When people are presented with a new piece of technology, it may take them a while to adjust to it and incorporate it into their daily lives. Virtual reality is not a new concept, but the execution behind the headsets and the handles are. Oculus, HTC Vive and SONY have all been able to put VR on the market for people to enjoy. So far, VR has mostly been for games and some simulations, and the products have been limited in its recent years. Although more titles have been released for VR, it is still far away from being on the same level of the average video game console or computer. The experience engaging with VR is mind blowing and can make you feel like the lines are blurred.
The experiences I have had with virtual reality have been limited, but I have had enough opportunities to have a good grasp on what the platform is and offers. The headset is kind of bulky and not the most comfortable. The hand controls are easy to use once you know where your buttons are and joysticks can be used without thinking about it. After getting adjusted, using the equipment becomes second nature. The games offered were not necessarily big name titles but smaller titles that are enjoyable for what is offered. The biggest title I played was “Beat Saber,” a game where players must hit blue and red blocks in certain directions to the beat of the music, having to avoid obstacles as well. The excitement from the music, getting combos and earning a high score makes for a thrilling game for those who want a “Guitar Hero” type of game.
Some of the smaller titles I have played were mostly first-person shooters with a lot of gun mechanics that do not vary too much from game to game. One game that stuck out to me was “Robo Recall.” It is a game where you play as “Agent 34” and are tasked with taking down defective robots throughout the city. The game controls were fairly simple: grab a gun and shoot. You can also grab the enemy robots and use them for a shield or throw them at their friends. This game is easy to lose track of time in and is a lot of fun for those who want to relieve some stress on some robots. But some games come with too much realism. BBC helped make an Astronaut walk simulation called BBC Home. This simulation lets you walk through a day at the International Space Station and investigate damage to one of the panels. However, everything is thrown into chaos when you, as the player, get knocked off of the space station and into the dark void of space. You can try to get back to the space station, but you die before that and get sent to the title page of the simulation.
After taking the VR set off, it was not too hard to readjust back to the real world after only an hour of play. The toll it takes on your body and eyes will get worse the longer you use any VR set. It does, however, offer a good amount of exercise. The required movements involved with games can be challenging and be a workout for some people. The other setback for some is the price. Although the price has decreased in recent years, the average VR kit can still cost up to $599, not including the computer tower required to run most games, which can land someone into thousands of dollars. Virtual reality is becoming an increasingly popular medium and is backed up by the endless fun it offers. By the next decade, it should be a regular use for almost everyone who can afford one.
Image from Virtual Reality Oasis via Youtube
