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I have purchased multiple VR headsets (the kind that your phone goes into, not "full vr") and each one has massively hurt my face. The Cardboard ones hurt my no

I have purchased multiple VR headsets (the kind that your phone goes into, not "full vr") and each one has massively hurt my face. The Cardboard ones hurt my nose from the very second I put it on or hold it to my face (while using it and for some time after). The only way to get a good picture is to have instant and intense pain in my nose. Google Daydream is a bit better. With the nice fabric and straps it takes about 1-2 minutes before the intense head pain starts. Not only is it insanely heavy and makes any experience hurt my neck, but also, it hurts my nose too! (I do wear glasses, but each of these products says that it doesn't matter and that glasses-wearers can use VR too. Not sure if that is a lie or if this affects non-glasses-wearers just as much). Additionally, the content available in the Play Store is not of great quality, in my opinion. The paid content is also a mess, not just the free stuff. There are some neat games, but they don't work well (lose save state, etc) and everything hurts physically after 1-2 minutes on a $100 system. I'll wait many many years before trying to purchase again. It feels like the '80s VR rush all over again, where actually using the product falls so far short of the expectation that I'm disillusioned. It's true that I have not yet tried a "Full VR" system - but they have been too expensive so far and I am not certain that they would be any less awful of an experience for me to use. Do other people have the same head pain issues as I do? I would certainly expect that the decline in sales is mostly to do with people finding out that actually using VR isn't very fun (yet). Edit: I bought a $10 game, Eclipse I think, where I have had to play the same intro level to the game like 8-10 times, because my nose hurts so much that I have to take a break. But you can't take a break or you lose your save state (I have spent more time than I would like to admit trying to find a way to save the state, this game looks super neat). But now if I want to play this game I paid $10 for, I have to play the same sequence again and again, and try to finish before the nose pain is unbearable. At this point, I am losing interest in the game despite its amazing reviews and my previous intense dedication to playing it.

jraines 9y ago
The Vive headset hurts my big schnoz. As far as the sales go, my impression from using a high-end system is: this is amazing, but a couple years away. And since I'm not much of a gamer, what I really want is AR, which is probably a bit further. Google Earth VR is the most amazing product I've used in the last few years, though.
Retra 9y ago
>Do other people have the same head pain issues as I do? Anybody who's ever worn a helmet can tell you they are painful. If that problem could be solved, we'd all be wearing helmets while driving our cars. But nobody likes having things strapped to their head (due to pain), so we don't. I'm curious why you ever thought otherwise? Did all the hype simply override your ability to actually imagine using the product? Seems like the kind of flaw in reasoning to compensate for if people are successfully running businesses off of exploiting it. But maybe I'm just a semi-vindicated nay-sayer.
- cryptoz 9y ago
  > Anybody who's ever worn a helmet can tell you they are painful. I've been riding bicycles with a helmet on my head for 15 years, sometimes with a ride as long as 5-6 hours, and not once have I ever felt a single bit of pain on my head from a helmet. Perhaps some initial discomfort while trying to get the strap to click in, but certainly no pain while using the helmet. The situation isn't comparable. Edit: In fact, I would suggest that I consider most of my bike helmets to actually be comfortable overall. > I'm curious why you ever thought otherwise? First, I never claimed I thought that VR wouldn't hurt. Second, I had absolutely no knowledge of the products physical features when purchasing, as the units I purchased in store were in a box, and the Daydream I bought online. I do not regret the purchases simply because they hurt to use. I'm glad I bought them so that I can be a part of this VR experiment and see what all the fuss is about. Trying out VR has helped me understand the industry and where its painpoints are (literally) and I'm glad of that. I also expect the state of VR to improve over time and I will definitely try it again in the future.
  - Retra 9y ago
    Well... I was thinking more of armored helmets, but I suppose I didn't say that. Armored helmets are pretty bad, due to the extra weight. A foam helmet is comparatively tolerable. >I'm glad I bought them so that I can be a part of this VR experiment and see what all the fuss is about. The 'fuss' is hype. If you wanted to invest, you probably should have gave your money away in exchange for stock shares or something. Otherwise, the 'fuss' is just no-strings attached money for a disappointment-by-design product.
notjustanymike 9y ago
I have an Oculus Rift that I use for three setups: Sim Racing, Sim Flying, and playing Elite Dangerous. I've been able to put in multiple hours in all of them, with two caveats. First, I take my glasses off. There's just no way that's gonna be comfortable ever. You can buy prescription lens inserts for the Oculus, but my prescription is mild so it doesn't bother me. Second, you have to loosen the straps. If the headset is leaving an indent in your face it's too tight! I learned that the hard way..
- Raphmedia 9y ago
  There are a lot of third-party foam covers made for the Vive and Rift that you can buy. https://vrcover.com https://vrcover.com
- cryptoz 9y ago
  Interesting! Okay, thanks for the info. I did guess that the "glasses are okay" business was more marketing than reality, so it's interesting to hear you say you wouldn't use it with your glasses. Everything in VR gets real blurry for me if I try without my glasses, and I'm not ready to buy special prescription VR glasses either, so I'll wait a bit. I'll try looser straps on my Daydream next time I try it, but it'll be hard to keep it on my head that way too I think. Thanks again for the info.
  - tobyhinloopen 9y ago
    PSVR works great with glasses though. I have quite large glasses and they fit just fine. Note that the PSVR floats before your eyes, hanging by a frame mounted on your head. The oculus and rift push directly on your face
- rhinoceraptor 9y ago
  I had to buy specific glasses for my Oculus, I can't see a thing without glasses underneath. I got the cheapest pair of kids' glasses I could find online, and they fit pretty well. However, I still have a bit of a problem, I need a fan directed at my face so they don't start to fog up, especially if I'm walking around and sweating a bit.
Raphmedia 9y ago
> Do other people have the same head pain issues as I do? I don't with the Oculus. That being said, most phone enclosures are cheap hastily put together plastic gubbins that only deserve to be trashed.
- squeaky-clean 9y ago
  I got an HP Mixed Reality headset this week. Every phone headset I own has either not stayed on my face or been very uncomfortable. My HP has no discomfort issues at all. Even friends with glasses have been using it fine. If I have to pick something I guess it does catch on my hair sometimes when I remove it too fast.
jasonlotito 9y ago
Of the big 3 (Rift, Vive, and PSVR), the PSVR is the most comfortable. The difference is the weight the set rests on your head, like a hat, as opposed to the top of your face. It sounds like you should try that out if you get a chance.
kruczek 9y ago
I only got to try one "phone VR" setup and it was a very underwhelming experience. There was very little synchronization between head movements and actual change of the image; I didn't feel immersed into the virtual world at all, it was more like watching a 3D movie. I wonder what was your experience with immersion in those phone setups? I also got to try Vive and it's completely another league - I'd say it's as much better as it is more expensive :)

jraines 9y ago

The Vive headset hurts my big schnoz. As far as the sales go, my impression from using a high-end system is: this is amazing, but a couple years away. And since I'm not much of a gamer, what I really want is AR, which is probably a bit further. Google Earth VR is the most amazing product I've used in the last few years, though.

Retra 9y ago

>Do other people have the same head pain issues as I do? Anybody who's ever worn a helmet can tell you they are painful. If that problem could be solved, we'd all be wearing helmets while driving our cars. But nobody likes having things strapped to their head (due to pain), so we don't. I'm curious why you ever thought otherwise? Did all the hype simply override your ability to actually imagine using the product? Seems like the kind of flaw in reasoning to compensate for if people are successfully running businesses off of exploiting it. But maybe I'm just a semi-vindicated nay-sayer.

cryptoz 9y ago
> Anybody who's ever worn a helmet can tell you they are painful. I've been riding bicycles with a helmet on my head for 15 years, sometimes with a ride as long as 5-6 hours, and not once have I ever felt a single bit of pain on my head from a helmet. Perhaps some initial discomfort while trying to get the strap to click in, but certainly no pain while using the helmet. The situation isn't comparable. Edit: In fact, I would suggest that I consider most of my bike helmets to actually be comfortable overall. > I'm curious why you ever thought otherwise? First, I never claimed I thought that VR wouldn't hurt. Second, I had absolutely no knowledge of the products physical features when purchasing, as the units I purchased in store were in a box, and the Daydream I bought online. I do not regret the purchases simply because they hurt to use. I'm glad I bought them so that I can be a part of this VR experiment and see what all the fuss is about. Trying out VR has helped me understand the industry and where its painpoints are (literally) and I'm glad of that. I also expect the state of VR to improve over time and I will definitely try it again in the future.
- Retra 9y ago
  Well... I was thinking more of armored helmets, but I suppose I didn't say that. Armored helmets are pretty bad, due to the extra weight. A foam helmet is comparatively tolerable. >I'm glad I bought them so that I can be a part of this VR experiment and see what all the fuss is about. The 'fuss' is hype. If you wanted to invest, you probably should have gave your money away in exchange for stock shares or something. Otherwise, the 'fuss' is just no-strings attached money for a disappointment-by-design product.

notjustanymike 9y ago

I have an Oculus Rift that I use for three setups: Sim Racing, Sim Flying, and playing Elite Dangerous. I've been able to put in multiple hours in all of them, with two caveats. First, I take my glasses off. There's just no way that's gonna be comfortable ever. You can buy prescription lens inserts for the Oculus, but my prescription is mild so it doesn't bother me. Second, you have to loosen the straps. If the headset is leaving an indent in your face it's too tight! I learned that the hard way..

Raphmedia 9y ago
There are a lot of third-party foam covers made for the Vive and Rift that you can buy. https://vrcover.com https://vrcover.com
cryptoz 9y ago
Interesting! Okay, thanks for the info. I did guess that the "glasses are okay" business was more marketing than reality, so it's interesting to hear you say you wouldn't use it with your glasses. Everything in VR gets real blurry for me if I try without my glasses, and I'm not ready to buy special prescription VR glasses either, so I'll wait a bit. I'll try looser straps on my Daydream next time I try it, but it'll be hard to keep it on my head that way too I think. Thanks again for the info.
- tobyhinloopen 9y ago
  PSVR works great with glasses though. I have quite large glasses and they fit just fine. Note that the PSVR floats before your eyes, hanging by a frame mounted on your head. The oculus and rift push directly on your face
rhinoceraptor 9y ago
I had to buy specific glasses for my Oculus, I can't see a thing without glasses underneath. I got the cheapest pair of kids' glasses I could find online, and they fit pretty well. However, I still have a bit of a problem, I need a fan directed at my face so they don't start to fog up, especially if I'm walking around and sweating a bit.

Raphmedia 9y ago

> Do other people have the same head pain issues as I do? I don't with the Oculus. That being said, most phone enclosures are cheap hastily put together plastic gubbins that only deserve to be trashed.

squeaky-clean 9y ago
I got an HP Mixed Reality headset this week. Every phone headset I own has either not stayed on my face or been very uncomfortable. My HP has no discomfort issues at all. Even friends with glasses have been using it fine. If I have to pick something I guess it does catch on my hair sometimes when I remove it too fast.

jasonlotito 9y ago

Of the big 3 (Rift, Vive, and PSVR), the PSVR is the most comfortable. The difference is the weight the set rests on your head, like a hat, as opposed to the top of your face. It sounds like you should try that out if you get a chance.

kruczek 9y ago

I only got to try one "phone VR" setup and it was a very underwhelming experience. There was very little synchronization between head movements and actual change of the image; I didn't feel immersed into the virtual world at all, it was more like watching a 3D movie. I wonder what was your experience with immersion in those phone setups? I also got to try Vive and it's completely another league - I'd say it's as much better as it is more expensive :)