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I've seen it everyone. The future of the Gaming medium that once felt so far away is actually in my hands two-fold now, and I can firmly say that I am a true believer in the technology and future that is Virtual Reality.

Over the past couple weeks I have dabbled with my newly purchased Oculus Rift, demo'd the HTC Vive, and just bought the PlayStation VR headset only hours ago. I have seen many new worlds, many new experiences both gimmicky and extraordinary, and ive only gotten motion sickness from one truly awfully built indie game on the Oculus market.

When we look at VR from the outside, we see a big dumb block strapped to someones face. It looks off putting, silly, and almost ineffective in creating an immersive experience. It is so utterly difficult to truly put into words what putting on the headset does to your brain. How it tricks you and makes you feel bigger, smaller, more fearful, more cautious, more prone to reaction as if your body is truly there in that experience. But I'm here to tell you, from my own experiences that VR is truly astounding.

We are only in the first stages, and these first stages are crucial to the growth and development of new wondrous types of experiences. Things are clunky right now, much like the first generation of games were. This is a new generational leap that we have to be patient, understanding, and excited about. But I promise you, it is so worth getting excited about.

I can promise that I will personally be reviewing a multitude of VR titles beginning now in order to share what it's like and try to put into words the different style of entertainment VR brings. It's going to be a weird awkward journey, and it's going to change the way I think about writing things as well, but excites me just as much.

I wanted to make this post to also open it up to any questions that anyone would like to ask about both headsets, which I will compile into an answer block here on this front page post. I feel like people still have so many things they want to know that they don't get the answers to through simple YouTube videos, and I'd love to try and help convince you, or even settle your opinion on what you think about VR.

Feel free to ask me absolutely anything, and look forward to seeing some reviews on stuff! I may even try to review the Headsets themselves considering I've never forayed into hardware reviews before!

Q. Hows Oculus compared to PSVR in terms of visual quality?

I can safely say so far, that the PS VR is a very nice system and has some cool experiences right out of the gate, but it does look very inferior to the Oculus in terms of visual quality. It's not a large gap, but it is a noticeable gap. Almost akin to Wii games compared to 360/PS3 games but not as bad as that. Images are sometimes blurry, and text is almost never sharp and easy to read which can be a hassle. Text on the Oculus looks a little cloudy but it's nowhere near as bad as the visual quality of the PSVR text. The plus side is that although the quality of images takes a slight hit, the framerate is stable, and i've noticed no chopping or stuttering in any experiences I've demo'd so far.

Q. How do glasses feel with the unit?
I actually wear glasses myself so I know your fear. I can wear my glasses in BOTH headsets comfortably for the most part. I've found that the Oculus easily overlays my glasses and does not shove them against my face or put pressure near my ears and is incredibly comfortable.

The PSVR is a slightly different story. When I wear my glasses with it, my frames are pretty much shoved up against the lenses which is slightly irritating at times. There is no way to adjust the focal point of the lenses like you can on the Oculus, so there is no easy means of adjusting for this slight discomfort. I can play relatively well with my glasses on in PSVR but do find myself readjusting every now and again to try and refocus my vision for better clarity with my glasses on.

I've never experienced any fogging of the lenses in the time I've had both headsets on, and I feel I get enough airflow coming through the, "mask," of the headset when I am using it.

 

[RandomUser]

I guess the real question is, is VR really accessible for those that wears glasses? Not many would want to switch to contact just for VR. Problem is not wearing glasses would make the already not so great pictures worst, especially the text. another problem, is that fog could build up on the lens without adequate airflow, although may not. One option could be that perhaps a Spectacle could be built right in.

 

[chavosaur]

I guess the real question is, is VR really accessible for those that wears glasses? Not many would want to switch to contact just for VR. Problem is not wearing glasses would make the already not so great pictures worst, especially the text. another problem, is that fog could build up on the lens without adequate airflow, although may not. One option could be that perhaps a Spectacle could be built right in.

I actually wear glasses myself so I know your fear. I can wear my glasses in BOTH headsets comfortably for the most part. I've found that the Oculus easily overlays my glasses and does not shove them against my face or put pressure near my ears and is incredibly comfortable.

The PSVR is a slightly different story. When I wear my glasses with it, my frames are pretty much shoved up against the lenses which is slightly irritating at times. There is no way to adjust the focal point of the lenses like you can on the Oculus, so there is no easy means of adjusting for this slight discomfort. I can play relatively well with my glasses on in PSVR but do find myself readjusting every now and again to try and refocus my vision for better clarity with my glasses on.

I've never experienced any fogging of the lenses in the time I've had both headsets on, and I feel I get enough airflow coming through the, "mask," of the headset when I am using it.

 

[RemixDeluxe]

I guess the real question is, is VR really accessible for those that wears glasses? Not many would want to switch to contact just for VR. Problem is not wearing glasses would make the already not so great pictures worst, especially the text. another problem, is that fog could build up on the lens without adequate airflow, although may not. One option could be that perhaps a Spectacle could be built right in.

I feel like there needs to be some sort of fan going inside the device while the VR headset is in use. Not just for people who wear glasses but I imagine long durations can cause heat to build up and video gaming tends to be long duration activities already for the most part.

 

[Xzi]

I feel like there needs to be some sort of fan going inside the device while the VR headset is in use. Not just for people who wear glasses but I imagine long durations can cause heat to build up and video gaming tends to be long duration activities already for the most part.

Yeah that can become a problem after a couple hours of play time. Some sort of active cooling solution would be nice, maybe in gen2. Own a Vive, can confirm wearing glasses with it is not an issue, though.

 

[RandomUser]

I actually wear glasses myself so I know your fear. I can wear my glasses in BOTH headsets comfortably for the most part. I've found that the Oculus easily overlays my glasses and does not shove them against my face or put pressure near my ears and is incredibly comfortable.

The PSVR is a slightly different story. When I wear my glasses with it, my frames are pretty much shoved up against the lenses which is slightly irritating at times. There is no way to adjust the focal point of the lenses like you can on the Oculus, so there is no easy means of adjusting for this slight discomfort. I can play relatively well with my glasses on in PSVR but do find myself readjusting every now and again to try and refocus my vision for better clarity with my glasses on.

I've never experienced any fogging of the lenses in the time I've had both headsets on, and I feel I get enough airflow coming through the, "mask," of the headset when I am using it.

That's good to hear (read). So it seems Oculus could be the prime choice when it comes down to it. Have you ever used Vive? I have heard that it does not accommodate glasses very well. I never used any VR headset as of yet, so I was wondering about the airflow issue, as heat could build up from one's face.

I feel like there needs to be some sort of fan going inside the device while the VR headset is in use. Not just for people who wear glasses but I imagine long durations can cause heat to build up and video gaming tends to be long duration activities already for the most part.

That is part of what I was concerned about, I haven't tried any of the VR so I don't know how the heat could escape, provided their is enough ventilation, it shouldn't be an issue but apparently is an issue, although a fan would be a nice addon.

Yeah that can become a problem after a couple hours of play time. Some sort of active cooling solution would be nice, maybe in gen2. Own a Vive, can confirm wearing glasses with it is not an issue, though.

I was wondering about Vive, I have heard that it does not accommodate glasses very well.
Do you know how it compares to Oculus?

Edit Ninja'd

 

[RemixDeluxe]

That's good to hear (read). So it seems Oculus could be the prime choice when it comes down to it. Have you ever used Vive? I have heard that it does not accommodate glasses very well. I never used any VR headset as of yet, so I was wondering about the airflow issue, as heat could build up from one's face.


That is part of what I was concerned about, I haven't tried any of the VR so I don't know how the heat could escape, provided their is enough ventilation, it shouldn't be an issue, although a fan could be a nice addon.

yes a small fan would make a difference and it wouldnt be something that blows against your face like you have your head out a car window but maybe a low blowing fan near the bottom since heat naturally rises it would be barely noticeable to have it running. Just a theory though I dont know how well it would work.

 

[RandomUser]

yes a small fan would make a difference and it wouldnt be something that blows against your face like you have your head out a car window but maybe a low blowing fan near the bottom since heat naturally rises it would be barely noticeable to have it running. Just a theory though I dont know how well it would work.

So basically creating a negative pressure in the VR headset in a sense. It could work.

 

[Xzi]

I was wondering about Vive, I have heard that it does not accommodate glasses very well.
Do you know how it compares to Oculus?

The horizontal space is about the same for the Vive and the Rift, but Vive is actually a bit taller. My glasses are a more modern style so there's plenty of room all around them inside the HMD.

 

[Foxi4]

It definitely does not excite me, although I'll probably get a VR headset at some point. Having a headset strapped to my face just isn't my idea of relaxing, I don't need a physical illusion of being "in the game" to be, well, "in the game", so to speak - I have my imagination for that. Everything I hear about VR sends ripples down memory lane, because it's the same shit I've been hearing about 3D and other assorted nonsense. All I want from my gaming experience is to sit down with a comfortable controller and play a good game.

 

[froatsnook]

I always kind of wanted to make video games, but the Vive got me excited enough to actually do it. I released a game on steam last month. It has no story, bad graphics, and bad music, but being there in the world and doing stuff physically makes it fun. I can't wait to try the VR games that come out over the next few years!

 

[Onepunchbruh]

I will buy the Sony VR & Ps4 Pro.

 

[Issac]

I'm really excited to try it out... but not much more. Granted, I've worked with a lot of VR stuff in my studies already, but those weren't used for games in this sense.

What I really want is just a head mounted display. I wouldn't care too much about head tracking and all that other immersion... I just want the monitor equivalent of headphones Put it on, sitting in the sofa and playing some SNES emulator, while someone else watches the TV...

 

[mashers]

Like motion and touch controls, I feel that VR will be a fad which is not long-lasting. We've already seen VR come and go, though granted the technology was considerably less well developed and much more impractical than it is now.

Having said that, I do think that increased immersion in content is the overall direction we are heading in. Motion controls (controlling things with your body) and touch controls (controlling things by directly influencing them with your fingers) as well as VR (being more visually immersed) are all steps towards this. However, I think the reason none of these have been a complete success is that they each address only one sense at a time. Touch controls (including haptic feedback) address tactile senses; motion controls utilise proprioceptive and, to a lesser extent, vestibular senses; and VR maximises the visual impact. I don't think it will be until all of these are combined, and other senses are added, that immersion in video games will really take off.

I can see only two ways for this to happen. The first is an idea I had several years ago and which I think might have subsequently been done by somebody. The idea is to have a facility with a physical environment (corridors, stairs, obstacles etc) which is overlayed through augmented reality to look like an artificial environment. Imagine actually walking around the environment, actually interacting with doors, stairs and other objects in the environment, with the whole thing enhanced through a headset to look like a gaming environment. Enemies could be superimposed into the environment too.

While this would be an amazing experience, it's not mass-market as it could never be achieved in the home. I actually believe that neural interfacing is the way forward. If an entire environment involving all senses could be artificially created and 'projected' directly into the player's sensory cortex, they could experience every single sensation which the simulation provided, and could cater for all senses. Measuring the player's responses using the same interface would allow for neural interfacing as a controller. As far as the player experience was concerned, you'd have not only VR in the visual sense, but motion, tactile and haptic controls (because you'd feel that you were actually there using your body in the environment) plus smell, taste, even pain.

I think we're at least a few decades away from this, but you only have to look at some of the recent advances in neural interfacing to know that this is almost definitely going to happen.

 

[Deleted member 473940]

Couldn't care less. If the hype and interest stays high, it's probably gonna be another 20 years before we get something we can truly call 'VR' and mass produce at decent price.

I just feel that the technology is not there yet. At least when it comes to mass production of high powered VR devices

 

[KingVamp]

"Well, back in my day we didn't play video games. We only had our imagination to use and we liked it that way!"

I got an Android headset and play with it a little. Playing in VR just isn't the same as playing in 3D, let alone flat 2D screens.

The only thing that really bothered me was the heat. Not the weight, the visuals, or fit, but the heat was cutting down my play time of testing out VR apps.

Which one does better when it came to heat?
Can't you describe the FOV when actually using both headsets?

 

[Arras]

Like motion and touch controls, I feel that VR will be a fad which is not long-lasting. We've already seen VR come and go, though granted the technology was considerably less well developed and much more impractical than it is now.

Having said that, I do think that increased immersion in content is the overall direction we are heading in. Motion controls (controlling things with your body) and touch controls (controlling things by directly influencing them with your fingers) as well as VR (being more visually immersed) are all steps towards this. However, I think the reason none of these have been a complete success is that they each address only one sense at a time. Touch controls (including haptic feedback) address tactile senses; motion controls utilise proprioceptive and, to a lesser extent, vestibular senses; and VR maximises the visual impact. I don't think it will be until all of these are combined, and other senses are added, that immersion in video games will really take off.

I can see only two ways for this to happen. The first is an idea I had several years ago and which I think might have subsequently been done by somebody. The idea is to have a facility with a physical environment (corridors, stairs, obstacles etc) which is overlayed through augmented reality to look like an artificial environment. Imagine actually walking around the environment, actually interacting with doors, stairs and other objects in the environment, with the whole thing enhanced through a headset to look like a gaming environment. Enemies could be superimposed into the environment too.

While this would be an amazing experience, it's not mass-market as it could never be achieved in the home. I actually believe that neural interfacing is the way forward. If an entire environment involving all senses could be artificially created and 'projected' directly into the player's sensory cortex, they could experience every single sensation which the simulation provided, and could cater for all senses. Measuring the player's responses using the same interface would allow for neural interfacing as a controller. As far as the player experience was concerned, you'd have not only VR in the visual sense, but motion, tactile and haptic controls (because you'd feel that you were actually there using your body in the environment) plus smell, taste, even pain.

I think we're at least a few decades away from this, but you only have to look at some of the recent advances in neural interfacing to know that this is almost definitely going to happen.

I'll give you the haptic, but systems like the Vive also use motion controllers, and it's really the only good way to control things with it.

 

[matthi321]

no i hope it will die soon

 

[mashers]

I'll give you the haptic, but systems like the Vive also use motion controllers, and it's really the only good way to control things with it.

I didn't know that. Still, I'd much rather have the sensation of using my whole body directly within the gaming environment than using my hands to wave around a prosthetic controller.
-snip-

 

[Bladexdsl]

the problem with vr is there are too many damned devices. there are like 3 for the pc one for m$ one for $ony and at least 3 more coming out for tv's/movies

too many devices all fighting each other. until it's one device left standing that does it all i'm not interested