HTC Vive is $799, ships early April 2016

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27 Mar, 12:46

A shopper has emailed customer service with a request. The following reasons were selected for the contact, and the specified email address was given for contact.

Selected Reasons: ShippingQuestion - ArrivalDate -
Shopper Email:
Shopper Comments:

If an associated requisition exists, the following fields were completed.
Order Number: 9£&@££&@
Order Date: 29 February 2016
Site ID: htcemea
Site Name: HTC Europe
Shopper Name:Allen

Order Summary:
Product SKU: 99HAHZ016-00
Product Name: VIVE Kit - April Shipment Part 1 - UK
Qty Ordered: 1
Amount: £574.17
Shipment Tracking Numbers:

[N3@@@@@-D@@@]

Just received my email from HTC after my enquiry (wave 1 yay!).
Shipping tracking numbers are blank in the email....but when I copy and paste it to send to a friend to show him (from iPhone).. The tracking numbers show up!in the above format.
How can they hide that in the mail ? And would they have a tracking number for something that hasn't gone yet?
 
BlackRainbowFT said:
Well, I called HTC's support and couldn't give me a straight answer. They said they would call back but never did (this was 2+ weeks ago).

The thing is that the 899€ price tag is "opaque" as everybody pays the same even though they don't have the same VAT. Because of this opacity, we're pretty much guaranteed to have to pay additional customs fees.

Here's some more info from another Swiss customer: https://www.reddit.com/r/Vive/comments/48fml9/non_eu_countries_get_to_pay_vat_without/
Click to expand...

My understanding is that everybody pays the same price because the product is delivered from Ireland, so the Irish VAT is applied. The same like when you order from Amazon UK you don't pay a different price depending on where you're ordering from.
 
So I just ordered a Vive in addition to my April Rift preorder to hedge my bets.

I'll make my decision in the next few days based on Rift impressions. I just hope Oculus don't surprise me before then!
 
Faith said:
I don't like what I read. First Oculus VR fucked up with me and now I have to decide if I even want to keep my Vive preorder.

These companies were different once.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure they were any different... on the other hand, the situations they find themselves in have changed...

bj00rn_ said:
This is depressing, and right now I feel like HTC is trying to fuck me in the ass.

In Norway we have 25% VAT.. The price for my Vive and Rift orders will be 600 fucking dollars more than if I buy it in the store later this year.. Why on earth haven't they sorted this out earlier and been more clear about it.
Click to expand...

Yeah. It's odd. They're basically screwing early supporters... if a Swiss customer waits and buys the Vive in stores, he/she would end up paying roughly 200.- less (~200USD). Digitec has them for 989.-.

KingSnake said:
My understanding is that everybody pays the same price because the product is delivered from Ireland, so the Irish VAT is applied. The same like when you order from Amazon UK you don't pay a different price depending on where you're ordering from.
Click to expand...

Well, not really. Whenever I purchase something from France, they actually remove the VAT and if the value is over 62.50 CHF including shipping (for some types of goods) I'm supposed to pay taxes (which is 18 CHF + 8% of the total value). So no, I'm pretty sure HTC is going to basically pocket the 20-something % EU VAT and I'll have to fork out a hundred more Swiss Francs.
 
BlackRainbowFT said:
Yeah. It's odd. They're basically screwing early supporters... if a Swiss customer waits and buys the Vive in stores, he/she would end up paying roughly 200.- less (~200USD). Digitec has them for 989.-.
Click to expand...
Didn't know that. Well, I could save 200CHF that way.

How long would I have to wait? Do you have any idea?
 
Durante said:
That's a pretty OT thing to start a new page with.
So, is anyone else hyped for Audioshield?
Click to expand...

I reserve judgement until I've played it, but I'm not sold on the reactivity to the music from what I've seen. Audiosurf would impart all sorts of minor nuances to the track that seemed to match up well to the beat. Audioshield, on the other hand, can't handle that level of high frequency detail due to the larger movements required so the experience seems more abstracted away from the music itself.
 
Zalusithix said:
I reserve judgement until I've played it, but I'm not sold on the reactivity to the music from what I've seen. Audiosurf would impart all sorts of minor nuances to the track that seemed to match up well to the beat. Audioshield, on the other hand, can't handle that level of high frequency detail due to the larger movements required so the experience seems more abstracted away from the music itself.
Click to expand...
Hmm, good point. On the other hand, I feel like there should be enough ways to encode additional or higher frequency information in VR without demanding impossible movements. I guess we'll see soon enough!
 
Durante said:
Hmm, good point. On the other hand, I feel like there should be enough ways to encode additional or higher frequency information in VR without demanding impossible movements. I guess we'll see soon enough!
Click to expand...

Movements of the hands are going to dictate a slower pace (unless you'e a ninja), but there's nothing stopping them from implementing the trackpad or other controls on top of that. I'm not sure how best to merge them from a visual standpoint (shapes and colors?), but a combination of hand/arm movement in conjunction with finger movement should allow them to follow the music much more closely. I mean, hand and finger movement is the basis for making music in the first place!

Edit: Practically speaking it might be a sensory overload though. That's the problem with VR. Hard to tell these things until you experience them first hand.
 
BlackRainbowFT said:
I'm not sure they were any different... on the other hand, the situations they find themselves in have changed...



Yeah. It's odd. They're basically screwing early supporters... if a Swiss customer waits and buys the Vive in stores, he/she would end up paying roughly 200.- less (~200USD). Digitec has them for 989.-.



Well, not really. Whenever I purchase something from France, they actually remove the VAT and if the value is over 62.50 CHF including shipping (for some types of goods) I'm supposed to pay taxes (which is 18 CHF + 8% of the total value). So no, I'm pretty sure HTC is going to basically pocket the 20-something % EU VAT and I'll have to fork out a hundred more Swiss Francs.
Click to expand...

In Norway it'll be around 245 euro in additional VAT for the Vive on top of the 973 euro... So total minimum is 1 216 euro.. I'm not poor but this is really bad and possibly borderline unethical. And another thing, If I'm not satisfied and want to return the product I'll never see that money again.

Edit: Wait a minute..:

4uZPltt.jpg
Click to expand...

Wtf, it sure looks definitive here.. Should be the same for Switzerland
 
Audioshield looks cool, but I now it makes me want a game where they tie the beats to people attacking me so I can punch and defend myself to a dope soundtrack.
 
I saw some people mentioning needing lens protectors since the lenses can get scratched...never occurred to me that this is a thing...or is it?
 
Audioshield reminds me impact wise more of something like DDR. You can't have as rapid of movements as a mouse or buttons, but it feels a lot faster because of the actual movements being sone.

chubigans said:
I saw some people mentioning needing lens protectors since the lenses can get scratched...never occurred to me that this is a thing...or is it?
Click to expand...

I mean, if worn properly the only thing touching lenses will be at most eye lashes, perhaps glass from glasses?
 
chubigans said:
I saw some people mentioning needing lens protectors since the lenses can get scratched...never occurred to me that this is a thing...or is it?
Click to expand...

I never got any visible scratches on the lenses after almost a year of near-daily usage with my DK2. So I'm not sure what these people are thinking about.
 
Room Tracking will mean needing a near empty room to use it in. Being disabled I want controllers that you can reconfigure to react to the slightest movement and 'translate' it into more normal movements e.g. if I lean my body slightly to the left I will turn and face left, and lean forward to walk forward, and further forward to jog/run/sprint etc. I think non-disabled would appreciate being fully immersive in an armchair.
 
Rug Monkey said:
Room Tracking will mean needing a near empty room to use it in. Being disabled I want controllers that you can reconfigure to react to the slightest movement and 'translate' it into more normal movements e.g. if I lean my body slightly to the left I will turn and face left, and lean forward to walk forward, and further forward to jog/run/sprint etc. I think non-disabled would appreciate being fully immersive in an armchair.
Click to expand...

Not sure if this will work well. From what I heard, anything that doesn't move 1:1 with your body is going to cause motion sickness. Might be better off with VR games that don't require motion controls beyond head tracking, of which there will be plenty
 
bj00rn_ said:
In Norway it'll be around 245 euro in additional VAT for the Vive on top of the 973 euro... So total minimum is 1 216 euro.. I'm not poor but this is really bad and possibly borderline unethical. And another thing, If I'm not satisfied and want to return the product I'll never see that money again.

Edit: Wait a minute..:



Wtf, it sure looks definitive here.. Should be the same for Switzerland
Click to expand...

Yes, I saw that quote a while ago but... but what are "customs" or "duties" other than VAT? I'm not aware of any other tax that I have to pay when crossing a border. At least, not in Switzerland (http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/index.html?lang=en)
 
I'm happy some people seem to have discovered Audioshield here, it's one of the few launch VR games I can see myself playing for years.
 
BlackRainbowFT said:
Yes, I saw that quote a while ago but... but what are "customs" or "duties" other than VAT? I'm not aware of any other tax that I have to pay when crossing a border. At least, not in Switzerland (http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/index.html?lang=en)
Click to expand...

Yeah I don't know.. It's not the first time someone has imported/exported, HTC should've been on top of this with exact clear details for each country they've listed as selected.

Anyway, just ordered some light stands and ball heads for the Vive, and a USB PCI card for the Rift. So I'm basically ready to receive my packages now..
 
Should I be worried that I haven't received a Processing email? I was in the first wave of orders and I can login and see my order but haven't received an email saying that my order is being processed.
 
Sky Chief said:
Should I be worried that I haven't received a Processing email? I was in the first wave of orders and I can login and see my order but haven't received an email saying that my order is being processed.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Check your Promotions/Spam tab though or just search your email for Vive.
 
Sky Chief said:
Should I be worried that I haven't received a Processing email? I was in the first wave of orders and I can login and see my order but haven't received an email saying that my order is being processed.
Click to expand...

what country are you in? no australians have received their email either.
 
Durante said:
I'm happy some people seem to have discovered Audioshield here, it's one of the few launch VR games I can see myself playing for years.
Click to expand...
I just checked out some YouTube videos after reading this and damn. Audioshield seems like the coolest thing for vr.
 
Mrbob said:
I just checked out some YouTube videos after reading this and damn. Audioshield seems like the coolest thing for vr.
Click to expand...

Bobby! Shake is probably picking up a vive over the summer and I'll have one at launch. Join us as we do dumb vr co op stuff.
 
Is there a list of software expected to be available at launch - ie next week? So much seems to be oculus only or oculus for now because devs are (probably rightly) focusing on that launch first before looking to adapt for vive
 
taco543 said:
yup! any and all help is greatly appreciated! I only got 1 OT under my belt so far, but will do my best with this one.
Click to expand...

Compsiox said:
OCULUS OT IS UP:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1201470
Click to expand...

Good job on that OT! Gives a good example for taco543 to work from. Using quote blocks for section banners works well.

Good reminder about making sure you preview it in dark theme too. I guess you could just fill transparency with white in your images there.
 
Well my Vive is apparently shipping in May.

Really want to see what's available and when but in looking at vids I'm spoiling stuff when I'm still 2 months out.

Luckily I'm going to be travelling round NZ all through April, but May is gonna be rough to avoid "spoilers" since everything will have kicked off by then.

But hey: Hopefully Lucky's Tale will be playable on the Vive somehow by the time I get mine. =D
 
How feasible/good an idea is it to setup my room/designated area for the Vive in a room adjacent to the one housing my desktop rather than the room with my computer? Apologies if this has been asked already, but first time in the thread for me.
 
traveler said:
How feasible/good an idea is it to setup my room/designated area for the Vive in a room adjacent to the one housing my desktop rather than the room with my computer? Apologies if this has been asked already, but first time in the thread for me.
Click to expand...

It's a good idea if that's where you'll have the room to play and take advantage of room scale. A number of us will be doing this by extending the cables to the breakout box. The best way to install everything will depend on your particular setup.
 
traveler said:
How feasible/good an idea is it to setup my room/designated area for the Vive in a room adjacent to the one housing my desktop rather than the room with my computer? Apologies if this has been asked already, but first time in the thread for me.
Click to expand...

Its a good question without an answer yet. The main issues with extenders is the amount of lag that could be added. I am sure next week we will have better answers. I am facing the same issue. My study has a 8*6' space that is open already which could be ok. But down in the medai room I have a 20*16' open space. Problem is I dont want to move my pc out of the study. I fear that I will have to make a choice unfortunately eventually as running a set of wires 30' isnt going to work.
 
traveler said:
How feasible/good an idea is it to setup my room/designated area for the Vive in a room adjacent to the one housing my desktop rather than the room with my computer? Apologies if this has been asked already, but first time in the thread for me.
Click to expand...
Well, I'll do it.
plan1grdk.png
Click to expand...

I can't think of any issues other than
  • The need to have a secondary KB/M/monitor in the VR room for convenient setup etc.
  • Getting all the cables through the wall.
 
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