Posted my thoughts here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Vive/comments/4tchsa/just_got_my_virzoom_holy_crap/
In a nutshell:
1. This is a portable exercise bike that hooks up to a PC-based VR gaming system (Rift & Vive-compatible). You pedal on the bike to move something on the screen (a kayak, tank, race car, etc.) & lean left or right to turn. So you're basically "in" the game thanks to virtual reality.
2. This is NOT a cheap setup. The bike alone is $400 shipped. You will also need a minimum of a $1,000 gaming PC & a VR headset ($600 to $800 depending on the model). Final price is between $2,000 to $2,300 (with tax & shipping). This is more of something you'd buy as an add-on to your VR system rather than just going out & buying it just for the biking system, unless your budget allows dropping a couple grand on some exercise equipment.
3. There's only 6 games available right now, as it's pretty new. They have simple graphics & basic gameplay, but are surprisingly immersive. That's the big thing I love about this...it completely distracts you from the realization that you're exercising (at least until you start feeling sick from exercising TOO long haha). Indoor cardio in particular is really boring for me & this really helps to make my mind off it.
4. I think I would equate this to the equivalent of HIIT combined with a spin cycle class. You go fast & slow over the course of some of the games. Like in the helicopter game, the Apache flies forward as you pedal, and the height is controlled by the pedaling speed. So if someone fires a missile at you, you pedal faster to fly up to avoid them, and if you want to drop down to pick up a power-up like a gas can, you pedal slower. Like I said above, you can start getting sick from pushing yourself too hard...the F1 game, for example, is pretty simple - you pedal & lean - but when other cars pass you, you go nuts & start pedaling like crazy to pass them and it's really easy to let the hours go by playing it & not realize how long you've been playing for lol.
TL;DR: A fun but expensive exercise system. If you loathe cardio & budget allows, pick one up! :thumbsup:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Vive/comments/4tchsa/just_got_my_virzoom_holy_crap/
In a nutshell:
1. This is a portable exercise bike that hooks up to a PC-based VR gaming system (Rift & Vive-compatible). You pedal on the bike to move something on the screen (a kayak, tank, race car, etc.) & lean left or right to turn. So you're basically "in" the game thanks to virtual reality.
2. This is NOT a cheap setup. The bike alone is $400 shipped. You will also need a minimum of a $1,000 gaming PC & a VR headset ($600 to $800 depending on the model). Final price is between $2,000 to $2,300 (with tax & shipping). This is more of something you'd buy as an add-on to your VR system rather than just going out & buying it just for the biking system, unless your budget allows dropping a couple grand on some exercise equipment.
3. There's only 6 games available right now, as it's pretty new. They have simple graphics & basic gameplay, but are surprisingly immersive. That's the big thing I love about this...it completely distracts you from the realization that you're exercising (at least until you start feeling sick from exercising TOO long haha). Indoor cardio in particular is really boring for me & this really helps to make my mind off it.
4. I think I would equate this to the equivalent of HIIT combined with a spin cycle class. You go fast & slow over the course of some of the games. Like in the helicopter game, the Apache flies forward as you pedal, and the height is controlled by the pedaling speed. So if someone fires a missile at you, you pedal faster to fly up to avoid them, and if you want to drop down to pick up a power-up like a gas can, you pedal slower. Like I said above, you can start getting sick from pushing yourself too hard...the F1 game, for example, is pretty simple - you pedal & lean - but when other cars pass you, you go nuts & start pedaling like crazy to pass them and it's really easy to let the hours go by playing it & not realize how long you've been playing for lol.
TL;DR: A fun but expensive exercise system. If you loathe cardio & budget allows, pick one up! :thumbsup: