This may have been posted before in similar topics, but I wasn't able to find a fitting answer to my question. Forgive me if I repeat this subject.
I'm making some preparations for an indie game and I'm very curious about using the Rift but I'm wondering if I specifically need the development kit already for future development. Since the current SDK does not feature the final (improved) product I'm likely to wait for the consumer version. But does the consumer version also include the SDK tools to work with for developers or is it for gamers only?
My game's production hasn't started yet so there is no rush for me to get one, but if the consumer version doesn't include the SDK I may need to order the current development kit in advance.
So to summarize my question: can the final consumer version be used for development as well just like the current DK version? What are the mayor differences between the two?
Feel free to link any topics here if this question has been answered somewhere else already.
Since I'm not from the official company, I cannot give an official answer, however as far as I can tell, you'd be able to develop with the consumer version just fine. The SDK is a free download that only requires a forum account (I think? Don't really remember tbh. Either way it's free), and all the Rift really does is sending signals through USB to the computer. Whether you use these to play a game, or read from to develop a game, I don't think matters.
It doesn't sound like there should be a single problem with developing games with the consumer version, other than the fact that it is about at least 1 year away (as far as I understand from the various vague discussions of the topic). But like I said, I'm just a developer, so I can only guess. Only thing I can imagine is 'no free 4month Unity Pro key' and other stuff like that (if there is any more? o.O).
Depends a lot on your budget, your game, and your schedule. I would say it is beneficial to have a Rift for testing as early on in development as you can. Prevailing dogma is that games designed from the beginning with VR in mind will provide a much better experience than retro-fitted titles.
As for consumer ver, we have no confirmed info other than it will have a better screen and that it will be awesome :lol: also, a 2014 release, we dont know if march 2014 or dec 2014 or whenever
Have in mind there is a confirmed DEVKIT2 to be released before the consumer version. Imo it probably will be more expensive than the actual one.
All the information that has been made available since the beginning has suggested that the final consumer model can still be used for development. The SDK is available for download in the developer center, so shouldn't be locked out from use. I fully expect to be able to continue development with the consumer version.
Thanks a lot for the answers, it's now a lot more clear to me. There's indeed no rush so I'll wait for the consumer version then. I'm currently just making some preparations before I assemble a team to create the actual game. I don't expect any true development being done any time soon, so I can wait. I'll be definitely looking forward to it though.
I watched both videos that SnottyBison posted. It really gets the ideas flowing through my head of the many things to do with it. Thanks!