Oh! It's rolling already... so we have so many new people in VR now.
So I wanted to share a new video with tips or hacks that made my VR gaming sessions better.
I’ve been playing around with VR headsets for over four years now, and some of the information
I’m sharing today are things that stuck with me the entire four years.
So if you’ve been with me for a while (thank you very much for that)
then you might recognize some of these, but I also learned a couple of new things this year.
So I hope this can help everyone.
Hello!
Cas here, and welcome to another VR tips video.
I have 18 tips for you, and this time, to make it a little different, these tips are
more general so can be used with every VR headset.
I’ll also try to include affordable alternatives per tip.
So watch, enjoy and let’s level up your VR experience with me.
If you like to see more videos like this one, subscribe if you haven’t yet.
And now, join me beyond reality.
When you’re out and about in Virtual Reality, time flies by, and it’s real easy to forget
to drink, or maybe you’re just too lazy to take off the headset for it.
Guilty.
The first tip I got for you is a way to stay hydrated without taking off the headset.
Get a metal straw and put it in a water bottle.
Yes, you can get metal straws for as low as 4 dollars, and it lets you drink without taking
off your headset.
Another pro, metal straws are better for the environment, so why not?
The next tip is coincidentally handy to use with the previous tip.
Most major VR headsets have a “Passthrough Shortcut”.
This feature basically means turning on your headset’s cameras to see your real-world
without removing the headset.
Most major headset brands have a nice shortcut option.
For Oculus Quest, you go to Settings > Experiments > then you can turn on the Passthrough Shortcut
there.
Then just double-tap the sides of your headset to turn it on.
Windows Mixed Reality also has this feature, but it’s called the flashlight mode; the
shortcut for WMR is pressing the Windows + Grab buttons on your controller to toggle
it on or off.
In SteamVR, you usually have to turn the camera on by right-clicking SteamVR > then Settings
> then Camera.
What you see here depends on what headset you’re using with SteamVR.
If you’re on the Valve Index, I like using the 3D option for the most accurate representation,
and then a little further at the ‘Show camera’ options, choose either ‘on Controller’
or ‘on Room Edge.’
You know, I used to get motion sick a lot.
Like, after engaging in a couple of epic hot air balloon fights, I had to lay on the couch,
feeling knock-out until after a -few- hours, I finally felt better.
That wasn’t a fun time.
But I can tell you based on my own experience that you do get better at it.
Like lately, I can play 90% of the VR games without feeling my stomach-turning.
So if you do get motion sick playing VR, I hope this offers some consolation.
You can do things to help you get better at it faster, too, like drinking ginger tea,
taking regular breaks, and most importantly, checking the comfort settings.
So I made a full video dedicated to preventing motion sickness and how I got better at it,
so I’m not going to repeat that here, but I’ll link below.
However, if a game makes you sick and none of the tips help, then it may be best to request
a refund.
Remember that you can refund a game if you’re within 2 hours of playtime on both Steam and
the Oculus store.
Unfortunately, PlayStation has a really strict return policy so that doesn’t help there.
But this is good to keep in mind for those other platforms as that money could better
be spent in a game you can play.
But when you’re in VR, another one of my favorite tips to give is for immersion.
Use your own body in VR games as much as possible.
So this means not using artificial turning or crouching, so turn that off in the settings
or avoid using those buttons.
Just move that own body of yours to turn, duck, and jump (if possible, of course).
And the fact that you may be able to stay in shape this way is, of course, another beneficial
consequence.
Then this tip is for those who love diving into multiplayer VR games.
You can make your voice sound great using the free software called VoiceMeeter Banana
or Potato.
I know, strange names, but it’s really good software.
So yes, this is only available on a PC, so PC VR headsets, but Quest players can also
do this using Oculus Link.
Using VoiceMeeter, you can tweak your microphone sound by adding a noise gate, making it louder,
or enhancing the bass.
Whatever you need.
It may look a bit complicated, but once you know how, it really isn’t.
Let me show you a quick example.
In VoiceMeeter Potato, you can set your Microphone, like, for example, my Oculus microphone.
Then turn everything off here, except for Bus 1, which means it directs your microphone
to VoiceMeeter VAIO.
Then in your Oculus or SteamVR software, pick VoiceMeeter VAIO to start using your microphone
with your tweaks.
That’s it.
But it has many more features, so to get the most out of this, I recommend looking for
a tutorial online; there are so many of them.
And for those who wear prescription glasses, you can get lens adapters for your exact glasses
prescription.
This is great as you don’t need to fiddle your glasses inside your headset and risking
scratching those valuable lenses.
Several companies offer this, like VR Optician, WidmoVR, and Oculus recommends those from
VirtuClear.
Usually, you need to know your prescription, and then you fill that out in your order,
and they’ll send you a custom adapter for any VR headset.
So I don’t wear glasses myself, but Chary does, and the ones she uses are from WidmoVR.
I’ll link that below, including everything else I mention in this video by the way.
[MILKYWAY BREAK]
This next tip is useful for those who play many simulators in VR that need a keyboard,
like Elite Dangerous or the latest Flight Simulator 2020.
Grab bump dots made for accessibility and stick some of those on the keys you need the
most.
It may not look pretty but could sometimes help if you want to do an epic landing, but
instead of deploying landing gear, you extend the brakes or something.
Maybe I’m just a noob, though.
This tip is one I’ve used throughout my four years and never changed.
I use a little mat on the floor to use my feet to feel where I am in real life.
I’m so comfortable with this now that I don’t even have my virtual wall on anymore.
But I don’t recommend turning that completely off if you have any valuable equipment nearby,
but it does help with immersion once you get the hang of it.
I’m currently using the floormat by VR Ninjas since I like the cool black color, but if
you search for VR mat, you’ll find a ton of options.
If you want a more affordable solution.
I used to put pillows around my playspace, so when your feet bump into a pillow, you
know you’re close to your playspace edge.
Or another alternative is getting a cheap sports mat and cut it up yourself.
You can cut up a couple of smaller pieces and tape them in the front, so you can also
feel where your direction is, so where your front is for example.
Then I have some tips for getting the best tracking because, you know, without tracking,
there’s no VR.
Most tracking methods have weaknesses, though, even the ones with base stations.
Like reflective surfaces in your room can cause tracking loss, those are mirrors or
windows even.
So make sure to close your curtains and put a towel or something over your mirror.
But it doesn’t have to pitch dark, you don’t have to live like a vampire as that’s also
not good for the headset.
It’s also good to make sure you don’t have any bright lights shining on the headset
while you’re playing as some headsets like the HP Reverb G2 has trouble with this, but
I noticed the Quest 2 could also have problems here.
The Quest tracking system is based on detecting small clusters of infrared light, so this
means that if you have any other small groups of lights around, for example, your Christmas
tree lights, then you could lose tracking.
Contrasting colors in your playspace could also help.
So if you have problems with tracking, try it out in a room that looks entirely different
to check if that helps.
If it does, then you know you just have to change up your normal play area.
It also helps if you clean the cameras, so let’s talk about cleaning for the next tip.
I think most people already clean their lenses but usually forget about the sensors.
And I mean these on inside-out tracking headsets.
But sometimes, you may want to wipe the base stations as well, of course.
For this, use a dry microfiber cloth, which you usually get inside the headset’s box.
Except for Quest 2, but if you’ve bought sunglasses at all in your life, you may already
have one.
To clean the lenses, gently wipe the lens in a circular motion moving outwards.
Never use any liquid chemicals to clean anything on your headset.
Then, after the cleaning session, you can use the cloth to cover the lenses and block
sunlight when you store the headset.
Cus you know, sunlight is the worse enemy for the lenses as it can burn your screen.
Now, since wireless VR headsets are nowhere to be seen in the near future, I’m still
looking at you, Valve.
You either have to own a standalone headset, and we all know there aren’t many options
out there except for the Quest.
But what about PC VR headsets, well, then I think the next best thing to wireless is
overhead cable management.
So you with this solution, you hang the cable on top of your head, and your VR gaming time
will feel wireless.
I use a solution with an IKEA lamp, which I’ve made a tutorial for using the Valve
Index, but you can do this with any VR headset, even with the Quest 2 and the Oculus Link
cable.
Of course, then you may want to consider Virtual Desktop too.
But for any other PC VR headset, you can use this.
A more affordable option for this is to use these pulleys.
These will only work, however, if your ceiling is flat as the sticker needs to stick on it.
As you can see, my ceiling has textured paint, which won’t work with these pulleys as they
fall right off.
Now to level up your comfort as well, then I recommend checking out comfort accessories.
If you feel your headset is front-heavy, then there are different solutions, from finding
a different headstrap, most relevant for Quest.
Or you finding counterweights, like this solution by Studioform.
For Quest 2, I recommend checking out the Oculus Elite Strap or check out one of our
comfort videos for more alternatives.
Affordable alternatives here are making something yourself.
Like many people, use a small power bank taped at the headset’s back as a counterweight.
Or if you have long hair, I recommend trying a ponytail and putting it through a strap
hole.
Your ponytail could act as a counterweight and it really helps.
Other comfort solutions for any VR headset I recommend are face covers from VRCover.
Been using theirs for years now, and it’s always been more comfortable than the ones
that come with the headset.
I especially like leather ones as they are easy to clean as well and their covers usually
come with an improved noseflap that helps block light bleed.
For my controllers, I also like using the Index-like straps for the hands that allow
you to let go of the controller without dropping it.
It’s excellent for throwing stuff in VR.
VRCover actually released their version of these grips, and I like them so far as they
feel real nice.
A more affordable solution here is using the lanyard of the controller and looping it through
like this.
It’s less comfortable, but it’s free.
So let’s go back a few years.
In 2019, I bought a 3D printer, and I quickly realized it’s the perfect companion for
a VR headset.
I know this may sound expensive, but there are budget versions; I am using a budget one
from Creality, the Ender 3, which you can get for around 250 dollars.
The stuff you can print for VR headsets are things like a paddle for table tennis or this
gun for immersion.
You can even print entire face gaskets for headsets like the G2 to increase FOV.
Just go on Thingiverse.com and search for VR designs, and you’ll find a ton.
Now, my last few tips are about VR games.
Everyone knows VR games are not cheap, especially with those relatively short playtimes.
So if you are tight on budget, then I recommend checking out the free games like Rec Room
or VRChat.
Or you can also check out WebXR games.
I made a video on that.
But if you want to buy a game.
I recommend waiting for sales.
Not only does Oculus, PlayStation and Steam both do sales during the holidays, like during
Black Friday and Christmas.
There are also other sites that offer discounts in other periods, like my favorite sites to
check are Humble Bundle and Green Man Gaming.
Humble Bundle currently does not have a bundle for VR games but when they do they are usually
pretty cool.
Both sites offer individual game discounts too so keep an eye on our Discord or Twitter
page if you want to stay up to date with this, as we usually post deals that we find and
like on there.
Then my last tip of today is to join Discord communities of VR developers (and ours of
course ! :D).
Usually, they host giveaways there or give you access to beta versions of a game, and
you can actually help develop one.
It’s also a great way to find more people to play VR games with.
So if you don’t have Discord yet, I highly recommend checking it out.
You get extra points from me if you remember IRC; it’s very similar except a bit more
modern.
Let me know in the comments if you do remember that.
And let me know if any of these tips helped you out.
I’d love to know.
If you have more tips yourself, put them there too, and let’s help each other out.
If you want more in-depth tips and tricks per headset, then check out this playlist
right here - by watching more videos, you also support the channel.
A special thanks go to all our Champions, especially these Patrons down below.
As always, VR on!