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So, the DK2 is here and I’ve spent the day with it. Ahead of our detailed review of the unit, which will land soon, I wanted to share some quick thoughts and impressions with you.

The Good

The DK2 VR Headset is a quality piece of hardware made from good solid quality plastics.

DSC_0414The unit does not feel heavy, despite it’s extra 60g heft over the DK1, and on the head the weight difference is unnoticeable as the unit fits better around your face with the top strap and cable running over your head.

No more breakout box! Only a single, braided cable running over the top of your head.

1080p makes a mighty difference! Desktop sized text at 1080p is legible, particle effects pop, textures sing it’s like opening the screen-door on your virtual world (well, almost – read below).

OLED and low persistence of vision produce (for the most pert) a staggeringly stable and  blur-free image when compared to the DK1’s LCD panel. Plus colours really pop, aided by those inky blacks to contrast against. Having said that, see “the bad” below for caveats.

DSC_0421Positional tracking ‘just works’ and is surprisingly subtle. As with many things, if something is working correctly, you shouldn’t notice it – and besides that initial ‘OMG, I can lean in and dodge’ moments, positional tracking just feels smooth and natural. Had a great time peering at the myriad retro objects found in the Technolust apartment and gazing under light fittings in Tuscany. There’s no doubt, this is a game changer for VR and when it’s not there, you really miss it.

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The Games

So, the bad news is that with the very latest SDK, released just today, installed there isn’t a huge amount of stuff you’re going to be able to play right now until more demos have been compiled against it. In fact, until you start hacking about, you’re pretty much limited to the SDK pack-in demos ‘Oculus World’ (Tuscany Lite) and the config utility’s scene.

It was a delight to step back into the Tuscany Villa again, this time armed with positional tracking and a glorious 1080p OLED panel. But the DK2’s vastly improved specs show up just how basic this classic VR demo looks now. I recall my first steps with my brand new DK1 and it was a revelatory experience. Well, despite the demo’s limitations I found myself lingering to lean in and inspect branches on trees or light fittings on the wall, just because I could.

Video thumbnail for vimeo video Cyber-thriller Technolust launches Kickstarter, unveils new prototype (Developer Interview) - Road to Virtual RealityAfter much hacking (and some kind developer linkage) I stepped into a DK2 enabled version of Technolust and lost myself utterly! The stunning attention to detail, neon on black really lets the OLED panel shine here. In fact, this experience was the closest I think I’ve ever some to presence in virtual reality thus far. Leaning in to check the myriad retro objects, gawking at the lighting and just generally being blown away by the experience. This game was fabulous on the DK1, it’s utterly compelling now.

senza preso vr mini opera oculus riftI was also lucky enough to be sent a DK2 enabled version of Senza Peso. One word, wow! Positional tracking not quite as forthright in impact as Technolust, allowed me to glance over the sides of the boat – which for some reason made me grin gormlessly. But the extra resolution, color fidelity and contrast means that the stunning visuals can really shine. And the particles, oh my, mesmerising!

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The lovely folk at Kite and Lightning have informed us that the DK2 enabled demo will be made available to the public in August. If you want to stay informed and grab a copy as soon as it’s available, head over to sign up here.

The Ugly

Sorry, into each DK2 some rain must fall – and unfortunately were a fair few issues I need to be candid about.

The OLED panel and it’s artefacts: Darker scenes show what looks like an oddly static green haze over the image. It’s not noticable in most situations, but in the darkness of the Technolust demo it was very evident. Also, I’ve noticed a rather worrying looking smearing when high contrast areas  are in motion – the visual effect is like a cross between old fashioned LCD blur and overdriven LCD pixel trailing (evident on some early TN based 120Hz monitors). But at this stage it’s not yet clear as to the cause.

DSC_0422Positional tracking – place your camera carefully. Mine was placed atop my primary monitor for the duration and honestly the cameras field of view became challenged on too many occasions to keep it there. It’s quite a disconcerting feeling to lose positional tracking mid way through a head movement. I’ll probably try a below monitor placement tomorrow to see if this irons things out.

Low persistence of vision stutter. I noticed this during my brief demo of the Crystal Cove prototype at CES 2014 in January. During fast pans of the head, the image would stutter frquently in some demos. I suspect it’s an artefact of in consistent frame rate but it’s quite jarring to go from super smooth tracking to judder.

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Well, that’s it for now. We’ll be back with more detailed DK2 impressions, including full previews of games and demos as we get them working. Stay tuned!

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Based in the UK, Paul has been immersed in interactive entertainment for the best part of 27 years and has followed advances in gaming with a passionate fervour. His obsession with graphical fidelity over the years has had him branded a ‘graphics whore’ (which he views as the highest compliment) more than once and he holds a particular candle for the dream of the ultimate immersive gaming experience. Having followed and been disappointed by the original VR explosion of the 90s, he then founded RiftVR.com to follow the new and exciting prospect of the rebirth of VR in products like the Oculus Rift. Paul joined forces with Ben to help build the new Road to VR in preparation for what he sees as VR’s coming of age over the next few years.
  • Ryan

    Thanks for the quick write up!

  • pietervr

    Great review guys!! You are the first with a true hands on Oculus DK2 pro review.

  • Sven Viking

    It would be interesting to know what demos do or don’t have TimeWarp working.

  • ibuyVRdotcom

    Finally, a good first impressions write up.

  • Andrés

    What graphics card are you using, and what framerate are you getting?

    Thanks

    • Gooberverse

      You say particles popped more. Is the overall perception of 3D improved? My gut feeling is that the reduced noise and higher resolution would improve depth cues.

      How do things look from a distance?

  • Darshan Gayake

    Very Good and Brisk Review.
    Good and Ugly parts nicely pointed out.

    Few request for testing…..
    please show
    Frame Rate at Various level of Details
    With AA at various level/AF at various level/ Post-processing / DX 9/10/11
    on

    1) Check tests on multiple machines like
    Moderate rigs
    Processor: Intel Core i5 Class /AMD A10-6800K Class
    Ram: 4GB/8GB/16GB Ram
    Graphics Cards: GTX 560TI/ GTX660/ GTX 760/Radeon R9 270X/Radeon R9 280X

    High-end Rigs
    Processor: Intel Core i7-3820 / AMD FX-9590 (Not considering rediculously
    overpriced ones)
    Ram: 32GB
    Graphics Cards: GTX Titan/GTX 780/Radeon R9 290X

    You better know every thing this is just humble suggestions.

    Demos which i don’t know avilable to all or not but really like to know
    how performing on various machines with DK2 are

    1) HBO Game of Throne Ascend the Ice Wall
    2) Alien Isolation

    More over i would also appritiate following games with latest build of
    VIREio Perception

    1) Skyrim
    2) Dead Rising 2
    3) Portal 2
    with Framerates

  • Farfar

    I knew it! Using a camera for head tracking is a bad idea.

    • Darshan Gayake

      I seen E3 videos users seating around 1n1/2 feet away while camera is kept at base of demo Samsung TV so it got to be kept at base of monitor while user being slight far from display so that camera eye have creator For

      For best results can got to be facing torso while covering 3/4 of seating height of user

      Let’s see what James finds.

  • spyro

    Maybe you should try to position your camera about 1,5 m away, not like a webcam. I’s tracking volume is from 0,4 m to 2,5 m. The more it is away from your head the higher it’s FOV.

    spyro

  • Jacob Pederson

    Could you try underclocking the display to 60hz also? Perhaps they are driving it a bit to hard at 75, I know I saw some artifacting when overclocking my rift to 75. Thanks for the write up and the honesty. Still anxiously awaiting my DK2s here!

  • Wagmatt

    DCS World is a free to play flight simulation that includes two free aircraft. It supports the DK2.

    Download at:

    http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/world/dcs_world/

    Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9RcMi5lkM&list=UUHa9LMylydkT0T3qSzAVrlw

    • Ben Lang

      Thanks, I’ll have a look!

  • steddyman

    Are you based in the UK (your accent sounds like you are).

    I just had my order shipping notification and when I go onto the UPS sit it shows In Transit and looks like it shipped from the UK. How long did yours take to come once you got the notification? Need to make sure someone will be around for it.

    Thanks

    • Paul James

      I am indeed UK based. It’s likely your will be with you tomorrow. Mine was next day delivery. Keep check the UPS status, you’ll get an update with an ETA too.

      Enjoy! :)

  • stormy3000

    Thanks for the write up and the unboxing video… and the Elite Dangerous video and the ‘oh wait that’s everything I’ve read/watched so far’.

    My own DK2 isn’t due till some time in September.

    So in the mean time I’m devouring everything I can on the hardware, marketing, demos etc.

    Hoping to make my own content for it using either Unity or Unreal engine 4.0.

    Cheers for sharing your insight.

    Jon