Whirligig VR Media Player
- January 25, 2024
- phileday
Whirligig VR Media Player is a virtual reality application for viewing 2D and 3D videos and images on Windows 8 and 10. It offers multiple rendering options, including Media Foundation and Video Lan , and supports various file formats such as jpg, png, jps, and pns. The player also includes a range of features to enhance the viewing experience.
Reviews
- Whirligig is highly customizable, offering extensive options for video playback, including support for various 3D formats and the ability to adjust screen size and position.
- The developer is very responsive and actively updates the software, addressing user feedback and improving functionality over time.
- It provides a solid performance for playing VR videos, with many users reporting that it handles high-resolution content well once the correct codecs are installed.
- The user interface is often described as clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new users to navigate and utilize the software effectively.
- Many users have experienced issues with video playback, including problems with certain formats not being supported or requiring additional codec installations.
- There are frequent bugs and crashes reported, particularly when switching between videos or using the menu, leading to a frustrating user experience.
- optimization14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, Whirligig is praised for its superior optimization and playback performance, outperforming competitors like Deo VR and Hearsphere, especially on older hardware. While it offers impressive configuration options and solid performance under load, users note that issues can arise with higher resolution videos and codec configurations, which can affect playback quality. Some minor UI bugs, such as difficult-to-use scrollbars, have also been reported.
“I tested Deo, Hearsphere, and Whirligig, and Whirligig has the best performance out of all of them.”
“The performance is solid, and the controls are simple and pretty easy to figure out.”
“Very impressive performance and configuration options.”
“If you encounter some video types that won't play correctly (green screen with sound or very stuttering video in slow-motion), like I did, you must install lavfilters + codectweaktool and SVP (SmoothVideo Project).”
“Video performance relies almost entirely on your system configuration/capabilities, not the player itself, though.”
“You can slap a 1080 on a rig, high-end HMD, buy every VR player out there and still have poor performance if codecs aren't configured correctly.”
- stability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The stability of the software is inconsistent, with users reporting frequent bugs and crashes, particularly when opening media files directly. While it offers a wealth of features and performs well under certain conditions, the user interface can be unintuitive and problematic, requiring some troubleshooting. Overall, it is considered a good value for its price, but potential users should be prepared for occasional instability.
“It runs great, has a ton of well-implemented features, and it is the benchmark for all other players.”
“The game is incredibly stable, with minimal bugs and smooth performance throughout.”
“I've experienced no crashes or major issues, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
“If it was priced higher I wouldn't recommend it, but it is cheap and when it isn't being buggy or crashing, it is simply the best VR video player out there.”
“It works fine when I load the program then load media, but it glitches when opened from a media file (e.g., select a movie from desktop and open with Whirligig).”
“Again, this is just way too buggy to recommend.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that while the "VR Media Viewer" may not function optimally with the Oculus Quest 2, "Whirligig" offers a more user-friendly experience with its intuitive folder navigation and slideshow feature, making it suitable for storyboard and animatic playback. Overall, users appreciate Whirligig's capabilities in enhancing their storytelling experience in VR.
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their superior quality, particularly in the context of virtual reality, where users appreciate the intuitive holographic controls. However, there are suggestions for improvement in the graphical user interface to enhance the overall visual experience.
“The graphics are superior.”
“Using a Vive with its controllers, I find the holographic controls that float around my controllers very intuitive and I just love them.”
“I'm hoping he will improve the graphical user interface.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered enjoyable and has elements that encourage replayability, though some users find it only moderately agreeable.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally find the game enjoyable and highlight its replayability, suggesting that it offers enough engaging content to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“The game offers a variety of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple character builds and different strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and again.”
“The random events and dynamic world keep the gameplay unpredictable, ensuring that no two sessions are ever the same.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusingly unconventional keyboard layout, which adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever jokes and witty dialogue that keep me laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its gameplay; it makes every moment feel light-hearted and fun.”
“The quirky characters and their hilarious interactions add so much charm to the overall experience.”