VR questions, recommendations, tips, and tricks

So, for roomscale games (games in which you can physically move around), it's easy to think that you'll be able to keep track of your physical location and intuitively know when you're getting near an IRL wall.

This is WRONG. You WILL forget all about them!

The good news is that you can set up a boundary for your playspace, and the headset will pop up a wireframe wall indicator in-game when you get close. Do not ignore this (or think that you don't need it in the first place). You WILL end up punching/faceplanting into a wall otherwise. Many a controller or even finger has been broken because people disregarded the need for a boundary.

A perfect example:

I'm a VR veteran, and just recently re-set up my VR space after having it down for a while. When I set it up, I set it up for Standing/Sitting gaming, meaning I didn't set up a boundary for my walls. No problem, right? I only planned on playing Synth Riders and Beat Saber which have you standing in one spot. I have plenty of space and shouldn't come near any real-life walls!

Except that re-catching the VR bug had me curious about another game: Increment. I installed it and jumped right into it.

Did I remember to set up the boundary? Absolutely not.

Did I unintentionally attempt to put my hand through my IRL wall shortly after starting the game? Of course I did.

Remember how I said you will forget about your actual walls? This was the perfect example, because when I did that, my first response wasn't "oh shit, I hit my wall" it was "what the fuck was that?" Because my brain was calibrated to the VR space I was in (in which there was plenty of open space), it genuinely had no idea what was happening for a moment. VR is that immersive. I'm lucky nothing broke, especially because I've got an Index. I could get new fingers if I needed to, but the Knuckles are irreplaceable. /vrjoke

Anyway, in addition to the software boundary, you can also do things to your physical space to help you with understanding your orientation in the real-world while you're in the headset.

Consider getting a rug that’s slightly smaller than your play space so that there’s a margin near the edges. It’s an easy way for your feet to feel when they're near the limits of where you’re supposed to be.

You can also point a fan at your playspace while you're in it. This is especially good if you've got an irregularly-shaped area. The direction and intensity of the airflow can help you establish your real-world location by feel. Also, if you're doing VR exercise, it's great for cooling you off!

(Note: I have both a rug and a fan and still tried to haymaker my wall, so don't rely solely on these.)

I also like a bit of a gap at the bottom of my headset near my nose. This means I can peek down to see my approximate IRL location without having to take the headset fully off. It's also convenient for checking my watch.

While it's important to secure yourself in your VR space, it's also important to do so for other people/critters too. If you've got pets or children who might wander up to you while you're playing, come up with something that prevents them from getting hit or stepped on.

Similar to the "I'll know where I am" fallacy, there's also the "someone will be able to move out of the way" fallacy of VR. People outside the headset have no idea what you're seeing, which means your movements are completely unpredictable to them. If someone is in your space, the chances of a successful dodge are very low, while the chances of a successful hit are very high.

The easiest way to keep yourself and others safe is to make sure that your space is and remains clear for whenever you're in the headset.

Not sure how common knowledge this is, but in case it's not well-known: keep your VR lenses out of direct sunlight. They can focus the light and permanently damage the internal screen (think: burning something with a magnifying glass).

If you store yours in a room that regularly has direct sunlight in it, make sure you store it where the sun won't hit it, put it inside a case, or put some sort of blocker over the lenses. If you plan on using it outside (not recommended), make sure the lenses aren't ever exposed directly to the sun.

For those playing VR rhythm games, especially if you're wanting to do it for exercise purposes:

Loosen up.

I mean this literally.

Like, physically.

Sway and bob your body with the music. Get dancey.

Interestingly enough, the games themselves effectively incentivize against this: they've got scoring systems that promote precision, and their difficulties escalate in a way that gets highly technical. If you're playing them as "intended" by that system, a rigid, inflexible stance and swings are the "ideal" way to play.

Now, there is absolutely a ton of fun to be had chasing high scores and getting good enough at the games to play the really hard stuff. I'm not trying to say that this is the "wrong" way to play.

However, the most fun I have is when I ignore the point system and just, you know, vibe with the music. It makes the songs so much more engaging and exciting for me. Also, it gets my heartrate going much higher. Moving your bodyweight around while swinging your arms gets your blood pumping more than just standing still and swinging your arms. You don't even have to move your feet if you don't want to -- just bounce to the beat, lean around your play area, rock back and forth, squat, etc.

I often imagine I'm performing for an audience, which gets me to add some variety and flair to my movements. I like to create little "moments" in songs where I do something with a particular flourish or unusual technique. This also creates longevity for when you invariably find your favorite songs and play them over and over and over again.

I don't necessarily recommend doing this when you're first learning the game. It's probably better to focus on getting the basics down. But once you're comfortable with how things work, and you're starting to get to more difficult stuff, try adding in some body groovin' and see how it goes for you.