Virtual Reality (VR) is all the hype these days! And no wonder – who doesn’t want a fully immersive experience? The trouble is, if you are new to VR then it can be daunting, with all the equipment and technology involved, where do you start?
In this post, we have broken down the basics of the VR gaming equipment you need to get started. You can then scale it up or down depending on your individual budget.
Headset
The most important piece of equipment you will need to get started is a VR headset. Depending on your budget, you can choose a high end or low end choice. On the low end, you can choose a headset made from plastic or cardboard, where you can slot your smartphone in. All you need is the specific programs/apps on your device to experience the 3D world of VR. On the other end of the spectrum, if you have money to spend, you can purchase a quality headset. However, you cannot just plug in and play. Higher end headsets require specific computer apps, games and hardware.
Accessories
From hand sensored gloves to treadmills, there are many different accessories you can add to the VR bundle to enhance your experience. However, it does depend on what you want to use VR for. Some serious gamers who prefer combat / war games are more likely to opt for specialised controller or even hand sensored gloves to help enhance their competitive advantage, being able to detect your whole body movements or headphones so you can hear when you competitors creep up on you, while others might choose treadmills for exercise or joypads for puzzles for brain juice. Whatever the goal – there are many accessories to choose from to level up your VR experience!
Find your games
Finding the games you want to play depends on the device you are playing on. VR games can be played on PCs, laptops, smart phones and most gaming consoles. So you will need to ensure the console and headset you chose, hosts the VR games you want to play. Most have app stores you can browse and download the game or app onto the device.
Augmented reality vs virtual reality
Augmented reality is similar to VR, but does not give quite the same immersive experience. Many users get confused and often purchase the wrong apps/hardware, so it is important to note the difference. Augmented reality uses a real life environment, enhanced by computers for users to enjoy an interactive experience. It shows you the real world, but with a computer generated enhancement overlay. Think of apps like Pokemon Go, Snapchat and Instagram filters. These apps combine the two: computer enhancements and real world experiences.
The future of virtual reality
One could argue the technology around VR has grown rapidly, but there is not stopping anytime soon! Although VR is primarily used for gamers, technology companies are exploring its use in other areas too. For example, you might now see headsets available in architecture or real estate companies, giving you the immersive experience of a property/building before purchase. In the future, we might even see the use of VR within our healthcare system, within education, entertainment, journalism and the way we communicate with one another.
VR seems to be taking the world by storm!