VR酔いが未だに蔓延する理由と開発者の解決策

Why Motion Sickness Still Plagues VR a. For many, the promise of virtual reality is boundless.

We dream of exploring fantastical worlds, connecting with friends in a digital metaverse, and experiencing stories in ways never before possible.

However, the dream can quickly turn into a dizzying nightmare.

The simple question of Why Motion Sickness Still Plagues VR is a complex one, rooted in the very fabric of human biology and the intricate relationship between our senses.

This issue is a primary barrier to widespread adoption.

While VR hardware continues to evolve with higher resolutions and faster refresh rates, the problem of simulator sickness remains a persistent challenge for both developers and users.

The Biological Disconnect: When Your Brain Lies to You

At the heart of VR motion sickness lies a fundamental sensory conflict. Your eyes, immersed in a virtual world, perceive movement.

You might be flying through a canyon in a virtual spaceship or walking through a bustling digital city.

Your visual cortex processes this information and sends signals to your brain that you are, in fact, moving. But your inner ear, the vestibular system, reports a very different story.

It detects no acceleration or changes in gravity. It is the part of your body that provides your brain with a sense of balance and spatial orientation.

When the inner ear and the eyes send conflicting signals, your brain gets confused.

This sensory mismatch is what triggers the classic symptoms of nausea, cold sweats, and disorientation, a phenomenon your body interprets as being poisoned or hallucinating.

It’s a primal, protective response that can be incredibly difficult to override.

The Developer’s Dilemma: From Smooth Locomotion to Teleportation

Developers have a tough balancing act to perform. They want to create immersive and engaging experiences, but they also must contend with this biological reality.

The most common fix implemented is a teleportation system. Instead of “walking” through a virtual space, users simply point to a spot and instantly “blink” there.

Read here: 個別学習におけるバーチャルリアリティの役割を探る

This method completely bypasses the visual-vestibular conflict, as there is no perceived motion in between points.

While effective, it can break immersion. It’s a pragmatic solution that sacrifices fluidity for comfort.

This approach works well for certain puzzle or exploration games, but for fast-paced action games or narrative experiences, it can feel clunky and unnatural.

It’s like watching a movie where the main character teleports everywhere instead of walking. The narrative flow is disrupted.

Another technique is using a “snap turn” feature. Instead of smoothly rotating the camera, the view jumps in increments, for example, 30 or 45 degrees.

This prevents the sustained rotational motion that can be a major trigger for many users.

This technique, coupled with vignetting, which darkens the periphery of the screen during movement, is a powerful tool.

The idea is to reduce the amount of visual information hitting the user’s peripheral vision, where motion is most likely to be perceived.

This is similar to how a person might narrow their focus while driving in a storm to reduce the overwhelming visual input.

Beyond Teleportation: A New Frontier of Solutions

Forward-thinking developers are now looking beyond these standard fixes. They are designing games from the ground up with motion sickness in mind.

For instance, the developer behind the title Vertigo 2 included a detailed set of comfort options.

続きを読む： 次世代ゲームにおけるUnreal Engine 5の真の影響

Users can choose between different locomotion methods, including teleportation, a “dash” option that simulates a quick sprint, and smooth locomotion with variable speeds.

This level of user customization is crucial. It gives players control over their experience, allowing them to find the perfect balance between immersion and comfort.

In a recent analysis by Steam, games with a robust comfort menu, on average, saw a 15% increase in positive reviews and a 10% decrease in refund requests due to motion sickness.

This small statistic highlights the tangible impact these efforts can have on a game’s success.

The ongoing battle of Why Motion Sickness Still Plagues VR also involves haptic feedback and dynamic environments.

Some developers are experimenting with subtle haptic vibrations in controllers to simulate the feeling of walking, providing a physical cue that aligns with the visual movement.

It’s a small detail, but it can help bridge the gap between what the eyes see and what the body feels.

In addition, some game designers are using static visual elements in the foreground, like a cockpit in a spaceship game, to give the user a fixed reference point.

This anchors the user’s perception of movement, reducing the sensation of free-floating disorientation.

This is analogous to how looking at the dashboard of a car can help a passenger who is prone to car sickness. It gives the brain something static to latch onto.

The Future of VR Comfort: A Collaborative Effort

Addressing the question of Why Motion Sickness Still Plagues VR will require a multifaceted approach.

Hardware manufacturers are playing their part by increasing refresh rates and reducing latency, which are key factors in minimizing the sensory lag that causes discomfort.

興味深いですね: 昨年の最もエキサイティングな宇宙の発見

But it’s the software developers who hold the keys to the future. The most innovative solutions will come from a deep understanding of human psychology and physiology.

The VR community, as a whole, needs to share knowledge and best practices. As a community, we must openly discuss and refine these techniques.

The developers who win will be those who prioritize player comfort as a core design principle, not just an afterthought.

They understand that a seamless and comfortable experience is the only way to achieve true immersion.

Here is a table demonstrating some common VR comfort techniques:

Technique	説明	Use Case
Teleportation	Instantaneous movement from one point to another.	Exploration, puzzle games.
Snap Turning	Camera rotation in fixed increments (e.g., 30 degrees).	All genres.
Vignetting	Darkening of the peripheral vision during movement.	Fast-paced action, flying simulations.
Seated Play	Playing while seated to reduce physical movement.	Cockpit games, cinematic experiences.
Stationary Reference Point	Static objects in the foreground (e.g., a cockpit, a desk).	Vehicle simulators, seated experiences.

In the end, it’s not just about technology. It’s about empathy and design.

The developers who are successfully tackling Why Motion Sickness Still Plagues VR are the ones who put themselves in the user’s shoes.

Can we ever truly eliminate it? Perhaps not entirely, as individual sensitivity varies.

But we can mitigate its effects to the point where it becomes a non-issue for the vast majority of people.

FAQs

What is the main cause of VR motion sickness?

It is caused by a sensory conflict between what your eyes see (movement) and what your inner ear feels (no movement). This mismatch confuses the brain, leading to symptoms like nausea.

Does a higher refresh rate help with motion sickness?

Yes, a higher refresh rate reduces the latency between your physical head movements and the virtual image’s update.

This helps minimize the sensory conflict and provides a smoother experience, though it doesn’t completely eliminate the issue.

Can I build a tolerance to VR motion sickness?

Many people can build a tolerance to motion sickness with repeated, short exposure.

However, it’s not a guarantee for everyone, and it’s recommended to take breaks immediately if you start feeling unwell.

The best approach is to start with comfort-focused experiences and gradually move to more intense ones.

Are there medications for VR motion sickness?

While some people use over-the-counter motion sickness medication, it’s important to consult a doctor before taking any.

Developers and hardware manufacturers are focused on solutions within the VR experience itself to avoid reliance on medication.

++ VR Sickness, The Rift, and How Game Developers Can Help

++ Game Design Solutions to the Immersion vs Motion Sickness in VR

\