PAYDAY 2 VR AMA with OVERKILL_Tobias

Hello Everyone!

PAYDAY 2 VR AMA Summarized

Time for an AMA. The main topic for today is PAYDAY 2 VR.Get your questions ready we are about to start in about 10 minutes.If you don't know who I am OVERKILL_Tobias, I work as a producer on PAYDAY 2 and PAYDAY 2 VR. I am joined today by OVERKILL_Almir to answer any questions you have regarding the virtual world of our favorite bank robbing simulator.The beta will launch November 16th 2017 - there is no release date for the finish product yet.In the first phase of the beta - we'll use a dash-system, it will appear to the VR player as well as other players like running in quick bursts of speed. This will also be subject to a cooldown.During the AMA, many users mentioned wanting optional systems of locomotion - we've heard these wishes and will look in to the possibility of providing options for smooth locomotion down the line.Yes.The beta-period will focus on different aspects and will for testing purposes have content changed and added as we polish and work on the experience. When the final product is released, our goal is to have everything in PAYDAY 2 available in VR.The exact number of heists in the first beta period is not yet set, we will see what heists the community would like to test first.We've developed the game with HTC VIVE in mind, we are not platform exclusive in the world of VR-headsets, if users request Oculus Rift support, we can look into it during the beta or post-launch.We'll release the control scheme at or before the release of the beta.We're looking at ways to address an accurate representation of the VR-users movement, it's not a priority before beta release however.We haven't designed the game around the use of gunstocks, there might be issues with locomotion and weapon switching.PAYDAY 2 VR is developed to fit seamlessly into the PAYDAY 2 game. Any number of VR-players should be able to play with any number of desktop users (as long as the total number of players does not exceed 4).Nothing exclusive.Though certain skills/perks that would be useless in VR, will be adjusted to fit the VR-player (snap zoom etc) and adjusted during the beta. VR-players will be able to lean and shoot around corners where the Desktop player will not, but our goal is to balance them as well as possible. While still taking into account their differences.You control one weapon with each hand and fire them independent of each other, they will share an ammo-pool.No, any copy of PAYDAY 2, basic or Ultimate Edition will give you access to the VR version for free. It's a VR-update, not paid DLC.We are experimenting with how this will be handled and look forward to your feedback once the beta is out.There will be a system where you press the reload button to trigger the reload, there is a reload timer next to your gun. There will be a box in your inventory belt, it will also show the reload timer. Once the timer is done you can intersect the gun with this box and your gun is reloaded. You can also grab the magazine from this box for a move it to the gun for a faster reload with less the full ammo.There will also be an automatic reload system. But there will be some bonuses associated with choosing a active reload system.You can choose to grab the front of the gun but it will not be necessary to play efficiently. All weapons (except specials like bows) will be able to be handled with one hand and two handed will be available for long weapons like rifles.Yes, You will fade to black if you try it and then gently be teleported out of the wall or safe. Your hands are tracked locally to make sure you can't shoot or interact through walls.You can grab a melee weapon in either of your hands and it will deal damage on contact. There will be an adjustment to the melee damage for VR. You will also be able to use a melee weapon and a gun at the same time.Yes there is a range and cooldown associated with the dashes. These are dependent on skills and armor. You are not blocked by enemies and NPCs. Shields blocking the player will be investigated as we start the beta.The guards can see you mid dash so there is no way to “teleport” past a guard.Stealth is one of the reasons why we used a dash system rather than a true teleport.The dash will always be at the maximum available speed.Height will be adjusted automatically so you will not be stuck in crouching.The dodge system will work like in the Desktop version. There may be some skills related to dodge that may change somewhat in a later beta period.We are looking at how to properly convert stability to VR and here we will use the beta to test how to best solve the issue. Accuracy will work in similar way to how it works in the desktop version.You are going to be using the same profile and progression in VR and on the Desktop. We have yet decided if you can keep progress in the beta or if saving will be disabled to avoid issues during the beta period.PD2VR will be patched into the main branch of the game eventually and then you will use the same save file in either game mode. As for any beta we suggest to backup save files to avoid any issues.We are running on GTX 980 and GTX 1080 but performance will be the first beta periods main focus, to try and optimize the game as much as possible.Grenades and bags will work in the same way.For the beta you hold them in your hand, aim and use the trigger to launch them.Yes you can go prone however for the release there will not be a 3d person state for this. It would affect game balance quite severely.We want to have an open discussion about identifying players as VR-players, we don't want to segregate the communities while still let player easily play with each other.It's is handled by the dash system if a jump is available to the location you have highlighted as target you will jump there.It's is handled by an intetory belt that is located around the player. Here you have access to weapons, throwables, bags and equipment.A VR player can perform any interaction such as revive, picklock or placing a drill while having your gun drawn. You can cover your own back but you will not be able to reload and if you use akimbo you can only use one of the guns.The body will not be rendered to save as much power as possible to increase performance. It would also obstruct items and hostages lying on the ground beneath the player.By lifting the mask to your head and pressing trigger the mask will instantly be equipped and the interaction timer will be skipped.You will be placed in a dark void with a display in front of you with that will show the player you are spectating.Some skills will have alternate VR versions that overrides the normal effect if it is used. For the beta they will simply not have an effect until this alternate version as been added.There will not be any VR-only skills in the sense that Vr would get a special skill tree, we are doing the alternate version of skill approach so player can freely switch between VR and Desktop mode without their skill build getting altered.