PlayStation VR: Changing the way you game

The Playstation VR console debuts at the Indian Gaming Expo at Cuffe Parade on Saturday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Traditionally, VR (virtual reality) gaming had been solely restricted to high-performance computers that come along with expensive gaming rigs. The gameplay on these devices is smooth - a small compensating factor for the large sum spent on buying a PC that supports VR.

Enter Sony's new Playstation VR console. Priced at an affordable $399 (varies from country to country), it provides a smooth interface for most games. Making its subcontinental debut at this year's Indian Gaming Expo, the VR offers gamers value for money, a familiar console and a wide variety of games.

Yay
The VR headset is light, sturdy, and flexible. For those wanting to game long hours, excessive usage doesn't really burn your eyes, although if you are prone to motion sickness you should take it easy. Two games topped the charts at the VR booth at the expo, with queues of over 60 people at a time waiting to have a shot - Batman's Arkham Knight VR and Until Dawn: Rush of Blood. The former lets you see every tiny detail of Gotham City from Batman's POV when he is perched on top of buildings. Sony has also taken it a step further with Rush of Blood, by adding the gore and sound effects that gives you a feeling of actually being trapped inside a park with "killer" clowns.

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What doesn't click though, is the VR headset's ability to block out external light. Also, as the VR works only on one PlayStation camera whose function is to track body movements, be prepared for it to frequently lose track of your controller and reduce the response of it.

Currently, the VR hasn't released in India, and neither is there a fixed date for its release. So, get ready to wait a bit.