AltspaceVR 101: “2D Mode” on PC (Classic Mode)

How to move around in AltspaceVR on the PC like a pro gamer!

Welcome PC newbie! Let’s level up those movement skills so you can keep up with all of your cool friends who have actual VR and are totally better than you. Don’t argue you know it’s true, get with the times. Don’t feel bad though, moving around in Altspace in 2D mode can be very confusing at first even for seasoned gamers so just read onward and we’ll get you moving like a pro!

First Adjust Your Settings

1️⃣ Open your Main Menu to the SETTINGS tab and turn on the first two options to open up a lot more worlds to explore:
✅ Participate in Early Access Program
✅ Enable Worlds Beta

2️⃣ On the left menu sections select COMFORT and adjust your Teleport Transition to “Dash” — turning options are for 3D VR users. Moving on!

3️⃣ Inside the INPUT section make sure Classic PC controls is turned ON. The default control scheme is just confusing and awkward, classic controls make it feel more like natural gameplay. Not sure why they ever changed it.

A quick note here in the INPUT section you will see Fly which may or may not be enabled per world. This is almost always desired to be ON but turns back off upon every world visit so you will always have to check this option per world then turn it on each time. I will cover flying around in a section below.

4️⃣ Select DISPLAY next and in this section the only thing you really need to worry about is switching Render Mode back to “Windowed” so Altspace doesn’t take over your entire screen with no way of minimizing or moving it.

🏆 That’s all for settings! Close your menu and read onward to learn how to walk, run, look, fly, and basically explore this world.

HOW TO: Move Your Avatar

1️⃣ TELEPORTATION

Teleporting is the method of moving to a specific point very quickly. The way to teleport is to click your Left Mouse Button when your cursor is where you want to go. Some surfaces do not allow you to teleport onto them. You can tell by holding the Left Mouse Button down without letting go while you point around at surfaces — if you see a small circle around the cursor you are OK to teleport to that location.

2️⃣ WALKING

I have four letters for you: W, A, S, D. Find them on your keyboard and learn this grouping. These are the keys most often assigned to first-person game movements. Rest your left hand’s ring-middle-index fingers on the A-S-D keys with your little finger on the Shift key and your thumb on the Space Bar. This will be your default resting position, usually only having to move your middle finger a bit from the S key upwards to the W key.

• Pressing W and S moves your avatar forward and back respectively.
• Pressing A and D moves your avatar left and right respectively.
• You can also press one of each grouping together to move diagonally.
• Holding Shift while walking will cause you to move a bit faster.
• Pressing Q and E will rotate your avatar left and right respectively, but there is an easier way to look around with the mouse below.

HOW TO: Easily Turn and Look Around

1️⃣ LOOKING

Clicking and holding the Right Mouse Button will cause your head to turn and look around in all directions as you move the mouse. Simply releasing the mouse button will stop you from looking around and free up the cursor to be used to teleport and open menus.

2️⃣ STRAFING

While moving with the W-A-S-D keys, hold the Right Mouse Button and look around. Doing this is known as strafing in many games and will give you a more natural and fluid movement through the world. It’s an effortless way to steer your avatar while it moves around. Try moving side to side and turning to circle around and focus on a single object. For an extra challenge try all of that while holding the Shift key to move even quicker! That’s pro movement!

HOW TO: Fly

As mentioned above, the first step when you enter a world is to check if flight is enabled by opening your Main Menu, going to INPUT on the left, and switching on the Fly option.

Flying is now as simple as moving forward or backward with the W and S keys while you use the Right Mouse Button to look up and down. It may take a moment to get used to it but it becomes natural and quite easy very quickly.

Caveats of Using 2D Mode

1️⃣ SLOWER FLIGHT SPEED

VR headset users have access to something called a Flight Tool which allows them to fly at incredibly fast speeds. Because no such tool exists for 2D mode, PC flight speed is limited to what basically amounts to running in the air.

2️⃣ LIMITED MOVEMENTS

Another advantage VR users have over PC users is the ability to stick their heads and hands through walls to teleport to other side. 2D mode users have no access to their hands and are unable to move their heads through walls so essentially are limited to moving where the world geometry allows.

3️⃣ LESS IMMERSIVE

While playing on PC can still be very fun and rewarding with plenty to see and many people to talk to, do yourself a huge favor and purchase some kind of VR headset. The Oculus Quest is wireless, affordable, and really puts you into the action in a way you have to see to believe. I was a PC user for months and even built worlds from PC but when I was able to actually walk around and explore them from within my entire perspective and approach changed and it was truly amazing. You will have to learn new movement controls however, so come back for that tutorial when you’re ready!

Congratulations, by now you should have a basic grasp of the full range of movements possible in 2D mode. Go get em, tiger!