Yamauchi on Why Gran Turismo Works in VR Without Making You Sick

Remon: "I didn't expect Gran Turismo 7 to be the most relaxing and soothing game on Playstation VR2 . Yes, it's a high speed racing game with extremely realistic physics. But for me, next to Tetris Effect Connected, it's become the most meditative PSVR 2 experience. What's even more surprising is that Gran Turismo 7 in PSVR 2 doesn't make me sick despite its high speeds.

Gran Turismo series producer Kazunori Yamauchi spoke to me via video chat to discuss why the GT7 feels so enjoyable to drive and what inspired his design choices."

[Babadook7]

I was very careful not to push myself when i first popped GT7 in VR, by limiting myself to 30 min sessions. I got sick from Drive Club VR. Surprisingly, even after hours of playing on a Gr 3 race, I don’t get sick now.

[SullysCigar]

Yamauchi has suggested in the past that choosing a slower car that's a convertible is a good choice for your first drive, because it makes you feel less enclosed, but you still have the frame of reference of the car itself.

When I put friends or family into GT7 on PSVR2, I sit them in front of my wheel, put them in a Mazda MX-5 / Miata, roof off and tuned to remove body roll, improved brakes, slick soft racing tyres and a turbo. This seems perfect, as they spin out less and can get started again more easily if they do. It's not too fast, but fast enough for a first timer. Set up a fan facing them too - that certainly helps.

But people quickly adjust and you just want more variation, speed and handling as you get better at the game. It's the most hooked I've been for years.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Congratulations Yamauchi

[Viljong]

Is vr sickness even a thing. 30 fps games are worse

[mandf]

Nothing to do with frames although that has a part. Walking and then saddening stopping messes with your brain for some people. Me included

[Viljong]

Switchback is the only game which give me slight nausea same as irl rollercoaster. When it go highspeed and steep downhill comes it feel like my stomach is moving up and im falling off my stool. Interesting that i get the same effect than irl coaster without movement. But i dont call it vr sickness its just very immersive. Other games i play with freemovement and all vignette effects off.

Have GT7 too and playing it without nausea. Its superb in vr mode. Wish i could get the logitech g923 for it. But dualsense is very good aswell and feel right at home after playing forza on series x. Ofc with better haptics that dual sense offer. Only bad thing about gt7 is the unskipable movie when you play it first time. I was getting frustrated after all the motor history it start showing ingame racing i think the whole thingh lasted like 20-30min. Then you get the coffeeshop things and tutorials going on and finally when you get to race you have 120hp hybrid family car.

[lucian229]

Any artificial movement can cause motion sickness. Certain games I can't play in vr be cause of it. That's why I prefer games like superhot thst move only when your body moves

[kneon]

It's the discrepancy between what you are seeing and feeling and what your brain expects to be seeing and feeling that causes issues in VR. That's why latency is a killer. if you turn your head and the image lags behind it messes you up.

[mandf]

Kneon
You're right about that. Gt7 gave me motion sickness in the beginning but went away. I play for 12 hours a day on the weekend with no problems now. Pavlov still gets me. Resident evil is awesome but when I walk it gets me. It gets less over time.

[RPGer]

Because the nature of GT games. The game and the camera is static as ever, and it very usable and a prefect way to play racing game with long sessions in VR.

[Einhander1971]

I must say I'm still feeling sick when playing Turismo.

[Babadook7]

That’s too bad. Take it slow. Don’t push through uncomfortable feelings. Just play within your limit and build your VR legs over the course of a month or two. Eventually you’ll be able to play much more and with faster cars. It’s worth it, trust me.

[Knushwood Butt]

No sickness, but the headset is uncomfortable for me after about an hour of continuous use.

GT7 in VR kicks ass though. Just got the Nissan R92CP.

[SullysCigar]

I get that sometimes too. I use a halo-style ear-warmer round my head that lessens any pressure on the forehead if I'm going in for the long-haul. It also reduces marks left by the headset and is probably a bit more hygenic if you're passing the headset around!

[Knushwood Butt]

I use the same thing! A mont-bell ear warmer. Definitely helps but I still feel the pressure on my forehead and can see red indentations if I look in a mirror after use.It's a shame as I never had the issue with PSVR1.

[Viljong]

How tight you guys strap the thing on your head, if it leave red marks on your forehead? Its not supposed to be on that tight lol. You can adjust the visor, but you allready know. The manual literally tell not to tighten it too much. It wont move from the sweetspot if tighten normally even if you play creed or other high movement game. For me the only thing that can cause discomfort is sweating and thats not psvr2 fault. Im gonna order that band cooler thing that goes around your neck and blow cool air.

[Knushwood Butt]

I only tighten it a couple of clicks.
It's more that the headset constantly pulls down on my forehead, as opposed to the band being too tight.

[Viljong]

I guess im lucky when i dont get any discomfort from wearing the set, nausea or eye straing. I was affraid of this becouse it was my first vr set and some 30fps games used to cause nasty feeling in my eyes like pressure building up and discomfort. But psvr2 feel very natural to use. I even think my eyesight have gone better becouse i can read small text from longer distance i used to. Or it also may be becouse i worked to get my blood pressure lower and live healthier when i can afford living without work now. Less stress and better sleep.

I dont feel the weight on my huge bald ball head at all im pretty big framed but i feel it in my back if i keep standing still for a long time. Have flat feet and different lengh legs. Thats why i keep a high stool back of my gaming area so when the game is having cutscenes or other non hectic moment i can rest a little bit. Creed is a great game for us with stiff back as you need to lean and move constantly. Gives a great feeling afterwards definetly good and healthy exercise masked into fun intensive game.

[Abear21]

Really happy to hear this, GT7 is the greatest ambassador of VR this year, if the game had theme park motion sickness (like I thought it would) it would have been devastating for PSVR2. One more must own title and I’ll drop the $500…maybe.

[SullysCigar]

My money for the next 'must own' is Red Matter 2.

It announced last week and will launch any time now. The first game was awesome (and a looker) on PSVR, the second didn't hit PSVR when it launched 6 months ago, but was EASILY the best looking game on Quest 2. It's a better game in every way than the first, too. Those devs are wizards.

On PSVR2 they've got it running natively 120fps with new 4k textures, better lighting and bloom effects, etc. and that's without factoring everything else PSVR2 offers over and above what's come before. It'll be a contender for best looking VR game, for certain. It's a highly interactive game too - very VR - and I reckon this will be the next must own title. Just some food for thought lol

[boing1]

I disagree. It's the case of body not feeling the inertia when your brain says it should. Not everyone is able to cope with this feeling for a longer periods of time at first.

[SullysCigar]

Yeah, it takes a few plays and being sensible, not trying to push yourself, but being patient. Then it just clicks and you're in there for hours happily.

Some people just won't be told and want to go straight in from never having played VR to playing Resident Evil Village with all comfort settings turned off and then they say, "oh VR's not for me" lmao!

[dumahim]

Is it because you have stuff around and close to you that's relatively stationary like the car interior?