HTC Vive preorders now live, will set Aussies back over AUD$1,400
HTC's Vive virtual reality headset is now available for preorder ahead of a May shipping date. Built in collaboration with video game powerhouse Valve, the Vive Consumer Edition will set back Australian customers approximately AUD$1,400.
The headset itself is priced at USD$899 including GST. Shipping to Australia is an additional USD$110.
The Vive was originally scheduled to ship in early April, but demand has seen the shipping date for new orders pushed back to May (at time of writing).
While virtual reality titles typically require the user to sit or stand in one spot, Vive is also able to track a user's movement in a given space. This creates the illusion of physically walking around inside a virtual world. A HTC representative told CyberShack that gamers will need a minimum space of 1.5m by 1.5m to use Vive. Ideally, 4.5m by 4.5m is needed for the optimal experience.
In the box, customers will find the Vive headset itself, two wireless controllers, a pair of movement sensors, a link box for connecting to a PC, and a pair of earbuds. Anyone who pre-orders the headset will receive a copy of Job Simulator, Fantastic Contraption and Tilt Brush.
At a minimum, a Vive compatible computer requires the following hardware:
Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 equivalent or greater
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 equivalent or greater
Valve has released a free app that allows users to check if their computer is Vive ready.
Read more: Virtual reality showdown – Hands on with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive
Brought to you by CyberShack.com.au
