Roto VR Explorer Review: A VR Game Changer

Key Takeaways

• Roto VR Explorer moves with the player's movements to alleviate motion sickness when playing VR games.

• It enhances immersion with 360-degree mobility and tactile feedback, and is compatible with more than 400 seated VR games.

• Setup is easy to follow and doesn't take much time.

When I was little, my parents would yell at me if I sat too close to the TV, because my eyes would get square and my head would hurt. Of course, neither was true. But as I got older, I started to question whether sitting closer was actually helpful. them headache. VR and how it affects me compared to my son makes me question if it's a generational issue.

Could it be that our old foggy bodies are less able to adapt to new technologies? So my parents didn't like TV? My son can play VR for hours without any side effects, but I start to feel a bit silly after playing VR for less than an hour. VR games that require you to stand may only be playable for a short period of time, while games that require you to sit down may last longer. Either way eventually motion sickness starts to get to me.

That's why, while my son was eager to get his hands, or more accurately, his butt, into a motorized chair called the Roto VR Explorer, I was more interested in the promise of alleviating motion sickness. Don't misunderstand. I liked the cool part too, but we'll get to that later. More than anything, this was an exploration to see if VR could be played for longer periods of time.

feel motion sick

How do chairs help with motion sickness? It's definitely science. Oh, and movement. When you turn your head, Roto VR moves in the direction you are looking, providing a 360-degree view. Physical movement in the real world seems to make you feel less nauseous in the virtual world.

“Roto VR also dramatically solves the problem of motion sickness commonly experienced in VR. Because the gamer moves in the direction he or she is actually looking, the inner ear no longer believes the player is addicted(!), making the experience much more enjoyable.”

Does it work? In short: Yes. As you get used to the new moving feel, you can adjust the rotation speed if it feels a little too much. Thankfully, you quickly realize that you don't normally get motion sickness.

Of course, it doesn't magically disappear completely. You may still feel a bit of shakiness depending on the game and how engaged you are with it, but some titles I was struggling with are now completely fine. I found that using Roto VR allowed me to play for much longer than before. At least you can play long enough to burn out the headset's battery. The triumph of science. And Lotto. And me. But not for my son, who now has to learn how to share Meta Quest 3 more often.

Roto VR Explorer was created in collaboration with Meta, but it works with virtually any VR system.

More immersive VR games

It's undeniable that Roto VR makes gaming more immersive, and it's safe to say that neither my son nor I will ever pick up a VR game again, at least not while sitting down. I've never played VR games standing up due to motion sickness, but of course Roto VR only works with games that are compatible while seated.

I've never tried anything like Roto VR before, but our own Eric Switzer reviewed the first iteration in 2021. The design has evolved significantly since then, and one thing I've noticed (and appreciated) is that it's become much more streamlined. While the last version looked more like a typical gaming chair, the Roto VR Explorer is sleeker and more compact to allow more freedom of body movement.

Games like Gorilla Tag are a prime example of how well this new design works and where the old design caused problems. In Gorilla Tag, you have to move your arms side to side (like a gorilla), but the chair arms get in the way and make it impossible. But when you sit in the Roto VR Explorer, there's absolutely nothing to get in your way.

Aside from the obvious benefit of reducing motion sickness, the feeling of movement combined with haptic feedback as you move in the game makes everything feel more realistic, which is exactly what we're aiming for in VR. We want these virtual experiences to feel like they're actually happening.

Rumble Pack works with headphones because it uses audio to determine whether it rumbles. This means the haptic feedback isn't perfect, as you might be in an unexpectedly noisy game. feel But overall, it's incredibly interesting to feel what's going on around you buzzing from your chair to your body. And if it feels too much, you can adjust the intensity.

I don't typically wear headphones when playing VR games because I prefer built-in audio, but the benefits of having a buzzy sound far outweigh the inconvenience of wearing headphones over a headset.

Installation and Cost

Large kits like this can be difficult to install. Especially when you look at the size of the box and the parts that need to fit together. But it's less scary than it looks. The instructions are simple and clear and can be easily set up and ready in less than 15 minutes.

Once set up, the chair is easy to pick up and play with, and is so easy that my son could do it on his own without a problem. Simply connect your headphones to the tracker using a cable, connect the head tracker to your VR headset, and then turn it on. Wait a moment for your tracker to pair with your chair, then quickly press the button to sync while facing straight ahead. The job is done.

I thought there would be problems if the head tracker wasn't paired, but I was overthinking it. There is a pairing button on both the chair and the head tracker, but you don't really need to use the pairing button. Please wait a moment and pairing will occur automatically. I ended up making things too complicated by trying to do it manually when the button was really only there as a backup, like when I accidentally paired my head tracker to some wireless headphones. oh.

The instructions clearly say not to do this, but my Sony headphones don't make a buzzing sound, so I was experimenting. and A sound, just a rumble. The Sony headphones are a bit temperamental with the Roto VR Explorer. Neither pair delivered all the sound or resonance, but they worked very well with a few other headphones, like the Turtle Beach. If you have problems with your Sony headphones, try using something else. If you don't have wireless headphones, you can also connect wired headphones using the extra cable that comes in the box.

One thing I particularly liked is that you can place the head tracker (called a Pokeball because of its appearance) on the bottom of the chair and charge it wirelessly. You can actually charge it via USB-C if you want, which makes it a lot easier than having to plug it in separately somewhere. But the chair has a little nook, why is that? Considering how much we've been using the Roto, the tracker basically stays charged at all times, even with a few hours of downtime.

Roto VR Explorer is a game changer. It's a godsend for me and my motion sickness, and it's finally allowed me to appreciate VR games a little more. Everything else, including improved immersion and tactile feedback, is as much of a bonus as it is cool. Of course, for many people like my son, that's the main attraction.

The chair retails for $799/£799, so it's not cheap, but it delivers on its promise of reducing motion sickness and increasing immersion. Highly recommended if you are a hardcore VR gamer. If you're a VR enthusiast, you probably won't pay more for a new chair than the VR headset costs. But if you get a chance to try out the chair at a friend's house, do it. Perhaps it will turn you into a bigger VR gamer. This is especially true if motion sickness is bothering you.