Info about Virtual Desktop Classic:

Official game description:
Virtual Desktop is an application for the Oculus Rift / Rift S, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets that lets you use your computer in VR. This app is NOT for the Meta Quest or Pico headsets. You can browse the web, watch movies, Netflix or even play games on a giant virtual screen.  
Other features include:  
*   Hardware accelerated 360 video playback  
*   Ability to play/stream YouTube 360 videos  
*   Browse and view 360 photos  
*   MilkDrop support for music visualization  
*   3D Side-By-Side video support  
*   Game launcher with voice commands  
*   Multi-monitor  
*   Environment Editor to create custom environments  
*   Steam Workshop integration for environments  
*   Dashboard integration

Release date: Mar 31, 2016

Categories: Virtual Reality, Simulation, Productivity Application, Customization, Multi-Monitor Support, Environment Editor, Steam Workshop Integration, Media Playback

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The Steam Deck experience is marred by significant input issues, particularly the lack of a functional virtual keyboard, which hampers text input tasks. The introduction of always-online DRM has also been poorly received, impacting user trust and experience. Additionally, performance issues such as frame drops and the need for better controller support have been noted. These issues collectively contribute to a less than optimal user experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The majority of the reviews indicate that the software is worth the price, suggesting that the community finds value in the product at its current price point. There are no specific mentions of a price range, but the consistent affirmation of the product's worth suggests that the current price is considered fair.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 8.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several quotes from users who discuss their daily usage of Virtual Desktop. The quotes indicate that users spend significant amounts of time in Virtual Desktop, often for work purposes. The first two quotes mention working in VR for 8 hours at a time, which suggests a typical session length of around 8 hours. The third and fourth quotes provide additional context about daily usage, reinforcing the idea of extended sessions. However, there is no specific evidence regarding the time to complete the game, story completion, or endgame content, as Virtual Desktop is primarily a utility application rather than a game with a narrative or completion metrics.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has an initial period of friction, particularly with the control system, but once players adapt, it becomes engaging and opens up new gaming possibilities.
  - Stance: Fun after initial friction
  - Anchor: Adapting to the control system
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: Poor mouse click system; Initial adaptation period
  - Unlock drivers: Getting used to the control system; Exploring new gaming possibilities
  - Conditions: Social interactions with friends; Using VR without additional hardware
- Player Archetypes:
  - Media Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Immersive media consumption
    - Playstyle: Uses VR primarily for watching movies, videos, and other media content.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: big screen movie enthusiast; media consumer
    - Reference games: Skybox
  - Frustrated User (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking reliable and supported software
    - Playstyle: Uses VR for various purposes but is highly critical of software issues and lack of support.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: disgruntled customer
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Enhanced 3D movie experience (weight 0.66): The software provides an exceptional experience for watching 3D movies, including support for various formats like 180°, 360°, and SBS, with flawless performance and enhanced realism.
- Excellent Virtual Desktop integration (weight 0.46): The Virtual Desktop feature is highly praised for its performance and versatility, allowing users to play games, work, and manage their desktop efficiently within a VR environment.
- Productivity in VR (weight 0.3): The software enables users to work efficiently in VR for extended periods, making it a valuable tool for productivity and completing project workloads.
- Compatible with multiple VR headsets (weight 0.26): It works seamlessly on various VR headsets including Quest, Rift, and DK2, ensuring a broad range of compatibility for users with different VR hardware.
- Worth the cost (weight 0.25): Users consistently mention that the software is worth the money, offering great value and functionality that justifies its cost.
- High-quality software (weight 0.25): The software is frequently described as one of the best of its kind, with excellent performance and useful features that make it stand out.
- Ease of use (weight 0.25): The software is noted for its ease of use, including an easy-to-use overlay and convenient desktop management, making it accessible for a wide range of users.
- Versatile usage scenarios (weight 0.25): The software supports a variety of usage scenarios, from watching movies and using the desktop to working in VR, making it a versatile tool for different needs.
- Developer and mod support (weight 0.23): The software offers support for developers and modding, enhancing its functionality and appeal to a broader user base.
- Comfortable usage positions (weight 0.19): It supports comfortable usage in various positions, including lying down, which adds to the convenience and versatility of the software.
- Adjustable large screens (weight 0.14): Users can adjust and track large screens, providing a customizable and immersive viewing experience.

Common complaints:
- Compatibility issues with headsets (weight 0.52): The software has compatibility issues with various headsets, including Oculus Quest and heavier headsets like Vive. It is also reported to work only with wired headsets.
- High cost and poor value (weight 0.43): Users find the software not worth the price, especially when compared to free alternatives that offer similar or better features.
- Steam version abandoned (weight 0.41): The Steam version of the software is considered abandoned, with the last update in 2022. Users are requesting the full version to be released on Steam for compatibility with non-Vive/Quest/Pico devices.
- Developer support and behavior (weight 0.36): There is a lack of developer support, and developers are reported to be aggressive and rude towards users who bring up issues. Developers also ban users who criticize the software.
- Resolution and detail problems (weight 0.33): Users report resolution issues with HMD and difficulties seeing fine details, making games requiring fine details tough to play.
- Poor performance and quality (weight 0.31): The software suffers from poor framerate and image quality, making the user experience subpar.
- Outdated software version (weight 0.26): Users report that the version available is old and not the current version of the app, leading to version discrepancies and outdated features.
- Game launching issues (weight 0.25): The software has problems running games properly, including issues with adding games to the list and closing virtual desktop when launching games manually.
- VR technology limitations (weight 0.21): Users note that VR is still in a beta stage with many conflicts and user interface shortcomings. Few programs run smoothly in VR.
- Controller support issues (weight 0.21): The software does not support various controllers, including Index and Vive controllers, and has issues with Oculus motion controllers.
- Limited functionality and options (weight 0.21): The software has very few options and limited functionality, making it an unfinished and limited app.
- Lack of multi-monitor support (weight 0.2): The software does not support multi-monitor setups, which is a significant limitation for many users.
- Audio issues (weight 0.2): The software has significant audio problems, including horrific loud echo effects that make it unplayable.
- Hardware and system requirements (weight 0.2): The software has high hardware requirements and does not support older systems like Windows 7, leading to performance issues.
- Refund issues (weight 0.19): Users report that refunds are refused, and there are licensing issues that revoke software access.
- Headset removal required (weight 0.15): The software requires users to take off their headset to use a keyboard and mouse, forcing them to use the PC monitor.
- Missing features (weight 0.15): The software is missing basic features like multi-monitor placement and the ability to have more than one window open at a time.
- User interface and control issues (weight 0.15): The software has clunky controls and is not user-friendly. It also has issues with mouse and keyboard usage.
- Better alternatives available (weight 0.15): Users suggest that there are better alternatives available, such as Oculus Home, Skybox VR Player, and BigScreen, which offer more features and are free.
- Software freezing and crashing (weight 0.15): Users experience the software getting stuck at the 'now starting ...' graphic and games freezing a lot in VR.
- Connection issues (weight 0.15): The software has constant connection issues, including problems with specific headsets like Pico Neo 3.
- User Account Control pop-ups (weight 0.08): The software triggers Windows UAC pop-ups every time it is used, which is inconvenient for users.
- Poor documentation (weight 0.08): The software is poorly documented on the Steam website, making it difficult for users to find information and support.

Gameplay feedback:
- Streaming games to VR (weight 0.27): Players appreciate the ability to stream games from their PC to various VR headsets, enhancing the gaming experience.
- VR for productivity (weight 0.25): Users find VR useful for productivity tasks such as accessing their computer, browsing the web, and using video and audio editors.
- Customizable VR environments (weight 0.21): Players enjoy the ability to create and use custom environments, including curved screens and IMAX setups.
- Advanced VR features (weight 0.19): Features like sound engineering, building virtual instruments, and mod support for video players are appreciated by users.
- Flatscreen gaming in VR (weight 0.15): Users enjoy playing traditional 2D games on large virtual screens while immersed in a VR environment.
- VR for simulation and emulation (weight 0.15): VR is popular for sitting titles like sim racing and flight simulation, as well as for using emulators.
- Accessing VR games on Oculus Quest (weight 0.08): Players appreciate the ability to access and play VR games specifically on the Oculus Quest.
- Platform-specific versions (weight 0.08): Some users mention the availability of different versions for different platforms, which can enhance compatibility and performance.
- VR controllers usage (weight 0.07): The use of VR controllers is mentioned, indicating their importance in the overall VR experience.

Performance notes:
- Mixed performance feedback (weight 0.39): Some users reported no significant performance issues and even noted performance improvements, while others experienced various performance problems.
- Stuttering and audio issues (weight 0.22): Multiple users reported significant stuttering problems and audio issues while using the application.
- Resolution issues with VR (weight 0.21): Users encountered resolution problems with HMD and general limitations in the resolution of VR devices.
- Poor framerate (weight 0.15): Several users reported experiencing poor framerate while using the application.
- Performance comparisons and testing (weight 0.14): Users engaged in performance comparisons and FPS testing to evaluate the application.
- Freezing in VR (weight 0.09): Games were reported to freeze frequently when played in VR.
- Crashing issues with SteamVR (weight 0.09): Users encountered crashing issues specifically with SteamVR.
- Image duplication and visibility (weight 0.09): Users experienced issues with images duplicating and becoming hard to see.
- Virtual Desktop display issues (weight 0.09): Virtual Desktop was reported to turn black and white after approximately 10 minutes of use.
- Excellent performance with multiple monitors (weight 0.09): The application was reported to perform excellently with multiple monitors.
- Slow local PC videos (weight 0.08): Videos played from a local PC were reported to be slow.
- Better experience for gaming (weight 0.08): Users noted a better overall experience for gaming with the application.
- Optimization of environments (weight 0.08): There were discussions around the optimization of environments for better performance.
- No dizziness or eye fatigue (weight 0.08): Some users reported that the application caused no dizziness or eye fatigue.
- Non-VR games perform better (weight 0.08): Non-VR games were reported to perform better compared to VR games.
- VR videos crashing the program (weight 0.08): Some VR videos were reported to crash the program.
- Performance on Windows 7 (weight 0.08): Performance issues were noted to be more significant on Windows 7.

Recommendations:
- Quest users need Quest store version (weight 0.41): Players emphasize that Oculus Quest users must purchase Virtual Desktop from the Quest store for full compatibility and functionality.
- Free alternatives available (weight 0.31): Several reviews suggest using free alternatives like Bigscreen and Desktop+ instead of purchasing Virtual Desktop.
- Highly recommended for VR users (weight 0.25): Many users highly recommend Virtual Desktop for making the most of VR headsets, including for low vision individuals.
- SteamVR features preferred (weight 0.2): Some users prefer SteamVR's desktop features and custom environments, which are free to use.
- Price concerns (weight 0.14): Some users feel that the app should be free and that it is not worth the current price of 13 euros.
- Check device compatibility (weight 0.08): It's important to check your VR device model before purchasing to ensure compatibility.
- Great for VR movies (weight 0.08): The software is highly recommended for watching VR movies.
- PC version for mod environments (weight 0.08): The PC version is recommended for those interested in workshop mod environments.
- Use other media players (weight 0.07): For 360 videos and photos, some users recommend using other media players.

Other player notes:
- Use Firefox to avoid DRM issues (weight 0.09): Players recommend using Mozilla Firefox instead of Chrome to prevent DRM blockage problems.
- Join communities for help (weight 0.08): Some players suggest joining Discord or Reddit communities for additional help and support.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.29): Players are satisfied with Virtual Desktop due to its strong performance in watching 3D movies and playing games, especially on the Quest headset. The software's high video quality, lack of framerate drops, and developer responsiveness also contribute to this positive experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Users are frustrated with Virtual Desktop due to various issues such as poor functionality, usability problems, and constant connection issues. Specific frustrations include the software not working with certain controllers, audio issues, and lack of updates and support.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): Disappointment stems from Virtual Desktop's incompatibility with certain headsets and its limited functionality compared to alternatives. Users also feel let down by the lack of updates, unresolved bugs, and missing features, particularly in the Steam version.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Players are excited about the unique and versatile experiences offered by Virtual Desktop, such as watching movies on a giant screen and playing games like Switch Pokemon. The futuristic experience of using a virtual monitor in VR also adds to this excitement.
- Anger (weight 0.05): Anger is directed towards the developers due to their abandonment of the software and aggressive responses to negative reviews. Users are also angry about having to repurchase the app and facing bans from the developer.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Users are frustrated with Virtual Desktop due to crashing issues, buggy performance, and lack of support for older operating systems like Windows 7.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Users express awe due to the immersive experiences provided by Virtual Desktop, enhancing their VR interactions.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is derived from the overall positive experience with Virtual Desktop's performance and features, meeting or exceeding user expectations.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Users are excited about the overall experience and features of Virtual Desktop, finding it innovative and enjoyable for various VR activities.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Disappointment arises from the lack of support for Vive controllers, limiting the functionality and user experience for some players.}