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Google Earth VR

vr.google.com

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Re: Google Earth VR

#81

Post by haydenlee »

iandanforth wrote: post #22
VikingCoder wrote: post #15

Was playing with it - it's great. I was flying around the towns I know, but I'm reminded of the places that I need to go when I get a chance: Golden Gate Bridge The Washington Monument Disney World Yosemite Beijing The Grand Canyon

It looks very nausea inducing, even the video gave me a little bit of an issue. Did you experience any of that?

I loved the app but I did feel a bit sick, even with their comfort mode turned on (which I really appreciate that they added). Probably won't go as wild with the flying next time but overall it was still a great experience. I should mention that I'm very perceptible to simulator sickness, even after using VR for over an hour every day for the past 2 years.

Re: Google Earth VR

#82

Post by zardo »

jliptzin wrote: post #60

I really think something like this will displace some tourism/sightseeing (at least at the margins). I have done a ton of traveling all over the world and would much prefer a VR experience like this instead of cramming onto an airplane like cattle for hours, getting accused of being a drug lord at every border crossing, dealing with foreigners who seem to hate Americans, etc. Most tourist cities are pretty much the s…

Seeing the Sahara on a screen, and climbing a sand dune, are two very different experiences.

Re: Google Earth VR

#83

Post by saurik »

matthjensen wrote: post #39
secure wrote: post #31

I played this for about 2 hours recently, and it’s so much fun! Flying around like that really gives you a perspective of your home town that you don’t usually get. For instance, I have discovered that there’s actually train tracks underneath a bridge over which I drive fairly frequently — from inside the tram, I never saw them. Notably, this is significantly better than the “liquid galaxy” installations one can find…

What else is on the list of things you show people who are new to VR?

No one has yet mentioned Raw Data. Go into the settings, under advanced control settings, and switch the control style to "hold" (which it points out will be more difficult to play using... that isn't the point); I seriously started to feel like I had hands in the world: the user interaction of this game sets a new bar. (I will also mention Fruit Ninja, as many people have played the game on their phone, so getting to play it in VR is more immediately engaging.)

Re: Google Earth VR

#84

Post by wolrah »

artofcode wrote: post #8
mdrzn wrote: post #5

Why only on HTC Vive? Does this require huge computing power, or is it because of the controllers? I hope it'll become available on the Google Daydream phones.

My bet would be the controllers, which would mean a Rift compatible release would be imminent when the Touch controllers are officially released in a month.

Most OpenVR/SteamVR titles more or less "just work" with Rift + Touch. Obviously the different controllers mean input mappings might be weird or lacking an equivalent and the in-game representation of the controller might be wrong, but the basics work as well as you could reasonably expect.

Re: Google Earth VR

#85

Post by 6stringmerc »

strictnein wrote: post #17
strictnein wrote: post #3

Honestly, I'm visiting Mecca tonight. And then Tehran. And then North Korea.

Why the downvote? How visiting forbidden places isn't on the top of mind for people using this is beyond me. Area 51, White House grounds, Russian military bases, Syria. I know the experience will vary, but think big.

Having seen plenty of high quality aviation maps in my day, which are quite incredible in the grand scheme of things, I've got some disappointing news about Area 51...

Re: Google Earth VR

#86

Post by 6stringmerc »

zardo wrote: post #82
jliptzin wrote: post #60

I really think something like this will displace some tourism/sightseeing (at least at the margins). I have done a ton of traveling all over the world and would much prefer a VR experience like this instead of cramming onto an airplane like cattle for hours, getting accused of being a drug lord at every border crossing, dealing with foreigners who seem to hate Americans, etc. Most tourist cities are pretty much the s…

Seeing the Sahara on a screen, and climbing a sand dune, are two very different experiences.

Depends on one's imaginative capabilities, honestly. Yes, I'm quite serious. What I've been able to do in dreams (controlled or otherwise) rivals any sand-in-hand experience I could have while waking. I won't claim imagination is a pure replacement for personal experience, but there's something special about abstract thought.

Re: Google Earth VR

#87

Post by secure »

berberous wrote: post #79
secure wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Valve’s The Lab is fantastic and is usually one of the first things I show. Next up is Job Simulator. Lots of fun and attention to detail in there. Then Tilt Brush, because it’s surprisingly fun, even for non-artists. Earth VR probably goes into the list at this position right here :). The Cubicle ( https://steamcommunity.com/app/452490 ) has a nice twist to it, but is far less polished than the ones I previously lis…

I would caution against demoing Hover Junkers to first timers, especially without an explicit and careful discussion of nausea first. It is the only game anyone has listed thus far that has 'unnatural' movement, which for me at least, causes extremely unpleasant nausea that lasts multiple hours after removing the headset.

Good to know. Hasn’t been a problem for the people who tried it at my place yet, but I’ll keep it in mind.

Re: Google Earth VR

#88

Post by rvanniekerk »

strictnein wrote: post #7

Now just make it so you can destroy the buildings as you walk around and you have VR Rampage. I'm honestly surprised no one has made a VR Rampage for the Vive. I tried to play around with the idea a little bit, but game development is just something I don't have any time for.

This is actually in development, it's called Maximum Override - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWKwgcRSZ0U

Re: Google Earth VR

#89

Post by thebiglebrewski »

mdrzn wrote: post #5

Why only on HTC Vive? Does this require huge computing power, or is it because of the controllers? I hope it'll become available on the Google Daydream phones.

I agree! I don't understand these two separate arms of Google VR. Couldn't they do the processing power on the server side if you have a fiber connection?

Re: Google Earth VR

#90

Post by Greenisus »

secure wrote: post #61
matthjensen wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What else is on the list of things you show people who are new to VR?

Valve’s The Lab is fantastic and is usually one of the first things I show. Next up is Job Simulator. Lots of fun and attention to detail in there. Then Tilt Brush, because it’s surprisingly fun, even for non-artists. Earth VR probably goes into the list at this position right here :). The Cubicle ( https://steamcommunity.com/app/452490 ) has a nice twist to it, but is far less polished than the ones I previously lis…

This list is very similar to mine, but I would add Richie's Plank Experience as a great thing to show a first timer.
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