Question VR: Can I integrate it into my computing habits?

[BarryJI]

I've been asking this question whenever I've bought a new high-performance gaming PC over the last ten years. Now that my current desktop is on its last legs and I'm expecting delivery of a new one, as usual I am grappling once again with the prospect of VR. I do not really know the current state of the technology from the consumer's point of view, nor its ease of use or benefits. My serious flight simmer friends swear by it, of course, as do the competitive racing die-hards but I have made the decision not to festoon my new setup with all the necessary peripherals for either of those two hobbies because I am not sure that my current level of commitment justifies all the work that I know is involved in setting up a PC for those pursuits when it also has to be my "daily driver". If I use VR for gaming, it will probably be for keyboard and mouse only games but I don't want to exclude the possibility of finding it useful for other applications. My new rig will run VR at a very high level but I am asking for opinions now for the following reasons:

-- My home office set up is physically restricted in that the PC sits under a built-in desk that will not grant easy access to the rear of the case once it is installed. Therefore, if I want to install VR I will need to do it as part of the initial setup. I do not know anything about the current state/practicality of VR hardware. Can anyone comment re. what a PC VR install involves, i.e. what plugs into the rear of a PC, what additional peripherals are needed apart from the headset (controllers, sensors, etc.), and how many USB slots would I need to make available. Perhaps one dedicated powered USB hub? What wired and wireless gizmos need to be set up around my space? Is the VR user these days tethered to the PC by a wire?

-- What are the principal, practical consumer-based uses for VR these days, both for work and for leisure, apart from gaming and flight/race simming? I am receptive to all sorts of possible applications but I do not know the current state of the tech as a consumer product; sometimes it seems to me that it's still essentially in a transitional state, waiting for the next big evolutionary step.

I'd appreciate some guidance here. If I find there's a basis for acquiring/installing VR, I will go ahead and research brands/systems, etc. but at the moment I am not sure how to integrate it into my PC-centered habits and interests. If I were still an avid flight and racing simmer it would be a no-brainer but, as I mentioned, I don't think my enthusiasm for those hobbies justifies the intense commitment required to integrate all of the necessary devices and peripherals into my workspace. A dedicated PC/gaming chair/pedals/joystick setup would be different but I don't have the space and have decided that my home office PC, in its limited home-office space, will be my only gaming platform. Thanks!

 

[ThereAndBackAgain]

Can anyone comment re. what a PC VR install involves, i.e. what plugs into the rear of a PC, what additional peripherals are needed apart from the headset (controllers, sensors, etc.), and how many USB slots would I need to make available. Perhaps one dedicated powered USB hub? What wired and wireless gizmos need to be set up around my space? Is the VR user these days tethered to the PC by a wire?

This depends on the headset, but generally speaking, they'll connect directly to your GPU via a DisplayPort cable. Valve's Index headset also requires a USB 3.0 cable connection for some reason. And it appears, if I'm understanding their website right, that the Meta Quest 3 PC Link works with just a USB 3.0 cable.

Wireless connection over Wi-Fi is apparently also possible with the Meta Quest 3, but I can't imagine (having no experience with it myself) that such a connection would be free from latency issues, which I would think would be particularly dire in a VR context. But maybe it works just fine, I don't know.

-- What are the principal, practical consumer-based uses for VR these days, both for work and for leisure, apart from gaming and flight/race simming? I am receptive to all sorts of possible applications but I do not know the current state of the tech as a consumer product; sometimes it seems to me that it's still essentially in a transitional state, waiting for the next big evolutionary step.

I don't think there's a whole lot of practical use for VR, except perhaps for some very specific use cases. You can set up a virtual monitor, but I think you'd be better off just using an actual monitor for productivity.

Do you have any experience with VR? I wouldn't recommend investing heavily into a generally expensive and niche hobby unless you're quite sure you'd enjoy it and make use of it.

 

[BarryJI]

This is all useful information and extremely sage advice. Many thanks, ThereAndBackAgain.

 

[boju]

I've had the Meta Quest 3 for a few months now and love it. Bought the 512gb version.

Virtual desktop is bought from Meta for $25 US. This app is used to link headset to pc over wifi. Wifi 6 is recommended (1200mbps / 80mhz is fine, 2400Mbps 160mhz would be better if your router can do it) to play vr games like HL Alyx. There's no lag or anything over wifi but sometimes playing Alyx if i duck too quickly it glitches a little, nothing game breaking though.

Running Virtual desktop puts pc in to high performance mode and disables screen saver, just so you're aware of that, i was wondering at first what was going on but found out the program is designed that way to get the most out of VR. I turn monitor off when i play. Exiting VD app on computer returns power plan / screen saver as it was prior.

There are lots of games you can get for the Quest 3 from Meta store. UI in the headset is easy to navigate, store, settings menu etc, it's like a tablet really.

If you like mini golf, Walkabout mini golf from Meta store is awesome. Can get this game on Steam but I got and installed directly to the headset from Meta browsing the online store.

Also when not using headset remove the controller AA battery, seems when the headset is turned off they still drain.

Search Quest 3 Newdery neck power bank, you'll want one for longer playthroughs. Battery in headset doesn't last long, probably 3 to 4 hrs. I got 10k mAh Newdery, that's an additional 3~4 hrs worth.

 

[BarryJI]

Many thanks for this.

 

[BarryJI]

I gather you can tether a Meta Quest 3 to a highly capable gaming PC. What is that connection, please? USB? And, apart from high-quality graphical output, what does it offer re. playing the games on the computer through the headset? I'm assuming you can only play games specifically built for VR? Sorry but I'm new to this.

 

[boju]

Can connect headset using usb 3, the headset usb port uses usbc so a usbc to usb 3 cable would work.

Look around for discussions about usb cable lengths for Quest 3, i haven't gone this route to know exactly how long usb cables can be. Example, search Meta Quest 3 connect usb cable to pc reddit.

I've only played designed vr games butyou can play normal 2d games with virtual desktop.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Quest3/s/dQCB544vBG

 

[boju]

Some more info and Meta staff response regarding cables.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/s/tlsCDFBtva

Official cable is pricey. Another person there got this cable for fraction of the price, https://www.amazon.com/Kuject-Separate-Charging-Ultra-Durable-Accessories/dp/B09TN25765 would help better with the battery drain. Even then, battery drain is so low with a non extra powered cable that you wouldn't play long enough to really matter.

 

[QyInvoLing]

Have you tried to go to an Apple shop and try the Vision Pro? After a try, I abandoned the idea of using it as a virtual monitor.

 

[ThereAndBackAgain]

Virtual desktop is bought from Meta for $25 US. This app is used to link headset to pc over wifi.

Can't you also just use Meta Quest Air Link to do the same? Or is Virtual Desktop better? I used Virtual Desktop back when I was using my Oculus Go.

 

[BarryJI]

So interesting, there still seems to be no "killer app", i.e. some indispensable, practical use for VR that justifies the expense and the remaining physical inconveniences. Untethered, I see no purpose-built games or apps that really justify the ~ $500 investment, and tethered I see no big immersive advantage over a really good widescreen monitor. I certainly appreciate the responses here so far and am still open to installing VR on my new killer rig but it does appear that the tech has not quite moved out of the early-adopter phase. I'm a bit of a technophile, so I'm susceptible to sexy VR/AR/MR but I struggle to divine a practical purpose.

 

[Wolfshadw]

A few years ago, I dipped my toe into the VR world when I purchased the Lenovo Explorer VR/AR headset. I also purchased the Steam app VR Desktop. I tried a few VR demos that worked fairly well. I viewed just about every major tourist spot with Google Earth, and I had hoped that I'd get a couple of AAA games to work (but that's just my laziness). I was hoping to get Mechwarrior Online working on this system, but I would have had to download an arc app to make the two systems compatible and I didn't want to do that. I was also hoping to get Star Wars: Squadrons running, but couldn't get my joystick configured correctly (again, my laziness).

The main issue I have with my VR system is that after about 30 minutes, the weight of the unit starts to give me a headache so extended game play is definitly out of the question.

Again, this is only with my personal experience with my one VR Headset (which mostly sits to the side, gathering dust). Given how old my unit is, I probably would not consider replacing it with a newer unit.

-Wolf sends

 

[boju]

Can't you also just use Meta Quest Air Link to do the same? Or is Virtual Desktop better? I used Virtual Desktop back when I was using my Oculus Go.

Can use Airlink, haven't used it myself. For Alyx / Steam VR games VD seems to be preferred looking at user reviews.

 

[BarryJI]

This doesn't surprise me at all. Beyond flight and racing sims, I simply cannot find a single non-frivolous application for VR that can possibly justify the expense or the ergonomic compromises. And I have looked hard. Obviously dissenting opinions are welcome while I wait for my new desktop to arrive.

Meta is laying off employees in Reality Labs

 

[Wolfshadw]

And you hit on the key point there. The expense. Now if I had sufficient, expendable funds, I'd probably have two headsets: one for my cockpit for the afore-mentioned racing and flight sims and another for my first-person shooters, provided I had one of these:

Virtuix
Kat Walk

Of course, I'd also need space in my home to house such items (which I don't currently have). But 20-30 minutes a day in one of these units/games would probably get you/keep you in shape.

-Wolf sends

 

[BarryJI]

Very interesting. But you can't play just any old shooter in VR, right? Or can you? My assumption has always been that a game would need to be designed for VR from the ground up, like Alyx. Plus, I think I'd prefer to remain seated while playing FPS games, which in turn means that keyboard and mouse will still be the most ergonomic input method, no?

As for flight and racing sims, I am about to make a sad decision. I have played both to a pretty high level, including learning the most advanced aircraft modules in DCS, with TrackIR, and doing iRacing and many other high-fidelity racing sims with a Fanatec steering wheel awkwardly clamped to my desk and pedals that I cannot bolt to the floor. My very pleasant but small home office cannot accommodate all the equipment I would now need to pursue one of these hobbies, let alone both, with VR on top and I am now convinced that the only solution to the challenge represented by having to make all these systems work together without huge compromises in ergonomics, usability and having to use my office for non-simming purposes is to use a purpose-built rig with its own dedicated PC. I would do this if a had a man-cave or somewhere else where there's enough room but there isn't and I think my days of elaborate adaptive jury-rigging are over; it has to be all or nothing. You really can't drive fast laps consistently sitting upright in an office chair and to a lesser extent the same goes for flight simming; the time when one could get the most out of this hobby by putting a joystick and throttle on one's desk are over, simply because the hardware available now is so good but also bulky, expensive and not fully exploitable without a dedicated rig setup. It's a shame, really, because my new PC will have astonishing capability...I just don't have the space for all the simming equipment. VR in its current state is not worth the candle as a substitute

 

[Wolfshadw]

There are some add-ons for some games that allow you play them in VR even though the game wasn't originally designed for it. Doom and Mechwarrior Online are two that I can think of.

As for Flight/Racing sims, I never really got into those. I know there are(were) gaming cockpits designed for all the good peripherals, but if as you say, space is limited, then that's not a solution either.

-Wolf sends

 

[boju]

Yeah do need some space. Doable standing in 2 meter by 2 meter square but the boundary line warning mesh as you (headset) or controllers are getting near would often show interrupting immersion. Alyx, you couldn't play sitting down as you'd be walking around like you're kneeling down as the game tracks where your head is at. Covering behind low laying objects during gun fights is part of the game so you'll be squatting a bit. Good exercise though lol.