One of the perks of Samsung and Oculus releasing public developer kits for the Gear VR headset is that, though it just became a consumer product, some of us have already been using different versions of the headset for over a year. Let us help you get started with some handy tips and tricks to get the most out of the consumer Gear VR.
The Gear VR isn't nearly as powerful as its PC-based sibling, the Oculus Rift, but the Gear has one big advantage in being wireless. You'll want to take full advantage of that and play in a spinning chair, like an office chair or stool.
If you don't have access to one, then you can always just play standing up. Failing either of those options, you'd better stick to games that face mostly in one general direction (both Herobound games and Eve: Gunjack are prime examples).
There's nothing more annoying than sliding your Galaxy phone into your headset, plugging in your headphones, getting your gamepad ready, strapping it on your head ... only to realize there's an annoying spec of dust right in your field of view.
We keep an air canister handy to blow off both sides of the lenses as well as the phone screen before starting up, and that almost always keeps the field of view free of distractions. Or, if you enjoy getting lightheaded, your own lungs can meet the same end.
Overheating was a big problem on the first (2014) Gear VR Innovator Edition headset, but it's pretty much a non-issue in the consumer version. The only time we ran into the issue was when, while wearing the headset, we queued up a few apps for download and played something else while they were installing.
VR content can sometimes work your phone pretty hard so it isn't too surprising that adding background downloads to the mix can make things hot. Extend your sessions by downloading your content in the Oculus Store app on your phone a few minutes before jumping in.
This may go without saying, but Samsung's built-in touchpad only gets you so far on the Gear VR. Some of the best games require a gamepad and others provide a better experience with one.
We love the Steelseries Stratus XL (left), but not everyone wants to add $70 to the cost of smartphone and headset already required to use the Gear. For a gamepad that feels cheaper but gets the job done just the same, we've had no issues with the $28 Moga Hero Power (right).
Virtual reality is a largely visual experience, but don't underestimate the effect that audio has on your feeling of being somewhere else.
The Gear VR can broadcast game audio through the phone's speakers, but that's going to make for a lousy experience. The earbuds that came with your phone will be a step up from that, but, if you have access to them, a quality pair of cans (those are Sennheiser Momentums you see above) will crank your sense of presence up to 11 in the Gear's virtual worlds.
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