I decided this generation of VR wasn't for me back when both systems were around $800, as I thought that price point was too high for the amount of value and content you received (especially on the Oculus side). When I checked over a year later and saw that the price had been cut in half, the Xbox controller had been replaced with Touch, an extra sensor was included, and 8+ games were given away for free, I decided to pull the trigger. I am honestly blown away.

IMHO: The screen door effect people talk about is definitely there, but only noticeable during loading screens/when you're not immersed in a game. Tracking is wonderful with 2 sensors, and flawless with 3 (if you're in a larger room like me). Touch is the most ergonomic and intuitive controller system I have ever used. Switching from an XBone Controller and Dualshock 4 to Touch was a night and day difference. Between Steam VR and the Oculus store there are tons of great games and experiences available, and more coming out every week. The main negatives I have noticed are the length of the cords coming from the headset (which I am fixing by buying extensions), the quality of the foam around the headset (seems to pick up and hold sweat/makeup, fixing with WidmoVR cover), and the heat produced by the headset during longer play sessions (doesn't have an easy fix other than pointing a fan at yourself during play). I can live with all of these things given that it is still a first generation technology.

Overall, I can sum up my thoughts with this: The first time I reached over my shoulders and pulled out my dual shotguns in Robo Recall, the laughter of amazement coming from my mouth completely drowned out the sobbing of despair coming from my bank account.

If you've got the PC to handle this, you really need to try the Rift + Touch. Especially at the great price point of ~$400 right now. I've had it for several days now and am really enjoying the experience. I haven't tried the Vive, so will not try to compare there. However, I did try the PS VR for about a week. Hate to say it, but that experience was awful. I ended up taking the PS VR back to Best Buy. Long story, short. Check out the PC requirements - they're stiff. If you've got the PC and have the slightest interest in VR, you need to try this out.

Here's a long, long review of things I've tried and/or done right (and wrong!) with the Rift...

Should have downloaded the Oculus software when I ordered the Rift. Once I got my Rift, I figured out that I'd have to download the software. It was tougher than it should have been to pick the initial drive to download to. I've got a solid state C: drive and really didn't want to install there - but it was inordinately difficult to switch. Finally gave up and just took the plunge. If I'd worked on it ahead of time, I wouldn't have felt as rushed.

There's an initial training program that pops up. Don't start sharing your Rift with anyone else until you've had the chance to go through training! I started sharing and didn't get it back until the next day...

This bundle came with 2 sensors. Don't set them up as you think they should be setup. One would think that the lines on top of the sensor should point to the general middle of where you will sit/stand. that didn't work for me at first at all. My sensors are to my 2 and 10 oclock - but the lines aren't pointing at me. They're pointing somewhere behind me. If you get them close enough to where they need to be, the install will show you how to twist things around - but it definitely seems odd setting them up originally. I can sit and stand and pretty much anything in between and both head and hands are tracked very well.

Setup with the Touch sensors works really well. Once setup, you can 'see' where they are with your rift on - which helps immensely. There's no fumbling around trying to figure out where they're at or putting them in my lap or having someone hand them off to me... There's also a guardian mode. On initial setup, you use the touch sensors with sound/vibration to delineate your play area without your Rift on. Then when you put the Rift on, you'll see a grid around you if you get too close to your boundaries. it sounds more complicated than it really is - I've got an oddly shaped area with other desks and bookshelves and it works just fine.

This bundle comes with several games. My favorite so far is Dead and Buried. You can see your ghostly hands in front of you and there are several mini-games. Reloading is a neat flip of the hands and the sensors pick things up just fine. Some of the minigames also take advantage of you ducking or leaning. No discomfort here at all.

Steam VR was installed so that I could try out Google Earth VR. Important note! Make sure you go through the Steam VR setup process!!! I was standing on my tippy-toes with my chin at ground level until I figured that out. This one definitely made me queasy until I got it setup properly. Google Earth VR is just amazing. I'd like some way to search in VR as you do in Google Earth. It can be tough finding your way around the world flying like Superman...

Then the one I was really wanting to try... Elite Dangerous. I've had Elite for quite some time now, but it is completely different in the Rift. Things to note here: if you already have Elite installed, you have to go into graphics settings and select the headset from the 3d options. Volume was also inconsistent here - not sure if this is something to do with my drivers, but I was constantly fiddling with volume for some reason. At points way too loud, at others way too quiet. You'll also need to get your finger ready on the F12 key - or whatever you have the recentering key bound to. This took me several webcrawls to figure out the problem. Initial setup had me completely turned around in my chair in order to see the menu. Get close to where you'll sit, then hit your recenter key. You may have to fiddle with that a little bit to get your head properly seated in your in-game body. I've got a HOTAS setup with the Saitek x52 and thought I would be fine... Unfortunately, I still have a few keys keyed to keyboard inputs - and that's just not an option. I'll have to do some more customizing before I can fully fly around in Elite.

I'd advise starting off in training mode because it really is that different. I've got a few bounties on my head.. Some space stations just have no sense of humor! But the sense of immersion is just amazing in Elite. Can't quite make out those labels on your screen displays? Just lean a little closer. Look over your shoulder to track that pirate visually. Eyes hurting from flying too close to that sun while doing a fuel scoop - just look around your cockpit to take a break! Want to walk around your cockpit? Go for it! Okay - that one breaks the immersion a good bit as your body is left behind. But it would be interesting to do in one of the bigger ships just to see what happens...

I'm personally at a point in life where I don't know if I will survive long enough to see a device like this really evolve into something that will transform the way we game work and experience media. So at the sale price of 400 dollars I'm happy to say that Rift delivers with some considerations. Touch controllers are amazing when first experienced. Games written specifically with VR in mind and especially those Occulus exclusives (Robo Recall, Mages Tale etc.) really show the potential of the technology. That is when you aren't untangling cables, adjusting sensors, rebooting software etc. Consider your level of trouble shooting knowledge, consider your available space if you are wanting to play room scale experiences, consider your tolerance for a small software library of meaningful titles vs a avalanche of shovel ware and tech demos. There are big considerations with comfort that aren't stressed enough. Do you dig sweat? You better because the headsets foam cushion will get incredibly wet and gross. Not to mention the lens fogging up from your breath while breathing through your nose. What I am trying to say is that the Rift can be a amazing and also frustrating piece of tech. When it"s clicking on all cylinders it will transport you to another world. When it's losing tracking or you have tripped on a cable or your getting motion sick then you will quickly put it down for more traditional forms of entertainment. This is prime example of early adopter tech and should be researched and considered as such before you purchase.