Virtual Reality 101: A beginner's guide to getting started with VR games, movies and apps
(Image credit: Future)
It can be hard to catch up on a technology once it's caught on. It seems like everyone knows the smallest details about it, and if you can't find a welcoming community, learning the ropes can be almost impossible.
For some people, that's what happened with virtual reality. A technology that went from dumb retro tech on a development kit to a full-fledged cultural phenomenon overnight.
If you missed the first four years of the rise of virtual reality, don't worry. The technology is less complicated than you might think and is super easy to understand. There are affordable ways to try it out before to buy it, and many ways to find new content if you've already purchased a headset.
Not sure where to start in this wonderful world at the edge of digital and physical spaces? Let us be your virtual tour guides as we walk you through technology step by step.
What is Virtual Reality? How is it different from a computer or a TV?
When we talk about virtual reality, we are talking about images, videos, games or software that provide a 180 or 360 degree field of vision. It is content that you can explore or experience first-hand, inside you. closer than ever.
When most people think of virtual reality, their first thoughts are for 3D – the display technology that used stereoscopy to give the illusion of images popping out of the screen. Virtual reality is similar in this sense. it sometimes uses tricks to add realism to content, but it doesn't stop where the screen stops - it fills your entire field of vision with an image or environment.
The reason people love it so much is because the content is more immersive. Instead of watching a shark on the Discovery Channel, there are apps that put you in a shark cage and let you experience what what it would be like to see the animals swimming around you. It's the first step towards the holodeck you saw on Star Trek 40 years ago.
Now, obviously, not every video or video game ever made is available in VR – at least not natively. VR works best when content is produced for VR and viewed on a VR headset... even a cheap headset like the Google Cardboard.
The quality of this content varies wildly - just as not every YouTube video is an Oscar-winning production - but the core idea behind it all is that it's more immersive than 2D.
(Image credit: oculus)
Is virtual reality healthy? Can you hurt yourself using it?
The general consensus is that yes, it is completely safe to use, especially for adults whose eyes have already stopped developing and who don't really experience motion sickness. Whether safe for children 13 years of age and less remains a matter of debate, but most companies recommend limited use for the age group with many breaks.
In fact, even for adults new to the industry, we recommend acclimatizing slowly. Put the headset on for a few minutes at a time and then take it off, to get your eyes used to having a screen that closed.
That said, eye strain is probably the most "dangerous" part of VR. Wearing a headset for an hour or more puts a strain on your eyes and can cause headaches if you're not properly hydrated or motion sickness if the content you're watching moves in a way that doesn't feel natural to your body. Neither is permanent, however, and both should go away fairly quickly a once you have removed the helmet.
Just as important as taking breaks, it's just as important to clear the space around you when using a VR headset. 'let's play in a furnished room. Most PC headsets will ask you to set some boundaries before you start playing, which will prevent you from stepping into anything, but generally the emptier the play space, the more it will be safe for you.
(Image credit: Future)
What is the difference between the helmets? Do you need them?
When we talk about helmets, they generally fall into three categories:
Headsets connected to the PC
as the
Oculus Rift
and
Valve index
,
mobile headsets
as the
Samsung Gear VR
and
stand-alone helmets
as the
Oculus Quest
.there is also one
VR headset on console
called
Playstation-VR
which plugs directly into your PS4.
PC-connected headsets are generally the best, are the most immersive, and offer the widest range of experiences. They're also typically the most expensive. They work by plugging the headset into your computer's USB and DisplayPort/HDMI ports. and installing specific software like SteamVR or the Oculus app. Most often they come with specific controllers and tracking stations, but that's not always the case and every headset is different.
Mobile headsets were first on the market and gained popularity when Samsung offered them with the purchase of a new phone in 2017. They work, as you'd expect, by inserting your phone into the headset and tying it to your face. The experiences on this platform aren't as immersive or as beautiful as those you'll find on PC-connected headsets, but they're a good place to start if you're unsure of VR.
Finally, there are standalone headsets that fit everything you need into the headset itself so you can unbox it and be ready to play in minutes. performance, and deliver almost all of the same experiences you'll find on PC-connected headsets. Heck, Oculus even gives you the option of plugging the Quest into your PC via the Oculus Connect cable – so that's also the best option. more flexible.
Once you've decided on the type of headset you want, it's worth looking at each headset's specific specs. You should compare resolutions (how many pixels are on the screen), field of view (how many you can see both), frame rates (the smoothness of the content) and how the headset is tracking, either with discrete base stations or via in-cameras.
So, do you need a headset? Well, if you want the full experience, yes. But if you just want to watch VR videos to see what you're missing, YouTube, Facebook, and many other sites have the ability to view 360 degree videos on your mobile phone and PC. It can be a good first step into the world of virtual reality without spending money.
Beat Saber is one of the most popular games in VR right now.
(Image credit: Beat Games)
What type of content is there?
Additional Resources
Not sure where to start? Check out our lists of
best VR games
,
best PSVR games
and
best VR headsets
.
This question is a bit like asking “what kind of content is there on the internet?” The answer is, well, a lot of things! The vast majority of the time, however, you will be using a VR headset to watch VR videos. like 360-degree concerts or art installations or roller coasters, as well as playing VR games from Oculus and Steam.
If you are a corporate user or need a VR headset for work, you can use it to hold virtual meetings where you bring 3D assets for everyone to watch or use the headset for specific training simulations. Educators can use it to bring their lessons to life for their students through interactive experiences, and you can even try a headset inside amusement parks as more people start to adopt virtual reality as a new form of entertainment.
The content pool is as wide and deep as you'd like. There's a lot out there, and there's no way to see it all in a day.
So how much does this content cost? Well, it varies. Many of these YouTube and Facebook videos are free, as are the apps like Gizmo and Oculus Video that you use to watch them. There are also a number of free VR game demos available. available for trial, as well as a number of free educational VR apps. You can get pretty far without spending a dime.
That said, premium content like AAA games or longer VR experiences cost money, from $10/£10 all the way up to $60/£60.
The good news is that there are a number of subscription services like Viveport Infinity that allow you to download a number of these games for a monthly subscription and many online stores where you buy games and experiences often organize sales with massive discounts on the most popular content.
Should you buy a VR headset?
I hope you can now answer this question yourself. If you're the kind of person who likes to be on the cutting edge of technology and has time to dive into new experiences, then yes, it's definitely worth worth diving into VR. But if you're short on time and money and not sure if VR is right for you, watch some VR videos on your phone to get a taste of the experience or buy a cheap VR headset that you won't feel. bad if it's on the shelf.
Personally, we use our VR headsets once a week - usually to try out the latest branded game available in VR or to check out some cool new videos. Some people use it every day as their primary means of playing games, while others may use it much less. It all depends on you, your schedule, and your interest in the platform.
But hopefully you now have a better idea of what to expect from VR and how it's different.
Nick Pino
Nick Pino is the senior home entertainment editor at TechRadar and covers televisions, headphones, speakers, video games, virtual reality and streaming devices. He also has a degree in computer science which he n don't use if someone wants to.
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