Virtual Reality | Byte Gremlin

Kill, Marry, F… : VR Headset Edition

October 15, 2019May 17, 2019 by Charlie

VR is at a weird, uncomfortable phase of its evolution. It’s not quite the next big thing, nor is it a dead parrot. And yet, the leaders in the industry have announced a new generation of headsets, each of which pushes the medium in a very different direction. The situation has left both would-be adopters and die-hard fans scratching their heads as to where they should spend their well-earned (or dubiously earned) scratch.

So I might as well pay off that click-baitish headline. You’ve got three options: The Oculus Rift S, Oculus Quest, or the surprise HMD: Valve Index. As with the childhood game, these choices are a bit subjective, so bear in mind that this is all firmly IMHO.

Let’s break it down.

Recommended PC Builds (2019 Edition)

October 5, 2020January 10, 2019 by Charlie

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Note: Byte Gremlin uses Affiliate Links, which generate income to help support the site.

For those considering building your own PC (which I highly recommend), I’ve created these recommended builds with various uses and goals in mind.

These part sets have been devised to maximize performance per dollar, compatability, and minimal bottlenecking (where a cheap part restricts performance of more expensive components).

If you’d like to know more about how to compile a list of compatible parts yourself, check out my other guide here.

Why Oculus Quest ISN’T the future of VR

October 5, 2020October 10, 2018 by Charlie

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During Oculus’ most recent Oculus Connect 5 event, the company announced a product some pundits are hailing as the turning point for VR hardware.

At a glance, Oculus Quest appears to be exactly what everyone has been asking for out of VR. Priced at $400, it provides room-scale tracking (scaling up to vast multi-room experiences that may match or exceed Vive’s commercial arena tracking systems). It uses inside-out on headset tracking and therefore requires minimal setup. On top of that, it requires no separate PC to run. The entire headset is self contained, along with its two controllers that are a close match to the rift’s much admired move controllers.

As a self described VR evangelist, I sincerely wish I could tout this new development as an exciting new chapter in the evolution of VR hardware. Unfortunately, I can’t.

How to Build the Ultimate Sim-Pit

October 5, 2020September 9, 2018 by Charlie

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Warning, this guide may lead to domestic unrest, disinterest in the real world, and supreme joy.

The first time the Gremlin saw pictures of a home made cockpit, he immediately filed it into his mental drawer of cool stuff he would never do. It seemed impractical, expensive, and unnecessary.

That was then.

He’s since built his own cockpit, and fallen in love with the unparalleled immersion it provides. Stepping into the “pit” feels like the world’s coolest Disneyland ride that happens to be in my house. This guide is designed to help you conceptualize, design and build a sim pit of your very own.

The Ultimate Joystick Guide

October 5, 2020August 9, 2018 by Charlie

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Updated: 8/27/20 with more information on Logitech’s offerings, and info on calibrating the Warthog HOTAS

In the last few years, the flight sim genre has awoken from years of dormancy, as gamers flocked to epic experiences like Elite Dangerous, Star Citizen, War Thunder, and others.

These titles basically mandate the use of a competent joystick, and yet most of your buying options are years old, and lack a set of comprehensive reviews.

The Byte Gremlin is here to right this wrong. He’ll help you steer clear of the various dated and unreliable models out there so that you get the best product for your use case.

How a Bass Shaker Will Change Your Life

October 5, 2020July 29, 2018 by Charlie

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Whether you’re watching Avengers Infinity War at full volume, or playing a round of Fortnite, having a strong thumping bass is key to an immersive entertainment experience. There’s just nothing like the sensation of a fictional explosion rocking your couch, chair, or virtual reality cockpit.

How to Build Your Own PC, and Why You Should (Part 2)

October 15, 2019July 2, 2018 by Charlie

Assembling your PC

So, you’ve got your components, and you’re ready to put them all together (if you haven’t, check out my component selection guide for some handy tips).

As I mentioned in Part 1, this is the easy bit. It’s also the most intimidating if it’s your first time. Follow some ground rules, and it’ll be smooth sailing.

How to Build Your Own PC, and Why You Should (Part 1)

October 5, 2020June 21, 2018 by Charlie

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Note: Byte Gremlin uses Affiliate Links, which generate income to help support the site.

The average Joe looks at a computer and sees a single device that’s equally capable of performing an infinite number of tasks. They know that some computers are faster than others. But what they don’t know, is that most consumer PCs are configured based on margins and ease of manufacturing, and their capabilities vary dramatically.

On a typical $500 pc from Dell or Acer, you can absolutely launch a game, stumble through editing some photographs or video, and lurch around the interwebs. What you may not realize, is that for that same $500, you could fine tune a custom built computer, that sacrifices in areas that aren’t important to you, in order to have a gaming powerhouse, a lithe living room PC, or an editing behemoth.

VR: How to Jump In and What to Play First

October 5, 2020June 19, 2018 by Charlie

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Note: Byte Gremlin uses Affiliate Links, which generate income to help support the site.

UPDATE:

In 2019, we’ve got three main options from the leaders in the VR industry that have shifted my recommendations. Check out the Gremlin’s thoughts on what to buy and why.

In early 2016, I thought Virtual Reality was the ultimate example of technological over-invention. The idea of wearing a monitor on my face seemed awkward and absurd, the product of the Google Glass team trapped in a small room for a decade. I hated the idea of being locked away from the real world so viscerally, and was skeptical that the technology could convincingly transport me to another world.

Then I tried it.