HTC America Vive Virtual Reality System

I absolutely love this. Got to try this for the first time with my brother who has this same set. I was open to the new world of gaming and I have to say after 20 years of gaming, the things VR is capable of still leave me breathless. After experiencing it I wished to purchase one so I did. However, the set up I can see might overwhelm some people. Thankfully I have some knowledge of current technology but I can see where others might get frustrated. So consider this a PSA. For starters, it came with several cords. HDMIs, USBs, and AC adapters. It did NOT come with instructions. However either use of the internet and/or use of common sense, and a little bit of patience, this can be set up no problem. So the first thing you want to do is remove the controllers and the charging cables. (They come with USB AC adapters and there are 2 of them.) Plug them in on the bottom and they should light up that they are charging. Let them charge about 2 hours. Next, there will be a little box inside that should have two plug in sides to it. And they should be marked what side is what. One will connect to the computer and the other to the headset. This will require a power outlet. You’ll plug in the power on the box and connect the usb and HDMI provided into the box and the pc, the hdmi and usb attached to the headset will connect to the box. Just remember, the side that connects to power, is the side that connects to the computer. (This is just with patience and process and elimination.) Next you want to plot out where you are going to be playing this at. You’ll need adequate space. This set comes with 2 sensors that can be neatly attached to the wall or placed. I recommend mounting them (you’ll need screws, 4 to be exact, not included.) NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT: these sensors have to be able to visibly track the headset and the controllers. (Also, you’ll need close plug ins for both sensors. They have to have power, so make sure a wall outlet is close to where you put them.) If they are not, this system will not work. And you will see nothing and think, “oh I have a broken VR, great..” no this isn’t the case. This is probably the trickiest part to it. If you have a Steam account on PC you can go through Steam VR which is free. (not sure if it runs you through this or not after hookup, as I already had a Steam account and Steam VR.) Having this, will walk you through a tutorial on how to get the proper set up. This helped me tremendously as I had trouble getting the headset and controllers to be visible to the two sensors. Now you’ll want to pair the controllers to the PC which again, the Steam VR program is probably the best tool to help. It’ll walk you through a zone and test what kind and size play area for it. Just make sure you have adequate height when placing the sensors. It recommended a 6.5 feet up. After all of that. Maybe simple for some, maybe hair pulling for others, for me it was a little of both. I hope I have or will have helped someone get started with this. It’s great. You feel like your in it. It’s something new to me. Something not stale like normal video games are nowadays. And if you have the money, (which this is reasonably priced compared to some of the headsets out now) the patience, (easy or hard for some) the space, and your ready to take gaming to the next level, then I recommend this to you 100%. This is also great for parties and families alike. Basically a virtual reality Wii. And I really recommend using Steam since they have some free games for VR and some that are very cheap and sometimes on sale. So thank you for reading my one million word review. I hope it helps. Sorry for all the run on sentences. Lol. Enjoy!

Okay, if you haven't experienced virtual reality with an HTC Vive you really just don't know what you are missing. It is amazing, words fail me when I try to explain just how real it is, and how amazing it is. It is so real, and so immersive, when playing a game and walking up to a cliff, I feel a fear of falling, it is just that real. I can't bring myself to step over the edge of a cliff, even though I know I won't fall, I just can't do it.The display is just about perfect. Some people complain about the resolution, but I don't think there is anything wrong with it. I am sure you could make it more detailed, but for me it is already amazing. As for the controls and the interface, they work at real time. There is no perceivable delay between a movement in the real world, and motion in the game. The really cool thing is that the game will enhance the controller, adding buttons and information to them, that doesn't exist in reality. For example, the large round button on the wand, in some games this will turn into 4 buttons, and the battery meter will show up on the bottom of each controller, as with what hand they are, and these things are not really on there.As for the software, since this is partnered with Valve you know that you will never have an issue getting premium games and content. There is already a number of really cool games, and the system is relatively new.The headset is a little heavy, and when you really get into the game, and you start to sweat the headset will cause you to perspire. The cable is a bit of an issue. It is the only thing that breaks the immersion into the virtual reality for me. I have to keep thinking of the cable so that I don't trip over it, or pull it out of the PC. But, recently I bought a cable management system that has cables and pulleys, and it made a huge difference.The controls are intuitive, most games don't need any manual, just 30 seconds of a tutorial, and you are playing the game. Some of the coolest games, like the Lab, are totally free. Others are paid games, but most of them are totally worth it and really cool.Honestly, if you are on the fence about virtual reality, just go for it. I thought it was going to be cool, but I had no idea just how amazing this thing was going to be when I ordered it. It is like Virtual Reality from the movies, you won't believe how incredible it is when you try it. I just can't tell you how amazing it is, as you won't grasp it without trying. Yes, it is that good.Unlike some of the other systems, this one allows you to use a 15x15 foot room for your experience. Walking around and interacting with the virtual world. This system does not make me nauseus like the other systems do. It feels totally real, and totally immersed. In fact, real world feel strange after playing the system too long. It feels strange to grab something with your hands, after using the wands for a few hours.Pros: The best, by far, Virtual reality system available. Room scale, wireless wands, backed by valve. I really can't describe how amazing it is, I don't have the vocabulary to express it. Unless you try it, words will just not do it justice.Cons: Compared to the other systems out there, there are none. But, in a class of its own these are the cons that I have. The wire, this is an issue that you have to worry about tripping, etc. It pulls you out slightly from being totally immersed in the game. However, cable management systems are available on Amazon for very little money, and will pull the cable up over your head, solving the issue. The headset is a bit heavy, and gets hot when you are using it.Note: I had an issue with the headset not working, turning off mid-game, etc. Turned out to be the HDMI cable that was included with the system, it was not capable of the power needed to have the thing work, and would shut off. I switched to display port, and the issue has never come back. Others buy a much better, high end, HDMI cable, and the issue is resolved. This is an issue that seems to affect many people. This is the only issue that I have had, and it was a cable issue, not the Vive, so I won't list it as a CON, even though the cable in question was part of the HTC Vive kit. This thing is just so amazing, I can't bring myself to ding it with this cable issue. Just get it, don't think about it, you won't be sorry. This is the most amazing computer peripheral, feature, etc, that has EVER been made. This will change gaming forever. I used to think VR was just in the movies, and was never going to happen, well this changed my mind. There is no doubt this is the next big thing. Soon everyone will have VR, it will be as common as a scanner.