You know what my Oculus Quest 2 setup needs? More weird controller attachments

Date:
Sun, 20 Aug 2023 18:00:34 +0000

Description:
The HelloReal putter for the Oculus Quest 2 has shown me that VR controller attachments are way better than I realized.

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When I think of controller attachments, I instantly imagine the crappy Wii remote add-ons I had as a kid.

At first, I loved them I wouldnt touch Wii Sports unless my controller
looked like a tennis racket or golf club but over time, I came to despise them. The cheap plastic constructions would always break after a few uses,
and they objectively made playing games harder because theyd block the sensor on the end of the remote.

Ive recently had the chance to try out the HelloReal Grip-to-putter with my Oculus Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro VR headsets, and its reopened my eyes to
the immersion that accessories can bring to virtual reality whether its gaming, working out, or just plain working. My Grip-to-putter thoughts

The HelloReal Grip-to-putter is a golf club controller attachment and the perfect companion for Walkabout Mini Golf one of my favorite VR experiences
. (Image credit: Future)

You slot your Quest 2 or Quest Pro controller into the open end where it sits snuggly for additional assurance that your handset wont fly off when you swing the club HelloReal has included instructions on securing it using the controllers wrist straps. Once its in place you can boot up your favorite VR golfing app and enjoy swinging a club that feels much more like the real
thing than your controller ever did.

The Grip-to-putter gets its name from the grip-to-putt feature in Walkabout Mini Golf. When this setting is switched on in the apps menu your clubs end will vanish until you hold down the side grip button on the controller. This lets you get a few practice swings without the risk of accidentally hitting your virtual ball before youre ready.

HelloReals attachment includes a contraption that will hold down the controllers grip button when you press the trigger that sits just above the padded end. While playing Walkabout with the putter took a little getting
used to because the mechanics are a bit different with the add-on I found that it made the whole experience significantly more immersive. Have to feel to believe

As you can see from the images included above, the HelloReal putter looks nothing like a golf club beyond the fact its vaguely pole shaped. But it doesnt matter what the add-on looks like, just what it feels like and HelloReal has got the golf club feeling down to a tee. The padded grip and weight distribution of the putter are perfect. (Image credit: Future)

Once I slipped my headset on, I fully believed I was holding a real golf
club. And this got me thinking I need more realistic feeling VR accessories to use at home.

Inspired by the Wiis heyday, I can already imagine some of the VR gaming accessories I could get, such as attachments that mimic the feel of swords
and axes or sporting-inspired add-ons for VR fishing and tennis.

For the VR fitness fans out there, wouldnt it be great to get a weighted club attachment that makes your Supernatural workout a little tougher? Maybe someday, we could get a boxing glove-inspired accessory that brings Litesport VR and other boxing workouts to life.

While working in the metaverse, perhaps we could use blank slates and
styluses that make us believe were writing on paper when taking virtual
notes. OK, this add-on is a little bleak, but if metaverse working is inevitable, it might make it more enjoyable than I found it before I much prefer traditional pen and paper to using a keyboard. It would also feel more real than the controller styluses Meta includes in the Quest Pros box, which enable you to write in VR, albeit clunkily. If you didnt realize the styluses were in the box, it might be because theyre tiny and exceptionally easy to lose. Cost and effect

These sorts of realism-boosting accessories are already deployed by
commercial VR experiences you can find in some malls and theme parks to great effect but they do admittedly have a downside if you want to bring them
home. Cost. The Omni One VR treadmill is a next-level VR accessory (Image credit: Virtuix)

Different add-ons have different prices, with gadgets like the Omni One VR treadmill at the ridiculous (over $2,500, around 2,000 / AU$3,900) end, and accessories like the Grip-to-putter at a more reasonable $58.99 (around 46 / AU$91). Admittedly, $58.99 still isnt cheap, but if you plan to use your VR accessory a lot, you'll likely feel it offers solid bang for your buck.

So if you are a VR power user or even just pick it up once a week and have been weighing up buying a few accessories for it, then Id say go for it (provided theyre good quality). Burnt by the Wii, Id been instantly
dismissing every add-on as a gimmick, but after trying the HelloReal putter, Ive been scouring the internet for other weird goodies I could pick up to improve my VR setup. You might also like This bonkers Apple patent could
solve one of VRs biggest problems Samsungs leaked XR headset looks like a
very budget Apple Vision Pro Meta has two award-winning VR headsets you'll never get to try



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/you-know -what-my-oculus-quest-2-setup-needs-more-weird-controller-attachments


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