Why isn't anyone here talking about virtual reality?

[Blackhawk]

I always just had people using the controllers rather than trying to have them learn the hand gestures.

[Rumpy]

Except that if someone is unfamiliar with using controllers of any kind, it can be confusing, which is where hand gestures would end up being much simpler to understand seeing as there are only a few of them. I'm trying to demo with my Dad who's in his mid-80's.

[disarm]

I don't think that remote control of a Meta headset is possible, but you can view what the user is seeing using the casting feature within the Meta Horizons app. I used to do this so I could see what my son was doing and guide him before he was old enough to navigate the interface on his own and it worked great.

[Rumpy]

Since there are no reviews here of the Batman: Arkham Shadows game, I'll say this: I got to play a bit of this last night. This has all the hallmarks of the Arkham games, but from a first-person POV, and it works very well. I was surprised by how physical things got, and ended up working up quite a sweat beating up goons. And things can quickly get hectic as you're surrounded by guys, but seeing them go flying as you hit them is very satisfying. And the methods of getting around and the gadgets are very well integrated. It kind of reminds me of Half-Life Alyx in some respects. Many objects are interactable, including collectibles that you need to smash. The Batarang is activated by pressing one of the buttons near the chest, detective mode is activated by making a motion near the ear, and cape gliding, something which took me a few tries as it wasn't immediately obvious what the game wanted me to do, to activate it, had me grabbing the cape by the sides.

I don't know if all games are like this, but after about an hour with the game, the battery wore down and I had to charge it. Seems to be a very power-hungry game, but I was all hot and sweaty by then anyway, and had to have the headset dry off while it was charging.

I got a 3 month sub to Quest+ with my headset, but I don't think I'll be activating it, as it feels like a sub is counter to the feeling of the slower nature of headsets, particularly if I can only play an hour at a time like this game. All it would do is make me rush through games to get to the next ones available via the sub.

[Rumpy]

So, those with a Quest 3, how is your average battery life? I've mostly been using it to watch videos, but I've done a bit of gaming, including Real VR Fishing I just bought. While I can use it quite a bit while watching videos, going into a game appears to drain my battery much more quickly, and I find I can't get more than 30 min with it that way, and it's become hard to get any gaming on it as a result . Is that normal for a Quest 3? Or do I have a bum battery?

[Blackhawk]

Most people who are serious about VR don't rely on the internal battery. It was the same on the Quest 2. Most use an external battery pack. I have this power bank attached with this holder, connected with this cable.

I get many hours (probably 10+) with non-gaming activities, and enough with gaming that I've yet to run it down.

[gbasden]

I think with the default Quest 3 I get over an hour at least when playing games. I haven't played that game, though, so I don't know how it would perform.

[Rumpy]

Thanks guys. I didn't realize an external battery was pretty much necessary. I had seen the Elite Strap which has a built-in battery, but I didn't want to modify the headset too much. I bought a case for it, and I still want to use that and the Elite Strap wouldn't fit it, I don't think.

I forgot to mention that while I was playing the fishing game, the headset gave me a notification that I was drawing lots of power and suggested I turn on the battery saver mode.

[Blackhawk]

Thanks guys. I didn't realize an external battery was pretty much necessary. I had seen the Elite Strap which has a built-in battery, but I didn't want to modify the headset too much. I bought a case for it, and I still want to use that and the Elite Strap wouldn't fit it, I don't think.

The holder I linked to doesn't modify the headset at all. It just wraps around the strap and holds the battery there. The charging cable is just a standard cable - no modification necessary. An alternative is to hang the battery from your belt (or put it in a pocket) and run the cable up to the headset. You'd have to deal with the cable, of course, although I suppose you could run it inside your shirt to keep it out of the way.

It's still a hell of a lot less hassle than the old days of installing pullies on the ceiling!

[Rumpy]

Ok, good to know. I'll consider it, but at the moment I can't really order anything on Amazon. I saw the holder for it wasn't available anymore. And the impending tariffs are going to make everything so much more expensive.

[Blackhawk]

Ok, good to know. I'll consider it, but at the moment I can't really order anything on Amazon. I saw the holder for it wasn't available anymore. And the impending tariffs are going to make everything so much more expensive.

"VR battery mount" brings up a range of very similar options. I mount mine on the rear top rather than all the way on the back, as it lets me lean back and watch a film without a lump behind my head. I actually find that the extra weight helps to balance out the front-heavy headset itself, too, which is a boon when you're not doing something passively.

[Rumpy]

That makes sense. It's also why the Elite Strap is designed with the battery acting as a counter-weight. You've given me some good ideas to think about.

[Reemul]

I picked up a Meta Quest 3s as I had a £200 voucher for John Lewis from work that sold not a lot I could afford but they did have that so having never had one or tried one, I got one and i think it’s ace, so good in fact I bought another for my kids to share.


The main games we have been playing are Real VR Fishing, This is great, we are all real life coarse fishing fans and we have been playing this loads, we did a multi player session today where side by side we had sharks on as a whale breached next to us as well. it’s just so atmospheric and nice to play.


We also play a lot of mini walkabout golf, again we have 5 local crazy gold courses where we live which we play a lot of and again this is such a great game, love looking for the hidden balls well.


My eldest son and I both play golf, I am a 10 handicap and he is a 6. So we have been playing Golf Plus, again it’s just superb however we do need the golf club extension, coming soon.


I have also played some Beat Saber and The Thrill of the Fight both seem excellent but there is just not enough time or battery charge in the world currently.


The fact I plug it in to my pc and play VR PC games is amazing and works really really well. (I use a cable to reduce lag). F1 2024 is getting a lot play by the youngest kid who says it is excellent


I have installed sidequest and Game optimser as well, both work well however I love playing it as a standalone. Son and I sat downstairs on teh sofa fising and having a laugh is just so cool.


Duek 3d in VRChat is ace, full of 3d movies to watch (Probably the time I wish i had a 3 not 3s)


Downsides are the extra costs, comfortable headsets with additional batteries are a must as it seems are some other accessories which soon multiply the cost.


Motion Sickness, my son has none, I have some and the eldest has it bad so we are currently staying away from anything too MS giving like racing games.

I will get a Meta Quest 3 next and give the kids my 3s. I am loving using it, like all the time

[Montag]

I got a Quest 3 with the BoboVR S3 Pro strap with one battery. The batteries are hot swappable, so I can get more if I desire. Tremendous vissual upgrade from the OG Oculus Rift CV1. I have not tried the Batman game yet. Likley will try it this weekend.

[Montag]

I am more than irritated how games purchased for the Oculus Rift are not playable on the Quest 3. This screams to buy your games in Steam provided you meet system requirements to drive your VR device.

[Blackhawk]

I am more than irritated how games purchased for the Oculus Rift are not playable on the Quest 3. This screams to buy your games in Steam provided you meet system requirements to drive your VR device.

Many of them are playable via cable on the PC. Not all.

[Blackhawk]

Speaking of motion sickness and getting started in VR, I'll quote my big post (with a quoted post of its own) from a couple of years ago on it.

Re: Motion sickness. There's a way to approach this, and it's important to do it right the first time. Do it wrong, and let your brain associate VR with it, and it'll be much harder to avoid in the future.

Short version: VR is an approximation of portions of reality. It replicates visual input, it replicates sound, and it replicates a few other things (like proprioception with your hands.) But it doesn't replicate everything, and therein lies the rub. It can simulate motion, but it will not replicate the effects of physics on your body from motion. Your body, however, doesn't know how to handle that. You're putting your brain into a reality that doesn't quite mesh with the one you evolved to exist in, and there's a learning process for your brain to be able to handle it. Think about it that way - a process.

And this applies to everyone, not just those prone to motion sickness.

Essentially, you want to introduce these things to your brain in stages.

First the visual/auditory with zero motion (stationary games, where neither you, nor your environment move (games like Beat Saber move the environment around you.)
Second, orientation by playing games with teleportation movement (you point to a spot and appear there rather than 'walking' there, so there's no actual movement)
Finally by light movement.

Each of these should involve enough time for adjustment, ideally a couple of days at each stage, and it's best to let your brain sleep on it at least once, but push at whatever pace you like. I'm quoting a full post on it from a couple of years ago with suggestions. I'll try to update once I get the chance to see what's available on my new Christmas Quest 3 (!)

A bit of extra advice: Getting used to VR is like getting used to being at sea. You're in a situation where your brain has to learn a new reality. Your eyes are seeing depth in a new way. Positioning and sound are working differently. You're seeing motion - and your brain thinks you're moving - but there is no feedback from physics. So you accelerate, and you compensate by leaning forward, but your body wasn't really accelerating, so you're leaning into nothing (and hopefully don't end up face-down.) I almost did this the first time I tried walking in a VR game and started going up a hill - I leaned to compensate for the angle and almost fell. Flip upside down in a game, hang from the ceiling, and... gravity is still pulling toward your feet. Are you upside down? Is gravity upside down? You know, but your brain has no honking idea.

You really do want to get your VR legs the right way. Get yourself too disoriented or sick the first time, and your chances of having to deal with it repeatedly go up dramatically.

Do NOT start off with: Roller coasters, flight, driving, or even freely walking around.
Here are some starting places. Give this a day or two, that's all you need. And do the trick with the fan - put one 'in front' of you blowing on you to give you a real-world reference. A floor mat you can feel helps, too. And don't forget to take breaks while you're getting the hang of it.

1. The Quest 2 comes with a tutorial called 'First Steps.' Do that.
2. Go to the Quest 2 store and install 'First Contact.' It's free. Do that.
3. Have some seated or stationary standing experiences. Try An Introduction to Virtual Reality. It's free. It is on the Rift, so you'll need to run it with the Oculus app on your PC and plug in (or give AirLink/Virtual Desktop a try and see how it works for you - it's worth a shot.) Felix and Paul Studios is free (and Traveling While Black is a must!) Watch Invasion. You'll want to stand for this one, and it's free.

Seriously, you can do everything up there in an hour or so.

Game time!
1. Go get The Lab on Steam. It's (you guessed it) free. I has a variety of games, and it is, frankly, an amazing product. All are standing (not moving) games, so it's a great place to get used to your controllers and interacting with things.
2. Elixir is free, and it'll give you a chance to try out hand tracking.

Now you're on your own. Try some games where you're stationary and things come to you (Beat Saber and Audio Trip are in this category) Then try some games that allow free locomotion*, but I'd put off anything involving speed, spinning, parkour, flying, or similar for a week or two. When you take off the HMD and your arms seem normal instead of in the wrong place, and when your dreams return to normal you'll know your brain has adapted.

*There are a few things you'll find in VR games that are 'comfort' settings intended to keep people from getting sick. The first is locomotion (and the terms from game to game vary a little.) The 'comfort' option is teleportation. You point a controller, hit a button, and you're there. The non-comfort equivalent is free motion, where you push the stick and slide along like in any other game. The second is turning. The 'comfort' option is snap turning, where pushing the stick to turn snaps you in (usually) 45-degree increments. The non-comfort version is smooth turning, which just turns you. The "Not worried about wires" version is just ignoring the stick and turning your body. The other comfort setting is a mask, a kind of heavy vignette that shrinks your field of view down to a tiny are while you're moving. Most modern VR games let you adjust these individually, tweaking or disabling them depending on your needs.

I'm very lucky - I have zero motion sickness issues and can turn everything off and get flipped around with no issues, but a lot of people need some degree comfort settings. But going through the steps above is key to giving yourself the best experience in the long run.

[Max Peck]

This sounds interesting...

Firaxis Makes Surprise Sid Meier's Civilization 7 - VR Announcement

In Civilization 7 - VR, the world of Civilization is brought to life like never before. The map takes shape atop a Command Table that lets you peer down from high above or lean all the way in to appreciate the finer details of buildings and units, like a tabletop game come to life. Players will chart a course for their people and engage face-to-face with iconic world leaders around the Command Table, each reacting as you forge alliances or declare war through the Ages.

Civilization 7 - VR is available to play in either immersive virtual reality or mixed reality, and you'll be able to freely switch between the two at any time. In virtual reality, players are transported to an ornate museum as they look out onto a vista personalized to their leader; in mixed reality, the Command Table adapts to its placement in a player's physical space. Detailed dioramas can be viewed in The Archives, a room in your museum dedicated to your gameplay achievements displayed in both virtual and mixed reality. In addition to single-player, Civilization 7 - VR can compete to rule the world in online multiplayer matches with up to three other Meta Quest 3 and 3S players.

[Rumpy]

So here's an update to my earlier question about remotely operating certain functions via keyboard. I bought a bluethooth keyboard and while I'm able to type with it, there's no way to actually navigate any functions with it. I really hope they add that function in the future. I did manage to teach my Dad some of the gestures. Since they're simple, it just comes down to becoming used to them.

I also notice that through the Meta app, you can launch applications, so it's certainly possible. I only wish they would go further than that by allowing certain functions such as searching for videos and being able to start them via the phone app.