Help - No Idea Regarding VR Headsets

So this Mum is confused so would love a little help please !
My 11 year has come home from a friends house and now is asking me for a VR headset for Christmas - I mean I am thankful that I have a few months up my sleeve to prepare for this but I have no idea where to start.
Do VR's require a PC or are they are stand alone piece of equipment ?
My son mentioned an Oculus - are there any other brands I should be looking at ? I am hoping I wont have to sell a kidney to afford something like this.

Comments

  • Do VR's require a PC or are they are stand alone piece of equipment ?

    It depends on the VR headset you're buying. Currently in the Australian market, there's not a whole lot of choices

    • Oculus Quest 2 (standalone headset). Priced $419. This is the most popular option
    • Oculus Rift S (requires PC). Only available second-hand because it's discontinued. Not recommended to purchase because Facebook has abandoned it.
    • HP Reverb G2 (requires PC). Priced $899
    • HTC Vive Cosmos Elite. (requires PC. Priced $899)
    • Playstation VR bundle. (requires a PlayStation console. Priced $399)
    • Thank you very much - this helps me a lot ! We have a Playstation so that might be the way to go :)

      • +5

        If you would like to try out either PSVR or an Oculus Quest 2, drop me a line and I'll happily send you either for a loan. VR is great fun, but our kids tended not to come back to it after the initial 'wow' wore off (Which was only a week or 2).

        Honestly, I'd say it will likely collect dust before long, they'd get more fun out of a Switch or something else.

        If choosing though, and you have already sold your soul to Facebook, the Quest is cordless and a better system all round than the PSVR. Happy to chat about the various VR systems any time.

        • He has a Nintendo Switch - definitely been a dust builder - grrrr !!

      • +2

        What headsets do his friends have? If they're using a Quest 2 and you buy a Playstation VR you might have a very unhappy boy because he can't play with his friends.

        Playstation VR requires a cable to be connected to the console to use it. Quest 2 doesn't have this problem because it's all in one. They're similar prices so finding out what his friends are using rather than buying based on what you've already got would be really wise.

        • I am sure he said his friend had an Oculus. So can he connect with his other friends if they all have Oculus's ?

          • @ELH05: Find out the exact model Oculus his friends are using. I'd guess it's a Quest 2 but again it pays to check. They've been around for about a year and can connect over the internet to play together. Quest 2's don't require a PC to run. If it's an Oculus Rift you'll need a PC and that starts getting expensive and more complicated.

    • Playstation VR bundle. (requires a PlayStation console. Priced $399)

      Also required PS move controllers, which didn't come in the kit when I bought it. The move controllers are the same as have been used since PS3, so if you have them around, fantastic! If not, factor this in to the cost as well.

      PSVR kit, for me, came with the headset + the Astro bot game, plus the required plug-in on the Playstation (plus the camera?). Without the move controllers, you'll be able to play some games on the VR headset instead of the TV, but you'll still be using the Dualshock controller to control. Some games (such as Beat Saber, Audica, etc) require the use of the PS Move controllers.

      The advantage of the PSVR over the Oculus quest 2 is the ability for others to share in the fun by watching what the person with the headset is seeing - any standalone unit will be a solo experience.

      • You can stream the Oculus Quest 2 display to a chromecast or phone, so people will be able to watch what the person with the headset is seeing.

  • +4

    Oculus Quest 2 is the way to go, best quality and specs for the price.

    It's a standalone headset. So, you purchase games on an app store and they download straight onto the headset. You need a clear space to play, indoors. The area needs to be lit (e.g. can't be in a dark cupboard or something!).

    I will note that Oculus do not recommend under 13s to use any VR headset. An Oculus headset requires a Facebook account… and I believe a smartphone potentially to pair to.

  • +3

    I would suggest 11 is too young for a VR headset. Sony state 12+ minimum while others are 13+.

    Note that VR can cause medical issues for some people from headaches to dizziness and seizures although extreme cases.

    It is however quite an (expensive) gimmick and expect it to be tossed aside pretty quickly once the initial novelty passes. I have both a HTC Vive and Sony PS VR and haven't used them much at all so would not personally recommend it.

    Definitely wouldn't recommend an Oculus due to the Facebook integration either.

    Would a Nintendo Switch console be a better alternative option worth exploring?

    • I second that they would get way, way more use from a Switch.
      We have a Switch and an Oculus Q2, and the kids loved the VR… for about 2 weeks.
      They play the Switch pretty much whenever they are allowed to.

  • Is it just me or is the Oculus website pretty terrible ??

    • From Quest 2's wikipedia page…

      Criticism

      Virtual reality headsets have been linked to rising cases of rashes, swelling, burning, itching, hives, and bumps.[19] On 27 July 2021, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada have coordinated a recall of Facebook's Oculus Quest 2 after 5,716 reports of facial skin irritation were reported with 45 cases requiring medical attention.[20][21] Despite complaints issued by consumers such as swollen painful itchy eyes being reported as early as October 2020, the recall only occurred in July 2021.[22][23] Facebook did not halt Oculus sales immediately citing data that only "0.01% of people using Quest 2" had serious allergic reactions and dermatological and toxicological reports came out negative for contaminants that could be causing the swollen painful rashes upon skin contact. Facebook doesn't know the origin of this reaction and instead they sent a free silicone cover to cover the allergic user's faces.[24][22]

      Over four million Oculus head sets have been recalled.[19] The Quest 2 faced criticism over the mandate that Facebook accounts be used on it and all future Oculus products.[18][6] It was reported that some users were unable to use the headset due to their Facebook account being suspended. Some described that linking their deactivated Facebook account to the device rendered the headset a "paperweight".[25][26][27] In September 2020 Facebook paused the sale of its VR headsets in Germany after it faced criticism from the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) for requiring its users to have valid Facebook accounts before covering their head with the Oculus.[28][29]

      • Just FYI the recall has already occured and the new stock of Oculus headsets now have double the internal storage (128GB instead of 64GB) and a new facial interface material. For the same price as the older 64GB model.

        • +1

          But a Facebook account is still required right? And /or a Google account?

          It's no secret tech giants want to onboard children. Get them young. Lure with games and fun things. "Come here kid, look in my car boot at all the stuff you can have for free in exchange for your personal details and a few little device permissions you grant us forever."

          • @cerealJay: sadly yes Facebook is a mandatory component when you own a Oculus Quest 2. Your Oculus account needs to be linked to Facebook to use it, though it should be noted FB actually says the minimum age for using either service is 13 and over.

            Most of the users on the Oculus / Reddit forums complained about FB being mandatory though eventually, have to begrudgingly accept Facebook's terms anyway when they realize the Quest 2 is really the most affordable Stand-alone VR gadget in the market and there is nothing else out there that is as cheap, or can provide a similar experience for the same price.

            Essentially Facebook has the 'affordable VR' market cornered with no real competitor.

            Monopolies are generally bad for consumers, all the more reason gaming companies like Microsoft and Sony should make VR mainstream as well so Oculus isn't the only viable thing on the market.

  • +1

    Absolutely go with the Oculus Quest 2. It's by far the best value. There's nothing even vaguely competitive.

  • +1

    Definitely go the Quest 2

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