6 ms·

SteamVR Knuckles Dev Kit

72 points by vyrotek 9y ago

sp332 9y ago
I'm getting a 503. Here's a copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20170622171257/http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=943406651 https://web.archive.org/web/20170622171257/http://steamcommu...
- balls187 9y ago
  Loads fine for me from Seattle, WA.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
mindcrash 9y ago
Steam is getting hammered due to the summersale as-is. So to free up server capacity for the gamers in the HN community please use the archive link below instead ;)
- Ajedi32 9y ago
  The archive link doesn't appear to include the images, which are perhaps the most interesting part of the whole page IMO.
aphextron 9y ago
I really wish that Valve would move past the idea of controllers altogether. A controller with buttons will always necessarily constrain you to thinking about gameplay and experiences in terms of what has been done for 2D games, rather than freeing designers to build novel mechanics. The only true solution for VR is cloth gloves with perfect finger tracking. As someone who has spent thousands of hours in VR, anything else becomes extremely clunky and annoying to use long term. Something along the lines of ManusVR (https://manus-vr.com/ https://manus-vr.com/) is definitely the way forward.
- adammunich 9y ago
  Ever try leap motion lately?
  - CobrastanJorji 9y ago
    How is it lately? I have the original one from the Kickstarter. I played with it a bit because I had some crazy ideas about recognizing ASL, but I found that, while it was super great at instantly recognizing orientation and open vs closed hands, it utterly failed to capture complex handshapes ("this hand is making a fist except the thumb is poking out a bit between the middle and ring finger").
    - adammunich 9y ago
      The whole software stack has since gotten an overhaul and works more reliably now. Still an occasional trouble with particular finger poses, but, it's really nifty on a VR headset.
      - moron4hire 9y ago
        Orion might work a little better, but it's still not objectively good. It's been over a year since the beta was released and still no final version. I don't think we are ever getting a working Leap Motion, as the company has said they aren't building consumer devices anymore and only focused on partnerships with headset vendors for integrated solutions.
  - mxfh 9y ago
    I tried Vive plus Leap and it is quite fun to play with, but surely lacks a second camera position to avoid occlusion and your hand have to be in a narrow field of view aligned to your head, not torso, if mounted to the headset. Had someone tried mounting the Leap Motion to a Vive Tracker yet, like facing upwards from belt buckle level? Something like Manus will always be some niche market thing. If you have to put on extra gear every time you want to play the time, friction is simply to high to get anywhere near console sized markets. PlayStation VR already has way less friction with the headset mounting process.
stale2002 9y ago
VR is like the quintessential example of a two sided market. Developers don't want to make games for it, because there aren't enough people with headsets. And Customers don't want to buy headsets because there aren't enough games yet. But innovation like this is always great. The controller for the vive has been my biggest gripe.
Camillo 9y ago
I can't believe you missed the opportunity to call this "SteamVR & Knuckles". dang, could you fix this criminal oversight? The current title does not match the original title anyway.
remotehack 9y ago
VR is klunky, about 20 years away from being a fun experience.
- kuzimoto 9y ago
  I'm willing to bet that it could be at least half that time. Even stuff like Cardboard/Daydream/Gear-VR provide some entertainment and those are at the lowest tier. The main obstacles for me would be not well enough performing hardware (considering the aforementioned devices use a cell phone) and second, lacking software. I'd say within the next 3-5 years both of those areas will improve dramatically (as demand for VR increases) enough to make those platforms a viable VR entertainment system. As for Desktop VR devices like Oculus and Vive 20 years is probably more reasonable as it's much more expensive. Many people get a smartphone every couple years through their phone plan but I'd wager most people do not currently posses a computer capable of running a VR headset with recommended requirements.
- J5892 9y ago
  This is one of those fun arguments that can be refuted with simple anecdotal evidence. I have fun in VR games every day. I know many others do as well. Therefore, your statement is false.

72 points by vyrotek 9y ago

I'm getting a 503. Here's a copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20170622171257/http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=943406651 https://web.archive.org/web/20170622171257/http://steamcommu...

balls187 9y ago
Loads fine for me from Seattle, WA.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

mindcrash 9y ago

Steam is getting hammered due to the summersale as-is. So to free up server capacity for the gamers in the HN community please use the archive link below instead ;)

Ajedi32 9y ago
The archive link doesn't appear to include the images, which are perhaps the most interesting part of the whole page IMO.

aphextron 9y ago

I really wish that Valve would move past the idea of controllers altogether. A controller with buttons will always necessarily constrain you to thinking about gameplay and experiences in terms of what has been done for 2D games, rather than freeing designers to build novel mechanics. The only true solution for VR is cloth gloves with perfect finger tracking. As someone who has spent thousands of hours in VR, anything else becomes extremely clunky and annoying to use long term. Something along the lines of ManusVR (https://manus-vr.com/ https://manus-vr.com/) is definitely the way forward.

adammunich 9y ago
Ever try leap motion lately?
- CobrastanJorji 9y ago
  How is it lately? I have the original one from the Kickstarter. I played with it a bit because I had some crazy ideas about recognizing ASL, but I found that, while it was super great at instantly recognizing orientation and open vs closed hands, it utterly failed to capture complex handshapes ("this hand is making a fist except the thumb is poking out a bit between the middle and ring finger").
  - adammunich 9y ago
    The whole software stack has since gotten an overhaul and works more reliably now. Still an occasional trouble with particular finger poses, but, it's really nifty on a VR headset.
    - moron4hire 9y ago
      Orion might work a little better, but it's still not objectively good. It's been over a year since the beta was released and still no final version. I don't think we are ever getting a working Leap Motion, as the company has said they aren't building consumer devices anymore and only focused on partnerships with headset vendors for integrated solutions.
- mxfh 9y ago
  I tried Vive plus Leap and it is quite fun to play with, but surely lacks a second camera position to avoid occlusion and your hand have to be in a narrow field of view aligned to your head, not torso, if mounted to the headset. Had someone tried mounting the Leap Motion to a Vive Tracker yet, like facing upwards from belt buckle level? Something like Manus will always be some niche market thing. If you have to put on extra gear every time you want to play the time, friction is simply to high to get anywhere near console sized markets. PlayStation VR already has way less friction with the headset mounting process.

stale2002 9y ago

VR is like the quintessential example of a two sided market. Developers don't want to make games for it, because there aren't enough people with headsets. And Customers don't want to buy headsets because there aren't enough games yet. But innovation like this is always great. The controller for the vive has been my biggest gripe.

Camillo 9y ago

I can't believe you missed the opportunity to call this "SteamVR & Knuckles". dang, could you fix this criminal oversight? The current title does not match the original title anyway.

remotehack 9y ago

VR is klunky, about 20 years away from being a fun experience.

kuzimoto 9y ago
I'm willing to bet that it could be at least half that time. Even stuff like Cardboard/Daydream/Gear-VR provide some entertainment and those are at the lowest tier. The main obstacles for me would be not well enough performing hardware (considering the aforementioned devices use a cell phone) and second, lacking software. I'd say within the next 3-5 years both of those areas will improve dramatically (as demand for VR increases) enough to make those platforms a viable VR entertainment system. As for Desktop VR devices like Oculus and Vive 20 years is probably more reasonable as it's much more expensive. Many people get a smartphone every couple years through their phone plan but I'd wager most people do not currently posses a computer capable of running a VR headset with recommended requirements.
J5892 9y ago
This is one of those fun arguments that can be refuted with simple anecdotal evidence. I have fun in VR games every day. I know many others do as well. Therefore, your statement is false.