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At E3, they (finally) announced Fallout VR and Doom VR, both due later this year!  Oculus also announced a new bundle that can save you $100. Trailer for Fallout VR: Fallout VR is due for release in October.   It's already available for pre-order at the Steam store .  Not sure what's the point... there's no special discount and it's not like they're going to run out of stock. Trailer for Doom VR: The trailers don't mention anything about the Oculus Rift compatibility, but Oculus Rift can play almost all games on Steam VR, so I am supposing Rift players won't be left out. Meanwhile, there's a bundle for Oculus Rift + Touch that gives you an extra $100 credit for the Oculus Store .

Nolo VR (hands-on here) is a peripheral for mobile VR headsets that adds positional tracking.  They just posted a new video showing the system being used to run NVidia Funhouse, a Steam VR game for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift . Here's the video: In contrast to my hands-on experience at CES (where there was a lot of radio interference), the video appears to show only a little lag, if any.  Nolo VR said they used a Samsung S6 and Samsung Gear VR for the demo.

Today is the last day for the Oculus Store Winter Sale which has huge discounts on many games for Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vive (via Revive).  Here are the ones I've tried. I have several of the games that are in the winter sale.  I've arranged them approximately in the order that I like them (my taste leans toward casual games).  Note: unless otherwise noted , buying the Gear VR version of a game will not give you the Rift version, and vice-versa. OCULUS RIFT / HTC VIVE (before buying, pls. check for Revive compatibility ): Superhot VR : take on an army of agents, as you control time to execute perfect attacks and dodges.  I got the non-VR version of this game by accident on Steam and didn't get a refund in time, so I was pretty annoyed about paying for it "again."  But when it went on sale I did get it, and it is indeed incredibly fun.  If you have a Rift or Vive and you have any interest in action games, it's a must-download. Damaged Core : o...

The Oculus Store has a big discount on two games (both work not only on the Oculus Rift but also on the HTC Vive via Revive). Superhot VR is a motion-controlled VR version of the PC game (but with different level designs). In this game, you are a secret agent on a mission to infiltrate an enemy base.  You are armed with nothing and you face an army of agents.  But time moves only when you move, allowing you to execute perfectly timed attacks and dodges.  It's one of the best VR games I've played. Here is a trailer: Technolust is an interactive story set in a cyberpunk dystopia.  I haven't played it myself, but it looks quite immersive.  Here is a review by Upload VR: Superhot VR is regularly $24.99, and is on sale for $19.99.  Technolust is regularly $19.99 and is on sale for $11.99. Both games will work on both Oculus Rift and HTC Vive (via Revive) but please note that Superhot VR requires motion controllers ( Oculus Rift users need to have an Oculus ...

The state of VR right now is better than what skeptics would like you to believe.  More importantly, things will get even better from here. All the major VR systems have been released: Oculus Rift  (with  Oculus Touch ), HTC Vive , and Playstation VR for the desktop, and Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream for mobile.  Yet VR is still relatively uncommon, there are still no killer apps, and more importantly, it appears that very few companies are making a lot of money from it.  There are some skeptics who are therefore declaring that VR is a bubble that has burst.  Here's why I'm still optimistic about VR. IS VR A BUBBLE? First, let's talk about some of the reasons that have been used to claim that VR is a bubble that has burst. 1.   VR is still uncommon .  Almost everyone has heard of VR, but there are still very few people who actually have a VR headset outside of the early adopter crowd.  Very few people I know have even a Google Cardbo...

​Finch Shift is a new motion controller designed for your smartphone which is designed to enable your VR-ready smartphone to play apps for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift . Finch Shift uses a pair of motion controllers and a pair of arm bands.  Each controller and arm band has modified inertial measurement units.  By combining the data from the arm bands and controllers, the software is able to determine the location of the motion controllers without using external cameras or sensors. ​ Here's a video of the Shift being used: Finch claims the Shift can be used with: - smartphone games adapted for the Finch Shift - games designed for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift - non-VR games where you use the Shift as a joystick. ​ I'm not sure how the Shift can enable smartphones to play HTC Vive or Oculus Rift games because of the processing power required, and because smartphones currently don't have positional tracking.  In any case, Finch Shift will be at CES 2017 and I will vis...

Holo Impact: Prologue There are literally hundreds of VR games available on the Steam store for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.  While many (or even a majority) are not worth playing, there are some excellent games that have escaped the notice of users.  In this series of posts, I'd like to highlight some very good games I've tried that are not very well known (yet). Holo Impact: Prologue (HTC Vive; Oculus Touch).  This is a super awesome shooter (pictured above).  In concept it's somewhat similar to Xortex from the Lab, where you control a space fighter with your motion controller.  But in Holo Impact, you are flying forward.  Yes there are a few games in this genre, but Holo Impact blows them all out of the water.  Besides the spectacular graphics, the gameplay is also fun, and it's a little challenging but not overwhelming (at least in Normal difficulty)! If you like shooters, this is a must-buy for the HTC Vive or Oculus Touch (yes, Holo Impact is ...

Did you find an Oculus Rift under your Christmas tree?  Here are the best free games to demo your new Oculus Rift ! GAMES Here are some of the best games to demo the Oculus Rift: 1.  Lucky's Tale .  This is a third-person platforming adventure, similar to Super Mario, where a fox is trying to rescue his friend.  In VR, this game looks like a miniature world with characters that have come to life in front of you. 2.  Farlands .  In this game, you are a scientist exploring an alien world.  Your task is to gather information about the creatures in the planet and perhaps even befriend them.  Farlands is a highly immersive experience and it feels like visiting another planet. 3.  Herobound: Spirit Champion .  This is a third-person action adventure where your character is on a quest to rescue elemental spirit to defeat the element of fire which has imprisoned the other elements.  The game is as much about action as solving challenging p...

When setting up your Oculus Rift, it's a good idea to have it positioned facing away from the PC.  Here's why and here's how to do it. By default, when you setup your Rift, it will have you face your PC.  However, there are advantages to having the Rift face away from the PC instead. - When you're facing away from the PC, the cable will be behind you.  It is less likely to be in your way, and less likely to be accidentally jerked. - If you're facing away from the PC, you're less likely to accidentally punch the monitor or TV. - If you have friends and family with you, you'll be facing them instead of the PC. To have the Rift face away from the PC, you'll need at least two sensors.  During the Touch setup, you need to position the sensors at opposite corners (you'll need to do that to get either 360 or roomscale VR anyway).  You'll later be asked to hold the controller at eye level and then point toward the front of your playspace.  This is your c...

The Steam Winter Sale has begun, with sales on games for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.  Some of the notable games include: - Raw Data: a cooperative online sci-fi shooter (caution: controls are awkward for Oculus Touch) - Vanishing Realms: an adventure game - Brookhaven Experiment: a horror wave shooter - Onward: a team-based tactical shooter - QuiVR: a multiplayer cooperative wave shooter - Smashbox Arena: a multiplayer shooter Here is the link:  http://store.steampowered.com/

The Oculus Winter Sale is now going on with dozens of games on sale for the Oculus Rift + Oculus Touch , and Samsung Gear VR !  BTW, HTC Vive users can also use some of the Rift software via Revive.  Plus, Steam will have its own winter sale starting tomorrow! First here are the 24-hour sales for Dec. 20 (check daily to see the different deals): - The Climb (Oculus Rift; regularly $49.99, on sale for $24.99): a rock climbing game.  I found it to be a highly immersive game. - Eve Valkyrie (Oculus Rift; regularly $59.99, on sale for $29.99): a space dogfight game. - Dreadhalls (Gear VR; regularly $4.99, on sale for $0.99): a horror survival game where you are trapped in a labyrinth.  Great for its terrifying atmosphere but I got nauseated playing it due to the artificial locomotion.  There's a demo available - try before you buy. - Annie Amber (Gear VR; regularly $7.99, on sale for $1.99): a sci-fi exploration / puzzle game, where you solve puzzles...

​ UploadVR got to test the TPCast wireless adapter for the HTC Vive .  After extensive tests, including asking a gymnast to do backflips, they found that the TPCast works as promised, with no noticeable increase in latency.  The TPCast allows you to use the HTC Vive without any cables tethering you to your PC.  This increases immersion by allowing the user to move freely in the virtual environment, without being tangled, tripping over, or otherwise being limited by the headset cables.  There are several companies working on wireless adapters but TPCast is the first one to be commercially available, and it sold out within minutes of becoming available for preorder.  More importantly, TPCast does not add any noticeable latency, an issue that has affected other prototype wireless adapters. Unfortunately, there has been no confirmation about its availability or price outside of the US, other than to say that it will be available sometime in 2017. Check out Upl...

A man playing a horror game on the HTC Vive was so immersed that he ran and smashed his face into a wall, requiring stitches.  Here's the video. If you haven't used a VR headset (a real one -- Cardboard doesn't count), it's hard to understand how real it can feel, as evidenced by many popular VR reaction videos on YouTube.  Here's a video that shows just how intense the experience can be. A man was playing Brookhaven Experiment, a horror shooter (available on Steam for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift ).  At one point, he ran out of ammo just as a mutated creature lunged at him.  Gripped with terror, he instinctively turned around and ran, smashing his face into a wall, and punching holes in the drywall with his face and his knee. Here's the video: The man required stitches but was otherwise fine.  The HTC Vive headset survived as well. The video was posted by u/Stradequit.

There have been many new games and apps for the Samsung Gear VR in the last few months.  One of the most impressive new releases is Fusion Wars, an online co-op tank game with cross-platform gameplay. In Fusion Wars, you control a fast-moving futuristic tank against an army of robot tanks.  What makes it different from many other games on the Gear VR is that there's a cross-platform co-op mode for both the Gear VR and Oculus Rift . Another differentiating element is that you can 'slide' your tank, similar to drifting on a rally car.  Sliding allows you to strafe your enemies. The graphics are some of the best I've seen for a mobile VR game.  You know how some smartphone games look so good that the graphics can be mistaken for console games (like Infinity Blade and the recently released Super Mario Run)?  Fusion Wars is like that, and looks almost as good as BattleZone for the Playstation VR . Here is a screenshot from the Gear VR version: The Rift version ha...

​There's an awesome martial arts game bundle on Steam (for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift ), with a 30% discount, and both included games are very good quality. The bundle includes: - The Fastest Fist, a boxing training game - Kunlun Fight, a licensed (!)   kickboxing game THE FASTEST FIST The Fastest Fist is a boxing training game where a virtual trainer​ holds mitts for you to hit (any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental 😀).  You'll need to use jabs, crosses, hooks and uppercuts, while ducking.  I tried a few boxing classes and this felt pretty similar to the real thing.  At the end of a session, you'll get stats so you can see how well you did (and perhaps help you improve over time). Here's a video by Brometheus TV : KUNLUN FIGHT Feeling good about your boxing skills from Fastest Fist?  Now try your skills in  Kunlun Fight , a kickboxing game from the same developer.  Kunlun Fight is a licensed game for the actual ep...

EmuVR.net's Desk Scene is a utility that can enable you to see each of your Oculus Rift 's sensors' coverage.  Seeing each sensor's coverage would help you adjust their position and angle to optimize coverage and minimize occlusion. Here is a video showing Desk Scene in action . To download Desk Scene, see the link in this reddit post: Desk Scene Multi-Sensor update! Check your cameras bounds and intersections from oculus RELATED POSTS: How to use roomscale VR on the Oculus Rift with just two sensors Oculus Touch review: the wait is over

Starting today, you and your friends can meet and play in VR through Oculus Rooms and Parties for Gear VR (and coming soon for Oculus Rift ). Oculus released two new social apps for  Gear VR : Rooms and Parties. Oculus Rooms enables you and your friends to watch videos together, or jump to multiplayer games such as Dragon Front. Oculus Parties allow you and your friends to communicate in VR with a voice conference.  To use Party, just go to Oculus Home and click on the Party tab, then select the people you want to join the party. To use Parties, go to Oculus Home and look for the Parties tab below your profile.  Click on the three dots on the right side of one of your friends, then select Start a Party. To use Rooms, start a Party first, and from there join a Room. Oculus Rooms and Parties are currently available only for  Gear VR  but will also be rolled out to   Oculus Rift .  Rooms and Parties were announced at Oculus Connect 3 . BTW if you want ...

I was able to get extension cords that work for the Oculus Rift headset, and they were cost-effective as well! The Oculus Rift headset's cable is only 12 feet, which is more than enough for standing VR experiences, but is a little short for roomscale VR (and yes, I've confirmed that the Rift can do roomscale even with only two sensors ). The Rift uses precision electronics so not all cables work, and cable compatibility can vary depending on your hardware.  However, here is the combination that worked for me: 1. HDMI Extension: C&E HDMI extension cable (10 ft.) .  Currently around $7. 2. USB Extension: Cable Matters USB 3.0 extension cable (10 ft.) .  Currently around $8. Total cost: $15. To keep things organized, I use velcro cable ties (like these)  along the length of the two cables to keep them together: BENEFITS The extension not only makes the headset cable more than adequate for  roomscale VR , but is also  easier to connect  the Rift head...