Due to health complications that cause blood to pool in my legs, it’s difficult for me to stand stationary for long periods so I’ve always played VR in a chair. Honestly when I began playing VR, I had no idea most other people played standing – and in the beginning they didn’t realize it was possible to play well seated. Ready At Dawn's Echo VR gives me a real sense of freedom in the simulated zero-gravity environment.

It has been nearly two years since Ready At Dawn’s Echo Arena was released and in November 2018 they brought us Echo Combat as well. Like all VR games to some degree, each has unique challenges for seated players, but these can be overcome with a little creativity.

Echo Combat is a 4-v-4 first-person shooter based on the same movement model in zero-gravity. Players have an assortment of guns, tactical mods, and ordnance for use in three different maps:  one payload and two capture point maps.

Many suggestions for seated players apply to both games so we’ll start with general tips and then offer some specific ideas for Echo Combat. While these recommendations have been written specifically with the seated player in mind, they’ll also benefit standing players who have difficulty with a full range of motion. (Here's the link for additional recommendations for seated play in Echo Arena.)

Echo Combat

The trick with Echo Combat and seated play is to keep one hand on your gun and the other hand in contact with a surface at all times. The developers did a fantastic job making Echo Combat accessible for seated players, providing plenty of geometrical objects on which to grab, push off, brace oneself, etc.. With guns and ordnance, the game wouldn’t be very playable for people with limited mobility if there weren’t a way for us to balance the playing field, so to speak.

The number one rule in Echo Combat is that no one should ever be floating aimlessly through space because you will be shot. If you accidentally find yourself in that situation, it’s especially difficult for seated players to turn around and orient back to the play area or find cover if they’re floating around with nothing to grab.

Practice flying.

Virtual reality games – especially ones like Echo VR – are much more like real sports than traditional computer games so it’s a good idea to learn the controls for each virtual game, acclimate yourself to the environments, and practice movement before you go into competitive matches. In Echo VR, this means learning how to fly before you queue for a match!

Learn methods of movement.

The Echo VR tutorial teaches you how to use your thrusters (Y and B buttons) and your jet pack (push down on left joystick). Thrusters will cause you to achieve a speed of 4 meters/second. With the jet pack you can achieve a speed of 5 meters/second.

However, there are other ways to move.

One of the most important things to learn in the game is that you can boost off other players. When you see people moving around quickly, they are boosting and regrabbing. This involves the process of lining up in a row (think Leap Frog) and then as you pull through one another, you each grab the next one and keep doing that in a “chain.” When this is done properly, you’ll exponentially increase your speed. Even a boost off one player will give you a speed advantage over anyone not boosting, but if you can work with your teammates to boost together, you’ll have a tremendous advantage.

Another way to move is by bouncing off objects or other players, which will allow you to reverse direction quickly. In order to do this, you’ll need to press your grip button and then very quickly release the grip as you come in contact with the thing you’re bouncing off of. (This is also the way you “slap” something, which you can do to the disc if you’re in a hurry to move it from one place to another.)

Maintain situational awareness.

Since you might not be able to turn quickly or take a peek behind you as a standing player would, it’s important that you pay attention to where other players are at all times. This will help you avoid being killed as well as being aware of opportunities to jump onto the payload or capture the point.

Use teamwork.

Teams that work together perform significantly better. Don’t be afraid to lead your team. Introduce yourselves in the team areas. They’re there for pre-game planning so make some new friends, discuss strategies, make suggestions.

With that said, public matches can sometimes be challenging so if you’re feeling frustrated, find some friends and form a party. Whether you win or lose, you’ll find the game more enjoyable if you’re playing with cooperative teammates.

Guns

Most seated players might have difficulty using the Nova because it requires you to constantly move your other hand. You have to be able to bounce off objects, push yourself quickly through tunnels, grab teammates to boost or grab opponents to shoot them. If you have quick reflexes and enjoy melee action, you might prefer the Nova. Otherwise, I would use one of the other guns, find a position to set up and start shooting the enemies.

If you’re using the Pulsar, Comet, or Meteor, you could stay in point (or on payload), but you’ll need to hold on with your other hand. Those guns all allow you to settle in a position and basically do target practice. I recommend the Pulsar for newer players, but as you advance in rank try switching to one of the more advanced weapons. The Comet and Meteor take a little more skill, but those would be great guns for players with limited mobility who hone their skills as sharpshooters.

Tactical Mods

The two best tactical mods for seated players are Threat Scanner and Repair Matrix. Threat Scanner is something you can use anywhere in the maps and it will benefit you and your teammates. If you stay on or near payload (or point), you’ll be able to help your teammates with Repair Matrix as well.

If a seated player wants to set up somewhere with a long-range gun like the Comet, the Shield might be a good tactical mod, but some seated players have difficulty holding the shield while they shoot. It’s a little easier to hold a wall. With practice, however, I’m sure the shield would be a good option.

Phase Shift is probably not the best tactical mod for players with limited mobility because someone who has full mobility is most likely still going to be able to catch up with you and kill you once you’ve finished phase shifting.

Ordnance

As with any player without mobility challenges, you’ll need to become adept at throwing ordnance if you want these to be useful. Remember. If will help if you use one hand to hold on while you use the other hand to throw your ordnance.

The detonator and stun grenade are thrown at opponents so you want these to be close enough to do damage. The instaheal grenade is either thrown in the air for your own use or thrown at your teammates to replenish their health. Any of these can be useful for seated players, but you’ll need to practice throwing. (Playing Echo Arena will definitely help with your throwing abilities!)

The arc mine is the last ordnance. These are just like traditional mines and anyone can use them.

Stealth / Flanking

Most of the high rank players in the game know when they see me in a match that they should watch their backs because I’m probably going to be flanking them at some point. Probably it’s not so stealthy anymore because (a) they know I’m going to do it and (b) I always end up laughing so I give away my position. But that’s ok. I still force them to divide their focus between what’s in front as well as what’s behind them.

If you want to try this tactic, just sneak around the map, be quiet, and then ambush them from behind. It’s such a great feeling when you can throw a detonator grenade, then take out all four healthy, mobile players on the enemy team before they even realize where you came from. Seated players should always try to find one or two tricks that work well specifically for them. If nothing else, it will give you confidence!

Final Note

I was doing an interview recently and we were talking about how physical VR esports are. This person commented that not only is athleticism required, but you must be a healthy young athlete. Of course we had a lengthy discussion about that because many of our best players are a little older than average gamers and some struggle with serious health issues. VR levels the playing field to a degree so that you have the opportunity to excel despite physical challenges. And yes, if you qualify for LAN events such as the VR League season finals, they will provide a chair.

We want virtual reality to be accessible to everyone. There are volunteers in many of the most popular games (and in all the VR League Season 3 games) who will help you learn to play better, who can show you around the maps, or who will offer suggestions on play strategies for your unique situation. I’ve actually had a couple of amputees ask me for advice about playing with one arm, a deaf person who wasn’t dealing well with not being able to hear sound effects, and numerous people with back or other injuries who must play seated. Virtual reality is for everyone and we are here to help you. I’m by no means qualified to teach every VR game, but I will put you in touch with others who can help you.

Most people want VR communities to grow and we want you to love it as much as we do. Hopefully the suggestions for Echo VR will help, but if you’re struggling in any of the games, reach out and we’ll do what we can to make the games more accessible for you!

Final Note

I was doing an interview recently and we were talking about how physical VR esports are. This person commented that not only is athleticism required, but you must be a healthy young athlete. Of course we had a lengthy discussion about that because many of our best players are a little older than average gamers and some struggle wit health issues. VR levels the playing field to a degree so that you have the opportunity to excel despite physical challenges. And yes, if you qualify for LAN events, they will provide a chair.

We want virtual reality to be accessible to everyone. There are volunteers in many of the most popular games (and in all the VR League Season 3 games) who will help you learn to play better, who can show you around the maps, or who will offer suggestions on play strategies for your unique situation. I’ve actually had a couple of amputees ask me for advice about playing with one arm, a deaf person who wasn’t dealing well with not being able to hear sound effects, and numerous people with back or other injuries who must play seated. Virtual reality is for everyone and we are here to help you. I’m by no means qualified to teach every VR game, but I will put you in touch with others who can help you.

Most people want VR communities to grow and we want you to love it as much as we do. Hopefully the suggestions for Echo VR will help, but if you’re struggling in any of the games, reach out and we’ll do what we can to make the games more accessible for you!

‍