All platform VR discussion

Zilnad wrote:It's arrived

Got my extendable poles and grips arriving tomorrow for purposes of mounting the base stations so I'm going to try and hold off trying it out until then. Got a fireworks thing tonight so I'll spend the morning playing Evil Within 2 until the bits arrive.

What pole did you get? I'm using a camera tripod at the minute for one of my base stations and my curtain rail for the other, but definitely for the one on the tripod I've love to replace it with a pole.

Qikz wrote:

Zilnad wrote:It's arrived

Got my extendable poles and grips arriving tomorrow for purposes of mounting the base stations so I'm going to try and hold off trying it out until then. Got a fireworks thing tonight so I'll spend the morning playing Evil Within 2 until the bits arrive.

What pole did you get? I'm using a camera tripod at the minute for one of my base stations and my curtain rail for the other, but definitely for the one on the tripod I've love to replace it with a pole.

If you have a search on Amazon for "extendable curtain pole" you'll find lots of options. I just bought two that were the right sizes and available with Prime delivery.

One will go floor to ceiling, the other will be horizontal above the bedroom door alcove. That's my initial plan anyway but I have other potential placements depending on how it all goes.

Poles are arriving tomorrow so I'm just putting the stations in temporary positions for today. Hardware is just updating and then I'm going to start with Aperture Hand Labs.

The hardware is of very nice quality. Controllers feel great in the hand.

It's an experience.

I'm a little in awe to be honest. Feel like I need to process how I feel.

I just spent a long time in the City 17 street demo thingy taking it all in. Was repulsed by a mouldy apple. Felt uneasy standing in a dark alley. Craned my neck looking at the citadel. gooseberry fool myself when I noticed the Civil Enforcement trucks parked up. For a split second, my mind even tricked my physical feet that the pavement and earthen floor felt different.

Played Aperture Hand Labs and felt genuinely intimidated by the angry robot.

It's something else. Like I say, an experience.

I do feel a bit tired now though, giving my brain a rest. Not sure if that's normal or just a first timer thing.

Not sure if I was wearing the headset and controllers at optimal comfort of if I need to adjust their straps and things a bit more but I've barely scratched the surface so I've got a long way to go before I feel completely comfortable with the set up.

Also, I didn't feel like I could get the image absolutely 100% focused when using the headset sliders. But I adjusted them to what felt best and when I was actually playing it felt fine. Is that normal or should I be able to get the finest detail to look crystal clear?

As I say, I've barely scratched the surface and it's going to take a while to really get accustomed to it all but my first go was pretty breath taking.

I honestly felt like I'd stepped into the future when I started using this tech, like I was in Blade Runner or something.

Zilnad wrote:...I honestly felt like I'd stepped into the future when I started using this tech, like I was in Blade Runner or something.

Fantastic stuff, Zilnad! I forget... is this your first experience of VR? I have only used PSVR and that's terrific, too. Don't worry about taking a break; I find that I do that with VR as well. Enjoy the experience, dude!

Zilnad wrote:It's an experience.

I'm a little in awe to be honest. Feel like I need to process how I feel.

I just spent a long time in the City 17 street demo thingy taking it all in. Was repulsed by a mouldy apple. Felt uneasy standing in a dark alley. Craned my neck looking at the citadel. gooseberry fool myself when I noticed the Civil Enforcement trucks parked up. For a split second, my mind even tricked my physical feet that the pavement and earthen floor felt different.

Played Aperture Hand Labs and felt genuinely intimidated by the angry robot.

It's something else. Like I say, an experience.

I do feel a bit tired now though, giving my brain a rest. Not sure if that's normal or just a first timer thing.

Not sure if I was wearing the headset and controllers at optimal comfort of if I need to adjust their straps and things a bit more but I've barely scratched the surface so I've got a long way to go before I feel completely comfortable with the set up.

Also, I didn't feel like I could get the image absolutely 100% focused when using the headset sliders. But I adjusted them to what felt best and when I was actually playing it felt fine. Is that normal or should I be able to get the finest detail to look crystal clear?

As I say, I've barely scratched the surface and it's going to take a while to really get accustomed to it all but my first go was pretty breath taking.

I honestly felt like I'd stepped into the future when I started using this tech, like I was in Blade Runner or something.

Welcome to City VR. It's safer here.

jawa_ wrote:

Zilnad wrote:...I honestly felt like I'd stepped into the future when I started using this tech, like I was in Blade Runner or something.

Fantastic stuff, Zilnad! I forget... is this your first experience of VR? I have only used PSVR and that's terrific, too. Don't worry about taking a break; I find that I do that with VR as well. Enjoy the experience, dude!

This is my first experience, yes

Just played some Beat Saber and it was like nothing I've ever experienced. Honestly, you should've seen some of the poses I was pulling off after slashing those boxes. I've never felt so cool!

Played it for a while and ended smacking the headset with my right controller so I took that as a sign to take a break and calm down. I was sweating so much so I'm looking forward to shedding a few pounds!

Then I went back for a couple more rounds of Beat Saber before having another look at the City 17 demo. Tried to throw cans into an open bin but I didn't do very well. So then I amused myself by tagging all the walls with anti-combine graffiti "Combine strawberry float Off" "Combine banana splits" "Freeman Lives".

Then I had a quick blast on Google Earth. Felt a bit emotional (didn't cry) hovering over my village of residence and found the experience of standing in the blackness of space with the earth's sphere towering over me to be quite breath taking.

I really don't think I can get across just how incredible this is. It feels like it shouldn't be real but it is.

I picked up a shoe in a dark alley and carried it out into the sun, just so I could stare at the shoe up close and inspect every detail.

It shouldn't exist, it's too futuristic. It's sci fi stuff.

My eyes do feel tired though so I'm going to call it a night and look forward to tomorrow.

Will likely save HL Alyx until my day off next Friday.

Zilnad wrote:...I really don't think I can get across just how incredible this is. It feels like it shouldn't be real but it is...

VR really is ace; I don't think folk can "get it" until they've tried it for themselves.

Glad you're enjoying this brave new world, man!

Nah just a gimmick mate, like 3d tv.

That angry robot in Aperture Hand Labs is going to stay with me forever. Never thought I'd feel genuinely intimidated playing a video game. Amazing.

Also there must be some mind trickery going on because I swear some of the stuff in the City 17 demo looks like actual real life despite still having telltale jaggies and stuff.

Day 1 VR is an amazing experience. I never forget my first experience with PSVR back when it launched.

Beat Saber is awesome also. I have been playing it on and off since launch in Quest, and it always gives me a buzz.

Body aches a little today, I assume from Beat Saber. Still played some more of it this morning though! Also checked out all the stuff in The Lab. Some of the mini games in that are really cool, like the tower defense archery game. A moment as simple as using a torch to light my notched arrow just felt incredible in VR.

Not sure why but I did feel a bit more aware of my real life surroundings this morning. Even with the floor guide (which I've since turned off because seeing it through objects messed with my head) it's easy to forget where I am in the physical world and I don't want to smack my controller against a wall again.

The room I'm using is an adequate size but I'd love to completely empty it of all the furniture and go hog wild

I also found the settings within SteamVR and adjusted the resolution to 150% which I think has made the image much clearer. My eyes certainly don't feel tired after this morning's session.

Zilnad wrote:Body aches a little today, I assume from Beat Saber. Still played some more of it this morning though! Also checked out all the stuff in The Lab. Some of the mini games in that are really cool, like the tower defense archery game. A moment as simple as using a torch to light my notched arrow just felt incredible in VR.

Not sure why but I did feel a bit more aware of my real life surroundings this morning. Even with the floor guide (which I've since turned off because seeing it through objects messed with my head) it's easy to forget where I am in the physical world and I don't want to smack my controller against a wall again.

The room I'm using is an adequate size but I'd love to completely empty it of all the furniture and go hog wild

I also found the settings within SteamVR and adjusted the resolution to 150% which I think has made the image much clearer. My eyes certainly don't feel tired after this morning's session.

I've got an old car mat in the boot which I'm planning on bringing in and using as a tactile guide so I can orientate myself with the headset on.

That's a bloody good idea. I have a rug, rolled up in the corner downstairs so I reckon I'll bring that upstairs for the same purpose.

One thing I haven't mentioned yet is the sound on the Index. It's incredible. Most immersive sound I've ever experienced.

Just watching my wife have a go on it now and she's having a fun time so that's good also (context).

Zilnad weird question but can you take some photos of how you're using those extendable poles you mentioned? Are they both on a wall?

The poles I'm looking for is a floor to cieling one that can sit in the middle of a room, just wondering if you're doing something different.

Qikz wrote:Zilnad weird question but can you take some photos of how you're using those extendable poles you mentioned? Are they both on a wall?

The poles I'm looking for is a floor to cieling one that can sit in the middle of a room, just wondering if you're doing something different.

Sorry Qikz but I haven't set them up yet. I've been finding the stations have been working great just sat on chest high shelves so I've left them there this weekend. I might set up the mounting poles next weekend, however, now I've seen the kit, I'm not sure my room's socket arrangement will allow for everything to be plugged in with the pole set up. So I might have to keep the poles in storage and leave the stations on their current shelves.

Sorry Qikz, I've been incredibly unhelpful

Beat Saber makes me feel like an absolute bad ass.

Got an eye test at the weekend and I'm going to ask about getting contacts for the sole purpose of VR. It's still amazing with my glasses on but my personality causes me to be anal about wanting the lenses as close to my eyes as possible for that 100% periphery immersion.

First world problems.

Zilnad wrote:Beat Saber makes me feel like an absolute bad ass.

Got an eye test at the weekend and I'm going to ask about getting contacts for the sole purpose of VR. It's still amazing with my glasses on but my personality causes me to be anal about wanting the lenses as close to my eyes as possible for that 100% periphery immersion.

First world problems.

I've worn contact lenses for nearly twenty years and I do prefer them for VR (glasses are a bit of a squeeze on the Oculus but they're okay for the amount I play). If you're just getting the lenses for VR then I'd suggest the lens inserts for the headset itself. By my reckoning it'll be cheaper (obviously check with the optician but I think my dailies are thirty quid a box - I buy them ad hoc and haven't done so for a while), you'll generate less plastic waste (putting them in just to play a game for an hour is pure billionaire behaviour!), and, whilst they are safe, it's probably better for your eyes to not have contact lenses if you don't need them (again, your optician will advise).

Oh where do you get the lens inserts from? Has anyone here used them? If they're good then I'd definitely be interested in them.

As I say, I don't mind wearing my glasses but if there's a way to improve the experience even more then I'm very interested.

Zilnad wrote:Oh where do you get the lens inserts from? Has anyone here used them? If they're good then I'd definitely be interested in them.

As I say, I don't mind wearing my glasses but if there's a way to improve the experience even more then I'm very interested.

https://vroptician.com/

I don't have them but they are on my purchase list at some point.