Meta Quest: Guides, Avatars, Tutorials, and Metaverse

Welcome to our guide covering the Quest 2. This guide will look at metaverse apps, How-to tutorials, and quick tips & tricks. As the metaverse environment grows, we’ll try to update this article with relevant content to stay current. If you’re looking for the quickest way to jump into VR, take a look at the Oculus Quest 2. The Oculus Quest 2 is a big step from the original Quest Headset. Let’s start by talking about the metaverse apps you can start experiencing on the Meta Quest 2.

Meta Quest 2 Metaverse Apps

Right out of the box, the Meta Quest 2 will be the quickest easiest set up to experience the metaverse. Think of the metaverse as a virtual environment where you can talk and engage with other real people. The other big difference is the other people (including yourself) will be viewed as an avatar. The metaverse feels like real life and many worlds feel like just virtual IRL (In-real-life) environments. The most popular app for metaverse experiences is VRChat.

VRChat

VRChat is a great FREE way to understand the metaverse environment. If you’re wondering how to get VRChat, it should be readily available in the App Store. You can download VRChat from the Oculus Store or you can plug your Meta Quest into your High-performance Gaming PC and launch the game that way. If you’re just starting in VR, we recommend you just download VRChat directly from your headset via Oculus Store.

Once you’re in the app, you’ll quickly go through a tutorial on movement and interaction. Once done with that, you’re ready to join some public worlds. VRChat offers over +25,000 community-created worlds. This means any public virtual world you join, was created by a user.

To change your avatar, search for “avatars” in the world search. Users also create avatars that are free to use. Some may require joining a Discord community to interact with their assets, but the majority are free. If you want a custom avatar, you’ll need to go to sites like ReadyPlayer.me to create an avatar of yourself just by taking a picture of yourself. There are many places to find custom avatars for the game but be advised that some artists charge anywhere from $100 to $2,000 for a custom avatar with high details and dynamic bones. VRChat does have a Unity-based VRchat avatar maker, but it will require some reading and possibly some trial and error.

VRChat is the place to meet new friends in the virtual environment. For many, it’s the sole reason why they keep returning to their Oculus Quest or PCVR headset. The app has helped many people overcome social anxiety and helped people build long-lasting friendships.

Horizon Worlds (formerly Facebook Horizon)

The only way to access Horizon Worlds is through Meta headsets such as The Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift S, and the Meta Quest 2. Horizon Worlds features avatars and custom world-building. The avatar selection is not as vast as VRChat, but there are more realistic avatars you can choose from then customize with their limited avatar builder.

Once in the app, you’ll be able to experience what Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook) has to offer. From world-building to socializing, to party games. The app will say it’s “invite-only”, but you should be able to join right away. Meta also includes access to Horizon Workrooms.

Rec Room

Rec Room is a great experience that’s also cross-play with other headsets. This means you can play with people using PSVR (PlayStation VR), Oculus Quest Virtual Reality Headset, or any PC VR (Valve Index). Yes, you read that right, Rec Room is available for PSVR (Playstation VR) and you can play with users using a different headset. This app is very game-focused. You’ll notice that the game also features teleport move which helps with virtual reality motion sickness.

In Rec Room you’ll be able to enjoy experiences like Paintball, Laser Tag, Dodgeball, and even a Battle Royal game. If you’re looking for a VR experience that’s a cross between the YMCA and VR gaming, Rec Room is the best app for you.

Where to find Custom Avatars

Custom avatars will keep you engaged with VR apps that support it. The main place to show off custom avatars is for sure VRChat, sine this app will take advantage of everything available. VRChat also supports full-body tracking. This means, once you get the extra tracking peripherals, you’ll be able to move your whole body in VR. Here are some ways to acquire Custom Avatars.

ReadyPlayer.me

This website will allow you to create an avatar using their avatar builder. The cool thing about this site is that Avatars you create here can be used cross-game in many different apps. Currently, ReadyPlayerMe supports over +970 app and VR games. The VR custom avatar creation and setup is easy. You just take a photo of yourself and the system will generate your avatar based on the photo. Once that is done, you’ll customize the appearance a little and select some clothing, then you’re done!

This is for sure the best place for Free custom avatars. Also, coming soon to ReadyPlayerMe is NFT support, where you’ll be able to purchase NFT items for your avatar.

VRCMods.com

VRCMods is where you can find custom avatars and items made by users. This site has a very large collection of free VRChat avatars. They have been around since 2018, so they are very established and used in the VR community. You can find trending avatars and very high-quality avatars here. Using some of the assets from VRCMods, you’ll need to install Unity software and know how to use the software or even a little coding to get things working correctly.

VRCMods also has a Discord where you can chat with users, or even talk with others to help you create or complete your new avatar.

Meta Quest 2 Guides

Learning how to use the Meta Quest can sometimes be a challenge. From Twitch Streaming your VR headset to Connecting your Meta Quest to the TV for friends and family to see. Parents buying their VR headsets this holiday season need to understand the basics of using VR. Check out these guides to help you get started with VR faster and easier.

How to Connect Meta Quest 2 to PC

This is a common question we see online. Do you need a computer for the Oculus Quest 2? The answer is no, but you can virtually connect to your computer with a wired and a wireless connection. To connect your Meta Quest to your local gaming PC, you just need to connect the VR headset to a USB-C connection on your motherboard. If your motherboard does not support USB-C, then there are external hubs you can get that do support USB-C. Once connected, you’ll need to install the Oculus software to your computer. Once installed, launch the program, and the setup/connection should start. It’s recommended to use a long USB-C Wire if you plan on using your Meta Quest 2 on the PC. Once setup is completed you can now launch any Steam VR game from your computer.

Note, you can also download apps such as Virtual Desktop to wirelessly connect to your PC. You’ll need to make sure your local computer is connected to your router via an ethernet connection or else you’ll experience frame drops and lag.

How to Connect Oculus Quest to TV

The Oculus casting feature is wireless, easy, and simple. Much different from the original Quest headset where you were not able to connect easily to your TV, connecting to the TV with the Oculus Quest 2 is very easy. All you have to do is launch any Experience on the Meta Quest 2, then press the Menu button on your right-hand VR controller. Once open you’ll see Cast in the menu. Now you just need to go to the Oculus Cast webpage, Oculus.com/casting, and you should be able to see your headset streaming to the webpage. Note that some apps don’t support casting to the TV. Sometimes casting to the TV can make the app‘s resolution display seem lower to viewers or even laggy, but it’s that big a deal. This will not stray viewers away from the main content. Being able to view the app experience can paint a dynamic picture for everyone.

Currently, Oculus Cast via Google Chrome web browser is the best way to cast to your TV, but also note that any game you play on Steam VR will also display on your computer monitor, so you could just play Steam VR games if you want your friends and family to see what you see in VR.

Where to Buy Meta Quest 2

The demand for VR devices has grown since Meta’s announcement at Facebook Connect 2021. There are many places to buy a Meta Quest 2. You shouldn’t find any shortages, at this current time. Any major retailer or online eCommerce should have inventory. No need to buy on reselling sites like Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp. Instead, just buy a Meta Quest 2 from Newegg or another online store. There shouldn’t be any issues finding one. During Holiday sales, some Online Stores like Newegg were offering discounts like a $50 gift card with the purchase of an Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset.

The issue might be in peripherals such as an Oculus Quest carrying case, Oculus Link cable, VR Headphones, VR Head Straps, or even silicone grips for your Oculus touch controllers. The most recommended accessory is the Oculus Quest 2 Elite Strap. This will help with comfort and keeping the headset on longer with any head strain or fatigue. To help with any head fatigue, be sure to look into whether you want earbuds or headphones for better audio quality, but less head strain.

Buy an Oculus Quest 2 here.

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