VRJam competition inspires hundreds of developers to create VR experiences.

I've been playing games with the Oculus Rift for about a month now, and I can honestly say the experience has been astonishing. 

Still in development by OculusVR, the virtual reality gaming headset I've been playing with is essentially a prototype, with planned improvements to the consumer version to include HD display and wireless capabilities. Despite this 'development kit' being non-HD, the depth of immersion this piece of hardware creates for the user is nothing short of mind-blowing.

This year, OculusVR invited designers to develop games and demos for the Rift in a competition that saw hundreds of entries. I've been working my way through many of them - games and VR 'experiences' alike - and not just the shortlisted few but as many as I've been able to get my hands on.  

Can I pick a favorite? Absolutely not. The sheer amount of great entries makes choosing one impossible, as I'm sure it did the VRJam2013 judges, but I will pick out a few and share some of my experiences with you. 

Linger is a horror game in which the players finds themselves in a haunted house. Armed only with holy water, they must set about cleansing the rooms of supernatural manifestations. The scares escalate over time, proving Linger to be a truly intense gaming experience. 

Please understand that, while graphics are currently rather basic, the Oculus Rift head-mounted display creates an environment that fully immerses you within the game. Coupled with a surround sound headset, any horror game is going to have even the most hardened-gamer trembling in their boots. 

Dumpy is a great example of the level of fun the Oculus can provide. Dumpy is a demo in which the player is an elephant in a constant state of forward motion. The objective? To destroy as much of the surrounding environment as possible by swinging your trunk, which is of course done by moving your head. I found myself giggling like a toddler when playing this and even my Vulcan-like fiancé couldn't keep a grin from his face when trying it out.  

The third program I'm going to tell you about is actually an 'experience' rather than a game. Ocean Rift puts you at the bottom of an ocean, swimming with fish, whales and even sharks. The sound of bubbles from your oxygen tank as well as whale song makes for quite a relaxing experience while exploring the seabed. 

I introduced my sixty-something mother to the Oculus with this very program, not realizing that in the depths lurked a megalodon so aggressive and hungry for human flesh it could rival Jaws. Fortunately for her, I'd taken over playing by the time it made an appearance and I was the one shrinking in my chair as massive jaws filled with sharp teeth came at me. 

The point is, the Oculus Rift is amazing and I firmly believe it to be the future of gaming. Not only that, but it could have so many uses beyond gaming, such as watching movies and therapeutic experiences. With that said, I'm sure you're wondering about the possible side-effects that come with virtual reality gaming with the Oculus. 

Probably the main problem is a sense of motion sickness, the intensity of which varies from game to game. This occurs when the brain thinks the body is moving when in actual fact, it’s not. Some games are worse than others, while some don't cause it at all (for me, anyway). The game Chicken Walk is a great example of this. 

Aside from this, I've experienced no other side-effects and am very much looking forward to the consumer version. Wireless will be great, with a wireless game controller for that untethered, full-immersion effect. 

Have you tried the Oculus Rift? Share your experiences below! 

Penny for your thoughts,

Qelric