VR technology has come a long way but I think it still has a long way to go in order for it to be mainstream and ubiquitous as the smartphone.
Until VR tech gets to the point where it is as compact and light weight as traditional prescription glasses; we will just have to make do with the current state of the technology at the moment, which brings us to the main focus of this article. The OCULUS GO.
Ready Player One Movie. Look Ma, no cables!
VR for
the rest of us
There is a lot to like about the Oculus Go. The ease of use is right at the top of the list. No trailing cables to trip you up, no need for connection to a computer. After setting up the device and connecting with the controller using your smartphone, you're good to go!
This is the best device to ease into the VR world. The image quality is surprisingly very good. If you have tried Samsung Gear VR you will know the problem of "blurry" or pixelated screen-door effect. The Oculus Go however have very close to none of this issue unless of course if you look very, very closely at a bright image.
CABLES. Yuck!
Comfort and
ease of use
I wear glasses. And this always gets in the way of really enjoying VR content using VR headsets. When I put on the headset over my glasses it presses on my face and its not really a comfortable experience.
With the Oculus Go, it comes with the Glasses Spacer which is an awesome thing. It takes a few steps to install it in the headset but once it is done It really feels a lot more comfortable when I wear my glasses with it. I do have to adjust the straps to have a snug fit on my face though.
This is the easiest and simplest VR device to use. Just pick it up, put it on and you're in VR. Doesn't get easier than that.
Glasses-wearing VR enthusiast, this is for you!
Simplicity with a few
limitations
You get only one controller with the Oculus Go. It is connected via bluetooth. This is the best device to use to just sit back on your couch, relax and watch a 360 degrees VR movie.
You can also use it to experience watching a movie on the big screen because the Oculus Go screen will really fill up your field of view. You could easily lose time on this because the experience is immersive. But only for 2 hours at a time until the battery dies out. I thought about plugging in a usb battery pack into the headset but this is not recommended for safety reason. Also because the headset gets quite hot if you do this.
Experience watching movies on the BIG SCREEN anytime and anywhere! No wires!
3 degrees of
freedom
If you're thinking of using this to paint in VR, you are not going to really enjoy it as much as when using a PC connected VR device that has 6 degrees of freedom (DoF). Oculus Go controller only has 3 DoF. You can use the Paint VR app to try and paint, but it feels really limiting if you've ever tried painting in 6 DoF where you can move around and really paint in free space in room-scale. It is worth to note that Google's tilt brush app is not compatible with the Oculus Go. Tilt brush requires VR devices that uses 6 DoF.
Do not expect the same kind of VR experience as the other more expensive VR devices that enables you to walk around your room or crouch down. This device is meant to just sit down or stand in one position and move your head to look around.
Sorry. You can't use tilt-brush on the Oculus Go. Boo.
Gaming on the
Oculus Go
Gaming on the Oculus Go is OK. Do not expect to play games that require you to move forward, duck, use two controllers and such. These types of games require high computer processing power and thus the need for tethering to a desktop computer.
Having said that, you can play a good variety of decent VR games that allows you to look around while sitting down and using the controller as a pointing device.
I recommend playing Dead Secret. After you are done with the game, go and get Dead Secret: Circle. These types of Murder/Mystery Horror games is really what VR is built for. You take your time to explore, find clues and solve puzzles. The sound, ambience and the climactic moments could really mess with your inner thoughts and emotions. These are really immersive experience. Until the battery runs out of course.
Super scary experience. It's like you're living a thriller movie.
So, should you get the
Oculus Go?
If you are considering getting the Oculus Go knowing the limitations of this device, I say go for it. This will be the most fun toy you can have. You'll find yourself reaching out for this everytime you just want to sit back and watch a movie or just to have simple fun playing simple games sitting down.
