[IT Experience] Living Room Transformed into VR Game Room... Like Riding a 360-Degree Roller Coaster

Latest VR Device by Facebook
'Oculus Quest 2' Experience
Immersion, Technological Innovation, Stability Advantages
Dizziness and Older Generation Accessibility Barriers

On the 4th, the screen was displayed on the TV through mirroring. When wearing the VR device 'Oculus Quest 2,' this screen is rendered as a 360-degree 3D video.

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Since 2017, as the virtual reality (VR) game trend spread in the mass entertainment market, VR game rooms have sprung up like mushrooms. After the market price was set at 10,000 to 15,000 won per hour, the usage fee has not changed significantly since then. The news of home VR devices priced under 1 million won, led by Facebook, was welcomed.

On the 4th, I experienced Facebook's latest VR headset, the Oculus Quest 2, which sold out its second round on SK Telecom's official website. The simple main package, consisting only of the VR headset and two joysticks, immediately conveyed the sense of technological advancement. The hardware consists solely of the headset, and the advantage is that it does not require connection with a PC or other equipment, only a smartphone. The audio is also integrated.

However, from a beginner's perspective, using the device was not easy. Even as a reporter in their 30s, I had difficulty operating it for the first time, so it seems the barrier might be somewhat high for the older generation in their 50s and 60s to use it freely. The instructions were also unfriendly. Watching IT reviewers' experience videos, I linked my Facebook ID to the smartphone and installed the 'Oculus' application (app). After completing the basic setup, I held the joysticks in both hands and secured my wrists with fabric straps.

VR headset 'Oculus Quest 2' main unit. The hardware consists only of the headset and joystick.

Wearing the headset, which seemed like a combination of goggles and headphones, it was time to embark on a VR exploration. First, I set the floor height and personal safety boundary. Augmented reality (AR) technology, which is more advanced than VR, was applied together, so if the user crosses the boundary they set, the real space is exposed to reduce the risk of collision. The Quest 2 operates like a smartphone app market or console game, allowing users to download various apps such as games, social media, movies, and music. Considering that each game is about 3GB, the 64GB capacity seemed sufficient.

For gaming, I tried the free version of the basic 'Epic Rollercoaster.' Wearing the virtual helmet with a warning that it could cause dizziness, I experienced the 'Classic' version. Unlike casual apps like 'Multiverse,' which simulates space, or social chat 'V Time,' which I briefly tried, I felt motion sickness within just one minute of riding. The high-resolution graphics and joystick vibrations provided an immersive experience as if riding a real rollercoaster.

The popularity of the Quest 2 has already been confirmed domestically. On the first day of release on the 2nd of last month, over 4,000 units were sold, and the first batch sold out within three days. Especially on the shopping mall 11st, about 700 units were sold within an hour after launch, showing a response similar to that of premium smartphone releases. Customers visiting SK Telecom's T Factory, the official domestic seller, to experience the Quest 2 are continuously increasing. The second batch also sold out early within about 10 minutes after sales began the previous day.

However, the list price of $299 (sold for 414,000 won in Korea) could be a price barrier. Paid games, priced between 10,000 and 30,000 won, are cheaper than typical console game packs but could still be a burden. Although the resolution has been improved compared to the previous model (Oculus Quest 1) to reduce dizziness, there is still a possibility of headaches.