment was used, such as stereo sound, artificial wind ventilation and equipment tilts to change the position of the body in accordance with the video image. However, such a process did not represent a virtual phenomenon in any way. Virtual reality is something incomprehensible to people who have never heard or seen about it. However, today there is a VR headset that was created by NTS. And it is this headset that can help people feel the virtual universe. Valve and HTC have created VR games that are unique in their content. Their advantage is that they can be used at home. In this case, the only thing you need is to free up space 2 * 2 or even better 3.5 * 3.5. You are provided with comfort and pleasure, and most importantly, you do not need to spend money on computer clubs. Thus, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the complete set of gadgets for VR games in detail.

The most interesting thing about...

The HTC Vive generation of VR headsets are distinguished by high resolution displays, as well as improved tracking. They also have an advanced auto-calibration system. Based on this, you need to study the packaging, as well as the design of the HTC Vive. A sea of ​​emotions causes a complete set of HTC Vive. It's like a home theater. You get a lot of components: a helmet, two wireless controllers, a connector, with which it connects to a computer and also to power, two "base stations", headphones. It should be noted that the software weighs more than 20 GB. For example, if you want to organize a VR lounge in your country house, but you have 3G Internet, then you obviously won’t be able to enjoy the game. This is due to the fact that the volume of games is much larger and they require a different amount of memory and Internet speed.

If we talk about how the installation is connected, then we will consider in detail. The HTC VIVE helmet itself is connected to the connector using three cables: HDMI, USB and power. The connector connects to a power source, as well as a computer using HDMI and USB cables. The package includes base stations that need to be hung at a distance of two meters from each other. Thus, they completely cover the playing area. Best for ceiling. They emit infrared rays, with the help of which the system "understands" where the controllers are located in space. They look like miniature columns-cubes. With the help of the camera, infrared rays become visible.

The next interesting component is controllers. They are made of plastic and have a rather unusual shape. The important part is the round button, as well as a couple more buttons. Depending on the specifics of the games, each button has its own functionality. A round button is used as a weapon, and it also plays the role of a teleporter in various contexts of the game. The main task of the controllers is the role of the weapon.

In VR, you feel the full target reserve of these controllers. Especially interesting is the moment when in a helmet you see a gun in its full surrealism. Of course, semantic disagreements can arise, since you feel in your hands an object of one shape, but your eyes see a completely different shape in the form. From time to time when using controllers, you may not pay attention to it. In addition, vibration motors are built into the controllers, which provide an impact on proprioceptors for completeness of sensations. It also brings you closer to the thrill of the virtual world. A simple example of how you feel when you shoot and feel the recoil of the weapon after the shot. At the same time, the controllers are absolutely identical, but during the game, each is perceived as left and right. Also interesting is the feature, depending on the game, that each controller can be used as a different type of weapon.

Externally, the controllers have a series of circular indentations. These recesses are needed in order to receive the infrared rays that the base stations transmit. By their means, you can determine where the controllers are in the game area. There are exactly the same recesses on the helmet, and their function is the same. Outwardly, it looks interesting.

The HTC Vive helmet is characterized by the fact that it has a display with a resolution of about 1080p. It should be noted that the picture that a person sees in the HTC Vive helmet is clean and is not divided into a cell. This allows you to clearly see everything around. The HTC Vive has a very high quality image grid. This gives him the opportunity to be the first among analogues. This is not perfect, but it already makes it possible to enjoy the game without being distracted by minor technical details. It should also be noted that there is a good viewing angle. At the same time, there is no feeling that you are in a jar or looking through glass. As soon as you put on the helmet, you immediately feel like in another reality.

HTC Vive is one of the most technically sophisticated VR devices. The helmet has a good system for fixing the straps, while there is no discomfort, since the straps have a foam pad. The lens lever allows you to conveniently select the distance of objects in the virtual world. However, there are also disadvantages. The head sweats in a helmet, and also gets tired from the straps and the weight of the helmet. Also, the wires that extend from the helmet can be a little annoying. Thus, a comfortable stay in the helmet is no more than 30 minutes.

The VR headset shows a 360-degree image in Full HD resolution. In addition, the helmet requires high hardware performance of the computer. Manufacturers are proving that VR games need more resources than conventional games. When we compare the quality with similar projects, for a comfortable game, the transition frequency of the picture should be 90 Hz. For a more detailed acquaintance with the system, you should list the requirements of HTC Vive: GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290; CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350; RAM: at least 4 GB; Video output: HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2. The most interesting thing is that the company allows buyers to use the VR games of the Steam online service. And we can say that this is a great advantage over other models. The HTC Vive bundle provides you with a complete immersion in the world of virtual games. Also, a large number of game applications are adapted for VR and blend very well with the device. According to statistics, there are almost 1.5 thousand of them. It is also very tempting that the soundtrack is provided by headphones. They can be purchased separately. In addition, you can use the Sennheiser GSP 350 headset. All this will allow you to listen to the highest quality sound, including even the steps of the enemy in a virtual game. If you don't have a headset and headphones, the sound source may be your PC audio system. In this case, the sound will depend on the computer's sound card.

Time to play!

It should be noted that VR technology has become the most popular in 2020. Quarantine has made it possible for people to use HTC VIVE technologies at home. To date, the number of VR games and applications reaches several thousand. There are about 1200 of them in VIVEPORT stores, and about 4600 on Steam. But not all of them yet correspond in quality to regular games. Of note are a number of extraordinary projects that are possible to use with the HTC VIVE kit. Among them: SuperHot VR, Beat Saber, Half-Life: Alyx, Skyrim VR and Elite: Dangerous. This is very important for the development of the digital space.

Space Pirate Training. You are on the deck of a spaceship. You are surrounded by enemy drones. You see how they shoot laser beams at you. Well?! It's time to act. The controllers in your hands are two guns. It is also possible to replace them with a shield. Of course, the process of the game involves physical activity. Various kinds of jumps, slopes and more. This asset shows key aspects of the HTC Vive: the base stations control the position of the player in space.

Cloudlands. The next project in VR space is a fun game of golf. The only thing that can be seen there is unique from reality - this is the location. The controller acts as a stick. Your movements in real life are fully consistent with movements in the virtual world. This shows that the HTC Vive helmet has a number of features for a great game.

Another interesting game for HTC Vive is The Lab by Valve. When you get into this game, you see around the factory, where the conveyor is moving. The interior is quite detailed. You see tables with papers and boxes. On one of the crates you can find a bow and arrows. And here the most interesting begins. Two controllers act as weapons in your hands.

Arizona Sunshine. This game with the scenery of the Wild West was released in 2016. A number of locations are available, where you can feel like heroes with the help of pistol controllers. Particularly surprising and delighting graphics, which are worthy of a major project. It's not as impressive on a monitor. Therefore, to fully reveal the colors of the game, the NTS VIVE kit will be very useful.

What do we get as a result?

Today, HTC Vive ranks first among similar helmets in the field of virtual reality games. This allows you to get an idea of ​​the possibilities and relevance of VR. The only thing is that HTC Vive is more expensive than other analogues. However, the Vive has its own system requirements: 4 GB of RAM, and no three USB 3.0 ports. Pictures are better and a wider arsenal of interaction with game objects. This is due to the controllers, as well as the helmet position tracking system.

The only difficulties may arise during the installation process. High performance requirements, that is, it means that you will not be able to play from a laptop. Another disadvantage is the physical fatigue from wearing a helmet. The content that is broadcast also matters. There should be an update process. In general, like any innovative technology HTC Vive is an opportunity for enthusiasts and those who want to comprehend virtual reality. Thus, we understand that new technologies are a window to the future and we no longer doubt it. The HTC Vive headset kit is already on sale, but the only negative is that the user cannot purchase games that are perfect for this kit. It should be noted that the graphics are delightful. The VR helmet features high-resolution screens and is also capable of loading a video card. The creators made a compromise when they decided to include a pleasant combination of realism with a spectacular picture. Everything else is done by our imagination. The main thing is that the game does not slow down even on a mediocre video card. Let yourself be immersed in the virtual world with the unique kit from HTC Vive. Another reality is in your hands!