How Will Virtual Reality Affect the Gaming World? 

From systems that were never made public to others that held out a glimmer of hope for the future. We are currently on the verge of a monumental advancement in VR technology. 

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that is currently undergoing a rebirth. Developers hope to use software advancements to create a more appealing and realistic VR product; however, it remains to be seen what impact this will have on the gaming industry. 

What Started It All 

The concept of virtual reality was first introduced to the general public in 1935, when author Stanley G. Weinbaum published a short story titled “Pygmalion’s Spectacles.” For the first time, the author toyed with the idea of virtual reality goggles capable of displaying holographic images of fiction in this story. Only 27 years later, in 1967, did the Sensorama, invented and patented by the inventive cinematographer Morton Heilig, bring this vision one step closer to reality. This was the year that the concept moved one step closer to becoming a reality. 

The Sensorama was a massive arcade-style machine that gave users the impression that they were riding a motorcycle through the streets of Brooklyn, New York City. In order to produce an accurate representation of the experience, the machine contained a number of mechanisms that allowed users to sense the wind in the air and the smells of their surroundings. The SEGA VR headset was never a huge success in the way that was expected. 

The First Wave of Virtual Reality Gaming 

There were many years before virtual reality (VR) became a field that developers pursued. The gaming industry took the initiative and set out to develop virtual reality technology with the goal of making it available to computer game users. In 1991, SEGA released the first VR headset for use with the Mega Drive computer platform. The incorporation of LCD panels and stereo headphones with surround sound in the headgear elevated virtual reality technology to a whole new level. As a result, there has been a significant increase in interest in virtual reality technology being used in the mainstream market once again. 

Unfortunately, as time passed, the quality of virtual reality headsets came under fire because they did not provide the level of realism that players required. Virtual Reality (VR) technology has been chastised for giving gamers headaches and appearing a little too artificial for it to catch on. This was due primarily to the poor visuals and cumbersome headpiece that came with it. 

Virtual Reality Gaming’s Second Coming 

Another couple of decades passed, and virtual reality did not truly enter the public consciousness in any other way than through science fiction television shows like Star Trek and Red Dwarf. For a while, the idea of using it for gaming was pushed to the sidelines, but in 2007, Google released Street View, which brought the issue back to the forefront of everyone’s minds. 

With the release of the Oculus Rift, virtual reality technologies entered a new era

People were able to navigate through the streets and landscapes of various parts of the world using Google Street View, which was made possible by a camera that captured all of these locations from four different angles. It was a type of virtual reality (VR) that had made its way back into the public eye. A number of companies, including Nintendo, Oculus, and Virtuix Omni, have filed patent applications for novel virtual reality (VR) technologies. Vendetta Online, released in 2013 by the software company Guild Software, was the first computer game title to make use of the new era of virtual reality technology. This was accomplished by making the game compatible with the Oculus Rift headset, allowing the game to reach a larger audience. 

Since then, a number of remarkable events related to virtual reality technology have occurred. In 2014, Facebook decided to purchase Oculus for a total of $2 billion. HTC and Valve Corporation collaborated in 2015 to launch the Vive virtual reality headset. It was reported in the second quarter of 2016 that developer Mojang had made their popular Minecraft title compatible with the Gear VR. 

Extending the Spectrum of Virtual Reality 

The current question being asked is how far virtual reality technology can be developed. Jaunt VR has been successful in releasing footage of live music artists such as Paul McCartney and Jack White in order to give users of its virtual reality technology the impression that they are actually present at the concert. As a result, it is now being proposed that this strategy be expanded to include things like participating in historically significant sporting events or even something as close to home as gambling in casinos. 

Live dealer casino games can help bridge the gap between traditional casino games and fully immersive virtual reality casino games

The introduction of live casino technology signaled the beginning of a new era in both online and mobile gambling. However, if it were possible to replicate not only the visual components of a casino, but also other sensory pleasures such as smell and touch from the comfort of a player’s own home on any device, this would be a far more appealing option. Then it would truly usher in a new era of mobile and online casino game innovation. 

What Effects Will Virtual Reality (VR) Technology Have on Gaming in the Future? 

Although the phrase “the sky’s the limit” is overused, it accurately describes the potential of virtual reality technology in gaming. Advances in both the social and internet aspects of gaming have occurred in recent years, implying that the foundation is now in place to support the growth of VR technology. Virtual reality’s potential can be realized thanks to the advancement of open world gaming environments, realistic graphics, and high-quality recording technologies. 

The virtual reality (VR) gaming industry is currently undergoing a massive renaissance, and the amount of money invested in VR gaming in recent years is almost certain to increase. This indicates that exciting times are ahead for VR technology in the gaming industry. However, there are a number of challenges that must be overcome.