A Few Questions About V.R.

[LoneWolf]

I've wanted to get VR for a while, but it's always been expensive, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend as much as a PC just for the headset; although it's impressive, it seems like fewer games are using it and more studios are viewing it as a gimmick since the majority of gamers don't get a headset due to the cost and some limitations.
Now that Quest 4 is out for about $400, and it can supposedly also be used outside of Facebook/"Meta," I'm considering getting it to experience Riven and a few other games, but I have a few questions:

- If I don't intend to use it on Meta, do I need a Facebook account for it to work/to activate it? Eg. certain Apple products used to require a Mac to activate, and if you didn't pay attention to the requirements you were SOL. I cancelled my account, and don't intend to ever return.

- Can it be used with Index controllers? I've heard they're better than the controllers for other VR headsets.

- Can the headset also detect height, or only rotation and horizontal movement? Can the Index detect vertical motion?

- Can it be used as a monitor for the PC, for playing Non-VR games and movies, browsing the web, etc.?

- What's the battery life like? Can it be plugged in to play if the battery is low?

- Does it need to be connected to PCs through a wired connection? Eg USB.

- How is audio? Is it loud enough for people hard of hearing/who have hearing loss.

- Can it be worn comfortably over glasses without squishing them down, against the face, or against the ears? and are the displays/lenses adjustable/customizable?

- Is it more resource intensive than the Index, and what do people prefer about the Index over the Quest.

[Jarilo]

It's absolutely worth it experiencing games in VR.

" ...and what do people prefer about the Index over the Quest?"

For me it is (FOV, Audio, direct PCVR connection, light house tracking, Index Controllers, mic quality, all included as in I don't have to dig for new head-strap to improve comfort or anything of that sort, and long game session comfort) negatives are (dated screen resolution, wired, price).

I recommend trying VR somewhere before buying it, some get massively ill.

[Hellish Fiend]

Not an expert, but as far as I know, these are the correct answers to your questions:

Facebook Account Requirement: No, you do not need a Facebook account to use or activate the Quest 4.

Index Controllers Compatibility: No, the Quest 4 is not compatible with Index controllers.

Motion Detection: The Quest 4 can detect height, rotation, and horizontal movement, and the Index can also detect vertical motion.

Monitor Use: Yes, the Quest 4 can be used as a monitor for playing non-VR games, watching movies, browsing the web, etc.

Battery Life and Plug-in Play: The battery life is around 2-3 hours, and it can be plugged in to play when the battery is low.

Wired Connection Requirement: No, the Quest 4 can connect to PCs wirelessly, but a USB connection can also be used.

Audio Quality: The audio is decent, but those with hearing loss might need external headphones for better sound.

Comfort Over Glasses: Yes, it can be worn comfortably over glasses, and the displays/lenses are adjustable.

Resource Intensity and Index Comparison: The Quest 4 is less resource-intensive than the Index, and people prefer the Index for its superior tracking, controller precision, and display quality.

[Paul]

1. the latest is quest 3 not 4 and no you don't need a facebook account, just a meta account.

2. it comes with really good controllers so you don't need index ones.

3. yes it detects all motions, so i've played shooters where i've crouched down and rolled around on the floor etc

4. yes it can display multiple monitors virtually, it can mirror anything you see on your actual monitor or make multiple virtual monitors of whatever you want.

5. i think the battery life is a few hours, depends if you're streaming from the pc (via wifi/usb cable) or if you're running a game on the headset. i have a battery pack addon so i cant remember what the stock time is.

6. you can connect to usb to put games on it or run a pc vr game with it. you can connect via wifi if you have a decent router which is most peoples preferred method of playing pc games.

7. audio is very good it has a headphone jack for wearing headphones/earbuds and also built-in speakers.

8. yes you can, there's a faceplate insert to make a bit of extra room for glasses and you can also send your prescription to a company that will make custom lenses for it so you don't need your glasses.

9. no difference to index, in terms of resources. i've never used index but i think it is technically a bit higher quality in some ways (at 2/3x the price) but the quest offers you a full portable solution with no pc required and hundreds of vr titles that run straight on the headset as well as being able to hook up to pc vr games, thats why i went with quest.

[Little Strawberry]

Originally posted by LoneWolf:

I've wanted to get VR for a while, but it's always been expensive, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend as much as a PC just for the headset; although it's impressive, it seems like fewer games are using it and more studios are viewing it as a gimmick since the majority of gamers don't get a headset due to the cost and some limitations.

Keep in mind that there aren't that many jumps in VR headset tech. Even the CV1 from 8 years ago has been competitive for a very long time, because generally the product improvements are tradeoffs for convenience (such as trading the old dedicated sensors for the new in and out tracking, which is worse, or wireless modes). If you see a headset now that you like and feel like it provides enough convenience to you for you to use it often enough, then chances are you can use it for the next 10 years still (albeit replacement parts eventually become a problem). I think Quest, Oculus Rift and Index stuff can be used together too, at least the Index/CV cameras can used additionally.

For the second part, keep in mind that a lot of games have VR mods and there are tools available to make games playable in VR. You can also put yourself into a theater and just play it on a large virtual monitor too as if it was a 2d desktop, or several.

[LoneWolf]

Thanks for the responses, everyone, I appreciate them. Almost forgot to reply - whoops!
But I have a few more questions now after reading them. Let's hope I remembered all.

"you don't need a facebook account, just a meta account." - Paul
isn't that the same thing? I don't want any account with them. From the other replies it seemed I could use the headset with Steam or other 3rd party games and never need to access FB/"Meta."

"The Quest 4 is less resource-intensive than the Index" - Hellish Fiend
How is that, when the resolution in each eye of the Quest is higher than the Index?

"people prefer the Index for its superior tracking, controller precision, and display quality." - Hellish Fiend
It sounds like the tracking of the Quest is occasionally/frequently inaccurate, jittery, or feels like it's lagging; I can't stand any feeling of lag, does that mean I will dislike the Quest?
The Quest is supposed to have a higher resolution in each eye and less SDE, so how is the display of the Index superior?

"you can also send your prescription to a company that will make custom lenses for it so you don't need your glasses." - Hellish Fiend
That's cool. Can you also easily switch them back to regular lenses, so you can let other users use them?

" it comes with really good controllers so you don't need index ones." - Paul
So why do people prefer Index controllers?

For me it is (FOV, Audio, direct PCVR connection, light house tracking, - Jarilo
Is the FOV of the Quest not adjustable? Is it small? Doesn't the Quest have less screen door effect?
Why is the pcvr connection of the Index better for you? What do you mean by "light house tracking" and how is it better?

Motion Detection: The Quest 4 can detect height, rotation, and horizontal movement, - Hellish Fiend
Can I also set it so it won't track vertical movement/height so it can be used for seated-VR without affecting the in-game height?


Side thought, not too important if it's too much to text to read:
"I recommend trying VR somewhere before buying it, some get massively ill. " - Jarilo
There isn't anywhere nearby to try out headsets. I tried one a few years ago at a Best Buy - Robo something - but they only had it set up to use blink movement - probably because they knew people would get sick if you traveled around in the game. I get motion sick in planes and in sometimes in vehicles that make quick turns when someone else is driving (apparently the brain can't make sense of it because it creates a disconnection between what you see and the actual movement, thereby creating sickness), but I figured I'd just take some motion-sickness medication, like Dramamine, and maybe I would get used to it with time; others have stated the motion sickness has lessened for them through repeated use over time.