Google announced Stadia this past fall as the final piece in a gaming-arcade virtual reality puzzle. The company said Stadia would allow its subscribers to play competitive titles on a high-resolution screen, enabling them to experience the same effects of motion Phantasm in a virtual environment. To that end, Google announced the game would support 5.5 million simultaneous players and will be available on multiple platforms—using Google’s servers to make it so. However, as we all know, it’s not enough just to have a game; you also need to optimize your performance so that your game load times are only average. For this article, we will be focusing on optimizing Google Stadia performance so that it can match or beat the other VR games available.
Optimize Your Google Account
First things first, we need to optimize our Google account. The best place to begin is by changing the way you manage your account. The account manager can help you optimize your Google account for all of the different uses that use it, from shopping to social media to productivity. You can get in touch with an account manager at any time if you’re having a problem with your account, and they can help you optimize it for the best.
You could also go the extra mile and change the way Google charges you—if you want to keep paying for the privilege to use its services. You may not think of it that way, but it’s definitely a factor to consider when deciding what to spend your money on.
Optimize Your Computer
Second on our list is optimizing your computer for VR. This involves making sure all of your programs are up-to-date, all of your Data Center settings are set to Run in Virtual Reality, and all of your VR apps are running in the background. This will help improve overall performance and, most importantly, avoid VR-induced motion sickness.
To optimize your computer for VR, you will need to run any of the following programs in the background:
– Google Earth application
– Google Cardboard
– Google VR Go
– Google Hangouts
– Google Photos
To keep these programs running in the background and avoid VR-induced motion sickness, you will need to ensure that you are using the most recent version of these programs. If you are not, they may not be able to handle the increased number of VR devices on the platform.
Optimize Your Video Card
VR has received plenty of attention from enthusiasts because of its unique visuals and advanced features. However, it should be noted that the same can’t be said for the video card. If you are using a video card with support for VR, then you should optimize for a VR-induced VR experience. VR headsets have a limited amount of VR-inducing features, so make sure you are rotating the viewbox to account for the movement of the characters, and make sure the setting on the video card is set to High or Higher Quality. Getting this video card up to speed can help improve your VR experience by adding moreVR-inducing features and by keeping the overall performance of your system under mechanical pressure.
Optimize Your Optimization Process
Optimize data usage. Using the right app and software on the right machine can help ensure that your VR experience is optimized for the platform. For example, if you are running an Android VR device, make sure that you are running the most recent version of the Google VR app. If you are running an iOS VR device, make sure that you are running the most current version of the Google VR app. Furthermore, make sure that you are using the correct software for the specific VR device you are using.
For example, if you are using the Samsung Gear VR, make sure that you are using the latest version of the Gear VR app. If you are using the Microsoft Hololens VR headset, make sure that you are using the most recent version of the Hololens VR app. Also, make sure that you are running the proper software for the VR platform on which the app is running—for example, is it Windows VR, is it Android VR, or is it iOS VR?
Stick With the Official Stadia Controller
VR is not for everyone. It takes a wide variety of skills and a very high level of trust to use it in a serious way. If you have been in the trade for a while, you may be hesitant to try something new. However, if you just started to discover VR, you probably didn’t realize how many different platforms and devices it could be used on. If you are still struggling to get used to the idea of being in VR, you may consider swapping systems—or returning to your old one, if possible.
However, when it comes time to move on to the next level, your Stadia gold card can help you get comfortable with the switch. The first step is to clean your computer of inappropriate or outdated programs. If you think that there is something that could use a bit of optimization, please look into it. However, as one of the most common mistakes that VR users make, it is crucial that you try to avoid making the same mistakes.
Optimize Data Usage
It is important to optimize your data usage as well. The default settings for many VR apps are not enough for your system. You must make sure that these settings are higher than you would normally use and that they are not decreasing the performance of other programs on your computer. The best way to go about this is with a performance monitoring program.
To optimize your data usage, ensure that you are generating all of the data that you need within the VR app itself. For example, if you are using the Google Cardboard app, make sure that you are creating different types of VR data—such as 3D images and virtual directions. Additionally, make sure that you are only saving these data in the correct format for your platform (e.g. .png, .jpeg, etc). Finally, make sure that you are not extradimensional (i.e. you are not running in the virtual world).
Use Ethernet Over Wireless
Cable connections are becoming more common in VR. This means that you can use your computer or phone as a remote control and have it act as an extension of your body. This gives you the ability to walk, stand, and interact with other people in the virtual world. Since most VR platforms use this technology to provide eye tracking, you can use this remote control to track your every movement. This is great for optimizing your network bandwidth, data usage, and overall performance.
Conclusion
VR has seen a big boost in popularity over the past few years due to the increasing use of VR headsets and the advancements made with display technology. However, VR performance is still relatively low. This article has provided the basics on how to optimize your Google account for VR and optimize your computer for VR. Next, we will cover how to optimize your video card for VR and ultimately, we will discuss how to optimize your computer for VR.