Last edited by Zen_Ro on 2017/6/19 15:09
Virtual reality has been around for sometime now, and its gradually picking up speed. Especially in the gaming arena, where it makes the most sense.
But not everybody wants to own a VR headset for PC, as it costs a bomb, and you second, you really don't want to dedicatedly play on VR alone.
And amongst the other things, VR gear from Oculus or HTC requires its own hardware to work with. Its just plain stupidity with all the cables and sensors.
But what if I told you that you had a VR headset in your pocket all along???? Yep, there's a way to turn your ASUS Zenfone Smartphone into a VR headset. This DIY is supercool if you wish to see first hand on what what real PC VR really felt like.
For your phone to work as a VR, the phone has sensors like the magnetometer for compass that allows you turn 360 degrees around you. Its got the accelerometer and gyro to sense the angular tilt and acceleration along X, Y and Z axis. All this means in short is ,that your phone has all the basic sensors to interpret the virtual world around you.
To get started, you need the following things -
1) A Zenfone with Android Lollipop or greater (Full HD display prefferable, Qualcomm chip preffered)
2) A Laptop or Desktop with Core i5 and Dedicated graphics card (Nvidia, preferrably with GT650 or later)
3) A Gamepad (Depends on the games you play games, some games allow keyboard input too)
4) USB Cable 2.0 or Type - C depending on your Zenfone
5) A Google Card-board compatible headset (Even the very old original Google Cardboard headsets will do)
Lets get started -
A) Setting up your Computer for VR :
- You need to have couple of things installed before VR can work. I found an app called, 'RiftCat VR'. Download the Software for PC here - https://riftcat.com/, and install the app...
- You also need its smartphone app, called VRidge to work alongside the PC App, download it here -https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riftcat.vridge&hl=en
- Once you're done installing the RiftCat apps on PC and Phone, you need to download Steam PC app. You need Steam as it will install the SteamVR software, which supports the OpenVR platform (OSVR).
- Download and install the ReVIVE app here - https://github.com/LibreVR/Revive/releases/download/1.1.3/ReviveInstaller.exe. You need this app to work in tandem with the SteamVR app. This helps in importing the OCULUS dependancies to better allow SteamVR to work with Game titles that are more optimized for OCULUS Rift VR.
- Download couple Steam VR apps/games through the Steam Store. There are many FREE titles that you can try out. If you're into Simulation Racing like I am, then there is no better game than ASSETTO CORSA, and it beautifully works with this dingy VR setup. You will need the latest version that is out now, which is about 15 gigs.
B) Getting the 'VR' to work :
- Firstly you need to connect your Zenfone to your PC via USB Cable. Go to settings on the Zenfone and turn on the USB Tethering option. This allows the PC to send high quality visuals to your smartphone. RiftCat also works over WiFi, but not everybody has a phone, PC or Router that supports 5GHz WLAN.
- Once connected, Start the RiftCat app on PC and click on the connectivity settings button. Click on the Ethernet NDIS option to enable VR connection.
- Once connected, you will have the option to Play SteamVR Games, click on it. It will start the SteamVR app, and you can see that the Zenfone also begins the split-screen.
- Now, go to the SteamVR library and start a game. And that's about it!!!! VR IS UP and Running on your Zenfone.
Also since I play simulation games alot, i thought why not go all the way in to replicate a full car driving experience. I used another zenfone that acted as my steering wheel for the controls in the game - ASSETTO CORSA. You can download this one, it works pretty nicely
Here is the video -
Here's a Screen recording of the playback session...
(You can play the above video in your google playback too, to see how it feels like. Im sorry for the choppy screen recording though, i figure the screen - recorder on my phone has issues, but the VR playback on phone is flawless.)
Okay, ill be open about the next ......
Whats not good about this experiment -
- Mind you, the clarity in visual experience is NOT EXACTLY like the OCULUS, as the OCULUS has tiny high resolution screens that match your eye's fidelity. A Smartphone up close to your eyes might give some a quick headache. Those who are prone to seizures, should avoid this little experiment.
- The visuals on the phone is not detailed and with resolutions lesser than FHD, you can actually count the individual RGB pixels, looking up close.
- You need to have the orignal softwares to work, atleast you need to have the Original copy of RIFTCAT. The demo version only works for like 10 minutes, after which you get watermarks on the VR display, and it eventually shuts down.
- OCULUS headset allows you to move about in the arena, whereas this setup ONLY ALLOWS you Point Of View abilities, like you can look around the world, and the vision is locked at Horizon level.
ANYWAY....
This little experiment was to prove that the level of 'Jugaad' is only is only limited to the level of ones imagination. There's code and software ready for everything nowadays, all you need to do is wander into your imaginations.
There are tons of more exciting things you can do with your smartphone, i hope you guys too will share your experiences and DIY with us.
Tell me what you think about this crazy little experiment, which PC games you guys would like to play in VR??? Share your Comments below!!!!
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