Tony Albert has always been fascinated with fighter jets, but actually becoming a pilot might have been a possibility. So, he built what could quite possibly be the most realistic virtual reality flight simulator setup yet. It consists of a Thrustmaster USB HOTAS system, CH Pro rudder pedals, a Thrustmaster MFD button panel set, and an HP Reverb G2 VR headset. Once the headset is put on, it almost feels like you’re actually in the cockpit of a plane. Read more for a short video and additional information.
Photo credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Here’s a first look at the new PlayStation 5 VR controllers, which features an “orb” shape that allows you to hold it more naturally, while still offering a high degree of freedom. It was designed with ergonomics in mind, and each VR controller (Left and Right) sports an adaptive trigger button that adds tension when pressed, similar to the DualSense controller technology. There is also going to be haptic feedback optimized for its form factor, making every sensation in the game world more impactful, textured and nuanced. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Finally, Microsoft Flight Simulator now supports your favorite virtual reality headset for PC systems. This game was built from the ground up to achieve three key goals: realism, accuracy, and authenticity of flight. Today, it has become the most immersive virtual flight experience to date that isn’t a full-sized simulator used to train pilots. This free update is compatible across a wide range of supported devices, including various Windows Mixed Reality headsets (HP Reverb G2, etc.), Oculus, Valve, and HTC headsets. Read more for two videos, including hands-on gameplay, and additional information.
The Oculus Rift S is a PC-powered virtual reality headset that will take your gaming to the next level, and you can get one for $299 shipped, today only, originally $399. Next-gen lenses and a sharper display utilize improved optics to deliver bright, vivid colors and reduced “screen-door” effect. Its Halo headband was redesigned with speed in mind, so it stays securely and comfortably in place with a quick twist of the fit wheel to handle your fastest reactions. Product page. Read more for a hands-on video review and additional information.
Let’s face it, some people get motion sickness when playing virtual reality games, but Cybershoes just might change that. Designed for the Oculus Quest, it connects wirelessly via the CyQuest Bluetooth receiver and translates natural, real-world movement into in-game locomotion, enabling users to walk, run, or jump in their favorite titles. There are a few natively supported titles, including Arizona Sunshine in partnership, which means setup is as easy as strapping on the shoes, booting up the headset, and selecting the in-game Cybershoes locomotion option. Read more for two videos and additional information.
Photo credit: Cornell University
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a fiber-optic sensor that combines low-cost LEDs and dyes into a stretchable “skin” that detects deformations such as pressure, bending as well as strain. This technology is perfect for soft robotic systems and anyone using augmented reality technology, thus giving users the ability to feel the same rich, tactile sensations that humans depend on to navigate the natural world. Read more for a video and additional information.
The problem with virtual reality devices is that controllers can only be used for interacting with objects, but Microsoft has a wrist-worn haptic device that will let you feel them. Called the Haptic PIVOT, this device renders virtual objects into the user’s hand on demand, consisting of a single actuated joint that pivots a haptic handle. This means that objects can be moved in and out of a user’s hand, giving them the sensation of grasping, catching, or throwing an object. Read more for a video demonstration and additional information.
As many already know, Half-Life: Alyx is a virtual reality first-person shooter set between the events of Half-Life (1998) and Half-Life 2 (2004). Players take control of Alyx Vance who is on a mission to seize a superweapon belonging to the alien Combine. This latest mod lets you enter the world of BioShock Rapture in virtual reality, if you’re brave enough that is. Called “Return to Rapture,” the mod is focused on Andrew Ryan, the founder of Rapture, who holds a suitcase with the key to ADAM (a genetics-manipulating chemical) and BioShock’s iconic plasmids. Read more for two gameplay videos and additional information.
Always wanted the virtual reality experience to be bit more immersive? If so, then look no further than the Virtuix Omni One, an innovative omni-directional treadmill that enables players to walk or run in any direction through their favorite games as well as other virtual environments. It’s compact enough to fit inside a standard living room and very easy to fold up for storage, while giving players unmatched freedom of movement, including crouching, kneeling, and jumping. Read more for a video and additional information.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 developer Asobo announced this week that sign-ups for its forthcoming VR closed beta have opened, and is set to begin later this month or early November. In addition to the game, participants are also required to have a compatible Windows Mixed Reality headset. Should you pass those steps, you’ll then have to submit your DxDiag to help Asobo pick the players most suited to each wave of its closed beta, and then agree to Microsoft’s NDA. Read more for two videos and additional information.