4 ms·

I was extremely skeptical of VR until I got a Quest 2 and spent a bit of time with it. I used to think it was just a tech gimmick that added no value, but I thi

by epgui 4y ago

I was extremely skeptical of VR until I got a Quest 2 and spent a bit of time with it. I used to think it was just a tech gimmick that added no value, but I think I was wrong and I've completely reversed my stance on the idea. This device is still rather primitive and far from great, but IMO it's just good enough to show you what's possible in the very near future. I still really hate facebook/meta and don't have a lot of faith that they can make the world a better place, but I now feel like VR can add a lot of real value and is fundamentally a good goal.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
Helitico 4y ago
But what do you do with it? How often? How is your long term motivation?
- shafyy 4y ago
  No OP, but I mostly use it to play "hangout" games with friends who live in different countries, such as ping pong or minigolf. Much more fun to hang out and play a casual game and talk than sitting in a Zoom call with them. Sometimes I also play a quick round of Beat Saber or some other game. How often? Couple of hours a month Long term motivation? Do more social stuff with remote friends and, once it's more comfortable to wear for more than two hours straight, also work in VR.
- westoncb 4y ago
  Also not OP, but I use my quest 2 just about every day, so I could share a bit. I've gone through phases since purchasing it where there is one game or another that I get into, but the general theme has been something with a 'physical' aspect to it + skill development (Beat Saber is a characteristic example here). The exception from that theme was when Half-life Alyx came out—I enjoyed it and put a good amount of time into it. Similarly, when I've felt more social I've deviated from my usual pattern and used Big Screen VR (social movie/tv watching app with virtual theaters/lobby) to hang out and talk with others. Currently—and this has been going on for months—I play Zombieland VR: Headshot Fever daily. My sessions are typically between 20min and 1hr. For me it's a great way to get into "flow" because it forces you to keep your attention on your external environment, precisely control your actions (i.e. aim accurately), waste absolutely as little time as possible (the goal is to beat levels in smallest amount of time, compete with others on high score list)—and the biggest selling point: I can do this while standing up and moving around a bit, it's not going to keep me at my desk where I've already been all day. I've been using the headset regularly since I bought it (a couple months after it was first released). I've gone through "dry spells" with it where I kind of forgot about it or didn't have anything I felt like playing—but mostly I've found consistent use for it.
  - Helitico 4y ago
    I thought i would use it daily but i have to say that i'm getting swetty too fast. So is this part of your moning routine? Waking up, doing vr sport, showering?
    - westoncb 4y ago
      I usually do it right after work or on a break. I would sweat from beat saber, but not so much from the zombie land game.
mathstuf 4y ago
I find it very underwhelming (and I was already suspicious to begin with). My wife got one for a conference and after doing the First Steps and being used for her conference, it's basically just gathered dust other than showing friends First Steps (after recharging it because it's just been sitting in its box for weeks or months). The Jurassic Park/World/whatever game was OK, but I was basically bored after an hour or two (I did not find it very immersive at least). Certainly not groundbreaking. My mom has it now and enjoys the roller coaster sim (which is quite vertigo-inducing and limits the playtime substantially), but without shelling out cash for unknown-quality software (something I find too risky at their price points) it's basically just a few gimmicks so far in my experience.
- oneoff786 4y ago
  Same. I’m always surprised by all these people on HN who claim to have had epiphanies trying the product. Especially the ones who seem to think wireless is the game changer when you’re still walking around a 5x5m space and relying on other inputs for actual movement.
  - Kiro 4y ago
    Wireless is a game changer. Being able to just put it on and play is a blessing compared to the last generation and the ability to turn around 360 without worrying about getting entangled makes the experience so much better. Sounds like VR is not for you, and that's fine, but mocking people who think wireless is a big deal is just nonsense.
    - oneoff786 4y ago
      It’s on the same level to me as grandma shocked that we can send videos over text.
  - towaway15463 4y ago
    Wireless is a game changer when I’m playing Pavlov and constantly sweeping back and forth looking for other players or quickly reloading or ducking behind cover or pretty much anything because the worst thing to have happen in a fire fight is to get your arms tangled in your cable.
towaway15463 4y ago
My secret wish is that Zuck has a come to Jesus moment and ditches the creepy adtech business in favour of building real hardware and software that delivers real value to people allowing them to socialize with people around the world. I feel like they’ve taken the first few steps in that direction but I’m very worried that they will just keep selling attention and data out of greed and inertia.

by epgui 4y ago

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

Helitico 4y ago

But what do you do with it? How often? How is your long term motivation?

shafyy 4y ago
No OP, but I mostly use it to play "hangout" games with friends who live in different countries, such as ping pong or minigolf. Much more fun to hang out and play a casual game and talk than sitting in a Zoom call with them. Sometimes I also play a quick round of Beat Saber or some other game. How often? Couple of hours a month Long term motivation? Do more social stuff with remote friends and, once it's more comfortable to wear for more than two hours straight, also work in VR.
westoncb 4y ago
Also not OP, but I use my quest 2 just about every day, so I could share a bit. I've gone through phases since purchasing it where there is one game or another that I get into, but the general theme has been something with a 'physical' aspect to it + skill development (Beat Saber is a characteristic example here). The exception from that theme was when Half-life Alyx came out—I enjoyed it and put a good amount of time into it. Similarly, when I've felt more social I've deviated from my usual pattern and used Big Screen VR (social movie/tv watching app with virtual theaters/lobby) to hang out and talk with others. Currently—and this has been going on for months—I play Zombieland VR: Headshot Fever daily. My sessions are typically between 20min and 1hr. For me it's a great way to get into "flow" because it forces you to keep your attention on your external environment, precisely control your actions (i.e. aim accurately), waste absolutely as little time as possible (the goal is to beat levels in smallest amount of time, compete with others on high score list)—and the biggest selling point: I can do this while standing up and moving around a bit, it's not going to keep me at my desk where I've already been all day. I've been using the headset regularly since I bought it (a couple months after it was first released). I've gone through "dry spells" with it where I kind of forgot about it or didn't have anything I felt like playing—but mostly I've found consistent use for it.
- Helitico 4y ago
  I thought i would use it daily but i have to say that i'm getting swetty too fast. So is this part of your moning routine? Waking up, doing vr sport, showering?
  - westoncb 4y ago
    I usually do it right after work or on a break. I would sweat from beat saber, but not so much from the zombie land game.

mathstuf 4y ago

I find it very underwhelming (and I was already suspicious to begin with). My wife got one for a conference and after doing the First Steps and being used for her conference, it's basically just gathered dust other than showing friends First Steps (after recharging it because it's just been sitting in its box for weeks or months). The Jurassic Park/World/whatever game was OK, but I was basically bored after an hour or two (I did not find it very immersive at least). Certainly not groundbreaking. My mom has it now and enjoys the roller coaster sim (which is quite vertigo-inducing and limits the playtime substantially), but without shelling out cash for unknown-quality software (something I find too risky at their price points) it's basically just a few gimmicks so far in my experience.

oneoff786 4y ago
Same. I’m always surprised by all these people on HN who claim to have had epiphanies trying the product. Especially the ones who seem to think wireless is the game changer when you’re still walking around a 5x5m space and relying on other inputs for actual movement.
- Kiro 4y ago
  Wireless is a game changer. Being able to just put it on and play is a blessing compared to the last generation and the ability to turn around 360 without worrying about getting entangled makes the experience so much better. Sounds like VR is not for you, and that's fine, but mocking people who think wireless is a big deal is just nonsense.
  - oneoff786 4y ago
    It’s on the same level to me as grandma shocked that we can send videos over text.
- towaway15463 4y ago
  Wireless is a game changer when I’m playing Pavlov and constantly sweeping back and forth looking for other players or quickly reloading or ducking behind cover or pretty much anything because the worst thing to have happen in a fire fight is to get your arms tangled in your cable.

towaway15463 4y ago

My secret wish is that Zuck has a come to Jesus moment and ditches the creepy adtech business in favour of building real hardware and software that delivers real value to people allowing them to socialize with people around the world. I feel like they’ve taken the first few steps in that direction but I’m very worried that they will just keep selling attention and data out of greed and inertia.