Mastodawn

Zach Weinersmith Oct 10, 2024

So, our autistic 7 year old (mostly non-verbal) rarely plays with any particular thing for a long time, but the teachers at school put him in a VR set and he watched water for 45+ minutes.

We're thinking of getting one for his birthday. He hardly wants anything, so it'd be nice to do something special. Any recommendations? Thinking a meta quest 2?

Zach Weinersmith

I don't think he generally understands or cares about the gaming aspects of things, so we're more interested in open worlds, especially aquatic ones, that he could get immersed in.

Zach Weinersmith Oct 10, 2024

Also not concerned about movement because the little God runs around the world 24 hours a day. He had a six pack at age five. He can do situps from a hanging position.

tim Oct 10, 2024

@ZachWeinersmith I have one of those and it's incredible to watch. 11 year old who can do muscle ups and a standing backflip.

Meanwhile I'm working on being able to bend over and touch my toes.

Zach Weinersmith Oct 10, 2024

@timrice Yeah! My theory is it's something to do with:
1) enjoyment of physicality
2) diminished pain response (so he can go when others would quit)
3) diminished fear response, so he's cool trying stuff my older kid *never* would.

M.S. Bellows, Jr.Oct 10, 2024

@ZachWeinersmith @timrice Is he safe around water? I'd hate to see him fall in love with aquatic universes then fearlessly slip into a pond not knowing how to swim.

Zach Weinersmith Oct 10, 2024

@msbellows @timrice Yes, he's an excellent swimmer!

M.S. Bellows, Jr.Oct 10, 2024

@ZachWeinersmith @timrice Then, joy!

Don Whiteside Oct 10, 2024

@ZachWeinersmith I have a Quest 2 and if I was doing it over again today I’d drop the additional money for the 3. I don’t think it does a single thing VR-wise that I care about but the pass through to see the outside world is supposedly a lot better.

Gabriel Pettier Oct 10, 2024

@donw @ZachWeinersmith i owned a q2 and now a q3, assuming money is not a concern i'd go for the q3, imaqe qualitys so much better, and a bit better on the neck, too (you might want to look into a better headstrap if long sessions are common).

of course the apple vision pro has an even better display, but it's quite front -heavy, reportedly (and way too expensive imho).

Frost, wolf of winter 🐺🎄

@ZachWeinersmith If you can afford it, and deal with SteamVR, and have a capable computer (which is likely most gaming desktops these days – our RX 580 was sold as VR-capable when it was new and it's quite old now), maybe a Vive/Index or something?

It's nice to not be tied to Facebook and PC VR has some cool stuff.

No Man's Sky is a game but it's also MASSIVE open world with cool aquatic stuff...
ooh I wonder if Abzu has VR support, it's basically a "look at the pretty ocean" simulator.
Subnautica is amazing but might be a little too creepy, but might be fine.

Frost, wolf of winter 🐺🎄

@ZachWeinersmith Doesn't look like Abzu supports VR. :<

NMS and Subnautica both do, though. NMS is rather systems-heavy, which might be confusing... or it might be intriguing! Subnautica is way more ocean-focused and way less complicated, but has the whole Creepy Vibes thing going on.

And sorry I'm only recommending games, I don't know much non-game stuff for this aside from VR-social-spaces which are really cool, but, basically chatrooms and the whole point is to talk with other people.

Filthius Oct 10, 2024

@ZachWeinersmith I'm a sucker for sandbox games! I can definitely relate.

Darkoneko Oct 10, 2024

@ZachWeinersmith sorry but .. "aquatic worlds" [...] "get immersed in" hehehehehehehe well played

Phosphenes Oct 10, 2024

@ZachWeinersmith

Would he like building stuff? Something minecraft-y?

markwalker Oct 10, 2024

@ZachWeinersmith love the idea of this, not considered it before! My son loves time with the hose pipe in the garden or going on walks looking for puddles.