10 VR Tips You Need to Know
When you buy a VR headset, it always comes with a user manual. This manual tells you exactly how to connect the VR headset, how to charge it, how to turn it on/off, and in some cases, how to download the appropriate software. But often it doesn't include how to best hang your VR cables, or which apps are handy to download additionally. In this blog, we therefore put together some useful tips for you so that you can get started with your new VR headset well-prepared!
Tip 1: When putting on the VR headset, first place the front against your face
A common mistake when putting on a VR headset is that the user doesn't loosen the straps and just puts the headset directly onto their head. This firstly causes the VR headset not to sit comfortably on the head, but it can also cause the headset to break or the lenses to get dirty (for example when the lenses touch your hair). Therefore, it is recommended to first open all the straps of the VR headset. Then place the front of the VR headset against your face (and immediately check whether the lenses are properly positioned in front of your eyes). You can do this by holding the VR headset like binoculars in front of your face. Once you have the VR headset at the right height against your face, you can pull the top strap over your head. The back of the headset should be in a straight line with the front of the headset.
Tip 2: Add a strap to the controllers
Most VR headset controllers come with a strap that you can attach around your wrist. This prevents you from throwing the controller across the room during an overly enthusiastic game of Beat Saber. It is always recommended to secure this strap around your wrist, but did you know that there are also additional straps that you can attach the controllers to the back of your hand? The controllers of the Valve Index are already delivered with this option, but you can also add this strap to the Meta Quest 2 controllers, for example. This not only ensures more safety, but also allows you to rest the controller in your hand more easily without having to hold it tightly all the time.
Tip 3: Hang up the cables with a VR cable management system
Hanging your cables with a cable management system seems like a logical step, but there are still plenty of people who don't do this. Of course, it's not always possible or convenient to stick your cables to the ceiling with stickers (for example when you have a very high ceiling, or when you want to use the VR headset in different places), but when you use the VR headset in a standard location, hanging up your VR cables is strongly recommended. This prevents the cable from wrapping around you while playing. And if anything takes you out of the VR experience, it's that. Extra tip: you can use the cable management system by simply hanging it against the ceiling and laying the VR cable through it, but you can also do it way. this
Would you rather not hang the cable from the ceiling? Then you can also clip the cable to your pants. Attach a carabiner to your belt, for example, and let the headset cable run to the ground via the carabiner. Make sure that you leave enough cable length to the headset so that you can move freely.
Tip 4: Keep the VR headset out of the sun
Keep your VR headset out of the sun at all times. Or rather: keep the lenses out of the sun. A VR headset can handle sunlight just fine (although it can sometimes have a negative effect on tracking), but especially the lenses are very sensitive to sunlight. The lenses of a VR headset work like a magnifying glass. If you hold the lenses in the sunlight for just a few seconds, the screen behind the lenses can burn in. This results in a dark spot in the lenses and almost always falls outside the warranty of the VR headset. It is therefore recommended not to use the VR headset outdoors, but if you do; be extra careful not to lay the headset with the lenses facing the sun.
Tip 5: Create a VR space where you can safely move around
Nothing is as annoying as accidentally hitting a wall or chair while playing in VR. Therefore, create a separate play space for yourself where you know there is nothing in the way that you can bump into. It can also be useful to lay down a rug, for example, so you can feel exactly where you are walking in the room. When you step off the rug, you know you are out of your playfield and need to be a little careful with where you walk. Extra tip: you can also set your guardian in the virtual space. You are quickly tempted to make this space as large as possible, but try to leave about half a meter of space "over" so you have a safe margin in case you accidentally step outside your guardian.
Tip 6: Start with an easy VR game or experience
If you have never done anything with VR before, it is best to start with a simple game. This way, you can gradually discover the VR headset and how the controllers work, without being put off by difficult controls or a game where you don't understand the movements. Some fun games to start with are: Beat Saber, The Lab, Tukt Brush, Space Pirate Trainer, etc. These games are designed so that you don't have to press many different buttons to play the game. They are therefore also fun games to show to someone who is playing a VR game for the first time.
Extra tip: read our blog 10 Best VR Multiplayer Games to find a few fun VR games that you can play with friends.
Tip 7: Close your eyes when you feel nauseous during play
A common problem with VR is that it can make you feel nauseous. This nausea is called 'motion sickness'. Your brain sees something happening in virtual reality, while your body is not moving along. This can happen, for example, when you are in a virtual reality roller coaster, or when you are falling in virtual reality as in the popular game Richie's Plank Experience. You really have the feeling that you are falling, while your body is standing still. If you can't handle this feeling well, it is recommended to simply close your eyes. When you do this, you will immediately notice that you no longer have any problems.
Tip 8: Prevent fogging on the lenses
Especially when you are playing actively, you will notice that some fogging can occur around the lenses. This is often due to breathing or sweat - the principle works the same as when your glasses or sunglasses fog up. Most VR headsets nowadays have active cooling in the headset itself which reduces the amount of condensation on the lenses. But do you notice that your lenses are still fogging up? Then take off the VR headset and try to put it on with a bit more open space at the nose. This allows more air to come between the glasses which helps prevent a layer of condensation. Extra tip: want to wipe the lenses clean? Never do this with a toilet roll or your t-shirt. Use a microfiber cloth in combination with the VR lens cleaner spray for this.
Tip 9: Set the IPD correctly from the start
IPD stands for 'Inter-Pupillary Distance' - the distance between the eyes. This can be adjusted on almost every VR headset. The IPD setting ensures that the lenses are properly positioned in front of your eyes. Because everyone has a different distance between the eyes (some eyes are close together, while others are further apart), it is important that this is properly adjusted for everyone who plays with the headset.
Tip 10: Cast your screen to a TV
Playing alone with a VR headset is fun, but when you do it with a group, it's even more fun! Did you know that you can also cast the screen of your VR headset to a mobile phone or a TV screen? Most new smartphones can cast by default (for example via the Oculus app), but for a TV screen, you often need an extra Chromecast. You connect this via a USB connection to the TV. Then in the VR headset settings, you can choose to stream to a screen.
When you're using a PC VR headset and you've connected the HDMI cable adapter to a PC monitor, others can obviously watch along on the computer. But would you rather stream it to a different TV screen? You can still do this with a Chromecast.
