Texhnolust Dev: Rift Is 'Higher Quality Than Vive', PSVR 'In A League Of Its Own'

Few virtual reality (VR) developers are fortunate enough to be working with all 3 major head-mounted displays (HMDs) at this point in time. Technolust studio Iris VR is one such team, bringing its original title to the Oculus Rift and a Papers, Please-inspired spin-off, Technolust: Scanlines to both PlayStation VR and HTC Vive. With so much time with each HMD under his belt, the studio’s Blair Renaud recently took to Reddit to offer some thoughts on working with all 3.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Looks like PS VR will hold up nicely in the VR space. Glad to hear

[Crashbandicoot77]

He said he's not sure about the move controller. Glad to hear there's two options move controller and DSC

[XBLSkull]

"But what of PlayStation VR? According to Renaud, the device is in a ‘league of its own’. “Huge install base to start"

A whole 0 units sold? Yeah, huge install base... This guy smoking crack?

[KiwiViper85]

He must think PSVR will appeal to every PS4 owner?

[Fatal-Aim]

@ XBLskull

He means install base that has a PS4. If all those users need is just a HMD, then by they already having a PS4 console, they are half way there to VR.

How is this any different from what Apple did with the smart watch or Google did with android? None of THOSE users had that product either, but what Apple and Google did have was an install base big enough to offer those new products to get it off the ground. But I guess because its not Microsoft saying this, Sony's PS4 install base doesn't count in your eyes. Sounds like sour grapes to me.

[dcbronco]

I'm pretty sure he is talking about potential buyers. PS4 is still hot and so is VR. It's simple math. VR appeals to gamers and PlayStation has a bunch of those already loyal to it's brand. None of the others have a gaming following. They hope to build one. Carmack may be a genius but iD is still part of Zenimax.

[Kribwalker]

@fatal aim

http://m.fastcompany.com/30...

http://www.androidauthority...

I do not think you used a very good example as both Google and apples smart watches are considered failures, and they had a way larger install base to use then the ps4

[thereapersson]

XBLThickSkull

He's referring to the amount of PS4's out there, since you need a PS4 to run PSVR. Come on man, I know you're smarter than this.

[Fatal-Aim]

@ kribwalker

It doesn't matter about the type of analogy that was given in my statement. This is not a weenie comparing contest. The analogy points towards potential buyers because of the already 25+ million PlayStation 4 owners, which will continue to climb throughout the platform's life cycle just like it's predecessors. Unlike the PC, these consumers (PS4 owners) do not have to upgrade the consoles hardware before moving onto PSVR. All they have to do is purchase the dang thing. Kinect 1.0 started off the same damn way.

So again, I guess because it wasn't Microsoft that said this, Sony's PS4 install base suddenly takes a back seat to this logic.

Sounds like sour grapes to me. If you disagreed is because you know that its true while still looking for a way to justify broken logic or a loophole in the text.

[Kribwalker]

@fatal aim

Using the Kinect would be a way better example then trying to use smart watches which are a critical failure. I don't care who said it, even if it was ms, he'll even the pope could have said it, I'm just saying that was a terrible example.

I think VR will be a niche market, as out of the millions of people that own a ps4 or high end computer or Xbox or whatever, will not spend the kind of money on VR that will be required. A lot of people on this website might be in, but really, this website is a couple thousand hardcore users, not the general public, and the general public will not spend $350+ on a peripheral, just like the general public didn't spend on 3D tvs, smart watches or hell even bluray as dvd outsells bluray for years until the cost of bluray players plummeted to low levels.

It doesn't matter who sells it, or how large your install base is, unless there is enough hardcore users willing to spend a lot of money on a new tech it will not sell crazy.

[XBLSkull]

@thereapersson

"He's referring to the amount of PS4's out there, since you need a PS4 to run PSVR. Come on man, I know you're smarter than this."

So he thinks the install base of PS4 is an advantage over the tens of millions of PC owners that can purchase Oculus? His statement of "In a league of its own" is being taken out of context. Not meaning that it is superior to the other offerings, but simply that all PS4's have the same hardware so developers can plan on that, which sure, makes it a league of its own, an inferior league.

[Fatal-Aim]

@ kribwalker

What does ANY of that have to do with what was said in the text from the article? You are spending a lot more just to get the PC experience, hence the reason PSVR is in a league of its own. So yes, if anything, you still have a higher potential buy on the already sold PS4 systems than you would the PC due to the fact that you don't have to upgrade anything else in the platform before gaining the VR experience. In no way did the author say that those numbers will match the 25+ sales of the PS4 in the same way Kinect didn't need to match the 360. Hell, the PS Camera doesn't even match the PS4 sales neither, yet those were potential sales, too, and that occurred before the system ever accumulated an install base. You're shooting blanks with that debate.

[Kribwalker]

@ fatal aim

All I said to start with was your argument that instal base equals potential sales is true, but you used a terrible example to relay that info by stating 2 failed products that had massive install bases to draw off of, and that you should have used a better example of a successful peripheral instead of a apple/Google watch. That was it, no blanks being shot there.

[Fatal-Aim]

@ kribwalker

Your quotes:

"Google and apples smart watches are considered failures, and they had a way larger install base to use then the ps4"

"I think VR will be a niche market, as out of the millions of people that own a ps4 or high end computer or Xbox or whatever, will not spend the kind of money on VR that will be required."

My quote:

"He means install base that has a PS4. If all those users need is just a HMD, then by they already having a PS4 console, they are half way there to VR."

It doesn't matter what analogy I use. The author us referring to potential PS4 users. While you're setting here telling me about failures and price point, I'm telling you about potential buyers. You're shooting blanks.

@ XBLskull

maybe this is why PSVR is already getting PC titles from the Rift as we speak, let alone consoles to PCs......Because they are just so weak and that's what the author meant when he said league of its own.

sounds to me like sour grapes because its not Microsoft with the HMD.

[Kribwalker]

"How is this any different from what Apple did with the smart watch or Google did with android? None of THOSE users had that product either, but what Apple and Google did have was an install base big enough to offer those new products to get it off the ground"

That was what the entire argument started out of. with the two examples you gave, install base didn't matter as both examples are considered failures. Which is why I said you could of used a better example. It's just like if you said genesis had a big install base and they had lots of potential sales of Sega cd or 32x, sure they did, but those products failed miserably. Not a good example at all.

[Fatal-Aim]

If you had 100 million supporters of one product, and you released an add on, you have 100 million potential buyers of the add on. If you had 1 billion supporters, you have 1 billion potential buyers. If you have 10 supporters, you have 10 potential buyers. It doesn't matter if it fails or succeeds, we are talking potential.

Before android was android, it was a search engine -- a Google search engine (go back and look at my original quote for this). What it had were potential supporters. How did it do genius? Before the iWatch, there was the iPhone. How did it do? Again, potential supporters. Stop shooting blanks. I know what I said and what I meant.

[Kribwalker]

@fatal aim

No blank shooting here buddy, just saying you could have used a SUCCESSFUL example if you are trying to prove a large market means greater potential for more sales then the Apple Watch which is a critical failure. If you wanted to say that the PSVR has good potential, then use an example that has succeeded. And android did not start as a search engine, it started out of Google wanting to make more money through other avenues. That's like saying the Google car has billions of potential buyers because that's how many people use google to search. It sounds that stupid

[kenwonobi]

Yea it seems PSVR is the way to go for VR.

[Muadiib]

You wouldn't say that if you'd actually read the terrible terrible article me thinks.

[nosferatuzodd]

Last time someone said Sony is spinning PR bull, I wonder what they'll say now that a neutral source said it lol

[Relientk77]

Looking forward to PS VR, hopefully we get some awesome game experiences out of it

[nowitzki2004]

If VR works like everyone claims it does then that should be expected. So sad the Silent Hills wont get released and in VR. They should at least put P.T. on it. It seems to me like horror games will be the best experience on VR.

My only concern is whether or not us humans can handle VR. I love 3D and own a 3D tv but cant use it for more than a half hour to an hour.

[reallyNow]

ive never had a problem running 3d marathons. I do it on a projector, maybe that helps?

[LifeInNZ]

I would say PSVR has a potentially huge install base. Before reading the article I had assumed it was comparing specs....but it wasnt.

[freshslicepizza]

specs wise i doubt playstation vr is able to match the other two. where playstation vr has an upper hand is its mass marketing, along with the success of the ps4. however price will play a huge factor into the success of playstation vr along with decent software support.

[kaizokuspy]

Nah, many gamers don't buy both x1 and wiiu bc they only game on ps4. Those same gamers will easily sink money into psvr and will be the main focus in the early sales numbers. Every experience I've had with ps4 this gen has been top notch so it's an easy decision for me to buy psvr and have faith.

[Spotie]

Price and decent software support will play a factor with ALL VR devices, not just PSVR.

[Eonjay]

@moldybread

If you are worried about the specs, check out this video from Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/video...

[IRetrouk]

@ moldybread

Have a read of this, psvr has slightly less resolution per eye but has a higher refresh rate and higher fps.

http://www.itpro.co.uk/desk...

[freshslicepizza]

@Eonjay

sounds good and they definitely improved playstation vr but i have my doubts the performance when it comes to the actual games can't match what can be achieved on the pc. games are already having a tough time performing well at 1080p and 30fps in some demanding games and 1080p 60fps is an even bigger challenge. yes playstation vr has it's own processor but it is still tethered to the ps4. most of the games so far are linear smaller scale games.

we will all have to wait and see how the final products unfold. all i can say is until i try them all myself it will be very hard to judge based solely on specs and watching videos about them.

http://www.digitaltrends.co...

http://www.wareable.com/pro...

neither one of these gave playstation vr the upper hand but things can improve until they get released.

@IRetrouk,

thanks for that link.

"PlayStation VR and its ilk will be used more for optional modes than for standalone experiences, as indicated by comments from Shawn Layden, CEO of SCEA."

that to me is kind of unfortunate but totally understandable. it once again shine the light on how they will not fully commit to this because it is after all a peripheral. so anyone expecting a $60 game being made solely for playstsation vr may be waiting for quite some time.

[Eonjay]

"sounds good and they definitely improved playstation vr but i have my doubts the performance when it comes to the actual games can't match what can be achieved on the pc."

The first link you posted said that performance between the two devices is a tie. If this is what you are citing as your reason for doubting PSVR, its not very strong.

[Davi123]

«so anyone expecting a $60 game being made solely for playstsation vr may be waiting for quite some time.»

Really?!? RIGS say hello. ;)

[Bathyj]

" i have my doubts the performance when it comes to the actual games can't match what can be achieved on the pc."

Well console cant compete on a technical level with what PC's can do but that hasnt stopped consoles from flourishing for 3 decades. PCVR vs ConsoleVR will be the same. Not everything is about specs. Its about the overall user experience.

The advantage PSVR has is the same one all consoles have. The hardware is locked. Theres only one target to optimise to, not an infinite amount of variations and user accounts of the hardware are for the vast majority, positive. I dont see a problem with the hardware. They just have to make sure there are real games for it, not just extended tech demos.

[freshslicepizza]

@BoyBigEyes
"Really?!? RIGS say hello."

that isn't a aaa $60 game, not when rocket league sells for $20 and is comparable.

[Davi123]

You didn't talk about the cost of production. Just the cost of the game on the retail and RIGS will be definitely a 60€ game.
Buy 60€ games, doesn't mean that they are Triple A games and buy Triple A games doesn't mean they are better than indie games or games with a low cost of production.
You have very much to learn. :)

[freshslicepizza]

i'm sorry but that doesn't look like a $60 game. this looks like sports champions all over again they did for the playstation move. when we see big known studios support playstation vr with games dedicated, not just supported but actually dedicated to the device then we know it is going to be around for a long long time. that is when we know vr is a real game changer. none of this pandering around with vr support and smaller tech demo's and smaller indie games.

i am talking games made from the ground up for vr that are good full scale games with high production. the industry simply doesn't work this way, not for peripherals. not unless there is a large enough userbase to warrant $60 games to create. it's the old catch 22, people want the games first and developers want the userbase first. a peripehral is hard to sell to as it's not a 1-1 ratio of system owners.

sony has the best chance to make vr mainstream but again it will take big games to do that and big commitments and also from 3rd party.

[morganfell]

I'll disagree with you Life because if you go to the actual Reddit remarks...

https://www.reddit.com/r/oc...

...you see the remarks about PSVR being in a league of its own is a separate thought from the comment concerning install base. The PC has a bigger install base than the PS4 so if install base is what determined when a device is in a league of its own then he could have used the larger league - the PC...except he didn't.

[Eonjay]

Of course the PC has a bigger install base, but how many PCs are VR ready? How many headsets are going against each other? He states that the PS4 is a single spec environment and EVERY PS4 owner is ALREADY VR ready. Also, there won't be any competition on the PS4. Those things put it in a league of its own. Quite literally. Citing the entire PC install base is disingenuous and it really is outside of the context of his quote.

[morganfell]

Uhm...no it isn't. Know what is disingenuous? Taking his remarks and misinterpreting them to believe the reason he stated the PSVR is in a league of its own is due to the install base.

I also love how PC purists act like everyone of them has a super computer in their house and now suddenly they aren't VR ready.

[ABizzel1]

PSVR FTW, I can't wait to try it out at PSX this year. Also here's a blog I did with all the planned and announced VR games for PSVR.

http://n4g.com/user/blogpos...

[UnR34L_DEAF]

Im desperate to know VR price reveal,but i thinks they will announce around December or at least January. if it sell at $249- hotcakes! I dont care how it cost and its one day for me. I m worry if its too high price and most general people cant afford, it will be bad impact PS business/ support. PS VR gotta be 300 or below. Again, VR wont be gimmick like flat 3Dtv. I cant wait to have VR and explore around. It will be freaking awesome !

[Eonjay]

I think that even if the PSVR is the same price as the Rift, it will still be much cheaper to get started on the PlayStation obviously for most folks. With the PS4 only costing $350 however, I doubt the headset will cost more than a PS4. I predict it will top out at $299 to $350. To upgrade my PC it will cost at least $500 and then $400 for the device. Running a R9 280 and AMD 8320 CPU. One model short on both sides... so for me (owning a PS4) it is substantially cheaper to get the PSVR.

[Scatpants]

I'm predicting it's going to be $400.

[UltraNova]

It couldn't possibly cost as much as the console it self.

250 is the sweet spot. Sony needs to eat the overhead cost for a while in order to allow PSVR gain traction and get adopted enough to convince dev's develop games for it.

I believe they've learned something since the ps3's launch, they launched the ps4 at a reasonable price, now they need to do the same thing with PSVR.

[Bolts]

Hell no. If Sony release a $250 VR system then it will certainly fail. To experience proper VR you need state of the art tech and that doesn't come cheap. Anything under $400 is too low unless you want PlayStation Cardboard instead of PSVR.

[Eonjay]

"He then cited the relatively short battery life for the controllers (Vive), stating that each has about 20 minutes of use in them before players lose tracking, though it’s not yet confirmed if this will be the case for the consumer kit. “They take about 4 hours to charge and aren’t of a standard type you can buy at the corner store,”

They need to address that asap.

[Peace_Love_and_FPS]

Having played a half hour demo with them I can say that the battery warning light on them was at 3/4. Either that's another issue with quality control or a lie.

[Eonjay]

Okay thanks for the insight. Maybe the unit you tried has already addressed this.

[Peace_Love_and_FPS]

No problem, they said they were changing the lights on them or removing them and it was a ways back, I could even be wrong if they changed the batteries to lower weight or changed the specs. Who knows :) I wish I could help more, but the latest demo I tried was 2 months ago and that was a ton of fun, but completely a tech demo with nothing but looking around in the headset.

[psplova]

They should release it around around tax return time.. Then I can buy it for whatever they want to ask..lol

[jojo319]

After reading the headline, I thought I was going to get an insiders perspective on all three. The Sony comment Sounds more like he's comparing apples and oranges. He's clearly not saying it's superior. I just think the headline is a bit misleading.

[kenwonobi]

Actually he did. Mentioning the controllers, motion control, and comparative und display. He said PSVR is vastly better.

[jojo319]

Where did you read that it's "vastly better"?? Here is the entire quote about the PSVR: “Huge install base to start, solid consumer experience, single target for developers. I think they’ll do really well. Not as sure about the move controllers, but am quite happy that the Dual Shock 4 controller is also tracked.”

[maybelovehate]

Actually he didn't. But this is the internet so who cares : )

[kenwonobi]

He literally said PS4 has better controllers. Has a longer stable gaming history.

[jojo319]

I really don't see what you're reading. He says he "doesn't know" about the move controllers, but he is happy the dual shock is tracked as well. Where does he say they are better?? Also, please look up what the word "literally" actually means.

[kenwonobi]

But what of PlayStation VR? According to Renaud, the device is in a ‘league of its own’. “Huge install base to start, solid consumer experience, single target for developers. I think they’ll do really well. Not as sure about the move controllers, but am quite happy that the Dual Shock 4 controller is also tracked.”

Looks like he likes PS4 controller over the others. Looks like he is saying Sony has the more solid gaming history, install base to back the games, better development environment. Looks like he is literally saying PSVR is on another level above the others.

[Pandamobile]

If PSVR turns out to be the best VR of the three I'll eat my hat. There's just no feasible way it's going to be a better experience than the Vive or Rift when it's running on 3 year old laptop hardware.

And unless Sony have miraculously fixed the PS Move's input lag, I don't see how it's going to have the best controller setup either.

Basically all this guy is saying is that PS VR is in a "league of it's own" because it has a smaller tracking volume and a potentially larger install base because Sony is Sony.

[IRetrouk]

@ panda

Umm sorry to tell you but move has 1.1 tracking, its kinect 1 that had the input lag....sorry bud.

[Pandamobile]

1:1 tracking doesn't preclude it from having input lag. The Move controllers are way behind Oculus Touch and the Vive controllers. I don't even know why you're bringing up Kinect.

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

[IRetrouk]

@ panda

Why are you linking an old article testing pre release software and hardware? And the fact that they didnt take into account the tvs own lag makes your link mean nothing lol and the reason i brought up rhe first kinect is because the lag was noticable while you play where as the move had no noticible lag while playing. Your reaching and failing.

[kenwonobi]

Well begin eating my friend because there is no instance in history a 3rd party produced gaming addition for PC outdid a console gaming addition. There are gonna be more quality games on PSVR. Then Vive and or Oculuc will simply fade or be forgotten. Both won't succeed. PSVR certainly is backed better. One out of the two others might survive as the defacto PC default to play games with. It may be Oculus. However only because a console like Xbox backs it. Therefore most of any games will be on par with PSVR anyways.

[DragonDDark]

Can not wait! I just know its going to be awesome! :D

[Scatpants]

I'm just hoping they do the smart thing and make PSVR PC compatible also. Otherwise I'll be forced to go with the Rift.

[Ark_]

Since they renamed it to Playstation VR I doubt they will bring it over to PC.

[Scatpants]

It basically comes down to do I want to be able to do everything possible with VR minus a few PS exclusives or do I want one that hooks to my PS4 and won't have the capability of playing some of the higher end games the PC will be able to play.
I guess the platform exclusivity is more important to them than the gaming PC market. Seems like you'd want to sell as many as possible though.

[kenwonobi]

It seems like it would be wise of them to open it up to PC use. It could explode. PC use is not a Xbox exclusives right. Sony could easily do it if they want to. I also believe PSVR would reach a larger crowd making PC and PS4 compatible. It's in their best interest to do so. I hope Sony sees the profit and exposure potential of that particular of the VR experience.

[Yahdaree]

Well that's more good news for Sony.

[jojo319]

There in zilch in this article that says it's better than the other two. Just that it has a large install base, which makes it "In a league of its own". Read the article.

[IRetrouk]

http://www.itpro.co.uk/desk...

[jojo319]

Now that is an article that actually talks about all three

[S2Killinit]

@jojo319

I don't know why you think his comment that this is "good news for Sony" is incompatible with the article.

The guy is offering his impression of the 3 devices after having worked with them. I wouldn't call it "zilch". I don't think he made any claims about what is "better" but he is implying that the PSVR is a quality product, that perhaps its better or its qualitatively different but arguable "better" thus the remark that "its in a league of its own". There have been other articles that talk about areas in which the PSVR has an advantage over the other devices, but its a give and take. For example, the refresh rate of PSVR is superior to those of the other devices leading to less of the "sea sickness" phenomenon. Also, it has been said that the PSVR, although it has less resolution on paper, actually has a better quality picture than the rest. When asked why this might be; Sony engineer responded that it might have to do with Sony's years of experience with displays.

But neither Yahdaree, nor the developer in this article claimed anything about PSVR being "better". You were thinking that and brought it up.

[Yahdaree]

Umm, read the article and it's more good news for Sony. Thanks for contributing.

[General Shrooms]

this article doesn't say much of anything

>the Vive devkit isn't consumer friendly

>occulus rift CV1 is higher quality than the Vive devkit

>PSVR is in a league of it's own because reasons.

[kenwonobi]

They are in a league of their own. Better controller obviously, history of videogames and software support, history of making gaming devices, obviously they make televisions, bluesy, and entertainment equipment so the display is obviously good inside the PSVR. He meant what it sounds like in the headline. PSVR head and shoulders above the other two vr offerings.

[starchild]

That's not actually what was said.

[dennigo]

This a repost from 3 weeks ago pure clickbait

[PistolsAtDawn]

So...pretty much everything we already know. Rift will be the best quality, there are still questions about Vive, and PSVR will have the largest captive fanbase

[s45gr32]

So we have not reached sword art online level

[Dyldog69]

$99.99 and I will buy. More-no

[benji101]

Cant wait for the court cases. VR is a disaster waiting to happen.. When is sticking something over your eyes a good option?

People will be suing for injuries. Damage to property. Illness related to vr.
So many things can go wrong with this.. It is a mine field of problems. All the wii had was a controller people held in their hand and moved about.. yet TV's were destroyed. People got shot..

VR. A helmet over your eyes with a screen inches away.. How is that ever going to not cause problems for a decent percent of people?

[ooquis]

Sony's a hardware company...so it only makes sense PSVR is gonna be solid. And don't forget that most people who all ready own PS move and camera is most likely going to buy the headset(Stand alone and cheaper is assume).

When you compare buying a PC + OCULUS or buying a PS4 + PSVR(bundle's will probably be available). It's gonna be much cheaper to go with Playstation for a great VR experience at the best price......it's not rocket science.

The thing i'm most exited about, i'm sure people will find a way to make PSVR work on pc. From what people are saying about PSVR screen door effect is almost non existent make me very exited.

[clouds5]

As always hardware will only sell if they make good games supporting it. We have seen what happens if they don't with the kinect...

[Deeke]

I doubt this. Even with the PSVR's "PU" or Processing Unit, I doubt the PS4+PSVR combo will be powerful enough to run quality VR games.

One of the main benefits of the PSVR is that it uses true pixels--a true R,G and B pixel subset for each pixel--so that the image quality is quite crisp. But as far as processing power, I highly doubt it's going to get anywhere close to a PC running enthusiast grade (or even high) level hardware.

Don't expect VR launch games to be expansive, either. Sony has already said they'll be smaller experiences. Think arcade-style VR games that are gimmicky.