For those who want to keep up with the Valve updates i've been fallowing this live blog.
For those that don't know, the main things Valve have announced so far are their VR headset, the final Steam controller, Steam link hardware ( low cost game streaming from local gaming PC), Source 2 ( free game engine) and soon they'll be discussing the next generation of the OpenGL API named Vulkan.
As has been reported earlier, the new Steam Controller now has an analog stick. More interesting, though, is that the VR controller is reported to be the Steam Controller cut in half but there hasn't been alot of info about it and no pictures of it. It's the part i'm most curious about as i think the features of the Steam Controller make the most sense for VR; the grip button, the thumb touch pad and triggers. It's still not clear how exact the VR version will be to the regular version. It sounds as though the wand like VR version won't feature the face buttons or analog stick.
Duel Action Triggers: So here's something interesting i learned about the Steam Controller; the triggers support an analog input and can also trigger a digital "fully pressed" button. So in other words you could do the, "left trigger-right trigger" action of Call of Duty on a single trigger; analog to zoom, button to fire. Another example, in flight sims, you could pull the analog to fire MG tracer rounds and pull the full trigger to fallow with cannons.
The Vive headset is also called a, "developer edition" and is reported that the consumer version will feature IR sensor technology rather then the laser sensors that are features in the demos at GDC. Don't know how much of a difference that will make. The Oculus Rift also features IR technology.
The sensors on he headset are said to be receivers while two emitters are separately places close to the ceiling within the room and gives you a 15'x15' area to move around in. basically this may potentially mean that the Vive is less restraining than the optical sensors that the Oculus and Morpheus use but you probably wouldn't want to walk around a 15' square blind while tethered to a high priced gaming machine.
Steam Machines, they're real and now you can buy them: Steam Machines False alarm, all the machines say, "available in November"...but you can look at them at least.
Seems everything is wrapped up at this point. You can learn about it all directly from Valve on their website. The VR stuff is pretty interesting, especially hearing a lot of the enthusiasm people are having after demoing the Vive and with a release window (can they keep it?) it's something to get excited about.
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