Last night (after completing the last blog post.. that I actually wish I could write in VR, as that would be fucking awesome), I put my headset back on and tried to install some of the VR games I already have. Subnautica, Race the Sun, and even Google Earth VR.
The first two games I mentioned, both require a controller (not hand controllers, a game controller. Aka my PS4 controller). They also require a keyboard/mouse, and that’s hilarious when you got something over your eyes, and you can’t see your keyboard/mouse. It’s like being blind, trying to find things.
And the third… didn’t render right. It’s a known issue, but there’s no fix. Awesome!
Basically, I tell it to run in VR (through SteamVR), but I see nothing coming through the headset (just eternal blackness). I take it off, and see it being rendered on my primary monitor (while tracking the headset). The motion controllers also show up (in the desktop window), but not in the headset. This thing is supposed to have WMR compatibility, but it just doesn’t work right.
There is a workaround that I’ve seen a few people use (and works for them), to use the Microsoft Cliff House and find something that’ll show your Desktop there. I remember seeing something before, closing it out, and I can’t get it back up. So that’s unfortunate.
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Later I decided to join a few friends in VRChat (and surprise anyone that hasn’t seen, that I have VR now). Asked for an invite to this private world they were in, and got sent one. As I was trying to join, I’m getting a call in Discord. Typically this wouldn’t be a problem (with Desktop). But when I only see VRChat (and nothing else), I have to take off my headset, then move my mouse over to Discord, open it up, and accept the call.
They’re telling me to get the beta, saying it’s the only way to see them. Read about this in the VRChat Discord server a few days ago, how you can’t see people that don’t use the Beta (and people who don’t have it, can’t see you if you use it). That’s stupid!!
But after asking if I would be able to opt out (and nothing would be fucked), I got it installed (could only do it in VR though), and got in.
…Immediately, my computer was struggling to stabilize itself. But after awhile, I was getting an FPS about 30-50. Playable at least. I was also stuck in that full body tracking bug I had before (with VRChat assuming I was using full body, because I’m always in a seated position). Gripped both the primary triggers and was able to regain control of my avatar’s arms and hands (as I was taught before).
Trying out the camera, it feels so much more stable in the hands. Plus they swapped the buttons around, making it easier to press them! There is also a new Safety tab, that you can control seeing particle effects and stuff. VERY nice for VR users! Even in Desktop, some particle effects nearly blinded me.
These are the only options I actually liked about the beta. The rest, they really need to polish.
At the end, I decided to opt out (and so did everyone else), feeling the beta was way too buggy. One was unable to even use the beta anymore.
Good attempt, but as I said, it needs polishing.
Anyway, today I plan to solo both of the HDS worlds in VR. OOF! Going to be a new experience. Though I feel, given with how massive the size of these worlds are, it’s going to run like shit on my computer. But, I said that with VRChat in general. I’ll never know until I try.