All Mode
In this ongoing series, I am describing the current virtual reality market in terms of both hardware and software. Most people regard 2016 as the birth year of VR because the first real premium virtual reality headsets, the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, were released after many years of development. That said, there were far more two headsets that hit the market. Consumers found out that virtual reality is amazing, beautiful, and sometimes insanely confusing because of compatibility issues.
Image credit: OSVR
For the most part, none of the developers or manufacturers of virtual reality headsets were successful in creating a unified platform where all virtual reality content could work. Most developers had no intentions of doing this. Rather than creating a unified platform, most software was tied to specific headsets and their respective marketplaces. That said, Valve’s SteamVR has come the closest to creating a unified VR app store, yet, it still is hampered by developers that choose limited compatibility options with the Steam software. This market fragmentation has left consumers confused and hesitant to buy VR headsets. When jumping on the VR train, consumers should do a little of research first, so that they know what they are getting and not getting, in terms of software and hardware. That is what this guide is about!
OPEN VR
Today, I will be focusing on the oft forgotten OSVR headset which happens to be on sale for 330 dollars for students and educators. This is a great price for a high-quality headset, that in terms of specs, currently competes neck and neck with the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. That said, the OSVR has some impressive advantages but also pretty serious drawbacks that should be considered before purchase.
The Good: Hackable, Upgradable, Open
The OSVR headset was designed and marketed to be the hackers virtual reality headset. The developers say that the “OSVR is a movement founded to create a universal open source VR ecosystem for technologies across different brands and companies. Giving you the freedom to combine different brands of HMDs and Controllers to experience VR the way they want to.”
Image credit: RAZER
Although mainly produced by Razer, OSVR headsets can be produced by any manufacturer. Since it is based on open source licenses, manufacturers do not need to pay licensing fees to produce an OSVR headset. It is OSVR’s hope that this could eventually lead an open and inter-compatible virtual reality market.
Another interesting advantage of the OSVR is its upgradable standards. With an OSVR headset, most of its components can be upgraded. This means that you potentially can upgrade the head strap, the screen, and the headphones. This means that in a year it may be possible to stick an 8k screen in an OSVR headset.
The Bad: Compatibility Issues
Although the OSVR headset sounds amazing, it’s considered to be one of the most problematic VR headsets currently available. This headset’s hackability and moldable nature probably contribute to this. Some games have issues with judder and small glitches that result in less than ideal virtual reality experiences. Although these problems exist, compatibility seems to be getting better and better as time goes on.
In sum, the OSVR is an intriguing proposition for hacker-types that want to get into the VR game.
wow… never heard of OSVR but it looks great and reduced price is a deal not to miss.
The upgradable and modularity feature seems to be great…. But have heard of compatibility issues i am afraid to make it as my first VR purchase… Any personal recommendations?
I’m planning to buy a Pimax. Which between OSVR and Pimax do you think is better? I’m a dev, btw. I haven’t thought about developing for headsets, but I could in the future also. Thoughts please. Thank you