1. Check Your Local Tech Store
One of the easiest places to get a virtual reality demo is your local tech store. If you have a Best Buy available in your area, you might be able to get a demo of an Oculus, Vive, or PlayStation VR headset. You may want to consider giving your local shop (or other tech stores) a call to see if they have a demo available before you head out.
2. Go to Your Closest Mall
While out in Melbourne, we were actually at a local mall, and there was a company there offering virtual reality experiences for a pretty reasonable price. Obviously, your mileage may vary depending on the mall, but it’s definitely worth checking out, as you might be able to try some custom virtual reality demos for around $20.
3. Find a Microsoft Store
If you’re thinking about buying an Oculus Rift, theMicrosoft Storeis the perfect place to go, because most of them have demo stations where you can mess around with the headsets and see what they’re all about.
I live in a relatively small city, and the Microsoft Store in my mall offers the demo. You’ll want to check with the store closest to you, but it’s more likely than not that they’ll have a Rift ready for you to try.
4. Hit Up a Local Arcade or Barcade
More and more arcades are integrating virtual reality into their locations, and the ones near you might have something for you to play as well. It won’t be free, as arcades are generally aiming to make money, but it’ll certainly be a lot cheaper than buying a headset for yourself.
Related:What Happened to Arcades? Will They Ever Make a Comeback?
5. Find a Virtual Reality Arena
This is probably one of the most expensive ways to try out virtual reality, but you’re also going to get a custom experience where you can walk around and play something for an extended period of time without a line of other demo-seekers waiting behind you.
We actually went to a place calledZero Latencyin Melbourne recently, and it offered a custom-designed zombie game and big warehouse for us to walk around in. It was actually abetterexperience than what you’ll get at home, but it still gives you an idea of what good VR is like.
6. Buy a Phone-Based VR Device Like Google Cardboard
If you want to actually try virtual reality in the comfort of your own home, you can use your smartphone to get it done. You can look into aSamsung Gear VR,Google Cardboard,Daydream,Merge VR,Xiaomi Mi VR Play, and plenty of others to choose from. Just make sure your phone is compatible with the headset you choose before you go out and spend the money.
7. Ask Your Friends
With all the other virtual reality options on the list, there’s one method that’s easy to forget: asking your friends if they have a headset you can try.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about people with VR headsets it’s that they love to convert non-VR users, so they’ll be happy to let you try out their headset. Before you run out to the store, mall, or arcade, send out a quick text to your friends and see if they want to share.
Just Make Sure It’s Clean…!
One thing to keep in mind with all of these methods is that lots of other people will be using the same headset as you. Don’t be afraid to spend a few extra seconds making the headset is clean before you put it on!
Image Credit: Kingpin
Image Credit: Google
