Hi everyone! Today's topic is about one of the external hardware items I personally use! This isn't a sponsored post, I simply think knowing the tech that goes into my content helps visualize how it all works. This is my honest opinion on the headsets I've used over the years.
Let's Talk Tech!
VR HEADSET - I actually own two Virtual Reality headsets! For context, a 'virtual reality headset' in the sense I'm talking of is almost its own console. You can find many 'virtual reality headsets' online that are just plastic phone holders, for the 'VR video' gimmick - the video is doubled and split down the middle to replicate how eyes would see a three-dimensional object. It's fun if you like gimmicks, but don't be fooled by cheap prices! Real headsets will run you hundreds of dollars, and these are likely my most expensive pieces of equipment. My first headset, a Samsung HMD Odyssey+, was only a hundred dollars. Prices have gone up over time due to both inflation and newer, more advanced tech comes out, so even the 'cheapest' recommendation can set you back two to three hundred.
The current 'accessible' new headset would be a Meta Quest 3 - retailing for $499, with a severe caveat. The Quest struggles with hardware limitations, meaning VR creations must be made 'Quest compatible' - as in, they have to be optimized to run with the Quest's low specs. I strongly recommend dabblers buy secondhand instead of directly from a retailer - headsets are very durable and can last years, even with heavy usage.
My second and current headset, an Oculus Rift CV1, is a hand-me-down headset from my older brother. This is my anecdotal evidence that headsets are hardy - this headset was released in 2016. That's two years short of a decade ago, if you want to feel old. She does have her moments, the display might glitch, or my computer struggles under the power draw and starts lagging, but she's still running strong. I will admit that I'm not always gentle with my tech, and... my Odyssey+ is quite literally held together with duct tape at this point. I used to use a candle and a cupholder filled with foam as a microphone stand. I make do with what I have. It was really interesting to switch to a higher quality headset, even if it's several years out of date at this point. I could actually move my fingers in game in a way that almost resembled my real hands. Everything looked less blurry, and I would argue that Windows Mixed Reality (the program that my old headset integrated into the computer with) was far buggier and clunkier than Meta's equivalent.
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| Photo by Evan-Amos - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62084228 |
So, what's it for? My headset is what allows me to immerse in VRChat and other VR games! While VRChat is desktop accessible, I much prefer to be in VR. There's a sense of immersion that you can't get just watching or hearing about it. I learned about VR when VRChat had a large popularity boom in 2017, with lots of content being made about VR and many first-time VR users funneled in to play VRChat. I was one of them! I started off as a desktop user, someone who plays VRChat through their keyboard and monitor, not a headset. VRChat is what inspired me to fully enter character creation, because you can create your own custom avatar in Unity (a game engine) and upload it to wear. Being able to wear my creations and be immersed in the digital world was mind-blowing to me, and I became obsessed with it. That fixation is part of why I created this blog! I want to share spaces like this with more people, in a way that's taken seriously.
That's all from me this time! I'm a bit sick right now, so some of my previous plans for posts were disrupted. I also have a new PC with better parts that I'm setting up! 🎊
I'll try to continue posting regularly.
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