Yesterday I was feeling a bit bad (headache) but still tried to play as much as I can.
Avoid this failure mode:
I recommend not downloading games that are not workouts. I downloaded such a game and got addicted to it instead, spent a long time on it (it didn’t make me tired, so I could play for a long time), and I didn’t get the health benefits from it.
So I did end up getting a Quest 2 based on this advice.
The game, “Thrill of the Fight”, as you recommended, is exactly everything you say! It is fantastic for fitness and many other VR games seem promising.
Not exactly scientific, but my sense is that this is a general sentiment (maybe there’s some subgroup that doesn’t benefit and this is hard to see).
It’s not obvious you could get such fitness benefits from VR.
I think the information here is an incredible signal to noise, and really generous and transparent for you to share it.
Can you give a little more information on the games/apps you found problematic?
As you know, some games such as “Thrill of the Fight” are great exercise. Other games in this “healthy” class might include “Beat Saber” or “Pistol Whip”. These might provide great exercise too, but I’m unsure. Was the above one of the problematic games, or was it something else?
Also, have you tried “Supernatural” or other fitness apps?
This one is unusual: It’s price is a subscription ($10/month, w a free trial).
I like this because it gives the developers a strong incentive to keep me addicted for long.
I played it a few times (the FitXR boxing mode specifically) and I like it.
Intensity:
I’d rate the workout as “medium to hard” and I wouldn’t be surprised if it will become “as hard as I can take”
Problematic games
These were not fitness games, just some other non-fitness game that got me addicted. I assume that telling you its name would be a small info hazard because you’ll be curious to try it, but if you message me, I’ll give you the name
Update: Still addicted.
Yesterday I was feeling a bit bad (headache) but still tried to play as much as I can.
Avoid this failure mode:
I recommend not downloading games that are not workouts. I downloaded such a game and got addicted to it instead, spent a long time on it (it didn’t make me tired, so I could play for a long time), and I didn’t get the health benefits from it.
(Why doesn’t anyone give this warning?)
So I did end up getting a Quest 2 based on this advice.
The game, “Thrill of the Fight”, as you recommended, is exactly everything you say! It is fantastic for fitness and many other VR games seem promising.
Not exactly scientific, but my sense is that this is a general sentiment (maybe there’s some subgroup that doesn’t benefit and this is hard to see).
It’s not obvious you could get such fitness benefits from VR.
I think the information here is an incredible signal to noise, and really generous and transparent for you to share it.
Off topic, but Ian Fitz, the dev who built “Thrill of the Fight” seems like a great guy.
He is focused on a great product and seems to embody a lot of virtues (transparency, technical detail, being present in their community).
Here’s some tidbits from him:
Controller physics and limitations (interesting technical detail)
Game scaling mechanics
The “official guide”
At least in my limited experience, this is an huge amount of engagement and attention to detail.
Can you give a little more information on the games/apps you found problematic?
As you know, some games such as “Thrill of the Fight” are great exercise. Other games in this “healthy” class might include “Beat Saber” or “Pistol Whip”. These might provide great exercise too, but I’m unsure. Was the above one of the problematic games, or was it something else?
Also, have you tried “Supernatural” or other fitness apps?
Beat Saber & Pistol Whip:
See here.
FitXR
This one is unusual: It’s price is a subscription ($10/month, w a free trial).
I like this because it gives the developers a strong incentive to keep me addicted for long.
I played it a few times (the FitXR boxing mode specifically) and I like it.
Intensity:
I’d rate the workout as “medium to hard” and I wouldn’t be surprised if it will become “as hard as I can take”
Problematic games
These were not fitness games, just some other non-fitness game that got me addicted. I assume that telling you its name would be a small info hazard because you’ll be curious to try it, but if you message me, I’ll give you the name
Supernatural
Didn’t try it