My first year in virtual reality: exciting games, interesting hardware and events
In this article, I would like to take you on my exciting journey through the year 2024. From exciting games to innovative hardware and unique events.
A year ago, I would never have expected to become an editor at an XR magazine like MIXED and write regularly about virtual reality. Although I have always been fascinated by VR, I was put off for a long time by the high price and the relatively high barriers to entry for newcomers. But thanks to my involvement with SPACE4GAMES and my subsequent permanent position at Deep Content, I suddenly ended up in the MIXED editorial team and got the chance to take a closer look at this fascinating medium.
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From standalone to PC-VR
I got a Meta Quest 2 for my first steps in VR at the beginning of the year. I used the standalone VR headset to try out VR classics such as Superhot or Beat Saber, which everyone is probably familiar with. After catching up and familiarizing myself with VR, I was asked to actively contribute articles to Mixed from March onwards and switched to the Meta Quest 3.
The switch from the previous model to the latest hardware was impressive. Being able to perceive my surroundings in color even with the headset on my head, the better performance and the more comfortable lenses were a big step forward. To this day, I use the Quest 3 for all my tests, whether standalone or via SteamVR on the PC.
My first VR tests: concerts, series and games
I still remember the assignment to test the "Looking Inside" concert by Avenged Sevenfold. As a metal fan, I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that I had too high expectations of VR events. Unfortunately, it felt more like a 3D movie than an interactive experience. Nevertheless, it was interesting to be able to get so involved with the musicians and their music. The VR concert, which lasted about half an hour, entertained me well overall, even if I would like to see more interaction in the future.
In addition to the concert, I soon watched the series The Faceless Lady for you. Even though my review here was similar, and I would have liked more immersion, I expected less interactive elements in a series. As The Faceless Lady was solidly produced overall, I looked forward to each new episode and enjoyed watching a movie production in VR.
Of course, my new tasks also included hands-on time and testing VR games. I started with titles such as Paint the Town Red, Medieval Dynasty and Contractors Showdown. It quickly became clear that shooters and tactical shooters were among my favorites. Today, I am responsible for most of the titles in these genres at MIXED.
Escape from Tarkov in VR: Ghosts of Tabor
I soon came across Ghosts of Tabor. As a long-time fan of Escape from Tarkov, Combat Waffle Studios' title was made for me. I spent many hours in Ghosts of Tabor and made my first contact with the development studio.
When Combat Waffle MIXED finally invited me to an exclusive event in England and Josef immediately pointed me out, I was immediately excited. In London, I had the opportunity to meet the developers and some interesting people in the industry. Even though there was hardly any time for sightseeing during the three-day trip, I had a great time.
The interactive event around Ghosts of Tabor was superbly staged by Combat Waffle. With talented actors and a fitting setting, I briefly felt as if the game had just become reality. After a short introduction, we went in groups through the "black market" and stocked up on real equipment. At the shooting range, I then learned the difference between VR guns and real weapons - only with practice ammunition, of course.
Combat Waffle staged a surprise attack during our exercise and an action-packed chase through the building began. Of course, we never got our hands on the real equipment for actual combat, but the event still felt very authentic thanks to the high level of realism and the acting performance of the soldiers.
Gamescom 2024: Many new VR titles played
Gamescom is one of my highlights every year. In addition to new games and contacts with developers and interesting people from the industry, I also meet friends and acquaintances here every year that I don't usually get to see all year round. The mood and relaxed atmosphere in the games industry have always been the reason why I wanted to work in this field.
Unlike in previous years, this time it was of course more about VR. That's why some new VR titles couldn't be missing from my list. In addition to the recently announced games Grim and Silent North from Combat Waffle Studios, I also played other interesting titles such as Action Hero and Ember Souls.
Action Hero takes you into five different action movies. Scenarios and enemy types provided variety, and the acts within a movie never felt monotonous. All in all, Action Hero does a lot of things right and seems to be a worthy title for fans of Superhot VR.
Ember Souls, on the other hand, takes you into a fantastic world full of adventure and danger. My verdict on the demo was positive: The lovingly designed levels and atmospheric music allowed me to immerse myself in this fantasy world. The focus is clearly on the successful parkour interludes, which are made even more varied by creative skills. But the battles also impress with precise controls and dynamic action.
A visit to the XR Megabooth was therefore part of my daily routine at the trade fair, so it was all the better that there were also cozy areas there.
Hardware as a new subject area
Towards the end of the year, my area of responsibility expanded once again and since then I have also been writing articles about the latest PC hardware, such as the new graphics cards from Nvidia, the Battlemage series from Intel or processors from AMD.
In addition to classic hardware, I was also able to take a close look at VR accessories such as the TactSuit X16 haptic vest from bHaptics. It impressed me with its solid workmanship, simple setup, good battery and comfortable fit, even during longer VR sessions. Especially in supported games such as Half-Life Alyx, it increased immersion to an impressive level.
Finally, I tested the new Razer Kraken v4 Pro with haptic feedback. I was able to travel to Hamburg in advance and was presented with various other new products from Razer in addition to the headset. The headset will be my new favorite for use with a PC or console. In combination with a VR headset, however, I am not completely convinced, as the vibration is sometimes a bit annoying and not all the advantages of the headset can be played out in VR.
In the future, I will be exploring hardware even more, as this is one of my great passions alongside gaming: Trying out new hardware and gadgets and reporting on them.
Final words
All in all, 2024 was a very interesting and eventful year for me. Not only was I able to gain many new VR experiences, but I was also able to significantly expand my knowledge and skills in new areas. The many tests, events and discussions with developers have given me a good insight into the VR industry, and I am fascinated by the possibilities that this technology offers.
I look forward to discovering and reporting on interesting VR content for you again next year. 2025 should also be the year in which you see more of me and the entire MIXED editorial team on our social media channels. I'm already looking forward to a lively exchange with you. Stay curious and keep up your fascination for virtual worlds!
How was your VR year 2024? Tell us on Facebook or X or share your experience in the comments.
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