View source for How To Play

All right, so now you've [[Installation|Installed]] EmuVR, added your games, and maybe even [[Customization|Customized]] your bedroom and labels. Well, let's play!

We may have a raw [[Controls]] page, but that doesn't actually teach you '''how to play''' and interact with things.

How to choose a game? How do you ''start'' a game? How do you '''control''' a game? What else can you do?

This page will teach you the ropes.


You'll learn the quick steps about everything you '''can''' do in [[#The_Basics|The Basics]] section, and the rest will teach you '''how''' to do it.


== The Basics ==
You can play with hand controllers, Xbox 360/One controllers, and keyboard + mouse.

You're free to move around, grab and throw objects, and interact with them using your fingers or the [[#The_Pointer|Pointer]].

In EmuVR you'll be switching between two control modes:
* Avatar Focus: you'll [[Controls#unfocus_input|control yourself]] in the room, your avatar.
* Game Focus: you'll [[Controls#focus_input|control your games]] playing on the TVs.

To play a game, you'll simply grab the cartridge/CD, insert it into the respective system, [[Controls#attach_cable|attach the cable]] to the TV, press the little virtual power button (with your finger or with [[Controls#power_console|other button shortcuts]]) to switch it on, than [[#Controlling_Games|switch input to the game]] and play to your heart's content. You can have multiple systems running at the same time.

When [[#Controlling_Games|playing your games]], you can still use your [[Controls#Game_Focus_Input_Mapping_.28Touch_.2F_Vive.29|hand controllers buttons]] to control them if you don't want to use your Xbox 360/One controller or KB+M.

Don't forget you can also [[Playing_Videos_and_Music|play videos]].

If your game cartridge/CD, console or TV of choice isn't already in the room, you can bring the [[#Inventory_Menu:_Spawning_Objects_and_Games|Inventory Menu]] to spawn it, or any other object you want.

You can always [[#Time_of_Day_and_Switching_the_Light|change the time of day]] and [[#Time_of_Day_and_Switching_the_Light|switch the light]]. Try playing at night, in the dark, when the only lighting comes from your TVs!

== The Pointer ==
To interact with some objects from far away, hold the [[Controls#Pointer_Button|Pointer Button]], and a laser pointer will beam out of your hand.

You can point it to interactable objects to highlight them, and then press another contextual button to perform specific actions that will be explained in the sections below.

If you're not using hand controllers (or are in Desktop mode), the crosshair in the center of your vision will act as the pointer for most of those actions.

== Moving Yourself ==
Besides walking in real life if you have the space, by default you can use [[Controls#teleport|Teleport]]. You also have the option to [[Controls#toggle_teleport|Toggle Teleport Mode]]. When teleport mode is disabled, you'll [[Controls#movement|move]] like in an FPS game. If you're using a keyboard, you'll always be able to use both [[Controls#teleport|Teleport]] and [[Controls#movement|Locomotion]], no need to toggle it.

You can also use [[Controls#snap_turn|Snap Turn]] if you're sitting on a chair or just don't want to rotate your real body too much.

When playing in desktop mode, you can [[Controls#adjust_height|adjust your height]]. While not recommended in VR mode, you're also able to do that there, as it could be useful, for example, to align yourself laying down on your real and virtual beds or chairs. However, when you get up, the floor height will feel wrong. To fix that, press [[Controls#reset_height|Reset Height]].

== Grabbing Objects ==
=== Using your Hands ===
If you're using your hands in VR, you just need reach for an object until it gets highlighted, which means you can then grab it with your hand controller [[Controls#grab|Grab/Grip Button]]. You can now release or throw it like in real life. (Don't punch your IRL friends)

If you hold the [[Controls#grab|Grab/Grip Button]] without grabbing an object, you'll close your hand. Doing this will enable the physical colliders on your hand, so you'll be able to push and punch objects.

==== Distance Grab ====

If you're feeling lazy and don't want to crouch to grab an object on the floor, or you need something right now that's too far away, you can [[#The Pointer|point to it]] and press the [[Controls#distance_grab|Distance Grab]] button. It will fly right into you hand. ''Use the Force.''

=== Using your Gamepad / Keyboard ===
If you're using a gamepad or keyboard (in VR or not), you'll need to point to a object to highlight it, then press the [[Controls#grab|Grab Button/Key]], and now it will be floating in front of your face, facing you. If you want to grab it while not pulling or rotating it to you, you can hold the same button for 1 second to [[Controls#grab_in_place|Grab in Place]]. If the object is already being held, holding that same button for 1 second again will [[Controls#grab_in_place|reset the object rotation]].

You can release it by pressing the [[Controls#grab|same grab button]].

When grabbing a object, you'll move it around with yourself. You can [[Controls#rotate|rotate]] it, rotate it [[Controls#rotate_sideways|sideways]], bring it [[Controls#move_closer_farther|closer or farther]], and even [[Controls#throw|throw]] it.

== Inventory Menu: Spawning Objects and Games ==
When EmuVR starts, it will spawn a few random systems with games from your list. (You can disable that in the settings. Check '''Saved Data/settings.default.ini''' in your EmuVR directory for more information.)

To spawn new system, games, or any other object, press the button to show the [[Controls#inventory_menu|Inventory Menu]].

When the inventory menu is enabled, laser pointers will come out of your hands (or your face, in desktop mode). You can point, and click the interface with your trigger button (Touch/Vive controllers), mouse click or gamepad A button.

There you can select a category, such as TVs, Objects, Consoles, or games sorted by console.

To spawn a new object, just point to it and press the [[Controls#grab|Grab Button/Key]].

If you need to '''delete''' any object, grab it, hover it inside the trash can button in the inventory menu until it's highlighted, then release it there.

When you're done using the menu, press the [[Controls#inventory_menu|same button to hide]] and get it out of the way.

Note: For now, you'll see placeholder 3D models for consoles that aren't modeled yet, represented by the fantastic ''Knock-Off Generic EVR-9000'' video game console. This allows you to play your games for every supported system, before we get to model them all. Currently, there are models for PS1, N64 and SNES systems. More to come later.

== Connecting Cables to Systems and TVs ==
Now that you got your consoles, games, and TVs, you need to connect them with cables.

=== Using your Hands ===
It's just like in real life. Grab the plug from a TV or console the same way you grab other objects, then attach it to other TV or console.

To grab a plug, hover it with your open hand until you see a red icon with a ball, representing the female socket symbol. That means it's highlighted and you can now hold the [[Controls#grab|Grab Button]] do detach it. Now you'll be holding the cable by the plug, with a blue arrow icon representing the male plug symbol.

When holding a plug, move it close to where it could be attached to in the matching console or TV's socket, and you'll see the red female socket icon there, while your blue arrow icon will turn green. That means you'll attach the cable if you just release it now.

You can create new cables by hovering your hand over an empty plug socket until you see the highlighted female socket symbol. [[Controls#grab|Grab]] that, it will create a new cable from there, and you'll be now holding the other end of the cable, the blue male plug symbol, ready to be attached to other console or TV.

To delete a cable, just grab its plug and release it in the air.

==== Lazy Hand Cabling ====
If you're feeling lazy, you can use the same commands for [[#Using your Gamepad / Keyboard|gamepad / keyboard]] cabling just below, by using the the [[#The Pointer|Pointer]] and [[Controls#attach_cable|Attach Cable]] buttons in your hand controllers from far away. Please read below.

=== Using your Gamepad / Keyboard ===

# Point to a console or TV, and press the [[Controls#attach_cable|Attach Cable button]]. It will glow.
# Point to the matching console or TV you want to connect, and it will also be highlighted.
# While still pointing to your highlighted target, press the [[Controls#attach_cable|Attach Cable button]] again, and they will be connected.

If you want to disconnect and remove a cable, just try connecting the cable to the same console/TV from step 1. It's like double clicking.


Note: If you disconnect a running console, '''the game will still be running in the background,''' but '''''will close by itself after 10 seconds.''''' This is to prevent you from forgetting about tons of games still running disconnected, while still giving you enough time to reconnect or switch cables without stopping them. ''If you instead just power off the TV but keep the cable, the game will keep running indefinitely, until you also power off the console.''

== Starting Games ==
OK, everything is connected now, so how do you turn them on?

=== Inserting Games into Consoles ===
[[Controls#grab|Grab]] your game, hover it close to your console slot, be it for cartridges or CDs, and it will glow. That means you now just need to [[Controls#drop|release]] it, and it will be inserted.

If there's a game inserted there already, you need to grab it before inserting a new game.

If the console has a tray, lid, or something like that, don't forget to first [[Controls#toggle_tv_or_tray|open it]] to be able to insert or remove games from the slot.

=== Turn It On ===
==== Using Your Fingers ====
To power on a console or a TV with your hands, you just need to use your finger to interact with virtual buttons like in real life.

If it's N64 or an SNES, for example, you need to flick the button forward or back to power it on or off. If it's push button like on PS1 or TVs, you just press it down.

You can also interact with other buttons, such as Reset and Eject. If they're interactable, they will glow when your finger touches them.

==== Using your Gamepad / Keyboard ====
Use the [[Controls#Pointer_Button|Pointer]] to highlight a console or a TV, and press the [[Controls#power_console|Power On Console]] button. If the TV is off, it will be switched on with the connected console. You can open or close your console tray/lid by pressing the [[Controls#toggle_tv_or_tray|Open/Close System Tray]] button.

You can also power only the TV on/off using the [[Controls#toggle_tv_or_tray|Power TV On/Off]] button.

Note: '''Turning off a TV will not close or even pause the connected game''', it'll keep running in the background unless you also power off the console, so don't forget about them.

== Controlling Games ==
Finally, the game is playing on the TV! But how do you '''control''' it? Where is the controller?

You just need to [[Controls#Pointer_Button|point]] to the console or TV, and press the [[Controls#focus_input|Console Input Focus]] button. Now, instead of controlling your avatar movements and interacting with objects, your real life hand controllers or gamepad are commanding the game on the screen.

To snap out of it and go back to controlling your avatar, press the [[Controls#unfocus_input|Unfocus Console Input]] button combo.

So, recapitulation: In EmuVR you'll be switching between two control modes:
* Avatar Focus: you'll [[Controls#unfocus_input|control yourself]] in the room, your avatar.
* Game Focus: you'll [[Controls#focus_input|control your games]] playing on the TVs.

You can control your games with your Oculus Touch or Vive controllers, Xbox One/360 controller, or keyboard.

Please check the [[Controls#Game_Focus_Input_Mapping_.28Touch_.2F_Vive.29|buttons mapping for Touch/Vive controllers]] for controlling games. The button layout was designed so that you can press most of the virtual face buttons together comfortably with one hand. You'll find you're able to play most games with them, without needing to reach for your Xbox controller.

Note: 3D models for virtual controllers are not yet implemented.

== Time of Day and Switching the Light ==
=== Time ===
When playing EmuVR, you can always change the clock time, move the sunlight, and make it night.

Try playing in the dark to appreciate the colored lighting from your game in the TV screen bouncing around the bedroom.

There is an [[Controls#change_time_shortcut|easy shortcut button]] to change the time anywhere. You don't need to be looking at the clock for that, you can just enjoy the sight from the window or follow the sun/moon light shifting around in your room.

You can also change the time while [[Controls#change_time|pointing to the wall clock]]. That also allows you to toggle real time mode by using the [[Controls#object_action|object action command]] on the clock, making the ingame clock time follow your PC system clock.

=== Lamp ===
To switch the ceiling lamp, you can press the [[Controls#switch_light|quick shortcut button]] anywhere.

You can do the same by [[Controls#Pointer_Button|pointing]] to the lamp or to the wall switch, and using the [[Controls#object_action|Object Action]] command.

Finally, the most fun way to switch the light is to actually use your finger and flick the wall switch by the door up or down.