Virtual Reality is an incredible modern technology that allows anyone to immerse themselves in a game or world, becoming thoroughly engrossed in the experience. For most, it is as simple as putting on your headset and jumping into the action! However, for those with sensitivity to motion, they may experience a condition known as motion sickness. Motion sickness occurs when someone becomes nauseated due to certain motions, such as those experienced by individuals with seasickness while on a boat. Fortunately, there are solutions available for individuals experiencing VR motion sickness.
Continue reading to discover how specific settings can help alleviate motion sickness.
Optimize Headset and Gameplay Settings
- Calibrate the interpupillary distance (IPD) and headset fit to reduce eye strain and headaches. IPD is one of the most helpful setting adjustments for motion sickness in a VR headset.
- Raise the field of view (FOV) slowly to a comfortable range (narrower FOV can reduce nausea).
- If your movement in the world causes your nausea, then enable “Comfort Mode” or “Vignette Effect” if available—these darken your peripheral vision during movement.
- Similar to enabling Comfort Mode, using teleport movement instead of smooth locomotion can help if you’re sensitive to your movement.
- If you experience nausea as you turn in a different direction, consider decreasing in-game turning speed or switching to snap turning to minimize disorientation.
Adjusting VR Motion Sickness Settings for Comfort
- If motion sickness still occurs, consider using the “Stationary Mode” or seated experiences if available. This allows you to be physically still, while only the controls inside the world move.
- Some worlds have extra effects such as sparkles, heavy water motion, fire, etc. If the intensity is too much for your hardware, it can cause delays or slow graphics. This could invoke sensory overload for those sensitive to it. Adjusting your frames per minute (FPS) can assist with this. Most are suitable with 30 fps, but others will require a higher frame rate.
- Another solution for movement-related issues is to use VRChat’s in-game settings to enable teleportation movement and adjust smooth turning options. Instead of one steady stream of walking, you will teleport forward, so there is less motion involved with your walking.
- If you require a steady screen and image, then disable head bobbing or reduce camera shake, both of which can contribute to dizziness.
Maintain Physical Comfort While Using VR
- Keep a fan blowing on you to reduce overheating and provide a real-world grounding sensation. This can also help to steady breathing.
- If you begin to feel motion sickness, take off your headset and allow time to recover before putting it back on.
- Keep water and a small snack, such as crackers, nearby. If you start to feel nauseous, remove the headset, sip some water, and eat a cracker. There are moments when your computer may experience lag (falling behind on movement), and these moments can cause nausea episodes for motion sickness sufferers. It’s good to be prepared.
- Some state that using a rug to scale your play space can help keep you grounded while using VR.
- If your motion sickness persists, consult your doctor about taking motion sickness medications or using acupressure wristbands.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that if you’re new to VR, ease into the various settings. Those who enjoy roller coasters and similar experiences will likely have an easier time adjusting to VR than those who are more sensitive to such experiences. If you are sensitive to motion, gradually engage in VR by changing your settings until you reach your tolerance level.
Those who struggle with motion sickness may feel discouraged from trying a virtual reality experience. However, adjusting these settings and taking proper precautions can allow you to join in the fun. Please note that not all settings will work for everyone. It’s essential to test and try. Some games or systems have built-in VR motion sickness settings, which you can select directly for those who don’t need to adjust settings like the ones mentioned above, and adjust as needed. In some cases, you may need to change settings in your computer, console, or virtual reality headset directly.
Explore the Ferry Godmother Roller Rink on a VR headset or desktop!