One of the biggest, most important innovations in the gaming industry is virtual reality. Put simply, this is where you’re immersed in a fully digital world by wearing a helmet with screens on the inside.
The aim of virtual reality is to make you feel as if you’re in a virtual world. You’re fully aware that you’re playing a video game, of course, but developers try their best to make you feel as if you’re not in a video game.
What Are Digital Spaces?
Firstly, what exactly are digital spaces, and how are they defined? There are two main definitions of this term you’ll come across:
- The broader term ‘digital space’ refers to any computer-generated environment you see on screens. Whenever you view something on a phone or computer, you view content in a digital space.
- The more specific term ‘digital space’ points to a ‘place’ online where people can socialize, engage with content and produce their own. It’s meant to mimic a real-world place to some degree while offering the benefits of being digital.
Throughout this article, we’ll look at virtual reality for gaming in general, and one particularly large digital space is planning on integrating it.
Virtual Reality for Online Gaming
Virtual reality is defined as computer-generated simulations of 3D imagery that are meant to replicate a real-world environment. It’s designed in such a way that people can interact with it using special equipment (i.e. a virtual reality helmet) in a way that seems natural and lifelike. Lots of video games incorporate this. Wearing a special helmet with an interior screen, players are transported to an astonishingly real digital realm.
The online gambling industry has also begun making use of virtual reality. There are several virtual reality casinos that players can access through the use of a helmet. The VR casino is designed to look exactly like a typical land-based one. You can walk about and play any of the available games. Just like real and online casinos, there are bonuses you can claim at VR casinos. Check them out on slotozilla.com/ca to get a taste of casino bonus offers.
What’s So Good About Virtual Reality Gaming?
Virtual reality gaming is much more enjoyable than regular gaming for many players. This is because of the immersion factor.
- When you play a standard video game, the graphics and sound effects may be realistic and top-quality, but ultimately, you’re staring at a flat 2D screen. With virtual reality gaming, it’s different.
- The images are projected so that the video game imagery isn’t flat; instead, it’s 3D and all around you.
- While wearing a virtual reality helmet, you can explore a digital world in an impossible way with a gaming console.
- Plus, you don’t have to keep hitting buttons to do things because your movements and actions dictate a lot of what your in-game virtual reality character does.
Everything you do - from walking about to moving your hands and arms - is translated in real-time so that your character does the same actions simultaneously.
The Metaverse
There’s been a lot of talk about the Metaverse over the last few years. This is a prime example of a digital space that will incorporate virtual reality. It’s planned to be a massive, interconnected online environment where users can interact with one another through virtual reality and perform a wide range of tasks.
It’s essentially like a large video game world, but they're actual people instead of the other characters you see being computer-generated. Another way to see it is as a 3D version of the Internet. While in the Metaverse, you can socialize with others, go shopping and work - all of which you can easily do online. Gaming is also possible within this digital realm.
No launch date has been revealed for the Metaverse. When it comes online, it will probably be the single biggest digital space ever created. It will be accessible both with and without VR helmets. Undoubtedly, many who enjoy VR gaming will want to use their helmets to experience the Metaverse as a fully realized 3D digital environment.
Video Games That Support VR
We’ve talked about how some online casinos have a virtual reality version and how the Metaverse will be a huge digital space that offers virtual reality gaming. It’s also worth discussing video games themselves. Quite a few of them are getting virtual reality-compatible mods you can play with a helmet or headset.
With these, you can experience the game like never before, thanks to the added depth and detail that come with VR. Gamers often find that virtual reality environments they experience in 3D are much more breathtaking, captivating and awe-inspiring than the 2D ones they see on TV screens. Some top-tier games that can be experienced in virtual reality alongside regular, real-world gameplay include Skyrim, Minecraft, Iron Man VR and The Solus Project.
Does VR Have Any Downsides?
Virtual reality has been in the works for decades, though it’s only begun taking off and becoming popular in the last decade. While it offers an incredible gaming experience, the main factor that holds it back from becoming widespread is the cost of the equipment. Having said that, there’s a good chance that prices will go down as developers work to make it more approachable for the masses.
There’s also the experience of VR itself. While it sounds amazing, it’s not something that appeals to everyone. Some people who enjoy gaming don’t like being fully immersed in a digital world, wearing a helmet and having digital images projected at them for however long they play games.
Concerns have also been raised about the physical effects of virtual reality. Dizziness and nausea are potential side effects of wearing virtual reality helmets. There’s also eye strain from the huge amount of digital imagery your eyes are exposed to and the lack of distance between your eyes and the screen.
Summary
Virtual reality takes the gaming experience to the next level. It offers players a much more immersive, realistic and engaging way to enjoy games. Traditional, real-world gaming with consoles will no doubt always reign supreme, but there’s clearly a lot of room and demand for virtual reality games. What’s great about VR is that it has a huge amount of potential growth. There’s no telling where it will take the gaming world or how common it will become.
Many Canadians already enjoy playing virtual reality games. There’s no doubt that as this type of gaming becomes more affordable and accessible, a growing number of people will have the opportunity to benefit from it. We could see more and more online environments like the Metaverse offering both traditional video gaming and virtual reality gaming to satisfy gamers after VR games.
