Sim Racing – How to Avoid Motion Sickness

You probably already tested a VR device headset. Simracing is one of the most suited fields for these kind of devices and after the initial buzzing, we have been watching a slow decay after some performing and gaming issues.

There some clear points right now:

• You need a mighty powerful base device to achieve a rewarding experience.
• Current resolution is far away from a regular user expects, besides that, this loses any importance later but first impressions matters.
• Development ideas apart from seating simulations are way behind of the technology. Game mechanisms has not change in 20 years.

Anyway, for the first time user there is another potential issue; Motion sickness. Here some useful advice to avoid it.

1. DON’T PLAY THROUGH PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS

If you notice a game you’re playing is glitching or dropping frames consistently, stop playing and restart. Do not attempt to play until it is running smoothly.

Framerate seems tied to VR simulation sickness, so playing at anything short of optimal conditions is a bad idea. Dropping out of a game and restarting is definitely preferable to creating a situation that might make you sick.

2. SIT DOWN

A sense of stability helps some people in VR gaming. So if possible, play while sitting down. Oculus is built to be played from a sitting position in most cases, so find a comfy spot at least a couple of feet back from the camera with a clear field of view.

3. CONSIDER GINGER SUPPLEMENTS

Ginger supplements are available in a variety of forms and are widely reported to assist in motion sickness. They may also assist with VR simulation sickness. Follow directions for taking all supplements precisely.

If you want to investigate the effectiveness of OTC motion sickness tablets or medications, please consult your doctor.

Some people use acupressure wristbands (for example, Sea-Band Wristbands) as a non-invasive counter to nausea and motion sickness.

4. DON’T PLAY WITH AN EAR INFECTION OR WHEN TIRED

Motion sickness appears to have ties to inner-ear perceptoon, so it’s never a good idea to play VR when your ears aren’t at their healthiest. If you have any condition that effects your ears, (like a cold) you might experience discomfort from VR. Tiredness is another way to increase risk of simulation sickness.

5. PRACTICE MAY MAKE PERFECT

According to reports, VR sickness has similarities to the experiences of military personnel in simulation environments, where some people are able to adapt through acclimation: gradually-increasing experience until the body becomes used to the experience.

Don’t necessarily give up on a game the first time it causes you discomfort. Try to ease your way in through multiple tries, moving slowly, keeping your eyes on single points, and gradually building up your tolerance.

Not everybody will necessarily benefit from this, but some people who suffer from simulation sickness appear to improve with increased exposure.

6. ADJUST THE DISPLAY AND HEADSET

Make sure the VR headset is properly positioned on your head and that the display is clearly visible. If the positioning is off, it may be causing some of your discomfort with the virtual experience.

7. STOP PLAYING IMMEDIATELY IF YOU FEEL SICK

You MUST stop as soon as you start to feel any of the early symptoms of simulation sickness, such as a headache or feeling hot and sweaty. It is not physically possible to power through it, the longer you play for the more ill you will become.

Push it too far and you may be ill for days, to the extent that you cannot drive or work, and there are even some reports of long term issues, becoming more susceptible to things like car sickness and simulation sickness in non-VR games. So get up slowly and take a rest, and do not use VR again until you feel 100% better.

Some people report dizziness after some VR experiences, so be careful and don’t stand up too quickly.

8. LOCK CAMERA TO HORIZON

Thanks to Sebastien T. for this last and important tip

It fixes the issue for most people. which is having the camera to shake as less as possible and being focused on the track and not the dashboard of the car .

The names varies depending of the sim

– AC/ACC : Lock to Horizon on or 100%
– AMS2 : Camera World Movement 100% ( or Camera Head Movement 0 )
– rF2 : Camera Stabilization High ( sadly Full is not implemented yet )
– iRacing : Roll/Pitch chassis : 100%

Original source: IGN and filmora

See you on the track!