2018 Was the Year of VR Headsets - Except it Wasn't, According to Steam Hardware Survey

[xkm1948]

Haters gonna hate

 

[Octavean]

I have a PSVR (bought as a gift) and an Oculus Rift (gifted to me).

There are some VR titles that I find exceptionally entertaining. I keep going back to Doom VFR and RoboRecall as they are my top favorite games. I just bought Star Trek Bridge Crew with the expansion late last year when it was on sale via Steam. Firewall Zero Hour (PSVR) is a blast to play. Echo Arena is fun too.

When People say there are no VR games I see that more as them saying they are unsure of what they would play in VR if they had a chance. Either that or they are easily bored with games and have a very high turnover rate so nothing will keep them entertained for very long.

There are some games I have not had a chance to play but would like to. Such as:

Lone Echo
Echo Combat
Space Junkies
Stormland
The Persistence

And more like:

SkyRim VR and Fallout VR as well as Borderlands 2 VR.

I'm unlikely to buy any titles from the Oculus store though. Exclusive titles for PC is just off putting for me which is why I prefer to buy from Steam. Reworked games for VR such as SkyRim, Fallout and Borderlands 2 are quasi acceptable but not at ~$50 USD and the like,.....especially so if I already own these "Old" titles in my Steam library. So I'll wait on those,...

I usually don't keep my Oculus Rift plugged in as it tends to get warm even when not in use. So I plug it in when I am going to use it.

Also, while I may be assuming incorrectly, one would think that the "Steam's hardware survey" is optional and one must opt in. I've never bothered with the hardware survey and I would bet many others have not either. If that is indeed the case then Steam would have no way of knowing my hardware topology.

Generally speaking I see it as skewed numbers in terms of their data gathering.

I get it, some people love to come into just about any thread with VR in the title so they can count the ways that VR has failed in their eyes and opine about how VR was dead before it even started.

 

[Steevo]

Haters gonna hate

I have no hate, but just like I prefer a PC for gaming over a single trick pony, VR is a single trick pony, so perhaps when they make a good VR system that doesn't cost as much as a good graphics card, or other component also required to drive a headset......

But the whole couple percent of people who enjoy it can call the 98 percent that don't haters.... Must be tough being such a victim, the rest of us won't buy crap we don't like to make it cheaper and more mainstream for the few who do like it. Sucks to suck.

 

[Ikaruga]

Beat Saber is fun.

 

[Manu_PT]

Who else remembers 3d and how it is completly gone now? The big question is not wether VR will suceed or not, the big question is what almost useless tech is coming next to replace it.

 

[cucker tarlson]

I dont like audio headsets as is, this is just as bad...

it's worse.

 

[Octavean]

Beat Saber is fun.

I'm going to have to try it at some point I think but it really doesn't look like much to me.

You see, that is just it. There are all sorts of different types of games overall. Platformers, FPS, Rol-playing games and so on. People tend to know what they like out of experiences but not always as trying something different can change your mind from time to time.

I don't really like rhythm games like Guitar Hero but who knows I might have a different outlook at some point. I'm willing to try it though.

I really like "Space Pirate Trainer" though. That is a really fun VR game.

 

[neatfeatguy]

My younger brother's wife got him a PS4 and the VR headset w/ motion controllers for Christmas. He's pumped about it. He brought it with when he came around to visit and I tried it out.....while some of it holds some entertainment value for a good laugh or a short time killer, it wasn't very exciting. He showed me clips from VR games on the PS store and they were okay in terms of what I'd like for gameplay. He said any shooters appear to be on a rail system - which is crappy, if you ask me.

I can't comment on any kind of experience using VR on PC, but if it's not much more than what the PS4 can offer in terms of games you can color me not impressed.

I guess I'm still waiting for the day when you can plug yourself into the VR system like you're in the matrix....or have something that functions like in the move Ready Player One. Right now, VR is still very young and has a long way to go.

 

[TheOne]

I tried a Lenovo WMR headset, unfortunately its lack of a physical IPD adjustment lead me to return it, it was blurry and gave me a headache, but it was neat to play with, the motion sickness went away fairly quickly, I might try another one with IPD controls someday.

 

[xorbe]

I can't find it now, but there was a comic strip that showed regular gaming vs vr gaming, idle at desk vs sweating away. Sometimes, I don't want to play vr and work up a sweat. Sometimes I just want to play L4D and not swing my arms around like a mad man.

I have a Vive Pro. Recently I got to try an original Vive ... hate to say it but I think it's more comfy. But, for sure text is harder to read when that happens. But I feel that the Pro wands track better in Beat Saber.

 

[R-T-B]

doves of haters

Hater... doves?

Closest thing google could find.

 

[Vayra86]

I feel VR has fundamental problems it won't be able to fix anytime soon.

- Couch gaming is impossible / not very feasible
- Its more comfortable to not wear the HMD
- You are completely closed off from your surroundings
- Various requirements such as play room without obstacles

This already makes it a niche for most gaming and that makes the initial investment problematic. Its going to have to get a whole lot cheaper but it also needs even better HMDs - not a very good mix.

 

[Octavean]

My younger brother's wife got him a PS4 and the VR headset w/ motion controllers for Christmas. He's pumped about it. He brought it with when he came around to visit and I tried it out.....while some of it holds some entertainment value for a good laugh or a short time killer, it wasn't very exciting. He showed me clips from VR games on the PS store and they were okay in terms of what I'd like for gameplay. He said any shooters appear to be on a rail system - which is crappy, if you ask me.

That is really something. Your brother must have been very enthused to shlep a PS4 and a PSVR around. That is a bit of a hassle.

I have to ask, what VR games did you try?

Its incorrect to suggest that PSVR shooters are all on rails. Some are but others aren't and some have different options as to locomotion. So for example, Doom VFR has the option to move via teleportation or free-movement if not both at the same time. Doom VFR can also use the DualShock controllers or the Movie controllers as well as the Aim controller which can effect how the game is played. Borderlands 2 VR definitely has the option to use both teleportation and free-movement or both simultaneously. No Aim controller support though.

I can't comment on any kind of experience using VR on PC, but if it's not much more than what the PS4 can offer in terms of games you can color me not impressed.

The PSVR is fairly good technically but its on the entry level side with respect to a 6 degree of freedom HMD and tracking. Both the Rift and Vive as well as Vive Pro have better tracking and a higher resolution then the PSVR.

I guess I'm still waiting for the day when you can plug yourself into the VR system like you're in the matrix....or have something that functions like in the move Ready Player One. Right now, VR is still very young and has a long way to go.

I'm certainly not going to pay ~$800 USD for a Vive or ~$1000 USD for a Vive Pro but ~$350 to ~$400 for a Rift doesn't seem that bad IMO. ~$200 for the PSVR doesn't sound that bad either IMO but it depends on the individual.

VR is not for everyone anymore then platforms or FPS are for everyone. This is irrespective of how the tech may change over time or even if it will survive.

 

[Paganstomp]

See... little Jimmy doesn't need VR. Or a $3,000+ PC. He Just wants to play what everybody else plays at the current moment. This is why VR fails.

 

[R-T-B]

See... little Jimmy doesn't need VR. Or a $3,000+ PC. He Just wants to play what everybody else plays at the current moment. This is why VR fails.

View attachment 113986

Put that thing away, blasphemer!

 

[Patriot]

I feel VR has fundamental problems it won't be able to fix anytime soon.

- Couch gaming is impossible / not very feasible
- Its more comfortable to not wear the HMD
- You are completely closed off from your surroundings
- Various requirements such as play room without obstacles

This already makes it a niche for most gaming and that makes the initial investment problematic. Its going to have to get a whole lot cheaper but it also needs even better HMDs - not a very good mix.

Yup, had to put it up for christmas, tree blocks sensors. And sometimes... just not in the mood for gaming standing up...

 

[Raevenlord]

Seriously TPU news staff is pretty much VR haters. I am surprised

... No, we aren't.

 

[Vayra86]

... No, we aren't.

Let him be, haters is his new favorite word

 

[Dux]

I had PSVR with PS4 Slim. Headset is great, but PS4 is simply too weak. Now i have Lenovo Explorer with a good PC. Currently playing The Talos Principle VR. It's great experience. But yes, it needs improvements. It won't be great until it becomes wireless, much larger FOV, completely clear image across entire FOV, smaller, lighter. Still, Sony will probably release PSVR 2 for PS5, and then console VR will be much better and affordable for wider audience.

 

[Patriot]

I had PSVR with PS4 Slim. Headset is great, but PS4 is simply too weak. Now i have Lenovo Explorer with a good PC. Currently playing The Talos Principle VR. It's great experience. But yes, it needs improvements. It won't be great until it becomes wireless, much larger FOV, completely clear image across entire FOV, smaller, lighter. Still, Sony will probably release PSVR 2 for PS5, and then console VR will be much better and affordable for wider audience.

There exist 5k 170 degree fov headsets with leap motion gesture built in... they just cost too damn much.

 

[xkm1948]

... No, we aren't.

Care to explain the almost always negative tone in any VR news?

Glad you added that option though.

 

[kenkickr]

I use a Lenovo Explorer and it was more of a buy to try out vr without a mortgage for the vive or oculus at the time. Absolutely love this headset and my favorite games on it are Arizona Sunshine, Brookhaven Experiment, saber beats, and Space Pirate Trainer.

 

[R-T-B]

Care to explain the almost always negative tone in any VR news?

Probably because that's what the stats say?

I mean sorry the market didn't respond. As far as I can see, they just report.

 

[moproblems99]

Let him be, haters is his new favorite word

Any time there is an opposite opinion, someone's a hater.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Pavlov VR, Bear Saber. There are so many killer VR games already right now.

I see many games in the steam VR catalogue. However from what i can see, most of those games have very little substance and longevity. They might be fun for a while but then after you've played it a few times then it gets boring because theres nothing more to the game apart from showing off how great VR can be.

Im talking about BIG games from BIG developers with fully fleshed out campaigns and storylines, voice actors and full on animation.