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10:50 AM, Wednesday, July 31st 2024:   Gaming has taken a backseat the past few years as, well, I am constantly trying to create shit and do very little that isn't research or inspiration towards that. Sure, VR is part of that - and Beat Saber is good for getting in shape - but as a hobby, I don't have the time or inclination. That being said? Because of that, when I do get latched onto a game it's Journey-worthy. 2020 it was Animal Crossing, 2022 was Elden Ring and now we have No Man's Sky VR - the first VR game to really sink it's hooks into me on a long-term basis.   Of course, Half-Life Alyx in 2020 was revolutionary and to date the best gaming experience of my life... but it was soon over. I've thrown it back on simply to marvel at it for a bit, or to show it off to friends, but it's kind of a one-and-done game. No Man's Sky (2016) however has turned into an absolute MUST EXPRIENCE in VR thanks to EIGHT YEARS of updates. Crazy to even write that. That's an entire console life dedicated to perfecting this game. So I get to jump in at the end and do the whole thing in VR? OK. I'm game.   It should also be noted that it would SEEM like this would be the perfect game to capture in VR180, right? The problem of course is attempting to capture at a high enough resolution AND to be able to NEVER MOVE YOUR HEAD while capturing. See, that's the problem. You would have to let the viewer choose when to move their head or there'd be severe motion sickness and of course... games are where you really DO want 360 degrees. Or at least like 210. I really wish there was a way to do it however, because nothing prepares you for what this fucker feels like in VR. But use your imagination and enjoy the video walkthrough...     So I clearly need to work on my "Talking while Gaming" skills in VR because holy shit was that hard. VR is such an overwhelming experience (and especially the grinding tasks I was doing) that I could barely make points before losing my train of thought. But the takeaway, and why I really wanted to make this entry, is that I find peace being completely alone and solving efficiency problems in quiet. I point that out because in my actual world, I have no issue with chaos. I create and produce in it - I love having people around - love interacting... remember QUITE DISTINCTLY what this house felt like when I was alone and it chills me to my bone. I don't fantasize about it, I don't want it and it makes me uncomfortable even watching a video from that time period...   ...but oh my goodness do I enjoy the emptiness of this game. Well empty isn't fair, it's lush and beautiful and weird and just wondrous - but you're alone. Your only interaction is reading text from aliens who you can't even understand half the time and the game barely gives you an idea of what to do next. As you discover things you just get pushed in a different direction and you solve THOSE problems. And unlike Virtual Presence Productions? You actually control the outcome. In fact I really think that's where this comes from: the lack of control over how this company becomes successful. Now once I'm in? Oh I'll knock it out of the park... ...but I have no choice but to rely on these massive corporations to move these mountains and goodness that's tough. It's similar to trying to get on Network TV 20 years ago. Which is why most creative people just said fuck it and went online. This is such a new medium however, we can't really do that. We have to play to the distributors and force this format into the mainstream. Once that's done? Oh yeah, it'll be exactly the same. That could be 20 years from now... so, I'm stuck in the pioneering days and yeah - it makes sense that this game just relaxes me.   And good fucking wow is PCVR better than Quest 3. You forget, man... but with an expensive PC on Ultra Settings? It's real life dude. It's photo-realistic and you honestly just get washed away. Much in the same way you do with some VR180 videos.   Alright - I've avoided the pink elephant of politics long enough - next entry I'm gonna explain why I'm back after a 3 year hiatus and jump in full-force. What an unbelievable month in the history of this country.   Adam