How to Prevent Motion Sickness in VR? – 14 Best Tips 2023

How to Prevent VR Motion Sickness? Motion sickness in VR is a common issue that many people face when using Virtual Reality (VR) headsets. Unfortunately, this problem discourages some people from using VR, even though they could get better with practice. In fact, even experienced VR users can still experience motion sickness because they may not know how to prevent it.

But don’t worry, there are ways to improve your VR experience and avoid motion sickness. By following a few simple tips and tricks, you can enjoy VR without feeling sick.

What Is VR Motion Sickness?

First, let’s discuss VR motion sickness and its causes in Virtual Reality.

VR motion sickness occurs when your eyes perceive movement, but in reality, you are not physically moving. This inconsistency can lead to motion sickness. For example, in a VR game, if you are stationary but using the joystick on your VR controller to navigate and explore the virtual environment, it can trigger motion sickness.

In more detail, motion sickness is a condition that arises due to a lack of synchronization between the visual system, the balance system, and the touch system in the body. When what you see in the virtual environment does not align with what is happening in real life, it can result in dizziness and nausea.

When playing VR games that involve body movement in the virtual world while the physical body remains still, our brain may interpret it as walking or moving. This situation can evoke a similar sensation to being carsick.

The most common symptoms of VR sickness include general discomfort, eye strain, headaches, nausea, vomiting, pallor, stomach awareness, sweating, fatigue, drowsiness, disorientation, and apathy.

How Long Does VR Motion Sickness Last?

VR motion sickness can last for hours, but if it persists for an extended period or if continuous vomiting occurs, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Fortunately, not everyone experiences motion sickness, and if you’re one of the lucky ones, you won’t have to deal with it. This is because you have strong VR Legs, which refers to VR users who possess a good ability to synchronize their brain and body.

However, what about those who still feel dizzy and suffer from motion sickness while playing VR? In this article, we will discuss how to strengthen your VR legs and prevent VR motion sickness. These tips can also be beneficial if you have experienced motion sickness before.

How to Prevent Motion Sickness in VR

1. Take a Break

If you start experiencing VR sickness, take a break immediately. You might notice symptoms such as cold sweats or a general feeling of discomfort. Recognizing these signs is crucial because if you continue playing, the symptoms are likely to worsen and it will be more challenging to recover.

When you feel dizzy after playing the game for ten to fifteen minutes, it’s important to rest right away. Take a few minutes or even a few hours to lay down, have something to drink, eat snacks, and if dizziness persists, avoid continuing to play.

If you don’t have a headache, it’s generally safe to continue playing. However, it’s essential not to force yourself if you’re feeling dizzy. Pushing through can lead to nausea and vomiting, which is something we definitely want to avoid.

Furthermore, prolonged use of VR without sufficient rest can often result in dizziness. If you want to strengthen your VR legs, it’s important to take frequent breaks, especially in the beginning.

Taking breaks has also helped us develop stronger VR legs over time. By starting slowly and playing short sessions initially, you’ll gradually be able to play for longer periods.

2. Choose Games with Comfortable Ratings

Tip number two: look for games with a comfortable rating, particularly if you’re new to VR. When browsing through the Oculus Store, each game or application will have a comfort rating.

But what exactly is a comfort rating? It’s a rating that indicates the level of locomotion or the type of body movement involved in the game. There are three comfort ratings: comfortable, moderate, and intense.

For beginners, it’s advisable to choose games with a comfortable rating. As your VR legs get stronger, you can progress to moderate-rated games and eventually try more intense ones. Games with an intense rating typically involve more body movements that can induce dizziness, so it’s best to avoid them initially.

It’s worth noting that Steam and PSVR do not have a comfort rating system. Therefore, you’ll need to rely on other sources of information, such as watching game reviews or gameplay videos on platforms like YouTube.

Look for games that incorporate the teleportation system for movement, as teleporting generally doesn’t induce motion sickness like virtual walking using a controller. For beginners, virtual walking can often lead to dizziness.

Many games offer controller-based movement without causing motion sickness. Some games even provide options to customize comfort levels, such as adding a vignette effect in the VR game you’re playing.

By the way, if it’s your first time playing a VR game, you can try titles like Beat Saber or Superhot VR. These games are less likely to induce dizziness and provide a pleasant visual experience.

Alternatively, if you prefer games with movement, consider titles such as Vader Immortal, Arizona Sunshine, Robo Recall, and other games that use a teleportation system for locomotion.

3. Adjust Comfort Settings

Most VR games allow you to modify comfort settings. These settings are usually found in the VR or Comfort menu within the game. Take the time to explore each option and find the settings that work best for you.

Once you’ve determined the ideal settings, you can apply them to other games as well. For example, if you find smooth turning or non-head-relative locomotion uncomfortable, you can adjust the settings to enable snap turning and head-relative locomotion instead.

4. Setting Up IPD

Many beginners in virtual reality often overlook an important aspect: setting up the IPD, which stands for interpupillary distance. The IPD refers to the distance between your eyes. It’s crucial to match the IPD in your VR headset to ensure a clear display and prevent motion sickness. If you’re unsure of your IPD, you can measure it using mobile apps or a ruler, although the latter may not be as accurate.

For a precise measurement, consider visiting a prescription glasses store to have your eyes measured. Alternatively, if you know your IPD, you can input it into your headset. Different VR devices offer various methods for adjusting the IPD. Devices like Valve Index, HTC VIVE, Oculus Rift CV1, and Oculus Quest typically have a physical slider located below the headset for this purpose. On the Rift S, you can adjust the IPD through the Oculus app settings.

5. Wear Travel Wrist Bands

An effective remedy to combat motion sickness during VR experiences is using travel anti-nausea wristbands. These wristbands exert pressure on specific acupuncture points on your wrists known as the Nei-Kuan points, which have been proven to alleviate motion sickness.

To locate the Nei-Kuan point, place the middle three fingers of your right hand on the back of your left wrist, just beneath the index finger. You’ll feel a slight sensitivity or tingling when you press that spot. To prevent motion sickness, wear the wristbands on both arms before you start feeling any discomfort.

6. Eat Some Ginger or Drink Ginger Ale

Ginger is a natural remedy renowned for its ability to alleviate motion sickness, making it worth a try during your VR sessions. Ginger can be consumed in various forms, such as ginger ale (readily available online) or in the form of fresh ginger for making tea. You can also find ginger candy to chew on. Consuming ginger before or after experiencing motion sickness may provide relief and help you feel better sooner.

Alternatively, if you prefer a cost-effective option, you can make ginger water using sugar and continue drinking it before or while playing VR. Ginger ale is often recommended for treating individuals who experience motion sickness.

7. Use a Fan While Playing VR

To enhance your VR experience and reduce motion sickness, try using a fan while playing. The cool breeze from the fan not only provides a refreshing feeling but also creates a sense of bodily movement. If you’re flying in VR, the blowing wind from the fan can simulate the sensation of flying, enhancing your immersion.

8. Start With Comfortable Games

When trying VR for the first time, many people opt for intense rollercoaster experiences. However, these games can quickly induce motion sickness. It’s advisable to gradually build your tolerance by starting with comfortable games before progressing to more intense ones.

Begin with games like Beat Saber or Superhot, where you don’t have to move extensively within the game. Once you feel comfortable with those, you can gradually move on to medium comfort games that incorporate smart locomotion systems, such as Sprint Vector, where you use arm movements to simulate running. Another example is the stealth kayak game Phantom Covert Ops.

If you can handle those games without experiencing motion sickness, you can then explore more intense titles like Skyrim or No Man’s Sky. The Oculus Store often provides comfort ratings in the game descriptions, but for platforms like Steam or Viveport, you may need to rely on reviews or gameplay videos for information.

9. Check Your Setup

Before starting a VR game, ensure that your tracking setup and computer configuration are correctly optimized. Verify that your PC can handle running VR games at a stable frame rate. Additionally, make sure your tracking setup is accurately calibrated to avoid tracking occlusions. Disruptions in tracking can cause visual anomalies that may lead to instant motion sickness, so paying extra attention

10. Check Your Frame Rate

One common cause of motion sickness in VR is experiencing frame drops during gameplay. If you’re feeling uneasy after starting a new game, it’s essential to check the frame rate. In SteamVR, you can do this by right-clicking the SteamVR window, selecting “Settings,” then navigating to “Video” and “Advanced Frame Timing.”

11. Avoid Alcohol

If you’re prone to motion sickness, it’s advisable to avoid playing VR games after consuming alcohol. Alcohol can exacerbate the symptoms of motion sickness, making it more challenging to enjoy your virtual reality experience.

12. Physically Rotate Your Body in the Real World

When you need to turn in VR, try to do so physically with your body. Instead of relying solely on the controller to rotate your character, physically turning your body provides a more comfortable and less nauseating experience.

While many VR games offer virtual turning options like snap or smooth turning, beginners without VR experience may become disoriented or uncomfortable when relying solely on these methods. For a smoother experience, physically rotate your real body. Utilizing specialized VR treadmills can also assist in easily translating physical movements into virtual reality.

It’s worth noting that this tip doesn’t apply to Playstation VR, as the Playstation camera cannot detect the controller’s sensor if it’s turned away from the camera.

13. Swing Your Arms When Walking in VR

When walking in VR, mimic the movement of swinging your arms as you would in the real world. It’s a natural tendency to have your hands move while walking, and replicating this motion in VR tricks your brain into perceiving the sensation of walking, reducing feelings of dizziness or disorientation.

14. Explore Alternative Movement Methods

Depending on the game and VR headset you’re using, there may be alternative movement methods available to alleviate motion sickness. Generally, increasing the physicality of your VR experience can help mitigate the issue.

For instance, jogging in place or moving around your physical space while playing can trick your mind into perceiving movement within the game world. Software solutions like VRocker and Natural Locomotion offer options to enhance physical movement during gameplay.

On the hardware side, there are devices such as Cybershoes, which allow you to sit and swing your feet, 3DRudder, which requires foot movement, and omnidirectional VR treadmills, which can minimize motion sickness but tend to be expensive.

These were some of the strategies we have used to overcome motion sickness in VR. Feel free to share your own tips and tricks to help each other in the comments below!

Conclusion – How to stop VR motion sickness?

Motion sickness is a common problem when using virtual reality (VR), but there are ways to prevent or minimize it. Take regular breaks, adjust headset and display settings, and try natural remedies like ginger or peppermint.

Choose VR content designed to reduce motion sickness and avoid intense experiences. Gradually build tolerance by starting with comfortable games and progressing to more challenging ones.

By following these tips, you can enjoy a comfortable and immersive VR experience without the discomfort of motion sickness.

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