Although virtual reality and augmented reality aren’t new concepts, VR games still look unsophisticated or even primitive compared to traditional video games. Players’ hands float in front of them and they crudely jump or teleport, from one point to another. Of course, the current state of VR gaming doesn’t stop people from playing such games, but those who criticize some VR solutions may not know why developers stick with them.
For example, teleportation isn’t just the simplest solution for moving in virtual space. This feature is used by developers because it prevents motion sickness, a problem gamers had never experienced in traditional video games. Similarly, floating hands are not a shortcut but a conscious design choice. VR games are different from non-VR games in many ways so developers face unique challenges and they need to reconsider the existing approaches.
VR became a testing ground for game developers. Traditional methods often don’t work here, especially when it comes to design and control schemes. Developers are still testing different approaches to make VR games more fun while also helping gamers feel comfortable. Inconvenient control buttons can have a significant negative impact on a gaming experience in traditional games. In VR games, however, problems with control can make players feel bad physically, leading to eyestrain, nausea, and other negative effects.
When you play VR games, your whole body is engaged. VR gaming experience is not about using the right keyboard commands for the right actions — it expands the number of variables significantly. Even a headset itself should be properly designed to fit different head shapes and sizes, and the lenses used in it should feel comfortable for players’ eyes. Headsets and lenses, however, are not the main problems for VR gaming.
The most common problem among VR gamers is motion sickness. This phenomenon, which is also known among developers as VR sickness, manifests itself differently. Many players report disorientation, dizziness, and nausea. The same can happen when you read a book or scroll your social media feed in the back of a car — your eyes are focused on a static object, while the rest of your body senses movement. In this article, we’re going to consider VR sickness in more detail and take a look at some methods that can help you overcome it.
What Motion Sickness Is
When you’re reading in the back of a car, your brain receives different signals that contradict each other from your sensory system. Your eyes observe a static object (your book or phone) in the static environment of the car, while your body senses movement. When playing VR games, the situation is the opposite, but the effect remains the same: you stand still, but your eyes send signals to your brain about the moving virtual environment. As a result, you can feel nauseous. That’s why quick teleportation is actually a better solution for VR games than walking.
Motion sickness is very common among people who play VR games or other simulators. Dizziness and nausea are the most common symptoms of motion sickness, but it can also cause sweating, eye strain, headaches, and a general lack of balance. In some cases, it may simply make you feel tired. The worst thing about motion sickness is that its symptoms may not appear instantly, and they also may not disappear quickly. Some users keep feeling bad for a few hours after leaving virtual reality.
All people experience motion sickness differently, and there are many factors that influence a particular person’s susceptibility to it. For instance, women are more likely to experience nausea than men, which might be caused by the difference in hormones. Besides, women have a wider field of view, which also impacts the perception of VR content. Another factor that impacts the effects of VR sickness is a user’s age. According to research, 50-year-old and older adults are much more likely to experience motion sickness. The same research also demonstrated that motion sickness is less likely to develop once users have familiarized themselves with VR.
Given that the VR market, and the VR gaming market, in particular, quickly develop and grow, motion sickness becomes a challenge that slows down the wide adoption of VR technology. Although we don’t know the exact number of VR gamers who experience motion sickness, software developers who work on VR and AR solutions assume that 25% of users might feel it. This assumption is partially supported by research data which shows that about 25% of pilots experience motion sickness on a plane.
Factors That Influence Motion Sickness
- Latency
Latency is a parameter that reflects the delay between the actual movement and the moment it’s registered by the app. Latency is one of the main factors that contribute to motion sickness. If it takes too long for an app to register your movement, you see your in-app actions with a delay, which is a reason why your equilibrium feels confused.
Oculus dedicated many years to researching the consequences of latency. According to the company’s data, most users are comfortable with a 13-millisecond delay on a 90 Hz display panel. These parameters have been used as a standard in the industry for years, but now users can buy headsets with even faster displays. For instance, headsets like Valve Index enable users to change the frequency from 80 Hz to 144 Hz. It makes sense to expect more and more low-latency headsets in the future. - Headset type
The type of headset is another important factor that can determine whether or not users will experience motion sickness. The first VR headsets enabled users to look from side to side in 360°, up, and down. These were 3DoF headsets, and 3DoF stands for “3 degrees of freedom.” Such headsets could lead to disorientation because the scene wouldn’t move as you walk. Although such headsets are great for watching 360° videos, they cannot be used for games where you need to move in a virtual environment.
To solve this problem, manufacturers came up with 6DoF headsets that have six degrees of freedom. Such headsets deliver a more immersive experience because users get more freedom of movement, and the environment adjusts according to their moves. As a result, such headsets also reduce the probability of users experiencing VR sickness. - Eye movement
When playing VR games, your eye motion changes because your eyes need to stabilize the image on your retina. The natural and VR environments move differently, and your brain doesn’t see exactly what it expects to see. As a result, unnatural eye movement contributes to the development of motion sickness. - Controller type
Not so long ago, only the most expensive headsets had controllers, but now controllers are much more common. Controllers that enable you to see your hands in the virtual environment help reduce motion sickness. Your brain feels less disoriented when it sees your hands than when you look around and don’t see anything familiar. - Posture
According to research, postural instability also contributes to the development of motion sickness. In the natural environment, people experience motion sickness when they need to stabilize the body. For example, people become seasick because they lose balance on a ship. In this case, moving your body to keep balance may help, but this is not the case when it comes to VR.
For example, when you’re playing a VR roller coaster simulator, you may want to move your body forward or backward while your body doesn’t actually move. Fortunately, your body can adjust to the unfamiliar feeling of balance the same way it does when you spend some time on a boat.
How To Overcome Motion Sickness
- Choose the right hardware
First of all, you should only use headsets with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and higher. You should also make sure that your GPU maintains a frame rate of at least 90 frames per second. The hardware should also have good sensors to smoothly translate your movement exactly the way you move in the real world. Besides, you should adjust your headset and make sure that your lenses are properly focused. You don’t want to make your brain work harder to interpret the image because it will feel more disoriented. If you wear glasses, you can use spacers that come with many VR headsets to keep your glasses on while in VR. - Lower brightness
Unfamiliar immersive experiences might make your sensory system be overloaded with signals. If you lower brightness, you will make the sensory input less intense so your brain will need to process fewer stimuli. This way, it will be easier for your brain to adjust so it will feel less disoriented. - Train your brain
If you begin to experience symptoms of motion sickness, take off your headset immediately. Your brain needs some time to get used to the unfamiliar environment and you shouldn’t make your VR experiences overwhelming. Increase the time you spend in VR apps gradually so that your brain and body can adapt. When you become more familiar with VR, symptoms of motion sickness will decrease or disappear.
For instance, you can begin with five minutes every couple of days. Gradually increase the time up to ten minutes while also increasing the time you rest. For instance, try ten minutes twice a week. Symptoms of motion sickness may disappear when you reach 15 minutes of a non-stop VR experience. - Control your breathing and sit down
When playing VR games, you may subconsciously hold your breath when anticipating some action. Although it’s a natural response to exciting experiences, holding your breath can contribute to nausea. Calm down and breathe as you always do.
You may also try sitting down. When you sit down, your posture is more stable so you’re not getting disoriented by your body movements. It gets much easier for your body to maintain balance so you’re less likely to experience motion sickness. Sitting down can be especially helpful when you’re using a VR headset for the first time. - Choose the right games
If a VR experience feels overwhelming, try games that involve less movement. If you’re a beginner, you may want to start with 3DoF VR apps where the virtual environment is relatively static. Another great choice is games where you can control the speed of the environment.
You should also keep in mind that not all VR games maintain a continuous 90 frames per second experience. When your image lags or crashes, your brain can get disoriented. Besides, the way you move in the virtual environment is also important. If you experience motion sickness, the best solution is to choose games where you can teleport. This way, you will minimize the disorienting in-game movement.
Wrapping Up
Why is VR disorienting? Well, the virtual environment may seem similar to the real one but it’s quite different. You interact with a dynamic environment, while your body isn’t actually a part of it. Therefore, your sensory system can send different signals that contradict each other to the brain, which results in motion sickness. Follow our tips to overcome motion sickness and don’t forget that your brain may need some time to adapt to new experiences.
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