Eventually, you will be able to easily get your hands on an HTC Vive without paying through your nose for import fees. That is half the battle done. However, there is definitely a new problem most Singaporeans would have to face. Do you have enough space? Just like with the Kinect (remember that?) the Vive, more so than the Oculus, is space hungry. Are we in Singapore able to cater to this space need?
already too crowded. image courtesy: dixplore.com
What the HTC Vive needs
HTC only gives the most basic instructions about how much space is needed. Thankfully, the International Business Times in London made a guide. According to them, the ABSOLUTE minimum required is a 1.5m by 2. Most games, however, will need a 3*3 space. When setting up the Vive you are able to set how big your play area is (room scale after all), but there is still a minimum. To put that into perspective, that is just fewer than four standard double mattresses shoved together. There are bedrooms smaller than this space. Granted there are a means of making use of a smaller space with the Vive by enabling “standing only.” This means that you don’t walk around your room. You can even sit down. However, if you’re sitting down in a VR experience you are missing the whole point of the headset.
Handy Visualisation. Image courtesy: reddit.com
Can HDB flats handle this space?
Measurements are in millimetres. Spot the problem? Image courtesy: freequotation.com.sg
Now, there has been some debate about whether or not HDB flats have been getting smaller in recent years. That is not really important, as apart from the really tiny 3-room flats, most living rooms are just about that size. However, there is the small issue of furniture. Ascetics aside, you are going to have a lot of stuff in your apartment. You have your couches, chairs, coffee tables, cupboards and so forth. Once you have all of that, you rarely have enough room to stretch out your wingspan, let alone play around in such a large empty space.
Too much clutter. Image courtesy: reztnrelax.com
Of course, you could absolutely play with your space cluttered with stuff. Just get used to getting noise complaints from all the swearing after you stub your toe for the seventh time that evening. Considering so many people fail to avoid these obstacles will fully working eyes, how many would do so when they are literally in another world?
I can feel my toes hurting already. Image courtesy: unimax.com.sg
Another option would, of course, be to do away will all of your existing furniture. That way you have plenty of space for your headset, computer, and lighthouses. This is a drastic move, to say the least, but at least you can simulate having furniture in VR. Don’t expect your spouse to be as understanding, however.
Just right. Image courtesy: diplo.dvrlists.com
The solution?
Where there is a will, there is always a way. HTC even suggests moving furniture out of the way to play. This is really inconvenient of course, but absolutely manageable. However, this is just one more inconvenience to place on top of the price and the hardware requirements to run the Vive. Oculus needs less space, but its motion gaming options are far more limited. In terms of space, the PSVR takes up far less, so that might end up being the winner here.
Anyone using an HTC Vive in Singapore let us know how you managed to work around the space issue.
Sources: ibttimes.co.uk, teolida.com
