Oculus Quest

[schmojo]

Are there any sites that review *everything* that comes out on Quest 2? Like Oculus, Oculus Lab and Sidequest?

 

It seems like such a blindspot that so many VR-specific sites just review the big tentpoles like Jurassic World.

[metallicfrodo]

I don't think so, mostly you end up having to check out random YouTube reviews. Mostly I think the issue is that the main VR sites don't really have many people working on them so just don't have the staff/money to be reviewing everything.

 

UploadVR tends to be where I look mostly for reviews and do have a slightly wider spread of reviews, although they don't cover everything.

[schmojo]

There's so much niche, under the radar stuff showing up each week that I just want to know what's worth a punt.

 

I haven't even been able to find a site with a comprehensive weekly release list. It's a really poorly-covered sector. Wouldn't surprise me if a lot of these sites are being run in their spare time though. @Jamie John - perhaps you could get in touch with them to stretch your critical legs?

 

Thought about volunteering some reviews myself, since the bite-sized nature of VR games wouldn't be too much of a commitment. But, by God, I'm a lazy motherfucker.

[Eighthours]

On 08/02/2021 at 11:34, mrben09 said:

I use the one it comes with. Obviously if you want it hooked up and intend to be jumping about, you may need something longer.

 

The Quest 2 unfortunately comes with a cable that's way too short to do anything. Blatantly so that more people will buy Oculus's massively overpriced long cable, available separately. The original Quest, meanwhile, came with a very generous cable, so the Quest 2's was a very cynical decision.

[milko]

In fairness, the Quest 1's cable isn't USB3 so it only worked for Link a short time before the Quest 2 came out, before that it wouldn't function. I got the Anker USB3 braided thing, it's been alright.

[earlymodernsteve]

2 hours ago, schmojo said:

There's so much niche, under the radar stuff showing up each week that I just want to know what's worth a punt.

 

I haven't even been able to find a site with a comprehensive weekly release list. It's a really poorly-covered sector. Wouldn't surprise me if a lot of these sites are being run in their spare time though. @Jamie John - perhaps you could get in touch with them to stretch your critical legs?

 

Thought about volunteering some reviews myself, since the bite-sized nature of VR games wouldn't be too much of a commitment. But, by God, I'm a lazy motherfucker.

This is a continual frustration. A lot of standard gaming sites only have space for the big releases. I spent the weekend hammering Steam demos during the festival so will share some thoughts about the VR titles once I've tidied that up (was challenging myself for some features on our site and foolishly tried 141 different game demos from Thursday to Tuesday morning so now I can't even think straight).

[Flub]

I got my Elite strap today and it's such a better fit now.

[Jamie John]

11 hours ago, schmojo said:

There's so much niche, under the radar stuff showing up each week that I just want to know what's worth a punt.

 

I haven't even been able to find a site with a comprehensive weekly release list. It's a really poorly-covered sector. Wouldn't surprise me if a lot of these sites are being run in their spare time though. @Jamie John - perhaps you could get in touch with them to stretch your critical legs?

 

Thought about volunteering some reviews myself, since the bite-sized nature of VR games wouldn't be too much of a commitment. But, by God, I'm a lazy motherfucker.

 

Funnily enough, I was thinking the other day that VR games, as a rule, don't get much press coverage, outside of the Alyxs and Astrobots, that is.  I must admit, however, that I haven't turned my Quest 2 on in a few weeks. Not because I haven't got anything to play on it, but because I've got too much to play on everything else.

[Jamie John]

Also, the elite strap is in stock at John Lewis, for anyone who's interested (or it was, at least). I thought about it, briefly, but can't justify the £120.

[bad_hair_day]

On 08/02/2021 at 11:19, Flub said:

 

That's what I was hoping you'd say. Cheers. What USB cable to people recommend to hook it up to my PC?

If your home WiFi has a 5ghz channel, install ‘SideQuest’ on your PC, purchase ‘Virtual Desktop’ in the Quest Store and the world of wireless PCVR can be streamed to your eyeballs at 90Hz. It’s freaking amazing. 

[dave7g]

The store on browsers needs to be a little clearer, I never know what version I'm buying. Been stung a couple of times with PC versions instead of Quest. I guess you have to buy on the headset only.

[simms]

Has anyone checked out the official side quest type store Oculus launched in their new update? Is it a direct replacement for software you get on side quest or is it heavily curated.

[Eighthours]

24 minutes ago, simms said:

Has anyone checked out the official side quest type store Oculus launched in their new update? Is it a direct replacement for software you get on side quest or is it heavily curated.

 

It seems that ultimately it's going to be a replacement for most games because the requirements for entry are so much lower than the main store (some will still be refused, but it's unclear at the moment where the line is), but SideQuest will still exist as a place to get them. This is because you need to know the name of the App Lab game you want in order to buy it on the headset or the Oculus Store, as games won't be listed at all on there. They have individual pages if you know the name, but there's no App Lab section in the store or charts or anything else. However, SideQuest will continue to list all non-main store games, and where applicable will link to a direct App Lab download. This will put the game directly in your app library rather than under 'unknown sources' as previously. So effectively people will still be using SideQuest as a website to find games that aren't on the main store, it's just that their download links will now lead directly to the App Lab version.

 

It's good to know that despite the changes there's still a place for SideQuest, even though it would be convenient to also have an App Lab section on the store. Maybe that will come in future, but I'll wager that SideQuest would still do this stuff much better.

[metallicfrodo]

For those wanting to know how to use App Lab in the quest here's a video on it from Virtual Reality Oasis (go to 2 mins in for the explanation)

 

 

[schmojo]

So Cookout VR is excellent. It's Overcooked, but without the moving around.

 

Been playing multiplayer with mates, and had an excellent time. It's a tenner in the sale so, y'know, get it.

[papalazarou]

I’ve mentioned this game before the in the main oculus rift chat - but if you should def give retro arcade neon a try on steam - on sale at the min (there is a demo if I rember right)

 

basically it allows you to set up your own virtual arcade (you need to provide Your own game roms). But once set up you have the perfect vr escape - you can also have light gun cabinets set up (need to calibrate my gun settings a litte as you will see in the vid below)

 

Edit... should also mention plays perfectly in virtual desktop (that’s how’s I played in the vid below)

 

this is my current set up

 

 

 

 

 

[papalazarou]

today is def lazy quest sunday for me.   if like me MS Flight sim runs like a dog in VR for you - then i can highly recomend flyinside vr (on steam) - while not graphically as detailed as MS flight sim, it does use bing maps for its ground detail and also has full touch controller support. Plus it runs great even on my medium spec rig. Been playing this via Virtual desktop with no issue. This is a quick vid i made while on the quest take off and fly arround Edinburgh

 

 

[dave7g]

2 hours ago, papalazarou said:

I’ve mentioned this game before the in the main oculus rift chat - but if you should def give retro arcade neon a try on steam - on sale at the min (there is a demo if I rember right)

 

basically it allows you to set up your own virtual arcade (you need to provide Your own game roms). But once set up you have the perfect vr escape - you can also have light gun cabinets set up (need to calibrate my gun settings a litte as you will see in the vid below)

 

Edit... should also mention plays perfectly in virtual desktop (that’s how’s I played in the vid below)

 

this is my current set up

 

 

 

 

 

I'll be setting this up during the week. I hope you wont mind a few questions if I run into trouble.

[schmojo]

What are people using to control the arcade cabs in it? 

 

A traditional pad? The Touch controllers mimicking a joystick? The thumbsticks on the Touch controllers?

[papalazarou]

26 minutes ago, dave7g said:

I'll be setting this up during the week. I hope you wont mind a few questions if I run into trouble.

Work away :-) it can be trial and error 

[papalazarou]

24 minutes ago, schmojo said:

What are people using to control the arcade cabs in it? 

 

A traditional pad? The Touch controllers mimicking a joystick? The thumbsticks on the Touch controllers?

You can use the touch controllers (thumb stick and buttons) or you can use a controller like an Xbox one etc.. 

 

when you walk up to cabinet you click on it (the coin slot) to start it the the touch controllers swop over to the cabinet controllers - just walk away to stop playing 

[Parappa]

I have a couple of questions if anyone can help me.  We currently have no internet at home (well I am hooked onto next doors!) so testing out Virtual Desktop is not an option at the moment but I do have an Oculus link cable.  How can I play Steam VR games without the Oculus Software?  My PC is probably just about good enough to run some of the less taxing PC VR games but I hear the Oculus Software is a big resource hog so would like to take it out the equation.  Is this even possible?

Thanks. 

[milko]

I’m not sure it is possible at all, sorry. But I don’t know that it’s that much of a hog. It’s got to be worth trying on a freebie and see how it goes at least. 

[Uzi]

Oculus software would be using useful stuff in the background to ensure games outside of the oculus store run well on the headset. Even if you could take it out - the SDK not doing its thing would likely cause more harm than good 

 

If the background process is such an issue - your PC might need an upgrade or something else is up

[Parappa]

OK thanks all - I will continue with it until I get my internet back and hopefully then I can use Virtual Desktop.

[schmojo]

Do you have a router? If VD just needs to do a licence check, you might be fine tethering it to your phone.

 

Although, hold on. How's that layout gonna work? Wifi hotspot on phone... nah forget it. I fucked up.

[dfq23]

Finally caved in as found a bargain I couldn't turn down.

 

Box damaged 256gb from Currys Clearance on eBay.  With the 15% code I only paid £279.80.

 

Full warranty as it's new but the plastic wrapping is just a bit ripped

 

 

[SweatyTravolta]

On 10/02/2021 at 16:32, Flub said:

I got my Elite strap today and it's such a better fit now.

 

I got the non battery elite strap and whilst taking it off and on is now so much easier, I still find the weight to be massively problematic. It gets so uncomfortable after a small amount of time that I'd rather deal with the wires of my Rift. 

[schmojo]

Is it a balance issue, or a pencil-necked geek issue?

 

I read about some people experiencing more comfort when they velcro strapped a battery pack to the back of their strap. You can also get knock-off 'halo' style straps from places like AliExpress. Though I haven't tried one yet.

[Dirty Harry Potter]

On 14/02/2021 at 11:29, papalazarou said:

I’ve mentioned this game before the in the main oculus rift chat - but if you should def give retro arcade neon a try on steam - on sale at the min (there is a demo if I rember right)

 

basically it allows you to set up your own virtual arcade (you need to provide Your own game roms). But once set up you have the perfect vr escape - you can also have light gun cabinets set up (need to calibrate my gun settings a litte as you will see in the vid below)

 

Edit... should also mention plays perfectly in virtual desktop (that’s how’s I played in the vid below)

 

this is my current set up

 

 

 

 

 

I keep watching that thinking how much it would have blown my 10 year old self's mind back in 1986.

 

We is in the future.