Do you want to immerse yourself in virtual reality?
Let’s see what you would need to play VR.
What Do You Need to Play VR?
The only thing you need is a VR headset.
What is VR?
Virtual Reality (VR) allows people to be fully immersed in a simulated environment. Usually, this is delivered through headsets that track a person’s movement.
Screen
A VR headset consists of a display panel (or screens), which is either housed inside a box or headset and then attached to your face.
Lenses
Lense goggles block out the outside environment so that it appears as though what you’re seeing through them is your entire environment.
Most headsets track your movements so the images you view adjust accordingly. However, some headsets track more movements than others.
Controller
Most virtual reality (VR) applications will allow you to interact with them using controllers in both hands. Sometimes you’re given one controller per arm to use.
Some gamepads let you control games using virtual representations of your own hand movements.
Basic Terminology and Concepts
You know the basics of virtual reality (VR), but there are still some things you may not be clear on. Let us explain them to you.
FOV (Field of View)
Field of vision (FOV) is the range of visual angles we can perceive at any one time. It’s measured by looking straight ahead and seeing where objects appear from different distances.
At the time of this writing, consumer VR headsets have a field of vision that is smaller than what your eyes can perceive by themselves.
Degrees of Freedom
Degree of Freedom (DoF) refers to the number of different directions in which your body can move within a virtual environment. More DoFs mean that more of your physical motions will be tracked by the VR system and mapped onto your virtual representation.
Two of the most common terms you‘ll see when reading about the degree of freedom are 3DOF and 6DOFs (3 and 6 degrees of freedom, respectively).
A headset that provides 3Dof tracking will only be able to detect your movement, but not your position in a physical environment. However, a 6DOF headset will be able to detect both your movement and your position in the physical world.
Tracking Types
Every VR headset requires some kind of tracking device.
Inside Out
The most common form of tracking currently is called “Inside Out” tracking. This system typically relies on cameras built into the headset to track movement from the inside of the headset, outwards.
Outside In
There are also “outside in” tracking systems. These involve external hardware that isn’t built into the headsets themselves.
With the original HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets, for example, this hardware is called “lighthouses” — little black boxes mounted in the corners of the room.
Controllers
There are several different types of interactions with simulated content.
Headphones like the Meta Quest 2 or HP Reverb G2 include two controllers, one for either side of your head, which is also tracked using an inside-out tracking system called 6DoF.
PlayStation VR
PlayStation VR has multiple input options. Most games require using two PlayStation Move Controlers (PSM). However, some games don’t require them.
If you’re playing a game that doesn’t require a Move controller, you can use the regular PlayStation 4 DualShock controller that came with the system.
Valve Index Controllers
The Valve Index controllers fit tightly around the knuckles and palms and let you fully release them.
There’s a large grip area on these controllers and they detect finger movements and can detect some of the pressure provided by your grip, which makes them unlike other controllers currently available.
Facebook’s Quest 2
Facebook’s new Quest VR headset includes native controller-free hands-on-tracked head tracking which eliminates the requirement for Touch controllers in some situations.
Roomscale, Seated, and Standing
There are generally three different types of tracked volume with some software designed specifically for each type of track.
- room-scale
- seated
- standing
Roomscale VR
Roomscale VR is about creating an environment where players can freely and physically move around within their own space.
The idea of room-scale games is being able to physically move around your space to interact with the simulated environment and objects inside of it.
Seated and Standing
Sitting and standing are quite similar because they both involve staying in one spot and using various movements to move through the environment.
Some software developers create virtual environments that work best when they’re used in specific situations. However, some experiences might only be available in certain positions.
What Do You Need to Play VR?
Types of VR
There are several different types of consumer-orientated VR equipment available. These include standalone VR, PC VR (also known as HMD), and console VR.
Standalone VR
A standalone VR device is any VR headset that doesn’t require any additional hardware or technology to operate.
It runs entirely from the device worn on your head and requires no connection to any other external devices.
PC VR
A PC VR is any headset that needs a constant internet connection. It will also require high specifications that meet the requirements for virtual reality.
There are several types of PC VR headsets including the Oculus Rift S, SteamVR, HTC Vive, PIMAX, and Windows Mixed Reality Headset like the HP Reverb and Samsung Odyssey+
Console VR
Console VR currently only consists of two headsets
- PlayStation VR
- Nintendo Labo VR Kit for the Nintendo Switch.
PlayStation VR
PlayStation VR is an optional add-on VR system that works with either the PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 consoles. It is not required to play games on the PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5.
Nintendo Labo VR
Nintendo Labo VR is a buildable, cardboard headset that allows you to put the original Nintendo Switch inside of it, allowing you to play some of its titles in VR mode.
You’re required to hold the device to your head. Most of the experiences with Labovr are pretty disappointing and not really worth your attention.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the basics of virtual reality, you should be ready to start exploring all of the possibilities!
If there are any questions left unanswered, please let us know in the comments below.
