Cheap 'VR' setup for PC

[NLxAROSA]

Want to experiment with VR but don't want to shell out on an expensive headset just yet?

Requirements:

1. Decent smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S6, iPhone 6, etc.).;
2. Intugame desktop client;
3. Intugame phone app (Google Play, App Store);
4. Something to attach your smartphone to your head, e.g. Cardboard, ColorCross, or other cheap mobile VR set.

How to set it up:

1. Make sure PC and phone are on the same WiFi network;
2. Start the desktop client;
3. Start the app;
4. After it's found the PC: boot your favorite game/sim;
5. Hit play on the app;
6. Put phone in headset and put it on;
7. Profit!

It streams the game/sim in stereoscopic 3D to the phone. Lag will depend on image and network quality. Uses mouse look for headtracking, but they're considering to add FreeTrack.

Tried it in AC and Project CARS, works quite nicely and fast, though neither supports mouse look properly (so no looking around). Works great for FPS as well (and mouse look works there). 👍

Another way to do this is using TrinusGyre/TriDef/FreeTrack, but that's quite painful to setup, this is much easier.

 

[Mr Latte]

Interesting idea but issues with lag with VR just seem like a bad move for something as unforgiving as gaming.

Now if only Sonys Xperia Z5 Premium phone with 4K screen would work in 4K VR with zero lag.
Not to mention the monster of a PC that would be needed to render 4K VR.

I need to get out more...

 

[paskowitz]

I hate to break it to you, that set up will not produce a payable VR experience. There isn't a single wireless protocol on the planet that can stream video from one device to another fast enough (low latency) for VR.

When that "looking around" produces an image that does not match with what your body is doing, you break presence and induce motion sickness. Also, good luck playing a driving game with 100ms+ video lag. VR requires <30ms, and that is computer chip to display pixel.

. end of story you need a dedicated VR headset and a high end computer for VR.

 

[NLxAROSA]

Is this a real alternative for an expensive setup? Nope. Is this a fun and cheap way to experiment with VR before spending cash on a real set? Yes! Do with that what you want.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this is not true VR, it just duplicates the image and offsets it (fake 3D), there's no actual dual screen rendering. So this works just as well as, let's say Steam In Home Streaming. And that works pretty well if you have a decent WiFi setup (racing games included). And no, that is not even anywhere near 100ms of lag. Though I probably wouldn't try Steam In Home Streaming in an online situation.

So agreed that you probably don't want to use this for a prolonged time in an online situation. But that's not what this is meant for.