SteamVR Headset From HTC To Release Windows Only First
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According to a renowned German PC games magazine, Gamestar, the SteamVR device HTC Vive is going to be released only for Windows in the beginning.
Gamestar journalists attended a demonstration of the Vive HTC and spoke to HTC representatives. They found the VR impression very convincing. But I guess there are enough descriptions of that out there on the net. The news for Linux users is hidden in their conclusion: According to HTC "Executive Director Global Marketing" Jeff Gattis, Vive HTC will only work with Windows on release.
Here's the original German text:
QuoteErstaunlich: Auch wenn Steam große Anstrengungen unternimmt, mit SteamOS ein eigenes Linux-Derivat als Gaming-Betriebssystem in den Markt zu drücken, wird die Vive vorerst ausschließlich mit Windows funktionieren. Steam-Boxen wären eh zu langsam für die Vive-VR, schmunzelte Gattis schelmisch, man konzentriere sich lieber auf Windows als Betriebssystem.
My translation:
QuoteSurprisingly, although Steam [Valve] is making great efforts to push its own Linux derivative SteamOS to the market as a gaming operating system, Vive VR will initially work exclusively with Windows. Steam machines are too slow for the Vive VR anyway, Gattis smiled mischievously, so they prefer to concentrate on the Windows operating system.
I tried to find other mentions about this fact on the net, but to no avail. The Gamestar people cannot possibly have been the only journalists going to that event...?
Although they said it will not work, there might be a way to get it running on Linux as well. But to me, SteamVR was one of the major possible attractions of Steam Machines on release, and if this news turns out to be true, it's another rather disappointing one for me.
Full article (German)
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What the hell, man. First, Valve delays the Linux version of Dota 2: Reborn, and now this? It's like a slap in the face to us Linux users from the least expected direction. And I call bullshit on their "Steam machines are too weak to run a VR headset" excuse since they have to know that a lot of gamers are running Linux on how powered PCs.
I don't think that "Gattis smiled mischievously" is a good translation within this context, probably "Gattis smiled half-jokingly" is more accurate.
Maybe "impishly", "tricksy" or "waggishly" fit better (never heard any on these), but there's no joke in "schelmisch".
http://dict.leo.org/ende/index_de.html#/search=schelmisch
That's disappointing.
Disappointing if true. Could this be some kind of misunderstanding? I thought the Vive worked with SteamVR, which is on Linux. Maybe he was talking about specific games?
Edit: I did some searching, and it might be more of an issue with engine plugins. The SteamVR plugins for Unity and Unreal currently don't support Linux (for Unity: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/32647).
I'd say who cares, but I know a lot of you do. Personally I can't see myself investing into anything VR related until they come up with an implementation without the bulky headset. Hell, even 3D glasses are barely worth the annoyance.
Grumpy old man out.
Fuck you Valve!
As for 3D technologies that don't require you to strap anything to your face, the Nintendo 3DS is an excellent example that works quite well. I'm sure that kind of technology could be scaled up to the size of computer monitors, but they'd probably be incredibly expensive.
I still think it's a fad that will fade with time, I don't want to strap a bloody device to my face. I'm not bothered personally.
So there's Valve doing a lot a great efforts for Linux gaming and if they don't (and with that I mean delay!) on two instances people get angry and insulting.. that's how you leave a good impression of your community.. thx!