Thinking about getting in to VR gaming? Well, the Playstation 4’s new VR headset, PS VR, is one of the best high end headsets currently available. And to make it all the sweater, it’s also the cheapest. But what exactly do you need to get the headset work? Apart from the headset itself and a PS4?

I asked myself that same question and thought you might be interested as well. So after doing my research I put together this guide to help you make the right choices when buying your headset. So, read on to find out exactly what you need to enter the dazzling world of VR gaming.

PlayStation 4 Camera

 

Originally released on the PS4 at launch, The Playstation camera was only used by a very small handful of games. Underused the camera never reached it’s potential and was essentially forgotten about. All that changed when Sony teased they had a new VR headset in the works, Project Morpheus, that would make use it.

Sony went one step further and even said that the camera was always intended to be used for a VR set up. But more importantly you needed the camera for the VR to work.

Fortunately, for something that Sony has made mandatory, the camera has good build quality and and was designed to look unobtrusive by your TV. For example it has a small sleek body made from a durable black plastic that would fit in with any TV setup.

No sore thumbs here then. And to help add it to your already over populated entertainment TV collection, Sony has seen it fit to include a camera stand. This little bit of plastic lets you place the camera at the top or bottom of the TV.

However, in contrast to the camera’s near universal ease of use, it can be a little bit fiddly to place as the thickness and stiffness (no laughs please) of the wire coming out of the back gives the camera tendency to turn away from it’s intended direction. Pro tip: 2 rubber bands and a thin brick to hold it place does the job.

But, that minor problem aside, the camera looks the part. Without standing out needlessly to destroy the look of your entertainment setup.

And the camera exhibits just as high a quality on the inside as on the out. Technically the camera has 2 lenses so it has stereoscopic vision. This lets it track object such as the VR headset or move controllers in 3d space.

It is extremely accurate and picks up even the smallest twist or turn. Additionally, the camera comes complete with a microphone so, in a pinch, it can be used for voice over communications.
Though it’s technology is basic and dated, it does what it needs to do and that, as far as the VR is concerned, is all that matters.

Sony have a good camera both Physically and technically. But, even if the camera was terrible you still need to for the VR to work. So, if you don’t have one yet go and get one!

Playstation Move Motion Controller

 

Originally released for the PS3 in 2010, the PS move is a motion controller that was designed to compete with the then extremely popular Nintendo Wii. With it’s eye catching glowing orb, the Move was designed to be more accurate in every possible way.

A Wii-mote on steroids if you will. It was well received by the public and critiques alike but never really had the games or the support it needed to flourish… Until now.

A well made ergonomic devise that was designed to feel good in the hand. On first glance everything about the devise scream quality. It comes with all the buttons you would expect from a Sony device but, with one small break away from the then traditional Sony controllers.

It had, on the underside, a trigger button that felt perfect when used in FPS games. It really did feel like pulling the trigger of a gun. Amazing and a little disturbing. And now with the added immersion of  VR headset, the Motion controller makes it all the more real.

However some question marks remain over the general build quality of the unite, which hasn’t been updated since it’s PS3 release. The plastic body can sometimes flex and creek when gripped tightly. Which makes for a few, ‘ow crap have a broken it,’ moments.

Additionally the small Playstation face buttons, X, square, triangle and circle, look as if they were designed to be used by a rather small mouse. They are just to small and often lead to in game mistakes.

Overall, the controller does feel great in the hand despite these small issues.

But good looks will only take you so far when it comes to motion controllers. Fortunately the Move proves to be class leading in its electronics too. When married with the PS camera you get an extreme level of accuracy that feels many magnitudes higher than what a Wii Motion Plus could ever offer. We are talking about 1 to 1 gun and sword movement.

Why nobody has ever made a proper Star Wars light-saber game truly baffles me. But developers, if you are reading this, Come on! You know the world wants a light-saber game! Anyway All this super accurate magic is owed to the inclusion of a number sensors. These include, but I stress are not limited to, a gyroscope and a six axis sensor. Yes, the same in the PS3 Controllers.

The controller should have been a game changer when it first came out but that was not to be. But now re-purposed, Sony have a ready made controller that easily rivals, and in many ways exceeds, that which HTC and Oculus offer. And you get all of this for a fraction of the price.

Plus, many games for the PS VR headset need the Motion controllers to work. If you have your heart set on games that need them, you better get hold of a couple right now. You won’t regret it.

Collective Minds PSVR Showcase Rapid AC PS4 VR Charge & Display Stand – PlayStation 4

 

With a PS VR, Motion Controllers, normal controllers and more wires than you need to make a suspension bridge, you are going to need some sort of management system for everything. You want somewhere to charge the controllers without stepping on them. You want somewhere to for your VR headset to call home when your not using it.

After all, you don’t want to keep the headset on chair just waiting to be crushed by some unsuspecting backside. No, you need to get hold of PS VR Collective minds Showcase stand.

This stand will help you organize all your peripherals and keep them safe. That’s it. But do you really want to leave your $400 investment on the floor? I didn’t think so.

Fortunately this stand offers not only the ability to stand your VR headset in safety but actively show it off. You can also place and charge 2 motion controllers, 2 normal controllers and there is even room for a pair of headphones. And you do all this with only one wire coming out of the back of the stand.

Simple storage, simple recharging and everything kept safe.

But these days we live in a world obsessed with good looks so you can’t just have a great unite that organizes your peripherals. No, its got to look good to while it does it. Thankfully the Collective Mind’s Stand proves it is up to the task of pleasing you with it’s undeniable good looks and shinny black plastic.

Talking about plastic, the stand is extremely sturdy, considering plastic has a habit of being a bit flimsy.

Overall you are going to need something to store all of your expensive VR peripherals and you don’t want that to be the floor where you might accidentally stubble on them or spill dodgy liquids on them. Keep them clean. Keep them safe. Store them when not using them and there will be no tears. You need a stand, plain and simple, and this is the best you can get.

RDS Industries PlayStation VR (PSVR) Headset and Accessories Deluxe Carrying Case – PlayStation 4

You have spent a Lot of money on your headset. And like any gamer, you want to show off your new gear and take it around your friend’s house. But you want to protect it while on your way over there right? You don’t want any pot holes shaking you, the car and the headset to pieces while on the road do you? Of course you don’t. So you are going to need a case.

First let me give you a few reasons why you might want to get a case for your headset. You see, a VR headset has to light otherwise you get fatigued pretty quickly playing. Unfortunately to achieve this feather like weight, most of the headset is made of plastic. And not exactly the sturdiest type either.

Not only that but it has a large amount of moving part. Moving parts and plastic usually only lead to one thing. Disaster. These things are in the habit of breaking very easily. Something you might want to avoid.

To that end, the RDS case was designed to hold your headset safely and snuggly and protect it from any accident, short of a direct asteroid (or is that meteorite) impact, you can think of. It has a hard outer shell so it can’t be crushed.

Inside is padded foam which has been shaped and moulded to hug the contours of the VR headset like a lover. Needless to say your headset will have the very best protection.

In addition to this protection, you get room for a number of accessories. You can stuff in a move controller and normal controllers. There is room for all the wires you will ever need and the VR companion box. There is even room for games. There might even be room for a small snack if that takes your fancy.

Your VR headset is a very expensive but extremely delicate peace of technology that deserves to be protected. You need a great case for it and you can’t get much better than this one by RDS Industries.

PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset – Jet Black

Vr is, without doubt, the most immersive thing to ever happen to gaming.

But with the right pair of headphones you can propel your immersion into the stratosphere. Fortunately for us, Sony have put together a great pair just for PS4 and VR gaming.

The official Sony gold headphones are a great choice for any gamer getting into VR. The headphones are, as you would expect from a Sony product, very well made. This solid build quality is backed up by a hardened black plastic shell that is designed to be able to stand up to the harshest punishment.

So when you get annoyed by another lost game of Madden, you an chuck them at a wall and they, probably, I say probably, wont break. Along with a tough exterior, the headphones have been made comfortable to wear. The least you would expect for this price point.

But Sony have seen fit to include memory foam ear cups for you comfort  induced pleasure. Which is great. From a usability standpoint you cant beat the simple yet able design of these Sony ear huggers.

Along with great external design, the Sony cups are a technical tour-de-force with exceptional sound quality. For a quite frankly tiny price, Sony has managed to squeeze in 7.1 virtual surround sound. I applaud this achievement, I really do because headphones double the price of Sony’s effort often don’t include surround sound of any sort. And this surround sound loveliness isn’t just for show.

Along with this you get very high base levels which make explosions feel like somebody just detonated a stick of dynamite next to your chair. But this great Base is coupled with tremendously good quality in the treble range, Voices and gun fire sound crisp and not drowned out by the heavy base.

The only criticism I can lay upon the Sony headset is the midrange can be a little muffled which was likely sacrificed for the punchier base. But overall you wont find a pair of headphones that offers this level of sound quality at this price point.

The official PS4 Headphones will blow your mind with thumping base and super high trebles. And it’s all housed in a neat black package. This headset is going to put your immersion levels through your roof.

You are a seasoned veteran of PC gaming. You have been through countless matches of counter strike. Been shot at, stabbed and blown up in COD. You have pressed the space-bar button so many times in Starcraft the key has disintegrated. You have paid your dues and now, it’s your chance. Your chance to up your game, your chance to step into the ring with the biggest baddest gamers on earth. And you are going to need everything you can get to compete. Because the big boys have the best toys.

A powerful PC is a given, if you haven’t got one, don’t even bother showing up. But that’s not all you need. You need a monster monitor that will let you take a whisker off a rat from 100 yards. You need the sound, the seat, the desk. You need it all. But most importantly, you need the right input device to transmit your badass gaming reflexes into on-screen action.

You Want To Compete? Then You Need The Best!

You are going to need the best mouse and keyboard you can get if you want to compete. If you don’t, you are going to be run over by the skill of your adversaries and left in their dust, s. You will never reach the gaming heights that you aspire to. And all because you didn’t invest in your control method.

Don’t let your tech hold you back. You competition won’t.

Unfortunately, most gamers always think they need a great mouse. to compete. This may make sense to a noob as a mouse helps you aim and shoot. And yes you do need a quality mouse. I’m not denying that.

But a quality mouse will only improve your skill so far. The only thing that will improve your aim is practice.

You Need A Quality Keyboard

But a keyboard will improve your game immediately.

But why? Well, a keyboard is the Swiss army knife of controllers. For starters, the sheer number of buttons a keyboard has gives you a huge amount of options. But the biggest reason: If you are using a poor keyboard it will limit your in-game reaction times. Compared to the competition, you will be running around in treacle. All the while they shoot you in the face.

A poor keyboard will always slow you down.

Your skill forever capped by the ineptness of your keyboard

But Salvation Is At Hand

Now that you understand the utmost urgency of getting a good keyboard. What you know need to know is what would be the best to buy. To save you the effort of getting lost in the labyrinths of the Internet, I have assembled a collection of the very best, most kick ass keyboards money can buy.

So read on to find the keyboard that is going to stop hindering you and start helping you to win tournaments.

Logitech RGB G910 Orion Spark Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The first keyboard on the list, the Logitech G910 Orion Spark may not have the reputation of some of the other industry big guns on this list, but underestimate it at your peril because Logitech have developed a world beater that deserves a place under any gamers monitor..

The first thing that threatened to sun tan my eyes was the blistering, bright, full RGB programmable lighting underneath each of the G910 keys. Go and check the website out, you will see that the Logitech offers many different installed lighting programs that dazzled and delighted my eyes with a photon dance.

However, I must warn you, the website does not do justice to how good looking the keyboard is in person. The lighting is really impressive and also surprisingly useful. Different keys have different symbols that can be lit up for quick recognition. And different in built patters will highlight the keys that are used for popular games. A great feature that always looks impressive.

Unfortunately, one drawback of the inclusion of the RGB lighting is Logitech’s apparent need to save money. For some reason that I am unable to comprehend, they have made the main body of the ’board out of plain old plastic. An unwelcome choice that did upset me a little bit.

But when I actually used the thing to play a game, a big cheesy smile spread across my face.

Why? Because Logitech developed a stunning keyboard. Plus their own proprietary Switch, dubbed the Romer-G, is absolutely sublime to use. Plastic body forgiven then. The Romer-G is a beautiful switch that comes in standard Cherry types, such as blue, ‘clicky’ or green, liner and silent. All very normal. But it’s in other areas that the Romer’ shines. The actuation speed is 25% fast than a typical Cherry MX Switch. The activation distance is reduced from the normal 2mm to 1.5mm. It may not sound like a lot, but the tiny distance your finger has to travel to activate a switch does make a difference in game and this 25% saving is welcome for gamers.

Outside of the impressive custom keys, the G910 differentiates itself in one more area. It comes with a technological curiosity in the form of software called Arx.  Arx is an add on to the G910 that lets you collect statistics about your keyboard usage such as keys pressed or number of times pressed. Statistics that can really make a difference if you are trying to squeeze the last few percentage points out of your performance.

Overall the Orion Spark is a keyboard for the statistically inclined out there. It has a plethora of features and, apart from the plastic chassis, stands toe to toe with the best the industry has to offer.

Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2, Clicky Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Programmable, 5 Macro Keys – Green Switch

We all know Razer, they make quality PC hardware and the Chroma V2 is absolutely no different. If you want a world class keyboard at a price that is slightly less wallet meltingly expensive, the Blackwidow should a be a keyboard to consider.

But first I have some bad news. Just like Logitech, Razer have made the inexplicable decision to make thier best, most expensive keyboard out of substandard materials.

Yes, that’s right, its made from plastic.

The Razer is a world class keyboard that feels as good as any other on this list. But unfortunately, again, we have a company that is skimping on build quality. Using plastic instead of metal to incorporate custom keys.

Note to Razer: You make amazing keyboards. Do them justice and use decent materials.

Anyway, now that is out of the way, I can carry on.

First of all, in all fairness to Razer, they have used some pretty high quality plastic. And it is smudge proof for all the good that will do. But underneath this plastic façade is a keyboard of genius.

For starters we have a full RGB matrix underneath each key which essentially means you could take a few hundred of these to a rave, strap them to all the walls, and job done, your dance floor lighting is sorted.

And to get the most out of your dance inducing keyboard, razer have included some cool software, Synaptic, that lets you re-program every key. Hue, brightness, color, fading, blinking, they are all under your control and will do anything for you. Well, nearly anything. You can get some mesmerizing light shows on the go. Chroma name Chroma by nature then.

And that’s not the only synaptic trick. The software can be used to create a huge number of macros and combinations for each key. Finding yourself constantly pressing the same sequences of keys over and over? The you need set up a macro so the combination will be done for you automatically.

But what is a keyboard without fantastic keys? Fortunately, the Chroma V2 comes with some of the best Mechanical switches in the industry. Using Razer’s proprietary green switches, these little gaming miracles can apparently last for up to 80 million presses. That’s 30 million more than the Cherry switches most other boards offer. Good to know in the heat of digital battle that your key won’t suddenly explode underneath your finger.

If you can ignore the plastic, and you really should, you will be getting a keyboard that is a super high end. It leaps and bounds over most of the competition like some cocky rocket jumper in Unreal tournament. You really want to kill him but you know, deep down, just like the Chroma V2 he and it are going to win.

Corsair Gaming K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE Mechanical Keyboard, Backlit RGB LED, Cherry MX Speed RGB

Being the Corsair k95 smaller but just as capable brother, the Corsair k70 is a keyboard that will delight you with its high end features but make you smirk with gratification that you bought smart. Why? Because the k70 has 90% of the features of the k95 at 30% less the price.

On inspecting the k70 for the first time I could not help but notice how lush the body felt to touch. It was cold and had that distinctly aluminum feel to it. Running my fingers over the chassis’ sleek lines I could feel a paranormal hum and vibration my skin. A feel that I get with every aluminum electronic gadget I have ever used.

It felt beautiful, high quality and premium. Everything a plus $100 keyboard should feel.

Corsair haven’t skimped here. They know that gamers buying the best kit expect the best in every area and that included build quality.

Take note Razer and Logitech.

But these sleek metal lines don’t impress on their own. They are punctuated and accented by a, quit frankly, wonderful full RGB, per key lighting system. Almost industry leading, every light can be programed and set up any way your imagination desires. And with 16 million colors at your disposal, the colorful sky is the limit.

And the K70’s proves to be just as impressive on the inside as it is on the out. For example this is the only board on the list that uses the Cherry MX speed switches. These have got the smallest travel distance of any key, even smaller that the Romer-G switches. At just 1.2mm, they are that sensitive you can literally blow on each key to spell out your name.

Truly unimaginable sensitivity that is a real game changer for twitch first person shooters. When using the keyboard, it really feels like I’ve been plugged into the matrix with thought immediately transferred into action on screen.

Once you try a keyboard that reacts this quickly you will never want to go back to something else. All other keyboards will seem like an unnecessary hindrance.

The MX Speed keys are worth the price of entry alone. However, along with this you get a partially modular design. In other words you can take every key off the board and replace it with another one. Therefor, if you use a particular key more aggressively than others in your ingame killing sprees, you can just replace the one key instead of the entire keyboard.

So the K70 is one of the fastest most reactive keyboard on the market and will befit you greatly if you specialize in FPS gaming.

Corsair Gaming K95 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Aircraft-grade aluminum, Backlit Multicolor LED, Cherry MX Red

One of the best keyboards ever made, the Corsair k95 RGB Offers everything that the K70 does with a few extra niceties to sweeten the deal. So without repeating myself, lets have a look at what the K95 offer over the k70 and why you might want to buy it.

So what goodies do you get for the extra cash you have to pay up for this flagship?

First the design of the keyboard takes massive hike in quality with the incorporation of very high grade aerospace aluminum. This makes the keyboard almost to light to be real. Seriously, try picking it up, hamsters weigh more than this. The special metal, thats been scrapped off some poor plane, also helps to keep the ’board extra rigid, enabling it to stand up to your most furious outburst of anger when you loose.

The second feature that the K95 has over the K70 is the inclusion of 18 G-Keys on the left hand side of the main ’board. These macros keys can be assigned to do anything you desire using the CUE software included. They can be set up to do nearly any combination and can have an infinite number of keys assigned to them.

The final and most useful addition that the K95 has, over its smaller brother, is the inclusion of a tiny amount of memory hidden deep with in its clicky insides.

This conveniently and easily stores every setup you design for every game you play. So, when you take the keyboard out on a trip to show it off to your friends, all your settings go with you. All your different macros and lighting setups conveniently ready to show off to the world.

Saving to the on board memory is easy, its automatic, and you don’t have to think about it. It does exactly what it should do.

Easily one of the worlds best keyboards, the k95 only offers 3 distinct features that the k70 doesn’t have. But together these 3 features make the k95 worth the extras cash. The macro Gkeys, the aerospace aluminum and the on board memory are all great additions that add massively to the keyboard. Especially the ability to take all your setting with you with the built in memory. So the k95 is a step up from the k70 and for tournament goers, it is worth every extra penny.

Saitek Mad Catz STRIKE7 Modular RGB Backlit Gaming Keyboard with Customizable Metal Frame, 24 Programmable Macros, and LCD Touchscreen

Looking for a top of the range keyboard that offer world class performance and unique looks? Then take a look at the Strike 7. A keyboard that offers, ‘It looks like it’s from a cockpit’ looks with world class performance.

The first thing you will notice about the Strike 7 is that it looks bonkers. This would not look out of place as a set prop on Star Trek. And to be honest with you, your ether going to love that or hate it. But if you do love it – and come on admit it, you do – there is a lot here on offer.

The chassis is completely made from brushed steel. Not just the back plate but the entire keyboard. This gives is it a reassuring solid feel. It could also double up as a bat to hit a thief. If the need arose.

Looking beyond the metallic finish, the strike 7 incorporates a completely modular design. Any part of the board can be detached, and then reattached in any order. Just remember to put them back in order if you ever want to use thing to, you know, do some actual work.

Continuing on to a technical point of view, the Strike offers up world class performance that really challenges the likes of Razer and Corsair for the keyboard crown.

For starters, the keyboard comes with a fully programmable, per key RGB lighting setup. Which looks like Joseph’s Technicolor Dream Coat in beautiful, technological, ‘clicky’ motion.
Additionally each key has a proprietary key technology, which according to Saitek, incorporates the best of both worlds of mechanical and non-mechanical keyboards.

Whatever they used, it gives game enhancing feedback and lightning fast reflexive action. Everything you would want from a keyboard.

But one of the best features of the keyboard has to be the fully programmable LCD touch screen that comes as standard as part of the package. This LCD screen can be used for Many different things including setting up macros on the fly.

Additionally it can be used as a set of extra buttons, used for Team Speak, or even used as a second screen to show your ingame statistics. On top of that, any kind of keyboard statistics, such as number of keys pressed or number of times a key is pressed, can be show on the screen.

Though this keyboard does look slightly mad, it offers more features than any other high end keyboard and, after using it myself, is my pick for the best keyboard on the market.