Ready to experience a whole new world? Virtual reality gaming can take you there. VR is a modern way to play and offers immersion like you’ve never seen before, but it can be difficult to acclimate to this snazzy new tech. The good news is that we have some advice on how to make your sessions as seamless as possible. Read on to discover our tips for a better VR gaming experience, and start playing your way to paradise today.
1. Optimize Your Space
Organizing an adequate playing area is essential. Though you’ll be stepping into a vibrant virtual world, your actual feet will remain firmly planted in this reality—and ideally, you won’t need to worry about what’s happening in the real world when you start your session. To immerse yourself fully in the VR landscape, it’s essential to spend some time setting up your room for VR before you play.
First, you’ll need to read through the instruction manual for your specific gear to discover spatial requirements. Room-scale VR games generally require a minimum of 6.5 by 5 feet of space to function optimally. You can always go bigger, but be careful—you could have issues with the sensors if your area is too large.
Your VR sensors can also be sensitive to reflective surfaces, so cover mirrors and glass with a cloth. Clear the area of all furniture, laundry, stray dishes, and other odds and ends so you can move freely around the room. Finally, make sure that your pets are secured in a different part of the house while you play so you don’t step on anyone’s paws during the game.
2. Pick Proper Eyewear
Vision is vital in the virtual world. But because the VR headset fits over your eyes, those who wear prescription glasses can have problems. Your frames might be too bulky to fit under your headset or squish up painfully against your face. Even if they do fit well, the glass could get scratched as you move around.
If you’re concerned about glasses getting in your way, there are other options to consider. You could invest in a pair of specialty lens inserts, like the VirtuClear prescription lenses made for Oculus VR headsets. These graduated lenses are glare-resistant and custom-made to match your prescription. They fit directly into the VR headset, allowing you to see clearly without relying on glasses.
If lens inserts aren’t compatible with your needs, you could switch your glasses out for contact lenses. You’ll be able to toss on the headset easily over a pair of contacts, moving your face and body freely along with the rhythm of the game. You won’t scratch your glasses or experience facial discomfort during your sessions, and you won’t have trouble with foggy lenses either.
Many people prefer to keep things simple with contacts. But what if you don’t have a current prescription? No need to panic. Even if you haven’t been to the optometrist lately, you can still head online to order contact lenses without prescription verification from your doctor. As long as you know what you need, you won’t have to pay extra expenses for an appointment—and you’ll save precious time for gaming, as well.
3. Choose Wireless Hardware
When you’re in the groove of a good VR gaming session, you don’t want to get your cables caught underfoot. Cumbersome wires can be annoying and even dangerous, especially if you’re playing a game that requires lots of movement. What’s the solution? Eliminate the wires.
Nowadays, you can play a whole slew of games from top VR gaming companies on wireless hardware. With options like the Oculus Quest 2 available, you don’t need to compromise—there are wireless headsets out there for every budget and console on the market.
Playtime just got a whole lot better with VR. And now that you know how to get started the smart way, you’re one step ahead on the road to gaming glory. If you get ahold of the proper gear and plan out your playing area correctly, you won’t have any problems in the virtual world which awaits you.
