Virtual Reality: are you playing? On what? Your Impressions?

[gorfias]

Are you playing any Virtual Reality? Do you think it has a future? What works and does not?

I had a Samsung VR Windows VR and I gave it away. Sorry, it really didn't work.

I have an Oculus Quest 2. I think a game changer. I play my nephew coop zombie shooting on Arizona Sunshine. I exercise with things like Synth Riders. I try, but stink so far, on Sniper Elite. Lotta fun.

Are you playing VR? What is best? Do you think it the future? A waste of time and money?

Your opinions are appreciated.

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

I have an Oculus Quest 2.

Admittedly, what I use it for, mostly, is watching movies on my couch, when it comes to actualy games there is some worthwhile stuff there, but so far not remotely enough. Half Life Alyx is probably the most notable in terms of actual production values. It feels like a proper, full length, Triple A FPS and I enjoyed it quite a lot, it's just unfortunate that there's not a whole lot else like it.

Boneworks was good, and in a lot of ways a more mechanically interesting game than Half Life, but more concerned with showing off its mechanics than actually utilizing them. Beat Saber is a fun, arcadey timewaster but it's not the kind of thing I play video games for. I like VR conceptually a lot, but it's clear its still in its infancy and the industry hasn't properly adapted to it yet. I'm looking forward to when it does, because it does undeniably offer a more immersive gaming experience than a regular old screen. There just needs to be more high quality content for it.

It's a damn shame Resident Evil 7 VR ist exclusive to Playstation. That's what the technology needs, actual quality games with VR optimization.

 

[laggyteabag]

I also have a Quest 2, and whilst I wish I played on it more, there are few games that really pique my interest.

I dabbled with Alyx, but the game is screaming for a PC better than my own, so I haven't spent too much time with it.

I had a great time with Star Wars Squadrons, at least from a VR perspective, but the game doesn't really hold my interest for longer than a single playthrough.

Otherwise, most of the VR games that I play are, I suppose, the equivalent to mobile gaming. Short bursts of 2-3 minute levels. Pistol Whip. Superhot. Beat Saber.

Im begging for more substantial VR games, but most of the popular ones are either some kind of workout, or the kind of games that you pass around at a party.

 

[CriticalGaming]

I have a quest but after playing superhot and workplace simulator i feel like the novelty wore out pretty quickly for me. Not that i mind playing it, its just that the experiences were too one-note.

Now i use the quest for a workout game and that is it.

Also porn.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I have a quest but after playing superhot and workplace simulator i feel like the novelty wore out pretty quickly for me. Not that i mind playing it, its just that the experiences were too one-note.

Now i use the quest for a workout game and that is it.

Also porn.

So it’s a multitasking device?

Seriously though I’m surprised anything active involving a lot of movement could be done wearing what is essentially a mini TV strapped to the user’s head.

 

[CriticalGaming]

So it’s a multitasking device?

Seriously though I’m surprised anything active involving a lot of movement could be done wearing what is essentially a mini TV strapped to the user’s head.

It is great honestly. Think of guitar hero except you have to punch the notes, or lunges and squats to duck under certain things. It will fucking tire you out in 15 minutes easy.

Different punches too. Like hooks and uppercuts and shit.

 

[Kae]

I played a VR device once, it was with Superhot VR, it was neat if a bit disorienting and I think cool stuff could be done in it, however devices are much too expensive since on top of the high price of the device itself you also need an additional device that can play VR games that can also be absurdly expensive and as such it unimportant as it's basically exclusively for rich people.

 

[CriticalGaming]

I played a VR device once, it was with Superhot VR, it was neat if a bit disorienting and I think cool stuff could be done in it, however devices are much too expensive since on top of the high price of the device itself you also need an additional device that can play VR games that can also be absurdly expensive and as such it unimportant as it's basically exclusively for rich people.

The quest is a stand alone unit that requires nothing more than a wifi connection and runs 200 bucks. Vr is very easy and accessible.

 

[Kae]

The quest is a stand alone unit that requires nothing more than a wifi connection and runs 200 bucks. Vr is very easy and accessible.

I didn't even know What the quest was, though keep in mind that my standards as to what classifies as rich are probably very different from yours, I mean I literally live in a Mexican ghetto, that isn't an exaggeration, looked the quest up it is more expensive here in México it retails for around $360 USD, which is plausible but I haven't really seen anything that would encourage me to shell that not inconsiderable amount of money for such a thing, though I was still under the impression that VR kits were between $400 & $800 USD TBH, cause I that's how little I've paid attention to the topic since my initial impression was "There's no way I'll ever afford that".

 

[CriticalGaming]

I didn't even know What the quest was, though keep in mind that my standards as to what classifies as rich are probably very different from yours, I mean I literally live in a Mexican ghetto, that isn't an exaggeration, looked the quest up it is more expensive here in México it retails for around $360 USD, which is plausible but I haven't really seen anything that would encourage me to shell that not inconsiderable amount of money for such a thing, though I was still under the impression that VR kits were between $400 & $800 USD TBH, cause I that's how little I've paid attention to the topic since my initial impression was "There's no way I'll ever afford that".

It is still a gimmick machine either way and you have to be really on board with VR as an prototype to get into it. Though the Quest is quite fun to break out at parties and watch people try to fry virtual french fries.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

The quest is a stand alone unit that requires nothing more than a wifi connection and runs 200 bucks. Vr is very easy and accessible.

And starting in 2023, it will require a Facebook account to use. And if your Facebook account gets banned, your Quest becomes a $200 paperweight.

 

[Worgen]

You can get some incredible experiences out of it like Half Life Alyx and Moss. But, you need a good sized space to get the most out of it and its not relaxing like most games are so you will get fatigued playing it.

 

[CriticalGaming]

And starting in 2023, it will require a Facebook account to use. And if your Facebook account gets banned, your Quest becomes a $200 paperweight.

I dont use facebook so it doesnt matter. To me its like having a steam account or battle net account or whatever. I lose my steam accounti lose over 500 games.

It shouldnt be hard to not get banned.

Also people will hack the Quest to get around that so im not super worried about it.

 

[CriticalGaming]

You can get some incredible experiences out of it like Half Life Alyx and Moss. But, you need a good sized space to get the most out of it and its not relaxing like most games are so you will get fatigued playing it.

I think VR greatest potential is to make us out of shape gamers get some exercise.

 

[09philj]

I'd like a headset to play Elite and some other things with but I don't have a computer that can support it or the money to pay for one at the moment. I've really enjoyed the times I have tried VR at gaming events.

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

It's ok, pretty good and catchy like most their other stuff, though their sound can often teeter indistinguishably amongst itself, this sounds like a coalition of their strengths fired off with an award winning video. But like most things in the mainstream culture sphere, the tendency to overplay anything remotely good leads to significant diminishing returns, which doesn't help long-term appreciation, even of acid jazz/funk.

...

Oh, hang on, wait, I read that wrong, you guys are on about something other than Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai!

Ok. Am too distrustful, paranoid and clumsy to enjoy entertainment that removes awareness of my physical surroundings unfortunately. Anyone could be pilfering my penniless pockets and stroking my bottom while I'm frolicking around in VR landscapes and tripping over my cats...anyone!

 

[Worgen]

I think VR greatest potential is to make us out of shape gamers get some exercise.

To get the most out of that you need a nice big open room, my friend damaged one of my monitors before when we were playing GORN. It can actually be kinda hard to find a place with that amount of space.

 

[09philj]

Oh yeah I'd quite like to be able to do VR chat in VR as well so I can more effectively stare at people and say "potassium". (I am usually a banana in VR chat)

Oh, hang on, wait, I read that wrong, you guys are on about something other than Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai!

 

[CriticalGaming]

To get the most out of that you need a nice big open room, my friend damaged one of my monitors before when we were playing GORN. It can actually be kinda hard to find a place with that amount of space.

But the quest literally has no wires. You can go outside and play, use your garage, lawn, whatever. I work out in my small bedroom without issues, you just need 6x6 feet of space or barring that play exclusively sit down experiences like driving and spaces ships and shit.

 

[EvilRoy]

I'd like a headset to play Elite and some other things with but I don't have a computer that can support it or the money to pay for one at the moment. I've really enjoyed the times I have tried VR at gaming events.

I tried it, and it was rad, but extremely hard. Dogfighting is very cool because turning your head means looking in that direction, so you can keep track of stuff without relinquishing control of the ship. Trading between ships I was blown away by how much difference individual canopies make once you can actually look around and see out the windows. That said, I don't have my keyboard layout memorized, so I could barely get anything done. I think there is work being done to allow the quest controllers to be used to actually grip the in-game controls but even that would involve a major learning curve.

That said a number of crazies have managed to successfully play Microsoft Flight Simulator in VR using the controllers so its technically possible to learn.

I guess that's where the rub comes in for VR from my perspective. All the most fun games - beatsaber, superhot, I Expect You to Die, pistol whip, Vader Immortal, Warplanes etc - are really simple to play. They all have fairly straightforward point and shoot or grasp and manipulate kind of controls - really intuitive typically because to grab a lightsaber you just grab forward like you were picking up a stick and boom. Lightsaber Achieved. More complex games means learning to manipulate complex controls with your hands which requires big movements plus thought and practice.

Even comparatively simple games played on console or PC suddenly jump in difficulty when playing in VR. I can play Diablo 2 completely competently with a mouse, 3 keys on my keyboard all while covered in cheetos. In VR I would need to be actively using both hands to press buttons directly, grab potions off my belt, actually lunge forward to stab a ************, and get in realtime slapfights with other players to get the unique before them. Its a lot more large complex movement to do all this stuff in VR when a single button can do it anywhere else. It puts a ceiling on the complexity you can really put in a game and still expect someone to hold on long enough to get into it.