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Does home-based VR need the ability to track multiple users in the same play space?

Zoomie
Expert Trustee
Do you have a second PC powerful enough to run VR in the same play space, or do you have a second user who would bring their PC and VR hardware to your house?

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. - Arthur C Clarke
18 REPLIES 18

Zoomie
Expert Trustee
To me, wanting multiple users in the same play space seems to miss the point of social VR.  The only major benefit I can see is having friends there when you take the headsets off.  If the VR is immersive, it doesn't really matter where each player is connecting from.  Once I put on the headset they're in my room anyhow!

Furthermore, multiple players in the same play space means you might collide.  Your team loses the oft-maligned teleport mechanic for movement, at least as individuals.  I suppose you could still teleport the whole team from one location to another, but I think that might lead to sim-sickness since only one player would be controlling the teleport.

Lastly, it requires multiple VR capable PC's and hardware including wires - for now - in one place.  I don't need two VR-capable PC's in my home, let alone in one room.  It's an awfully expensive proposition just so I can have a player 2 occasionally join my game.
  
I do think it's useful for warehouse-scale or arcade scale VR.  
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. - Arthur C Clarke

Sax-a-boom
Rising Star
VR is an immersive experience, not a shared one, nothing to be lost by not going multiplayer online. 

Jose
Heroic Explorer
Not needed until the headsets are wireless.

GtAwyFrmMyRamen
Adventurer
I don't think I understand the question. What do you mean by "Home based VR"? You mention needing multiple PC's but your title suggests it would all be one system, so like multiple Rifts plugged into one PC?
Assuming we are talking strictly "One PC per Rift" then.. tracking everyone occupying the same space is already possible. The sensors are already tracking their designated rifts and no one else's so asking if a "Home based VR system(s)?) needs the ability to track multiple users in the same space doesn't even need to be asked.

SHOULD you is the better question.

No is the answer.

Zoomie
Expert Trustee
No worries @GtAwyFrmMyRamen, I'll try to clarify.  I meant the ability to have multiple HMD in the same play area.  
I suppose at the moment that would mean on one computer - which would need to be very beefy indeed.  The other solution would be multiple computers with independent tracking systems - systems that would need to be de-conflicted somehow.  I'm not sure if two Constellation or Lighthouse systems can currently work within the same area.  Maybe someone can weigh in on that.

Free from consideration of the setup used, the poll is asking whether you can see a requirement for two HMD to work within the same play area for general home use.  Full stop, regardless of HOW.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. - Arthur C Clarke

LZoltowski
Champion
No it does not, not at the moment, perhaps once the headsets are lighter, wireless and with integrated PC's.

For me at least at the moment VR is an experience to be shared across the waves. I love meeting new people and making new friends in a more natural way albeit virtual way. 
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Be kind to one another 🙂

GtAwyFrmMyRamen
Adventurer
@Zoomie Ah okay I get ya now. Well I can at least confirm that at the moment two Rifts can indeed occupy the same space without any tracking problems on separate computers. My buddy and I tried it when he brought his Rift and PC over to my place. I can't imagine using two HMD's on the same computer would work. The insane graphical power required aside, I would imagine the tracking would begin to seriously confuse the PC, but I'm not entirely sure. Anyways the dangers involved in with two people swinging razor hydras (soon oculus touch) around in the same space isn't entirely worth it 😛
If it's a matter of family members playing around in VR together. All I could say is I hope you're willing to dedicate multiple rooms to VR.
As for warehouse/arcade VR goes it would work granted each user's Guardian/Chaperone system was set up so that they wouldn't cold-cock each other.

Zenbane
MVP
MVP
Could come in handy with VR Porn orgies.

Zoomie
Expert Trustee
I think I'm starting to see a trend...
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. - Arthur C Clarke