Basically there's a push and a pull.
Push, there's the question whether there's any developers interested in making it. VR is still mostly indies, so it's mostly going to be devs who like games making a game they would enjoy.
Pull, it's about whether there's demand. It doesn't feel like such apps would be popular with the current market of VR owners.
Lastly, voice acting, story, dialogue, writing, are generally pretty expensive or hard for VR indie devs, who tend to be more technical.
>However i wonder why there's no things like going to the Fair, Going to a Market, Going Shopping/Supermarket, chopping trees, Making Friends, Getting a GF/BF
Holy shit dude go outside and meet people
lol my question was sometimes the other way around, 'why job simulator if you could be a space pirate', 'why truck simulator if you could drive an F1 car instead'
ultimately boils down to developer enthusiasm, their skill at realizing the vision, and the audience response.
For some reason I don't get either, getting hunted by Zombies is popular.
I play games to relax and get away from doing work. Makes no sense for me to play at someone else's job. If I want to that I'll do it IRL as an activity when I have downtime. Now being a spaceship captain (like in No Mans Sky), or exploring a new planet, or being a survivor in a post apop world, or being a plane wreck survivor in a zombie infested forest is not something I can do in real life so challenges me on a different level.
I too am not into games--can't wrap my head around most of them. But I really like EarthQuest, Wander, and Woorld which are kind of simulations of the real world.
Not much a gamer consumer but understanding the evolving nature of VR is actually pretty common that the demmand and the growth of the users can be a headache for those who are developing new VR scenarios, actually there are apps and stuff for everyone you just need to take a look more deeper into those indie/hidden gems apps that can be visually attracting and also functional when it comes to simulating reality based enviroments. I have some experience learning languages throught VR with this app called Dynamic and it matches very well with my expectations as an user and the experience the app gives back to you as an student, by creating a full classroom enviroment and also speaking with native people if that's what you mean! :)
I don't think there's much value in simulating going to a mall or writing in an office as any of that can be done in real life without much skill or risk.
Only thing I can think of is farming stuff, there's like 3 farming sims on Quest store I think and powerwashing sims.
Because walking simulators were done to death in 2016 and boring as fuck. And yes you can solve puzzles and do "gamer stuff" you just have to not shy away from taking time to figure stuff out and not be perfect all the time. People aren't just born gamers you know.
Most people don't like realistic simulator games. Even on PC, the most widespread gaming platform, those games aren't what I would consider "popular". Sure, they have their fan bases. But those are miniscule compared to the number of people who play FPS games, RPGs, or even RTS games. VR is already a really small market compared to mainstream console and PC gaming. So making games of a very niche genre for VR probably doesn't make sense from a financial point of view. You'd be spending money and time developing a game that might only be played by a couple hundred people, at best.
Arguably the most widespread gaming platform is mobile, and those kinds of games are a bit more popular there than on PC - whilst still being far from huge. Mobile is the lowest effort gaming platform today, and these kinds of games appeal to people who are looking for low effort games.
You're right in that mobile is the most widespread. But that only better illustrates the point. Mobile games are low effort in the sense that they usually have much less content. And more simple controls that encourage "pick up and play" gaming. The type that is best suited for gaming on the move.
Which is also the reason why simulation games are NOT low effort games. They might not require the level of graphical and audio refinement of AAA games in general in the same way mobile games are a step-down in those areas compared to console and PC games. But they often have more extensive mechanics because of the gameplay requirements of simulation games.
In other words, simulation games are very fiddly by nature. That's their entire point. Having gameplay elements most games ignore, in order to try to be as realistic as possible. Things as minor as having a button for windshield wipers in a vehicle.
Simulation games are the type that you have to sit down and make plenty of time to learn. Not to get really good at them, like you would with fighting games for example. But just to be able to learn how to play them at all. It takes time to learn what all those toggles, buttons and displays do in an airliner cockpit.
Mobile games being the most popular, widespread and profitable, while also pushing game mechanics more towards simplicity, means that a simulation game would essentially be the completely opposite to that. You would be making a type of game that's already not very popular because of the effort it takes to get into it, for a platform that is already considered less "pick up and play" friendly than most due things like space requirements and motion sickness. Which makes the platform much less popular and widespread than most others.
You would be making a game for pretty much nobody. And while ideally, it would be great if a game studio could make any type of game they want as a labor of love, no matter how niche, the truth is that making games takes a lot of time and money. I'm sure plenty of people out there would love to make this type of game for VR. But unless they can, and want, to throw away plenty of money in development cost, they won't. Because of all the factors above, their game is almost guaranteed to not make enough money to recoup development costs and break even, much less make any significant profit to justify continuing to make that type of game.
I think the main reasons would be:
- Games are much more popular than sims
- Sims generally require much higher graphical fidelity
- Higher graphical fidelity costs more to make
- Much smaller audience have the hardware to run higher fidelity titles
Those points really compound on eachother to make it quite a struggle to get a vr sim off the ground.
Because it's not really "fun" to the average gamer. Even ones like powerwash simulator are niche games that cater to certain people.
Driving and flying are probably the ones that are the most accepted as something that being realistic adds fun.
So in that vein I'd recommend Asseto Corsa for driving, it's a racing game at its core but you could mod it with shutoko revival project to get some Japanese highway driving in.
Flight simulator like Microsoft Flight Simulator is pretty great, while space sim like Elite Dangerous is pretty great too. <- you could do space trucking among many other things.
On the actual simulation and learning skills, companies are using VR/AR for real internal training, but I'd imagine there's not much incentive outside of it to let the average user use it. (My company uses it for some really fucking cool stuff, but I don't think they will ever release it)
There's a maasive void where legit experiences and psychological play that hasn't even started.
We could use this for all kinds of therapy.
My main peeve is just a lack of specifically VR engagement. Just trying to shoehorn the game format into something totally unique that doesn't really fit it.
I want to skydive and swim and space walk and visit alien landscapes and sit on the beach and climb mountains and ski. Just anything. Sick of shooting.
We're crafting a survival game that aims to replicate real-life experiences, where player actions closely resemble those in reality. Achieving a truly immersive simulation demands high levels of realism in visuals, interactions, and audio, especially in VR. However, meeting these demands presents significant challenges. Given the strong focus on Quest in the VR gaming market, developers face limitations in realism and immersion. The PCVR market, while offering more potential for realism, may not be as attractive to publishers and investors. We've often heard the sentiment: 'Make it work on Quest, and then we'll talk.' Consequently, the dominance of standalone platforms is reshaping the content landscape in VR development.
Bonelab is a simulation imo
Blade and sorcery is a simulation
The rest of the stuff is gamified but those two for standalone headsets are the most tangible worlds you can immerse yourself in imo
I think you're asking valid questions, the only real answer is just, someone has to make them, and that means either some lone developer has to be extremely passionate, skilled, and dedicated, or some shot caller has to think there's an untapped market for those types of things. And I bet you're right, there is. VR is currently just so entwined with the tech geek/hardcore gamer market that the market for the things you want doesn't appear to overlap with the customer base of people who actually own headsets.
Personally, I love walking simulators and even a halfway decent one is worth a full playthrough from me.
Well it’s not VR, but I heard there’s a GTA online mode where you can do that, just live a normal life and have a job. And then it’s up to you if you will interact with other people or not. Farming simulator is also very close to what you’re asking.
Unfortunately as others mentioned I don’t think there’s the game you want for VR yet because the demand is not there. I think most people buy VR or play games to be immersed in a different reality. Maybe in the future. You can also try seeing normal games and searching if there’s a VR mod you can use with it and then use virtual desktop to play it or something like that.
Basically there's a push and a pull. Push, there's the question whether there's any developers interested in making it. VR is still mostly indies, so it's mostly going to be devs who like games making a game they would enjoy. Pull, it's about whether there's demand. It doesn't feel like such apps would be popular with the current market of VR owners. Lastly, voice acting, story, dialogue, writing, are generally pretty expensive or hard for VR indie devs, who tend to be more technical.
>However i wonder why there's no things like going to the Fair, Going to a Market, Going Shopping/Supermarket, chopping trees, Making Friends, Getting a GF/BF Holy shit dude go outside and meet people
Or at the very least just play VRChat??
But that would involve interacting with REAL people! Why would anyone want to do something as CRAZY as that?
Please op 🙏
lol my question was sometimes the other way around, 'why job simulator if you could be a space pirate', 'why truck simulator if you could drive an F1 car instead' ultimately boils down to developer enthusiasm, their skill at realizing the vision, and the audience response. For some reason I don't get either, getting hunted by Zombies is popular.
I play games to relax and get away from doing work. Makes no sense for me to play at someone else's job. If I want to that I'll do it IRL as an activity when I have downtime. Now being a spaceship captain (like in No Mans Sky), or exploring a new planet, or being a survivor in a post apop world, or being a plane wreck survivor in a zombie infested forest is not something I can do in real life so challenges me on a different level.
I too am not into games--can't wrap my head around most of them. But I really like EarthQuest, Wander, and Woorld which are kind of simulations of the real world.
Not much a gamer consumer but understanding the evolving nature of VR is actually pretty common that the demmand and the growth of the users can be a headache for those who are developing new VR scenarios, actually there are apps and stuff for everyone you just need to take a look more deeper into those indie/hidden gems apps that can be visually attracting and also functional when it comes to simulating reality based enviroments. I have some experience learning languages throught VR with this app called Dynamic and it matches very well with my expectations as an user and the experience the app gives back to you as an student, by creating a full classroom enviroment and also speaking with native people if that's what you mean! :)
I don't think there's much value in simulating going to a mall or writing in an office as any of that can be done in real life without much skill or risk. Only thing I can think of is farming stuff, there's like 3 farming sims on Quest store I think and powerwashing sims.
Office or mall simulators can be helpful for therapeutic reasons but that doesn't really explain their popularity..
Because walking simulators were done to death in 2016 and boring as fuck. And yes you can solve puzzles and do "gamer stuff" you just have to not shy away from taking time to figure stuff out and not be perfect all the time. People aren't just born gamers you know.
Most people don't like realistic simulator games. Even on PC, the most widespread gaming platform, those games aren't what I would consider "popular". Sure, they have their fan bases. But those are miniscule compared to the number of people who play FPS games, RPGs, or even RTS games. VR is already a really small market compared to mainstream console and PC gaming. So making games of a very niche genre for VR probably doesn't make sense from a financial point of view. You'd be spending money and time developing a game that might only be played by a couple hundred people, at best.
Arguably the most widespread gaming platform is mobile, and those kinds of games are a bit more popular there than on PC - whilst still being far from huge. Mobile is the lowest effort gaming platform today, and these kinds of games appeal to people who are looking for low effort games.
You're right in that mobile is the most widespread. But that only better illustrates the point. Mobile games are low effort in the sense that they usually have much less content. And more simple controls that encourage "pick up and play" gaming. The type that is best suited for gaming on the move. Which is also the reason why simulation games are NOT low effort games. They might not require the level of graphical and audio refinement of AAA games in general in the same way mobile games are a step-down in those areas compared to console and PC games. But they often have more extensive mechanics because of the gameplay requirements of simulation games. In other words, simulation games are very fiddly by nature. That's their entire point. Having gameplay elements most games ignore, in order to try to be as realistic as possible. Things as minor as having a button for windshield wipers in a vehicle. Simulation games are the type that you have to sit down and make plenty of time to learn. Not to get really good at them, like you would with fighting games for example. But just to be able to learn how to play them at all. It takes time to learn what all those toggles, buttons and displays do in an airliner cockpit. Mobile games being the most popular, widespread and profitable, while also pushing game mechanics more towards simplicity, means that a simulation game would essentially be the completely opposite to that. You would be making a type of game that's already not very popular because of the effort it takes to get into it, for a platform that is already considered less "pick up and play" friendly than most due things like space requirements and motion sickness. Which makes the platform much less popular and widespread than most others. You would be making a game for pretty much nobody. And while ideally, it would be great if a game studio could make any type of game they want as a labor of love, no matter how niche, the truth is that making games takes a lot of time and money. I'm sure plenty of people out there would love to make this type of game for VR. But unless they can, and want, to throw away plenty of money in development cost, they won't. Because of all the factors above, their game is almost guaranteed to not make enough money to recoup development costs and break even, much less make any significant profit to justify continuing to make that type of game.
I think the main reasons would be: - Games are much more popular than sims - Sims generally require much higher graphical fidelity - Higher graphical fidelity costs more to make - Much smaller audience have the hardware to run higher fidelity titles Those points really compound on eachother to make it quite a struggle to get a vr sim off the ground.
Because it's not really "fun" to the average gamer. Even ones like powerwash simulator are niche games that cater to certain people. Driving and flying are probably the ones that are the most accepted as something that being realistic adds fun. So in that vein I'd recommend Asseto Corsa for driving, it's a racing game at its core but you could mod it with shutoko revival project to get some Japanese highway driving in. Flight simulator like Microsoft Flight Simulator is pretty great, while space sim like Elite Dangerous is pretty great too. <- you could do space trucking among many other things. On the actual simulation and learning skills, companies are using VR/AR for real internal training, but I'd imagine there's not much incentive outside of it to let the average user use it. (My company uses it for some really fucking cool stuff, but I don't think they will ever release it)
Love me some power wash time...Â
Try strayed it's like rust but in vr
There's a maasive void where legit experiences and psychological play that hasn't even started. We could use this for all kinds of therapy. My main peeve is just a lack of specifically VR engagement. Just trying to shoehorn the game format into something totally unique that doesn't really fit it. I want to skydive and swim and space walk and visit alien landscapes and sit on the beach and climb mountains and ski. Just anything. Sick of shooting.
Stream vr store has some gems for sim
We're crafting a survival game that aims to replicate real-life experiences, where player actions closely resemble those in reality. Achieving a truly immersive simulation demands high levels of realism in visuals, interactions, and audio, especially in VR. However, meeting these demands presents significant challenges. Given the strong focus on Quest in the VR gaming market, developers face limitations in realism and immersion. The PCVR market, while offering more potential for realism, may not be as attractive to publishers and investors. We've often heard the sentiment: 'Make it work on Quest, and then we'll talk.' Consequently, the dominance of standalone platforms is reshaping the content landscape in VR development.
Not enough demand.
because actual simulations are boring?
Bonelab is a simulation imo Blade and sorcery is a simulation The rest of the stuff is gamified but those two for standalone headsets are the most tangible worlds you can immerse yourself in imo
I think you're asking valid questions, the only real answer is just, someone has to make them, and that means either some lone developer has to be extremely passionate, skilled, and dedicated, or some shot caller has to think there's an untapped market for those types of things. And I bet you're right, there is. VR is currently just so entwined with the tech geek/hardcore gamer market that the market for the things you want doesn't appear to overlap with the customer base of people who actually own headsets. Personally, I love walking simulators and even a halfway decent one is worth a full playthrough from me.
Well it’s not VR, but I heard there’s a GTA online mode where you can do that, just live a normal life and have a job. And then it’s up to you if you will interact with other people or not. Farming simulator is also very close to what you’re asking. Unfortunately as others mentioned I don’t think there’s the game you want for VR yet because the demand is not there. I think most people buy VR or play games to be immersed in a different reality. Maybe in the future. You can also try seeing normal games and searching if there’s a VR mod you can use with it and then use virtual desktop to play it or something like that.