VR 101: A Beginner's Guide
If you aren't aware of virtual reality yet, it's one of the most exciting new technologies in the world of gaming and industry. In this post, we give you the complete beginner's guide to VR.
We'll go over:
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What virtual reality is.
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How it's changing the gaming industry.
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The best VR headsets to look at.
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How to get started today and tips for first time users.
*table of contents*
What is VR?
Virtual reality is a form of entertainment where you are placed completely inside a virtual environment. This is accomplished with a VR headsets, which you wear on your head while you play.
Modern virtual reality was introduced in 2016 by Oculus, who released the Rift headset for commercial release. Since then, multiple companies and headsets have hit the market. Over 1000 different games and applications have been built for VR headsets.
VR Market Share
The market share of virtual reality has grown exponentially over the last few years. In 2019, the industry was worth 6.2 billion dollars. In 2022, it is projected to be 16 billion dollars.
Despite this growth, over 50% of people in the world have never heard of virtual reality. If you are one of these people, this is your chance to become aware and learn about VR!
Virtual Reality vs Traditional Games
Where traditional PC or console games are played seated with a keyboard and mouse or a controller, virtual reality is more interactive. VR controllers are used in companion with movement to mimic real life motions.
The VR headset that you wear contains a display that takes over your vision. VR games are developed so that you feel immersed in the action in full 360 degrees.
Compared to console games, VR games focus more on physically interacting with objects. Shooting and puzzles games are popular because they get you moving around and manipulating items with your hands. Also, quick play games are popular because most people can't play for hours in virtual reality compared to on the computer.
Most players agree that VR is complimentary to other styles of gaming and not a full replacement today.
VR Headsets
There are three main styles of the best virtual reality headsets in 2021.
PC VR headsets connect to a gaming PC to play games. Your PC powers the game and your headset acts as a mirror display on your head. Because gaming PCs can be limitless, PC VR games are the highest quality available today.
The Oculus Quest 2 is an Android-based standalone PC. It is completely wireless, does not require a PC and is powered off of its own Android system on a chip (SoC). The Quest is the most popular VR headset right now because it's the cheapest way to get into virtual reality. Games used to be much simpler, but development has picked up greatly in the last year. Today, many PC VR games are also available for the Quest as well.
The last style of VR headset is the Playstation VR, which is a console headset. You need a Sony Playstation 4 or 5 and the PSVR hardware in order to play games. Sony has invested in dozens of exclusive titles for the platform. Plus, a new Playstation VR 2 for the PS5 is rumored to be coming soon.
Which VR Headset Should I Buy?
HP Reverb G2
At the highest level, the decision over which VR headset you should buy is easy. If you have a gaming PC and money is not an option, then a new HP Reverb G2 is the best choice. It's got the best display in a VR headset and early review have been awesome.
Most other PC headsets are a few years old and don’t have as good of a display. Recent PC headsets like the Valve Index suffer from a shortage of stock. The Reverb G2 costs $599 and should be available pretty quick after you order.
Oculus Quest 2
If you don't have a gaming PC, then the Oculus Quest 2 is the only standalone headset on the market. It has hundreds of games that you can download and install directly onto the headset. Plus, there is a third party tool called SideQuest which has hundreds of free games to check out from independent developers.
Even if you have a gaming PC, you can tether the Quest 2 and use it as a display like any other PC VR headset. The cost of the Oculus Quest 2 is only $299 for the 64 GB version and $399 for the 256 GB version. It's a cheap way to get invested into the world of VR gaming.
Right now, we would not recommend the Playstation VR or console virtual reality. Its hardware is three years old and there are rumors of a new Playstation VR 2 coming soon.
How to Get Started with Virtual Reality
Buy a Headset
Getting started in VR is as easy as purchasing your first headset off of Amazon or your favorite retailer. If you are going the PC route, make sure that your specs are high enough to be ready for VR. There are many guides on the internet which can help you upgrade your PC.
Find Games
There are two main stores that contain VR games in them.
The Steam store, which is the most popular game store of all time, has a filter for VR content. Any virtual reality games you purchase on Steam will launch in VR mode when you have a headset connected to your computer.
If you go with an Oculus headset, Oculus has their own official store. Your headset's setup instructions will include getting the store up and running. Oculus is a bit more selective about what games are approved for their store, but all major titles are available on both.
Enjoy!
And that's it! Just like PC or consoles, getting started in virtual reality is quick and easy. It is a much more immersive gaming experience than anything you've experienced before. Major studios like Bethesda, Valve, and Electronic Arts have been developing exclusive games for VR. As the market size grows, you will hear more and more about virtual reality gaming.
If you are new to virtual reality, hopefully this VR 101 has given you the basic information you need to get started.
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