POOLS VR open beta testing

[Kiero]

VR Open Beta is now available!

VR mode is now available for testing. The beta version includes the first chapter of the game and is available in the Windows version for all owners of the full game on Steam.

The beta will also be available for the Demo version of the game later today or tomorrow so everyone interested has an opportunity to dive in. We’ll post an update and edit this post when the Open Beta can be accessed through the Demo version.

How to access the VR beta in Steam

1. Right click the game in Steam and open the Properties window
2. Open Betas-tab
3. Type "poolsvrpublicbeta" without the quotes into the text field and click the button next to it
4. Click “opt into vr-beta-public”
5. Steam should then download the VR beta build of the game for you
6. You can opt in & out of the beta version from the “Beta participation” drop down menu whenever you like

Note: VR is only available for Windows version at the moment. Unfortunately Unity game engine doesn't support building with OpenXR on Linux.

VR Beta feedback, discussion and bug reports

Feel free to have VR mode related discussion, feedback and thoughts on this thread.

If you wish to leave feedback anonymously, we’ve created a Google form where you can give your thoughts about the VR mode:
https://forms.gle/WcfSpDjy2AEq3XcUA

You can also always contact us at our Discord-server https://discord.gg/pools-1151072381478125628 or via e-mail at support(at)tensori.fi

We're especially looking for feedback on how the VR mode works with different types of VR devices, such as Valve Index or Pico VR headsets. We’ve developed and tested the game using Meta Quest 2, 3 and a PlayStation VR2 headset on PC, so any comments about the play experience and SteamVR input rebind tool on different devices is incredibly helpful.

The VR mode has a suite of comfort and accessibility settings. We’d love to hear if you are able to find a combination of these settings that allows for a comfortable VR experience. If you’d like to see a new setting added to the VR mode, please let us know about it on this thread, feedback form, Discord-server, or e-mail.

Have fun!
-Tensori

[Tensori_Sami]

Elevna の投稿を引用：

Tensori_Sami の投稿を引用：

That's true about the performance. We are working on it.

Did you try re-centering your headset in-game to fix the problem with VR height?

Yes, though I doubt it's caused by the game, my quest 3 is generally very buggy and weird. I hate the damn thing. Can't wait for Valve to announce their new one so I can sell this POS

Okay, that sounds frustrating. Thanks for reporting back!

[Mambo McBepis]

This was very awesome experience on the Bigscreen Beyond! I got into a tight tunnel and blocked the light from the other side with my hands, it was quite surreal ;)

Really only issue is the performance. Not sure how much more the game could be optimized, but I had to crank the DLSS to either Performance or Ultra Performance to get a solid 75hz at a reasonable resolution on the Bigscreen Beyond using a RTX 4090.

With that said, very well done! There's always the next generation of GPUs to help out ;)

Hope to see more levels supported soon :)

Edit: I'd also like to see controller-oriented movement over the default head-oriented.

[dillengersplan]

I currently have no issues running the game in non-vr mode at 95+fps at 1440p at max settings on my 5800x3D with a 7900GRE. However the performance in VR with my PSVR2 is pretty low and I have to turn down all the settings and enable FSR1.0 and turn it down to about half-way resolution to achieve smooth game play.

I've also noticed a wobbling/puddle effect while playing. I'm not sure if its an issue specific to the PSVR2, but its extremely distracting and I haven't been able to get past a 10 minute play session.

Regardless, Im still excited about getting the play this in VR!

[Tensori_Sami]

VR Beta 01.01 Update Notes

• improvements to GPU performance:
  - disabled ambient occlusion post processing effect - is baked into lightmaps already
  - changed lit shader mode to forward rendering
  - disabled lighting quality slider from graphics options - defaults to "Minimal" mode with baked lighting
  - fixed a bug where FSR and DLSS upscaling were not fully active in VR mode
  - added a toggle for bloom image effect
  
• added an option to hide VR hands - option "None" in hands model selection dropdown
  
• added support for hand / controller related free movement direction mode
  
• improved toggle run behaviour:
  - toggle mode doesn't change when pause menu is open
  - run toggle is set to off when player stops moving
  
• added support for starting the game in VR mode (new launch option in Steam)
  
• player can now turn in VR main menu

Update is now live for owners of the full game - demo version will be updated later today

[E.coli on Strike]

Hi, I tested the VR test version on my PICO4. The game literally started on my laptop screen, Because when took off, I can see the camera moves with my head set. I also saw a starter UI. But in the headset all the thing stucked at the loading screen before the game starts, or more accurately, the loading screen of this game, with game logo on it, in steam VR. I expect this game on VR so much! Hope you can fix that, a million thanks!

[Mambo McBepis]

Awesome update! Fixed my two biggest issues by adding hand oriented movement and improving DLSS performance. Really the DLSS appears way better with this update and the game runs well on Performance mode with no real change in visual quality.

There were a few minor issues I noticed: First is that I had to reset the SteamVR position, otherwise I was spawned a little below the floor. The other issue was that my graphics settings were not being saved on game close (at least, DLSS settings always default to off when starting the game).

Can't wait to try more levels!

[Tensori_Sami]

E.coli on Strike の投稿を引用：

Hi, I tested the VR test version on my PICO4. The game literally started on my laptop screen, Because when took off, I can see the camera moves with my head set. I also saw a starter UI. But in the headset all the thing stucked at the loading screen before the game starts, or more accurately, the loading screen of this game, with game logo on it, in steam VR. I expect this game on VR so much! Hope you can fix that, a million thanks!

According to multiple reports now, it seems that there is some issue preventing players from starting the VR mode on a Pico 4 headset. We don't have one of those devices available for testing at this moment, but we hope get this issue fixed before the full VR mode is released. Thank you for letting us know about this problem!

[Tensori_Sami]

Mambo McBepis の投稿を引用：

Awesome update! Fixed my two biggest issues by adding hand oriented movement and improving DLSS performance. Really the DLSS appears way better with this update and the game runs well on Performance mode with no real change in visual quality.

There were a few minor issues I noticed: First is that I had to reset the SteamVR position, otherwise I was spawned a little below the floor. The other issue was that my graphics settings were not being saved on game close (at least, DLSS settings always default to off when starting the game).

Can't wait to try more levels!

That's great to hear!

I've logged those problems you mentioned. Maybe the first one could be fixed by somehow commanding the VR headset to perform a recenter when the VR player avatar is activated in the game. We'll have to investigate. Thanks!

[Michelangelo]

I bought the game exclusively for the VR Support.
First of all, it looks incredible in VR, the illusion of presence and the world around you on scale, it is even more disorientating.

Kudos on the visuals, with VR those are extrapolated !

About the performance.
Using I7 + RTX3080 + 16gb + Win10 + Quest 2.
I had to play it with AA OFF, lights on minimum, FSR 60 Sharp 60, everything else max value, to play decently.

Now regarding the gameplay, I was getting bored at some point...but I got the feeling that it was unfair... because I thought I lost the game when jumping.

I had to check the forums to understand that actually ... I won.
and that BETA only covers the first maze ouch !!

However, there is a CRASH! sound when after falling, as if the character crashed on the floor....
When going back to the menu there is no clue that I won finding the exit.

PS:
Is there any horror content on further levels or gameplay is just this?
I suppose there should be some swimming parts as well?

Once again, incredible how it looks in VR,

[w33b]

Works great on Vive Pro + 1080Ti.

On max settings FPS often dips below 45, but even that is tolerable. When upscaled from 0.5 game is very smooth and still looks OK. Aliasing is noticeable, TAA helps, other methods not so much. Reflections cause huge FPS drops when a lot of water is displayed. Disabling or lowering their quality makes game look worse everywhere, and it still stutters, just a bit less. Maybe it can be adjusted automatically depending on the current frame rate?

Movement across stairs is too jerky, especially while running. I would prefer them to feel like a continuous ramp. Smooth turning does not feel smooth either. I think it is just a sequence of fixed-size small snaps. Would be better if it worked like a mouse turning does, but with a controller touchpad (drag a finger and world starts rotating with it). Or like a controller joystick - snap size is proportional to the distance from the touchpad center. Walking/running speed could be made proportional too.

Hands are always in your face, at least in the sitting mode. Only time you need them is while climbing ladders, maybe they could stay hidden until a grip button is pressed. Also both hand models are ugly and don't really fit in the setting. Different hands would be an improvement. They don't have to look like realistic human hands, stylized transparent "gloves" will do. I would still prefer prettier human hands though.

There is a big gap in the floor near the top of a spiral stairs, I think it was not supposed to be there.

In general game looks very good, better than most VR games I played. Really looking forward to a full VR version.

[Guybrush3pwood]

So is level 1 the only level we can do in VR at this point?

[Emi Rozina]

im using quest 3 and have a 4070 super and it ran well on my pc but for some reason it was so wobbly, it really hurt my eyes, even tho i got a solid 100 fps, the consent shaking is a big issue to me as it felt as if i was drunk, it stopped as soon as i kept my head straight but that defeats the whole point. im no tech person so perhaps its user error, other than that it was really cool.

[Dimmersim]

Had the demo since launch and thought how good it could be in VR, well good to see that it is now happening. Finally bought it and look forward to further improvements in VR. Recent update improves performance on my RTX4070.
Noticed high GPU usage at 96%

[BlackoutBoy]

I'm using a PSVR2 and can't get VR to work. I'm in the beta and I can hear it the headphones, but I can only see the splash screen that says Pools. I can see and play it on the monitor though. This has happened with a few demos, but all other games work fine. Am I just missing something in the settings?

[Guybrush3pwood]

Sizel の投稿を引用：

Had the demo since launch and thought how good it could be in VR, well good to see that it is now happening. Finally bought it and look forward to further improvements in VR. Recent update improves performance on my RTX4070.
Noticed high GPU usage at 96%

Interesting. I have a 3060 and it had no trouble running this in VR.