We were able to try the HTC Vive VS Playstation VR during the press day of Paris Games Week, the opportunity to compare in detail the two.
For a long time, virtual reality rhymed with Oculus Rift. This is no longer the case as so many manufacturers have put themselves into it. At the head of the gondola, HTC and Sony. The latter intended his helmet to his latest generation console. The two competitors were present at Paris Games Week and presented the demos we already knew from E3. Still, in France, we had not yet been able to put our hands on it. It’s now done. Now is the time for comparison. Which of HTC or Sony presents the most promising project? Reply.
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The aesthetics of the HTC Vive VS Playstation VR
Well, whatever happens, you will seem a little silly to wiggle in all directions. However, if you have to wear it every game session, saying that you need the helmet makes you want to put it on. And Sony got it right with a futuristic design headset, the Playstation VR. However, futuristic without being ugly. We find a black and white device with blue LEDs in PlayStation colors. They are the ones that allow movement tracking thanks to the Playstation Camera. It must be recognized that Sony hits hard with its machine.
This is a little less the case of the HTC Vive, all dressed in black. He will be criticized in particular for being a little sadder visually than his counterpart at Sony. The small gruyère aspect is not an exceptional find in terms of design either especially added to the wires, to say the least, poorly concealed. Suddenly, we must say that against Sony, HTC suffers a little.
Comfort of Playstation VR vs HTC Vive
Comfort level, the two are quite equivalent even if Sony once again has a slight advantage. It seems lighter than its buddy, probably thanks to the fixing system that comes behind the head, distributing the weight even more on your skull. If we say that the advantage is slight, it is because the HTC Vive is also quite comfortable to wear. Like the Oculus, both devices incorporate a shock absorbing foam. In short, not really a winner on that side.
Using the Playstation VR vs HTC Vive
First of all, we were amazed at our first impression on the screens. If the HTC Vive announces a viewing angle of 110 degrees, against 100 for the Playstation VR, it is the latter which gives the impression of the widest vision. A surprise which can be explained by the proposed demo and / or a possible bad adjustment during the demonstration. The fact remains that the observation is there. Since we’re talking about the screen, let’s dwell a bit on the technical specifications. At HTC we are on 1080 x 1200 per eye at 90 FPS (frames per second) against 960 x 1080p, but at 120 FPS at Sony.
So the question that comes immediately is: is the difference obvious ? Well no. Simply because the 90/120 FPS difference is blurry enough for the human eye, far more than between 30 and 60 frames per second. In terms of resolution, it may be necessary to wait for more textured games to see a real difference. However, on the demonstrations that have been made, it is not possible to make a real judgment.
What is certain is that in both cases, the fluidity was there and above all, no visible latency. A feature that enhances immersion, but also helps prevent nausea. Despite some shaking demos, we didn’t feel it, which leads us to believe that VR will not mean taking a break every 10 minutes to recover.
And frankly, it would be terribly frustrating to have to stop so often, because virtual reality in these conditions is like a bomb. It must be said that HTC and Sony have not done things in half by offering headsets with their accessories for hands. At Sony, we do with what we already know, namely two Playstation Move while HTC has created “controllers” for each of the hands. In both cases, the use is essentially the same, the trigger on the back being used to catch objects.
Sony Playstation VR demo
At Sony, we tried the demo of Payday, The London Heist, already presented at E3. Sitting in front of a van, it was possible to interact with all of the objects in the vehicle. Turn up the radio sound change station, have a drink, open the glove box … in short. Just that, we are already impressed by the possibilities of VR. But it’s when a biker armada begins to shoot you that the big picture begins. Your pilot will hand you an automatic pistol, which you will need to grab and reload regularly. How? ‘Or’ What ? Well almost like in real life. Turn around to find the refill bag, grab one and put it in the gun. If tapping your Playstation Move one against the other makes you look a little silly in reality, in the game, it makes sense and gives a real sense of realism. To shoot, nothing could be simpler, just activate the trigger. Realistic, reactive and above all damn enjoyable. The little extra, being able to open the car door, lean back to unzip your pursuers in advance when your retro is no longer there to give you good visibility.
The HTC Vive demo
HTC’s demos may be a little below. At the moment, very few games are compatible with the device. But with the partnership with Valve (the little guys who publish Steam), there is no doubt that the delay will be caught. In short, where Vive is very strong is that‘It integrates the possibility of moving in an environment. Two sensors are installed in the room allowing to follow the helmet in an environment much larger than the competition.
Indeed, if you move with an Oculus on your head, the only thing you will do is lose the tracking. HTC understood that it was a real force and offered demonstrations including this principle of movement in space. We have sometimes found ourselves on all fours to press a button, or even turned around quickly and advanced, weapon in hand, towards the horde of zombies which was running towards us. So we have to admit that level immersion, the Vive crushes the competition.
Unfortunately, it’s a safe bet that games taking into account movement in space are in the minority. And above all, you need space, something not everyone has in their living room or bedroom. Of course, calibrations are possible and the borders of space appear in the game when you approach them, but so that the movements are not restrained, a minimum of space is required. This is a problem that can be solved and then it is of course compatible in principle with all virtual reality games that can be done from a chair. One of the real problems when you frolic with the Vive on your head is that you can’t see your feet. However, to connect the headset to the computer, a whole panel of cables is required. The report is relentless: it is dangerous. We quickly grabbed our feet and sprawled on the ground. What’s more, the hands are taken. To catch up, it’s zero. The real solution is wireless. But succeeding in streaming two screens with a high resolution, taking into account the movements all without latency, is today difficult to implement.
Playstation VR vs HTC Vive price
Neither manufacturer has yet communicated on pricing of the two virtual reality headsets. But one thing is certain, it will not be given. For the Playstation VR, you will need a PS4, the headset, which is estimated to be around 350 euros, PSMoves at 40 euros each, a PlayStation Camera that you can find at around 40 euros and the game. Basically, all that makes us a bundle at 900 euros. Remove around 400 euros if you already own the console. And even if Sony is likely to sell packs, count the price of a second console.
At HTC, it will be necessary to have a PC which turns well, but the price of the accessories and the two sensors to install on the walls are likely to increase the note. Again, it’s hard to see how to get by for less than 500 euros. We rarely say so, but we hope our estimates will be wrong!
PlayStation VR Iron Man and Star Wars Set, Compatible with PS4 & PS5: VR Headset, Camera, Move Motion Controllers,...
HTC Vive Cosmos Elite Virtual Reality System
as of 2024 24Asia/ShanghaiamWed, 10 Apr 2024 05:19:48 +0800 4 04202443005 10 10am24 am5:19
Free shipping
9 new from$745.004 usedfrom $539.99
as of 2024 24Asia/ShanghaiamWed, 10 Apr 2024 05:19:48 +0800 4 04202443005 10 10am24 am5:19
- Explore worlds with the Sony PlayStation VR. The VR Core headset's 5.7-inch OLED display lets you...
- The PlayStation Move Motion Controllers enable the most exciting and intuitive gaming...
- Two 2020 new PSVR Games are included. With gamers in mind, PlayStation delivers a new world of...
- Bundle Contains: PlayStation VR headset, Camera, Move Motion Controllers, Iron Man VR and Star...
- Lighthouse tracking - base station 1.0 provides up to 160 sq. Feet of play space for those that...
- Crystal-clear graphics - see the virtual world through a 2880 x 1700 combined Pixel resolution....
- Flip-up design - go easily between reality and virtual reality with the flip-up design, without...
- Vive port - Get the most out of VR with Infinity. Enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of VR games,...
Verdict
From a purely gaming point of view, one would be tempted to say that HTC has the advantage. Integrating movement into space is a great idea, very immersive, but restrictive. It takes space, and this thread story is disturbing. Besides that in terms of price, the Vive and its accessories may be more expensive than their counterpart at Sony. The Playstation VR offers a complete experience that may have more of a future, at least from what we’ve seen. Less restrictive, cheaper and requiring no space in particular. Sony therefore wins with a short head. Be careful though, this is not a final opinion. By the time of the scheduled release in 2016, elements may still evolve …
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