Why isn't anyone here talking about virtual reality?

[Skinypupy]

All three Vader Immortal games were on sale for $10 yesterday. They're not groundbreaking and are pretty short (each of the three episodes lasts about an hour) but are definitely a fun "Star Wars theme park" experience if you're a fan.

Glad I didn't pay the normal price of $30, but certainly worth $10.

[Blackhawk]

Make sure you check out Tales from the Galaxy's Edge.

[Skinypupy]

Been playing Demeo for the last four Sundays with a group of work friends. It has been so damn much fun. While it can be brutally unforgiving, Demeo is a really solid dungeon crawl board/card game that’s pretty much anyone can jump into easily. Three of us in the group are long-time gamers, and our fourth is one of the guys’ mom…who is 76 and completely new to both gaming and VR, but is having a blast. At the end of todays session she says “I know you guys are all really busy, but I’d love to play again later today if you’re up for it.”

It’s about the only thing I do with VR these days, but has been really fun. After about a dozen failed runs (did I mention that Demeo is brutal?), we finally took down our first boss this morning. There was much rejoicing.

[Blackhawk]

Upcoming VR Batman game, Batman: Arkham Shadow. Quest 3 only, so I'm thinking it's going to be a 'wait for reviews' game.

[Punisher]

I liked the other VR Batman game overall but it wasn't much of a game you'd expect from the Arkam series. I hope this is has more Arkham type gameplay.
I think that it'd be cool to really play as a VR Batman.

[Blackhawk]

Yeah, the first one was a Batman themed experience more than a game. Early VR was like that. Companies still believed that letting players move around would cause vomiting and falls.

[Punisher]

Yeah, the first one was a Batman themed experience more than a game. Early VR was like that. Companies still believed that letting players move around would cause vomiting and falls.

To be fair, that still happens to some people. But I did like being batman detective and the reveals...wow...

[Blackhawk]

Sure, especially if they don't ease into VR properly. But the majority of VR gamers these days play games with motion pretty regularly.

[Hrothgar]

Lots of stuff in the UPloadVR Showcase. The Dungeon Keeper clone, Underworld Overseer looks interesting.

[Max Peck]

I'm considering picking up a Meta Quest 3 while it's on sale during Prime Day. At first glance it seems like it's a stand-alone headset, but it looks like it can be connected to a PC via a USB3 cable to use as VR headset for PC games. Is that correct, and does it work well?

[ChuckB]

I'm considering picking up a Meta Quest 3 while it's on sale during Prime Day. At first glance it seems like it's a stand-alone headset, but it looks like it can be connected to a PC via a USB3 cable to use as VR headset for PC games. Is that correct, and does it work well?

Yes, that is correct but it's a bit more complex. Background: I use my Q3 rather extensively for flightsims (mainly DCS and MSFS). The USB3 cable connection works, basically out of the box - see https://www.meta.com/help/quest/article ... t-up-link/ The only thing you really need is a USB cable and, depending on your USB port, it will also charge the headset (although I remember that the charge will not enough to keep the charge while using but only extends the time until the battery runs down).

You will also need the (standard) Meta Oculus app on your PC (I think) and you can change certain settings in this app. The challenge (at least as far as I understand it) is that while the cable does, of course, transport the image information that the screens within the Q3 will show (and other data like sound but also position of headset back to your PC), but it does so using compression ("better" VR headsets connect to your PC using the display port of your video card, avoiding this problem). This means that the whole setup is still PC hardware-dependent and the better your PC, the better the image/refresh rate/experience etc. will be. You will be able to play Steam VR games through this solution and it generally works well (but the Steam VR platform has some issues but they can be rather easily circumvented in many cases).

I stopped using this approach and switched to a setup where I use a specific app (Virtual Desktop - https://www.vrdesktop.net ). Interestingly, this approach is NOT using a cable but works with wifi only. Again (like with anything VR), there are some twists: It depends on the wifi speed/throughput/ping it uses and it really "needs" your computer to be on ethernet. Or so they say: I use a specific little router https://www.amazon.com/PRISMXR-Streamin ... hdGY&psc=1 for this purpose and the image quality I get through this is vastly better than the one I got from using the Quest link cable solution.

Caveat: I'm using am RTX 4090, so my computer is pretty powerful.

[Blackhawk]

With a Q3 there are four options:

1. Play on the Quest 3 itself.
2. Connect to the PC with a cable, typically using the Meta app.
3. Connect to the PC wirelessly using Meta's Air Link functionality (their answer to Virtual Desktop.)
4. Connect to the PC wirelessly using Virtual Desktop.

I use #4. It allows you to play Steam games, Meta games, and third party games that don't use either of those all with the same software. Playing Steam games through the Meta app means running both, and Virtual Desktop is far lighter than either. It's considered the go-to solution for a good reason. Make sure that if you go for Virtual Desktop, you buy the version through the Quest store, not the version on Steam.

When connecting wirelessly, however, you should have your PC connected to the router via a physical network cable, not wifi. The router should be in the same room with you, without obstructions, and a 5GHz connection is recommended. The reason: Lag in games is bad. Lag in VR is terrible. Each action and movement you make will be processed by the headset, sent to the router, sent to the PC, processed there, sent to the router, and sent back to the headset, then processed again. 40 milliseconds isn't a lot of time, but add it four times, plus processing time and you're going to find that you move your hand or your head the game responds a half second later. That's disorienting, confusing, and completely unplayable.

The downside of #2 is that you've got a wire sticking out of your head, twisting around your feet, limiting your movement, and tangling with your arms. There are ways around it (I used a pulley system mounted to the ceiling when I had a wired connection), but it's still a PITA compared to playing wirelessly.

[Max Peck]

Thanks for the info and recommendations.

[Max Peck]

I got my Quest 3 up and running today. I haven't done anything particularly interesting with it yet, but watching Twitch on a virtual screen while I was exercising was kind of cool.

[Blackhawk]

Try the YouTube app. Search for (whatever), then hit 'VR180' at the top to filter it.

Enjoy.

[Max Peck]

Try the YouTube app. Search for (whatever), then hit 'VR180' at the top to filter it.

Enjoy.

OK, that was pretty cool.

It does make me wish that there was a straight forward way to watch 3D films. From what I gather, about the only way to do that is to get your hands on 3D Blu-Ray rips, upload them to the headset and play them using a compatible app.

[UsulofDoom]

Try the YouTube app. Search for (whatever), then hit 'VR180' at the top to filter it.

Enjoy.

OK, that was pretty cool.

It does make me wish that there was a straight forward way to watch 3D films. From what I gather, about the only way to do that is to get your hands on 3D Blu-Ray rips, upload them to the headset and play them using a compatible app.

Get bigscreen app it's free. . People have been converting 2D films to 3D. Old and new. They will also help people convert too if you ask then. They will go over thier setups and apps they use.

[Blackhawk]

I use Skybox for viewing them across a network - no need to put them in the headset. Bigscreen also works (but I find it fiddly getting it to recognize network folders), as does Pigasus.

Watching 3D films in VR feels great. There's no sense of having to sit in the right location, or deal with distortion, or anything else. It just looks like you're watching it in natural 3D.

Another 3D app that I found amazing (and it's free) is Tested VR on the Meta store. Not everyone is going to be interested in the content, but

Try the YouTube app. Search for (whatever), then hit 'VR180' at the top to filter it.

Enjoy.

OK, that was pretty cool.

Some favorite channels (I'm just going to link to a video - but the intent is to share the creator.)

Spoiler:

(Baz Travels is a favorite - he goes everywhere!)

These aren't regular VR180 creator (just one-off specials), but they're really cool.

Spoiler:

And then there's this. I absolutely love this guy's stuff. Big warning: Do not, not, not watch this guy's stuff until you're very, very comfortable in VR. Give it a month, then come back if you aren't having problems. And be ready to close your eyes if you start to.

Spoiler:

[Max Peck]

I watched a few of Darkwing's videos this morning. I didn't have any issues with motion sickness or anything like that, but I did find that with a couple of the videos I wasn't able to get my eyes to converge properly, so instead of 3D I was just seeing blurry double images. I'm not sure if there's anything I can adjust, like the interpupilary distance in the headset, that would fix that.

[Punisher]

Swap your eyes out for a different model?

[em2nought]

If my plans didn't call for becoming a nomad I'd so be flying WWI biplanes in VR by now.

[Blackhawk]

I watched a few of Darkwing's videos this morning. I didn't have any issues with motion sickness or anything like that, but I did find that with a couple of the videos I wasn't able to get my eyes to converge properly, so instead of 3D I was just seeing blurry double images. I'm not sure if there's anything I can adjust, like the interpupilary distance in the headset, that would fix that.

Some of his earlier videos were badly processed. The problem you're describing is when the left and right images aren't correctly aligned. Most actual video players (like Skybox) have a slider to adjust horizontal and/or vertical separation. YouTube does not (it's a fairly bare-bones app.)

[Blackhawk]

If my plans didn't call for becoming a nomad I'd so be flying WWI biplanes in VR by now.

[em2nought]

If my plans didn't call for becoming a nomad I'd so be flying WWI biplanes in VR by now.

Don't tempt me, especially since I think I've got some cash coming in soon. I'd want motion along with my VR. I'd probably even rig up a fan to blow air across my face hard enough that I could have my scarf fluttering behind me.

I've faced the facts I'm probably too heavy for paramotoring instead.

[Blackhawk]

Using a fan is a 1st-tier recommendation for all VR anyway. It cools you off, it keeps the headset from fogging (not as much of a problem these days), and it gives you a sense of direction when you're essentially blindfolded and deafened.

That particular game is fun, but it's very arcade-y.

If you prefer sim-like physics, you probably want this:

[em2nought]

Using a fan is a 1st-tier recommendation for all VR anyway. It cools you off, it keeps the headset from fogging (not as much of a problem these days), and it gives you a sense of direction when you're essentially blindfolded and deafened.

That particular game is fun, but it's very arcade-y.

If you prefer sim-like physics, you probably want this:

Thanks, I am aware of Flying Circus. I found Oleg's IL2 to be excellent stuff. I would probably try Wings over Flanders Fields from OBD in VR first as it has a bit more single player depth supposedly. Have you tried WoFF in VR? https://www.overflandersfields.com/ I think there might be a few hoops to jump through getting it to work in VR though.

[Blackhawk]

I have not. I've not played nearly as many flight simulators as I've tried to play (if that makes sense.)

I only brought up IL2 because most people have no clue that it's got strong built-in VR support.

[Skinypupy]

I spent nearly 3 hours today trying to get this stupid VR headset connected to my PC so I could try Elite Dangerous. I have read a dozen troubleshooting articles and YouTube videos, fiddled with every possible setting, installed/reinstalled Steam VR, rebooted everything a hundred times, and I still can't get it to work.

The "Airlink" connection initially worked fine, and I could see my desktop replicated in the VR headset. But when I launched Elite Dangerous, it would only show up in what looked like a browser screen in front of me, and not in actual VR. Now (after all my troubleshooting) I can't even get the Airlink to work. When I activate the link, the app launches on my PC screen but I just get a continual loading screen in the Quest headset.

I fucking give up.

[Blackhawk]

Have you tried Virtual Desktop?

[Skinypupy]

I finally figured out that you have to hit the "Unknown App" toggle setting in the Meta Airlink app to get the Steam VR app to even show up, then you launch the Steam VR app, then you have to find the button to toggle on the Steam VR display (which doesn't start automatically when you boot up the application, for some reason), then you can use the Steam VR interface to navigate to Elite Dangerous. So...progress. I saw the inside of a hangar in VR!

Unfortunately, it locks up and crashes within the first 5 minutes. So another thing to troubleshoot, I guess.

Do people play this with a mouse and keyboard in VR? Seems like it'd be really weird to try and play with inputs that you can't see because of the headset.

[gbasden]

I finally figured out that you have to hit the "Unknown App" toggle setting in the Meta Airlink app to get the Steam VR app to even show up, then you launch the Steam VR app, then you have to find the button to toggle on the Steam VR display (which doesn't start automatically when you boot up the application, for some reason), then you can use the Steam VR interface to navigate to Elite Dangerous. So...progress. I saw the inside of a hangar in VR!

Unfortunately, it locks up and crashes within the first 5 minutes. So another thing to troubleshoot, I guess.

Do people play this with a mouse and keyboard in VR? Seems like it'd be really weird to try and play with inputs that you can't see because of the headset.

When I was playing it in VR I was mostly using a full HOTAS setup which gave me all the buttons I needed.

[Skinypupy]

Gave it another try today, but after another couple hours, I have officially given up. I'm bummed, as I even pulled the HOTAS out of mothballs to give it a go.

- Non-VR Elite Dangerous works fine on its own in Steam.
- The Steam VR interface works fine.
- The Meta Airlink app connects my laptop and my headset just fine.

But when I try to run Elite Dangerous through the Steam VR interface connecting via Meta Airlink, all hell breaks loose.

From what I can tell, the culprit seems to be my VR headset losing the wireless link to my laptop whenever I launch any game, which then causes Elite Dangerous to freeze and crash (obviously).

I'm not nearly tech savvy enough to try and get this working, so I guess I just won't be VR gaming via my laptop.

[Blackhawk]

Have you tried Virtual Desktop?

There's a reason that most heavy VR gamers don't use AirLink. It's a Meta product, intended for Meta games. It works with other things, but keeping it working well is not their priority.

[TheMix]

I think one of my Valve Index handsets is on the way out. I've managed to prevent some of the issues by plugging it in to the headset. Which suggests that the battery isn't charging properly/well. But it also has picked up drift. Apparently this is a known issue. And can be fixed with an after market part and some effort. The question is whether I should bother if the battery is also toast.

[Punisher]

Have you tried Virtual Desktop?

There's a reason that most heavy VR gamers don't use AirLink. It's a Meta product, intended for Meta games. It works with other things, but keeping it working well is not their priority.

I've used ot fine for some things.
Haven't tried Elite yet though.
I also have a genuine link cable. Tried some 3rd party ones but they just worked ok.

[Blackhawk]

The 'official' link cables aren't anything special. They're just standard cables, albeit of high quality.

[Punisher]

The 'official' link cables aren't anything special. They're just standard cables, albeit of high quality.

That's what I thought but tried about 8 different ones and had trouble. None of them ever registered at the top speed and I saw lag. I ended up getting an official one and noticed a big difference.