The next generation of gaming is here and it is termed as VR or virtual reality. This is where the gamer is taken off his chair and put in the middle of the game. You can walk, run, and move from side to side, use your hands and feet to do things in the game. All this is bringing in what had once been only science fiction fantasies. The video game players are overwhelmed with the magnitude of possibilities the virtual reality games can do. Best of all, virtual reality is gaining popularity by the day, simply because of its great possibilities which are not only for gaming. Close competitors for the VR headset market include HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and Samsung Gear VR.
An Intro to Virtual Reality…
The best thing about Virtual Reality is that there are plenty of games to play, and applications to use. Most of the Virtual Reality games are action and adventure games. There are even special guns made for such games. The gun may be a little heavy to carry around for long periods at times, but it surely gives a more realistic feeling to action games on VR. Virtual reality games have already shown the signs to be the next step in gaming. The days when you sat on the sofa, glued to your monitor is over and now players are actually been dragged inside the games, making a revolutionary new step in the gaming world.
Adventure and survival games are another new frontiers in the virtual reality games. These games aim to allow you to move around, gather resources, fight off the occasional predator and enjoy the scenic beauty of the virtual world as you move on. The virtual world is boundless as it will let you fly from one solar system to the other and dive among the blue whales in the deep ocean, all from the comforts of your home.
The virtual reality gaming consoles like HTC Vive are just coming to the market. The industry is still at an early stage and there is a lot of room for improvement. However, the gaming community is already moving towards the virtual reality games. More and more game developers have recognized the power of virtual gaming and are allocating more of their resources to develop new games.
What is HTC Vive…
The HTC Vive, a new creation by HTC, is leading VR headset in the VR market. This VR headset allows you to play with your friends in a virtual environment. Just as the cost is a premium, the set-up for the Vive is easy and the gaming console works relatively smoothly, especially compared to the competitors. Not only is the Vive compatible with many games published on Steam VR, but it is the most popular of all headsets. With more popularity for the headset, you can expect more firmware updates and a longer period before obsoletion. Moreover, you can buy a lot of third party accessories to attach to the headset in order to enhance your gaming experiences. Most of these accessories are actually priced at a lower rate and will be a nice combination to the main console.
The Oculus Rift VR…
Started out as one of the first game VR headsets, the Oculus Rift was the pioneer personal VR headset in the market. With funding through a Kickstarter in 2012, the Oculus Rift is one of the most popular VR headsets. However, due to this, the Oculus has been in development and released in 2016 by Facebook. Just like other popular VR headsets, the Oculus also comes with a lot of accessories such as a Remote, a Fitting gear, Sensors and even Earphones. However, unlike HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift does not come with a camera built into the headset which means you are unable to use the Oculus Rift for augmented reality. But take care, to use VR, you must also be tethered to a high-end PC to render the virtual reality, which means you can move only in a limited space. But just as this console is expensive, and needs a set-up, means it should be only used for those serious about gaming, otherwise a different option for VR should be considered.
The PlayStation VR…
The first of many, the PlayStation VR is one of the first gaming consoles to implement VR as part of the console. Moreover, it is easier and cheaper to purchase and set-up, unlike other options. Best of all, you only need to have a PS4 VR-ready console to run the VR games. Furthermore, PS4 boasts many VR-ready games, and many of them are adventure games too. Although the PlayStation 4 is one of the first consoles to implement VR, it also means that VR has a long way to go, which may simply mean it will most likely be revamped in the coming years to include even more features which are found in HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. The PlayStation Network also offers many VR exclusives, and although there are games you can play on the VR, it is not as expansive as the Steam VR network. The PlayStation VR is a great option for the casual gamers who are looking to play and not spend an arm-and-leg on buying extra equipment. Of course, all the equipment you need is a PS4 that is VR ready.
What is Samsung Gear VR…
Meant for tech enthusiasts who just want to experience VR, the Samsung Gear VR is not intended for heavy gaming. Although when Samsung Gear is compared to the HTC Vive and PlayStation VR, the Gear comes out at the end, it also comes with certain disadvantages not found in other VR headsets. For example, the Samsung Gear VR is a wireless option, meanwhile, other consoles tend to be wired to prevent latency issues. The Samsung Gear does not come with positional tracking, which means the gaming experience is not the most optimal. Furthermore, the Samsung Gear operates using a mobile device for rendering, which also means the extent of your gaming could also be limited. But this does not mean the Samsung Gear is bad, it simply means it is not as specialized as other VR headsets. Furthermore, considering the price of the Gear compared to the other VR headsets, you might be able to use the headset as a gateway into the VR world. This can help you choose whether to invest in a higher-end gear if you prefer the style of gaming.
Games for VR…
The Steam VR remains a good place to start as you enter the VR gaming. Here you can buy new games of your liking. The Steam VR Home is everything from social sharing to game management and full pledged virtual reality. Here one can have a virtual reality interface, a true advancement from the classic user interface of Steam. For the other systems such as PS4, the PlayStation Network offers a great amount of VR games. Finally, the Samsung Gear also offers some games that are on HTC Vive, however, the list remains to be limited for the time being.
So why wait for more? Go ahead and order your first VR console today itself and jump into the exciting world of virtual reality gaming.
Comparison:
We discuss the following headsets are organized in a way ranking the best (ignoring the price) VR headsets…
| Rank | Name | Expanse Gaming Options |
Special Hardware Needed |
Features | Price | Buy now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HTC Vive |  |
|
- Extra Accessories available - Positional tracking - Motion Controls - Built-in Headphones - 110° FoV - 90 Hz - Room-Scale |
- | |
| 2 | Oculus Rift | |
|
- Extra Accessories available - Positional tracking - Motion Controls (Extra-cost) - Built-in Headphones - 110° FoV - 90 Hz - Room-Scale |
- | |
| 3 | PlayStation 4 VR | |
 |
- Extra Accessories available - Positional tracking - Motion Controls (Extra-cost) - Built-in Headphones - 100° FoV - 120 Hz / 90 Hz - Room-Scale |
$446.79 | |
| 4 | Samsung Gear VR | |
|
- Motion Controls (Extra-cost) - Built-in Headphones - 101° FoV - Battery-operated |
$85.00 |
photo credit: Simon Blackley In a world of his own. (license)
photo credit: Jonas Tana Arcada Eyesight Simulator (AVES). (license)
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