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Currys PC World is set to unveil HTC Vive demo rooms in three major retail stores this week, according to one employee.
Joshua Ball, who writes for StartReply.com and works part-time for one of the stores set to open a demo room, claims consumers will be able to test out the HTC Vive within the next week at Currys PC World flagship stores in Leeds, Tottenham Court Road, and Reading.
Ball reports that the store he works for will be receiving a demo room ‘around March 17th’.
While he said the games that will be available to try out in the demo rooms are still TBC, Ball expects that visitors will get a chance to play Google’s Tilt Brush and Job Simulator.
If we do end up seeing the HTC Vive on the High Street so soon, those UK gamers that have pre-ordered the SteamVR headset may be tempted to cancel their orders and opt for purchasing one from a physical store, seeing as the £689 VR device is bumped up to around £747 after estimated UK shipping fees.
Last week, it was rumoured that system builder Overclockers UK would become the first retailer in the UK to open a dedicated virtual reality experience zone featuring the HTC Vive.
If Ball is right about a March 17th opening, it looks like Currys PC World will beat OCUK to it.
The Vive is powered by Valve’s SteamVR, it comes with 32 headset sensors for 360-degree motion tracking, an adjustable headset strap, a 110-degree field of view, and a front-facing camera.
There’s 2160 x1200 combined resolution and 90 Hz refresh rate, as well as interchangeable foam inserts and nose pads to provide customised comfort for those who need to keep their glasses on while gaming.
The two handheld controllers each have 24 sensors for motion tracking, as well as dual triggers with HD haptic feedback. The headset also comes with two base stations to deliver 360-degree motion tracking.
Valve has released a VR performance test to help end users figure out if their PC is up to scratch for the Vive, or whether they need to invest in a new GPU before splashing out on the headset.
The test features high quality VR content from the Aperture Science Robot Repair demo, designed specifically for the HTC Vive.
