Virtual reality is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting pieces of new technology in the gaming universe – you simply cannot argue with that! Humans have been experimenting with virtual reality technology for much longer than you think, with the audience in the early days of cinema reacting to footage of a train appearing to head straight at them, for example.
But virtual reality has evolved considerably over the past few decades, with new technology making it far more accessible to experience. Gaming software providers have also started designing their games with virtual reality in mind, creating a fertile gaming environment that is increasingly bringing in new players.
From the live dealer games pioneered by software developers like Evolution to Nintendo’s new Labo concept and Google Earth VR, there is absolutely no shortage of stellar virtual reality options in the current online gaming climate. Want to know more about this fascinating area? Keep reading for the lowdown – we’ll explore the virtual reality basics, some of the most popular examples at the moment and the benefits of playing virtual reality games.
What is virtual reality?
First things first – what is virtual reality? In essence, virtual reality technology creates fully immersive 3D realities that fundamentally replace your everyday world. This is most often experienced with headsets such as the Oculus Rift, which users place over their eyes. They also have motion sensitive controllers to replicate your real-life hand movements in this alternative reality. As a result, you can move around and interact with virtual objects in the same way you would in a normal world.
This is the basic premise, although virtual reality doesn’t have to be limited to just this definition. Many people argue that anything approximating virtual reality can be deemed as VR, even if it doesn’t reach the same level of immersive reality. For example, live dealer casino games and MMORPG titles can pose similar levels of fake reality.
A history of virtual reality
As mentioned in the introduction, humans have long been attempting to create virtual reality alternatives, even since the Ancient Greek era. Nevertheless, the required technology to promote the concept wasn’t nearly sufficiently advanced. In Shakespearean times, it was common for audiences to be doused in water during rainy scenes or be subjected to foul odors. Nevertheless, this still wasn’t true virtual reality.
To get to the true beginnings of modern virtual reality, we must go back to the mid-20th century, when scientists such as Ivan Sutherland created headsets like the Sword of Damocles. In the 1980s, NASA experimented widely with virtual reality technology, but it wasn’t until the 2000s that commercially available technology became available.
Examples of virtual reality integration with online games
That’s a brief breakdown of virtual reality and its history out of the way. Now, let’s take a moment to explore some of the main areas where virtual reality has been properly integrated with online games.
Nintendo Labo
The Nintendo Labo recently received a very exciting new VR kit in yet another example of the Japanese company’s forward-thinking nature. While aimed at kids rather than traditional gamers, it still offers an immersive and simplified version of tech like the Oculus Rift headset.
Live dealer casino
Live dealer casino games have surged in popularity over the past decade, with software providers such as Evolution providing a steady supply of exceptionally designed options. While these titles aren’t true virtual reality, they offer gamblers a live-streamed croupier, bringing an immersive take on traditional online casino gaming.
In addition to the dealer, there are a number of differentiating factors on a live-dealer roulette table. Firstly – and likely most important – is the type of roulette on offer. European roulette is the more popular option for many, as it includes only one green space (a ‘0’) as opposed to two green spaces (‘0’ and ‘00’), thereby increasing the odds of a red/black bet win. Another example is the roulette table limit – this can affect the viability of strategies like the Martingale.
Google Earth VR
Google Earth VR is a fascinating way to explore the world with the Oculus Rift headset. If you thought the regular Google Earth was fun, just wait until you try the VR version. Players can descend on millions of global locations and explore as if they were there in real life. It’s one of our favorite uses of virtual reality integration and truly never gets old.
Benefits of playing virtual reality games
Are you wondering what the benefits of playing virtual reality games are? The technology is still fairly new, so many gamers may not know what they’re missing out on. Here are some of the main advantages:
- Virtual reality games offer a completely immersive gameplay environment.
- Virtual reality games bring unmatched realism you cannot get from regular games.
- Virtual reality games can help you enhance various skills in real life.
