VRborg.com

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October 26, 2017

Once a person reaches the a certain, older age, many circumstances begin to dictate the individual’s quality of life. Health is, of course, the most important factor, as it most often limits the range of activities in which elderly people can engage. Some seniors, on the other hand, have managed to maintain an enviable physical form and social life, but for many not so fortunate ones, the real world may become very small and stifling.

A company named Rendever recognized the therapeutic potential of virtual reality, as they introduced the seniors in retirement homes to virtual reality, resulting in increased overall resident happiness. Here are some of the best VR experiences for seniors that you should let your grandparents enjoy today!

theBlu

theBlu is a deeply immersive game that allows you to explore magnificence of the ocean and meet some of the most awe inspiring inhabitants of it. Your senior family members will surely enjoy exploring coral reefs and underwater encounters with the largest species on earth – whales!

Calming environmental sounds and soothing effect of the deep sea bring a meditative quality to theBlu, making it a perfect choice, if you are trying to showcase the placidity you can achieve through virtual-reality, to the elderly people.

Apollo 11 VR

For anyone who was alive and old enough to be aware of the world around them during the Apollo missions, Apollo 11 VR is a perfect way to relive the moon landing experience from a brand new perspective. While back in 1969 , the today’s seniors probably watched the moon landing on their colourless TVs, nowadays they can actually walk in Apollo 11 astronaut’s shoes.

Apollo 11 VR is made in the form of a documentary, but with an interactive twist to it, since you are able to control the carefully recreated space module and explore the moons surface. The mix of original archive video, audio material and epic, inspirational music will make our beloved seniors feel as if they are really NASA’s astronauts from the golden age of space exploration.

Google Earth VR

When I asked my grandmother why does she like to watch travel documentaries so much, she explained that that way she can see some regions and countries she’d never have the chance in real life. Well, it’s a great time to be alive grandma, because VR tourism is rapidly evolving, and with Google Earth VR you can explore the world from a completely new perspective.

Whether you want to visit The Colosseum, Florence Cathedral, Hoover Dam or the Matterhorn Peak, this is now entirely possible from the comfort of your armchair. Since the people in the late periods of their lives often become less mobile or partially incapacitated, VR is a feat of technology that ensures they remain capable of experiencing the great outdoors and far away countries despite the limitations their bodies and age imposes.

Rapid Fire: A Brief History of Flight

This is the experience your granddad will most likely enjoy more than your grandma! Rapid Fire is the documentary that will take you through the history of flight in a way that you have never witnessed before.

The content is highly immersive and it is probably a good idea to introduce your granddad to VR with some more relaxing content at first, so he can build up tolerance for VR motion sickness.

The Best VR Headsets for iPhone

Reviews

VRBorg Queen

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October 24, 2017

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Apple hasn’t yet officially joined the smartphone VR headset craze. It’s no surprise people are frantically searching for best VR headsets for iPhone already. If you’re still reading this, you might be one of them. You’ve come to the right place.

We’ve scoured the interwebs extensively during the last few days, searching for the Holy Grail of iPhone VR headsets. While no single headset is a Messiah on its own, a few chosen ones stand out from the rest.

Here’s our selection of best VR headsets for iPhone.

Merge VR

Most iPhone users swear by Merge VR as one of the best VR headsets for iPhone. Its body is made of soft foam, and the overly bright colours of the headset make it quite noticeable, preventing anyone from accidentally sitting on it.

It’s designed so it doesn’t unfold, adding an extra layer of safety for you iPhone. The head strap is simple and of good quality, which makes the whole headset stick to your face. It fits over glasses, has a 90 degree field of view and features adjustable lenses.

Merge VR also offers a very convenient way of finding new and interesting VR experiences through its website. While a bit pricey, it’s definitely a long-term investment if you plan on using your iPhone VR headset often.

Compatibility: 4 to 6 inches. FOV: 90 degrees. Weight: 15 ounces.
Price: ~$50 on Amazon

Google Cardboard V2

With a plethora of different designs, this cheap headset is literally made out of cardboard. While its price is unbeatable, it can easily fall apart if you sit on it or accidentally get it wet.

Its squishiness is compensated by its extremely lightweight design that can be easily folded and carried in a suitcase. If you want an entry option, this is the one. A word of advice – find the one that comes with a head strap, as many options on the market don’t come with one.

Compatibility: 3.5 to 6 inches. FOV: 90 degrees. Weight: 5 ounces.
Price: ~$8 on Amazon

Mattel View-Master Deluxe

Mattel View-Master Deluxe resembles a toy. It’s because it kind of is. The new and improved version is a fully functional VR headset for iPhone that comes with an adjustable wheel for focus and a headphone jack for full immersion.

The only downside to this iPhone VR headset is that it doesn’t come with a head strap. While this may deter many casual VR enthusiasts, you can easily work around this issue by getting a set of cheap strap belts and fixing them onto your Mattel View-Master Deluxe

Compatibility: 4 to 6 inches. FOV: 98 degrees. Weight: 13 ounces.
Price: ~$30 on Amazon

Xiaomi Mi VR

Xiaomi Mi VR is super cheap, durable and works great. It also doesn’t come with a head strap, but it has readily available mounts for you to fix your own strap, DIY style. Your iPhone is firmly held in the front-zipped section, so there’s literally no way for it to fall out of the VR headset.

If you’re looking for something cheap and comfortable that will keep you iPhone safe and won’t break after just a few uses, Xiaomi Mi VR is the way to go.

Compatibility: 4.7 to 5.7 inches. FOV: 95 degrees. Weight: 7 ounces.
Price: ~$16 on Amazon

BoboVR Z4

BoboVR Z4 simply has it all. Cheap, sturdy, has a head strap, all the buttons and controls you need, built in headphones, adjustable lenses, superior field of view and a convenient phone holder make it one of the best bang-for-the-buck headsets for iPhone out there.

If Merge VR is too pricey for you, get this one. It’s got its kinks, but it’s well worth the price.

Compatibility: 4 to 6 inches. FOV: 120 degrees. Weight: 11 ounces
Price: ~$36 on Amazon

How to Convince your Wife or Parents that a VR Headset is Worth the Money?

Guides

Alex Phoenix

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October 23, 2017

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How to Convince your Wife or Parents that a VR Headset is Worth the Money?

So why should it be difficult to talk to your parents – or your wife – about VR? Or to get them to see that an investment in a VR headset might be worthwhile?

Well, of course there’s the simple matter of how much a good VR system costs – not only the cost of a high-end headset like the Oculus Rift, but the cost of a VR PC that could make a Virtual Reality experience truly immersive.

However, where there’s REAL ‘value for money’, people rarely step in the way of expense… so long, that is, that the equipment can really fit into the family’s budget.

If it just doesn’t, you have no business thinking about buying it.

So we’re assuming that a VR headset like the Oculus Rift is something that your family can – even borderline – afford.

So why should it be difficult for you to convince them that it’s worth buying?

We come back to that ‘value for money’ principle.

If your family balks at buying a VR headset, it’s quite frankly, because they don’t see the ‘value’ part of that equation.

arguments about vr — “Awww daad! VR is sooo Cool! You just don’t understand it!”
“So explain things to me, son. Just how cool is cool?”

Jokes aside, the whole ‘kids’ stuff’ thing is the fault of VR companies themselves.

Since the latest VR ‘wave’ got started, companies have been focusing on gamers. Most of the software made for VR is… games. Sure, that marketing ploy works for the gaming market. After all, VR games are the established future of gaming.

But how does that convince a non-gamer that VR is a good investment?

And the answer to that is… it doesn’t!

The guys running the VR marketing campaigns have inadvertently labelled their own product ‘kid-stuff’ in the minds of the non-gaming, non-techie section of humanity.

Which includes a lot of parents and wives and other people who have an influence over whether a family invests in VR or not.

It’s a self defeating strategy… and it’s the reason you’re reading this article right now!

Which brings us to the point of this article…

How do you convince a parent or spouse that a VR headset is worth what it costs?

And the answer to that is actually simple.

**Try to see – and show them – what’s in it for them.**

Not for you.

For them.

Selling VR (c’mon, that’s what you’re doing) is a lot like selling anything else – you have to convince the person ‘buying’ that the purchase is worth the price.

We’re assuming here that your parents or spouse are not gamers, and can’t key in to the most obvious, marketed advantages of VR (oooh, the game feels so real, when that creature bites down, it really feels like you’re dinner).

**So what would they be interested in?**

One company that could help you is Google.

Since it first started dabbling in VR, Google has always pushed the educational advantages of VR, rather than taking the ‘cool gaming equipment’ line. A wise choice – they’re marketing something that could appeal to all humanity, that could benefit the entire human race.

That sound like a good sales line to you?

It should, because it is.

They have a vast database of incredible VR software and ‘experiences’, all easily available and effortlessly ‘within reach’. So get yourself Google Cardboard, or a suitable low-cost headset, and begin to introduce your family to VR.

Don’t talk high-end – talk cheap!

If you haven’t yet, don’t talk to your family about high-end, high-cost headsets and machines.

No. Show them what they can do with a low cost Google Cardboard.

Have you got a parent or spouse who’s always wanted to travel, but never really got the chance?

Or wanted to go on adventures? Visit Machu Picchu? Swim with dolphins or sharks?

Have you got a family member interested in astronomy, or in the drive to colonize Mars?

Or someone passionate about sports, who’d love to watch a football or boxing match in VR?

Everyone’s interested in something – and the chances are that VR today can provide a vast range of experiences that they would value at a relatively negligible cost.

Get yourself a cheap headset, and introduce your family to those experiences.

**See what they like, and provide that.**

What they like.

Of course, it’s great if your tastes can merge so that you and your family can enjoy VR experiences together.

But you need to get them to love VR for what it is – a window to the world, and perhaps to the whole universe.

Not just an expensive gaming toy.

A window to the universe.

Who can resist that?

And when everyone in your family loves VR, you can talk about how the higher end headsets and PCs can provide a much better experience.

They’ll go for it.

Why wouldn’t they?

They were sold on the idea before you brought it forward!

And that’s how you get a parent or spouse to buy a VR headset…

By getting them to want it for themselves!!

Battle Royale in VR

Games

VRBorg Queen

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October 22, 2017

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VR Battle Royale Dreams vs. Reality

With the explosion of battle royale genre popularity, namely PUBG, the first attempts of creating a VR battle royale experience have already been made. Imagine – jumping out of an airplane, parachuting down to the ground, grabbing weapons, gear and supplies, and then killing everybody else just to stay alive. Freaking amazing, right?

The reality (not the virtual one, the real reality) hits when you figure out the number of active VR players at any given time. Let me break it down for you – it’s nowhere near Steam levels. And then there are technical roadblocks of having 100 different players interact in a single VR game. It gets tricky and complicated really fast.

Nevertheless, let’s see what we’ve got at the moment.

Virtual Battlegrounds

Of all the pre-alpha, beta, WIP VR Battle Royale games out there, Oneiric Entertainment’s Virtual Battlegrounds arguably looks and feels the best. The matches will be limited to 16 players due to aforementioned small VR playerbase, but the game has everything: jumping out of the plane, parachuting down, weapons, gear, houses, vehicles etc.

Of course, due to being in very early stages of development, you can only sign up for Alpha testing at the moment. It should be playable on both the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets, with a planned release some time in 2018. The game is obviously buggy, jittery and full of glitches. However, it’s worth a shot, if none but to experience some of the PUBG thrills in VR.

Sign up for Alpha testing here.

Until None Remain

Until None Remain is still heavily in the testing phase, but sign ups are still available for VR enthusiasts and battle royale aficionados. The nightly tests are reportedly fun, although we haven’t gotten around actually trying the experience ourselves. To take part you will have to sign NDA and won’t be allowed to stream, record gameplay footage and take screenshots unless explicitly allowed.

The game works on Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. You can sign up for beta testing here.

Bullets and More (BAM) VR Battle Royale

BAM VR’s latest beta build added a battle royale mode. The matches are limited to 12 players and the map is very flat. BAM itself is still in early access so don’t expect its BR mode to be polished and bug free.

One downside is that the game is not free. It will cost you $14.99 to get it on Steam. However, the game is getting regular updates and the developer seems quite dedicated to make the game as good of an experience as any other out there. As its battle royale mode is readily available, it might not be bad to shell a few bucks on this and hop out of the airplane into a certain death every now and then!

Top Heights Experiences in VR

Apps & Experiences

Soledachef

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October 21, 2017

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In virtual reality one can immerse into various environments, and not only can you engage in some activities you never could in real life like killing nazis or being Batman, but also in some simple everyday life activities, like tourism or meditation using your VR device.

The great advantage of virtual-reality is that it provides a safe way to experience something that you may find too dangerous to tackle in real life. This makes VR a perfect place for facing your fears in a controlled environment, like fear of heights for example.

A company named Revresh made a rig that, in symbiosis with the Oculus Rift game, makes a realistic parachute simulation – Para Parachute, so who knows, in future we may be training astronauts before their space walks in virtual reality. Until then, these are the top heights VR experiences currently available.

Richie’s Plank Experience

Richie’s Plank Experience is a short demo game designed as a VR showcase for first time users. You enter the elevator, go to the 80th floor of the building, and then you can walk to the end of Richie’s plank, if you dare!

Besides walking the plank, in this game you can fly around the city using your motion controllers, and be a superhero that extinguishes raging fires. Additionally, you can use your rocket hands as a paintbrush and the sky as a canvas, making Richie’s Plank Experience also a sky writing simulation.

The Climb

The Climb is a first-person rock climbing simulation from Crytek which will provide a realistic cliff-hanging experience. The Climb is an Oculus Rift exclusive, is regularly updated and supports Oculus Touch controllers. This is hands down one of the best looking games you can play in virtual reality.

Besides a truly impressive heights experience in VR it offers, The Climb has few probable side-effects. A player may suffer of vertigo, but most likely strained neck too! Game mechanics dictate that have to turn your head around constantly in order to find a suitable grip, therefore after longer gaming sessions this can even cause chronic neck pain. Stay safe!

The Walk VR Film

This isn’t a game but a digital recreation of The Walk movie’s climax scene from 2015. You step into the shoes of Philippe Petit, who walks the tight rope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The short VR film is available for both Android and iOS phones and is completely free.

While title ‘The Walk’ may lead you to think you are in for a calm and soothing experience, instead you start off looking at a steel beam leading to a tightrope, stretching over 1300 feet above the New York City. At first you will probably appreciate the stunning view of the surroundings, but as you start walking along the rope, looking down takes some courage, even though your feet are on a firm ground.

The urge to throw the headset away and abandon the genuine terror, may become very strong as you gaze down at the dizzying drop, but Philippe Petite had already done this amazing feat in real life back in 1974, so the least you could do is relive his experience in perfectly safe virtual-reality setting.