I got a VR Headset....

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

And you know those Windows Mixed Reality headsets that are on sale for like $180 sometimes?

Yeah, don't knock 'em.

I bought the Lenovo Explorer for $170 with controllers and I was very impressed. A clearer screen than Oculus and PSVR (never tried Vive), you can do full room scale VR without any lighthouses or sensors (they have IR cameras built into the headset that track VERY well) and with SteamVR just about any game supports it.

It has drawbacks. The foam piece over the nose is WAY too long to fit in the space, and the forehead strap is a bit too thick and keeps the lenses a bit further from your eye than they should be. Luckily the straps are on by high-quality velcro and I just switched the rear and front pads around since the rear is less thick.

That being said, I've had an issue...sometimes the real world looks...strange? Like, when viewing text on a normal monitor, I keep expecting the text to be able to shift in 3D space like it does in VR, and I swear I can still see letters being slightly lifted from their backgrounds. It's very subtle, but it's freaking me out.

I only play 2 hours at a time at max, though I have been using it every day for the last 5 days.

I was plesantly surprised to find out I have zero issues with headaches, disorientation, or issues with turning off just about every "comfort" option in games and using smooth locomotion in every game that offers it.

Also Doom 3 is fully playable with very impressive VR support with the help of a mod.

Anyone else have some stories or info on VR headsets? I feel like the conversation on them has died out and I only just now got one.

 

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

The reason the conversation has died out is it?s still just an awkward novelty in several ways. Barriers are of course price along with a general lack of convenience, comfort, and a stable, nausea-free experience for a large chunk of the market.

I?d personally try all of them, but have little interest in actually purchasing any mostly due to the current software and form factor. When those become more compelling and less awkward I?d give it a closer look.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

I'm not a doctor (disclaimer provided) but I remember when Guitar Hero and Rock Band were popular some people complained of still seeing the vertical movement after looking away from the game. It was temporary and harmless. I suspect this is the same but hey, just keep taking sensible breaks.

 

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

The reason the conversation has died out is it?s still just an awkward novelty in several ways. Barriers are of course price along with a general lack of convenience, comfort, and a stable, nausea-free experience for a large chunk of the market.

I?d personally try all of them, but have little interest in actually purchasing any mostly due to the current software and form factor. When those become more compelling and less awkward I?d give it a closer look.

I feel like the experience is being a bit underrated as a result. I mean, before I got one I thought it was just a basic gimmick that wasn't quite ready to be played after the novelty wears off, but I've been playing Beat Saber every day so far as my exercise, and like I said before, Doom 3 is very playable in VR and quite a robust experience doing so.

I guess it's disappointing because I don't really have many people to share the experience with.

 

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

I'm not a doctor (disclaimer provided) but I remember when Guitar Hero and Rock Band were popular some people complained of still seeing the vertical movement after looking away from the game. It was temporary and harmless. I suspect this is the same but hey, just keep taking sensible breaks.

I'm sure it's temporary, but I did kind of over do it the first two days. I was just enjoying myself sitting in the WMR Virtual House browsing the internet on a screen large enough to rival an IMax, while decorating the house with 3D models and photos. Several hours had passed by the time I noticed and at first I thought the only negative I had was the slight redness on my face from wearing the headset too long.

But it's effect in the real world is most apparent directly after using it, however I do notice it from time to time even many hours later. I'll have to see if it completely goes away after I have a break for the weekend during work.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I'm sure it's temporary, but I did kind of over do it the first two days. I was just enjoying myself sitting in the WMR Virtual House browsing the internet on a screen large enough to rival an IMax, while decorating the house with 3D models and photos. Several hours had passed by the time I noticed and at first I thought the only negative I had was the slight redness on my face from wearing the headset too long.

But it's effect in the real world is most apparent directly after using it, however I do notice it from time to time even many hours later. I'll have to see if it completely goes away after I have a break for the weekend during work.

I would guess it's entirely psychological. Things like edge detection and object recognition don't happen in the eye. Your brain is incredibly powerful, and much of this stuff ... processed and filtered through the corpus callosum--ends up being processed insanely quickly in the occipital lobe. It makes sense that various VR effects might cause general confusion in the brain once you remove them. I imagine given after prolonged exposure and general confusion, the close proximity of astrange ocular device right next to your face and the unfamiliar visual processing of an otherwise familiar environment or viewing surface (like a computer screen, but not) means there might be a general problem of processing images across your ventral stream and STS.

Essentially the VR goggle is fucking with your V1, causing problems with otherwise familiar visuospatial acuity and edge detection of various surfaces your brain would otherwise process as flat surfaces.

Don't worry, I felt that as well. Mine was focussing problems, mostly ... I also felt minor vertigo using a friend's headset and nausea after awhile ... so apparently you're doing better than me. I don't want to go anywhere near one of them again. It's migraine fuel to me.

You might not want to spend too much time with it strapped to your face, however. You might find that yourself getting sick eventually. Have you felt this way with other devices?