VR Headset & Experience
I've dreamt about virtual reality dating back to when I was a kid.
I still have yet to try any of the models out, and know little about what they have to offer.
I've been waiting for them to get good enough to provide a utopian experience.
I don't game that much anymore. But having a 3D-space to chill and listen to music with a visualizer sounds divine.
What is the state of modern VR headsets? Should I buy one now? How much am I missing out on not doing so?
2 Replies
VR Minecraft is scary good. My preferred way to play.
Halflife Alexa is a great addition for a fan of the series.
SkyRim VR with mods is unbelievable. It's fun just to walk around the world.
I haven't tried Eagle Flight but I understand people enjoy the feeling of flight with it.
Despite being in my 40s with what can only be described as a lifelong gaming addiction, I only tried VR within the last few weeks. My wife and I went into a VR arcade, paid for 2 hours, and they had a high end HTC Vive setup with all the equipment tethered to the ceiling for a cordless feel.
She's a complete non-gamer and didn't last long, but had fun with Fruit Ninja and a few "experience" titles where you just go in and exist within a 3D environment. The one she liked best was underwater themed. I checked that one out as well and it's pretty remarkable, but not something I'd do twice.
I tried a variety of titles from arcade to shooter to puzzle games, but nothing really hooked me. 3D Tetris was a mind-****, but I met my match when I did a Wingsuit game that had been set to only head-control. I switched it to be controlled with my arms, and could tell that I was about 30 seconds from being on YouTube. Nauseous isn't the right word to describe how I felt, but it wasn't pleasant.
I only lasted about an hour in total before being thoroughly done with my VR experience. We left and told the guy to donate our extra time to the next people to walk in the door.
You'd certainly develop a tolerance over time, but it did not entice me to go home and sink some disposable income into a VR setup for the living room. It also felt pretty isolating, so I'm not even sure how fun it could be with other people.
This is a stark difference to something like a Wii, where you can play Boomblox or Wii Sports with people in front of your 100 inch TV and it becomes a whole family affair with no age or skill limits. My wife would go head-first into the TV in under 15 minutes with a full VR helmet on.
I saw at that VR arcade that they had Subnautica on their list of titles. I didn't try it, but regret not doing so. I have played that on PC and it seems like the perfect game for VR from a visuals standpoint.
If you're into drugs, I can see how a very comfy chair plus a VR headset would elevate your life.
