What better way to enjoy video games than to be completely immersed in them using Virtual Reality? This article explores the concept of Virtual Reality and its future in the video gaming industry.
Virtual reality technology can be used for a variety of purposes, including entertainment, education, healthcare, and even in video gaming. However, before we delve deeper to see how this technology is the future for video gaming, let us first take a look at what virtual reality means and how it came about.
The History of Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual Reality refers to an environment generated by technology, plainly computerized; this environment is a virtual world that gives the user a sense of immersion. Normally, this is accomplished through the use of VR glasses or helmets.
Historically, Virtual Reality debuted around 1935. Stanley G. Weinbaum, a science fiction writer, wrote the first specific allusion to Virtual Reality glasses in his short tale “The Glasses of Pygmalion”.
The storyline centers around an invention which allow the user to travel to other planets and places using glasses.
Morton Heiling, the pioneer of Virtual Reality, produced the first Virtual Reality googles in the 1960s. This cinematographer and inventor built the Sensorama in 1962, a gadget that enabled the user to enjoy multimodal experiences.
His latest invention, a portable stereoscopic television set for individual use, was designed to be worn on the user’s head, and thus ushered in the era of Virtual Reality.
Despite the fact that this Virtual Reality headgear appears to be very basic at the time, the concept was already quite similar to modern technology, and so they are considered the first Virtual Reality glasses in history.
However, the growth of new science occurred in the 1980s, thanks to Jaron Lanier, a pioneer in this subject. In the early 1990s, Sega got interested in Virtual Reality, even declaring Sega VR, which was never released.
In 1995, Nintendo unveiled the Virtual Boy, which was a complete failure. There was a sudden standstill until 2010 when Palmer Luckey invented the Oculus Rift, which was later introduced in 2012.
Ever since, Virtual Reality has been employed in a variety of fields, including automotive, health care, education, space exploration, and, most importantly, video gaming.
The Evolution of Video Gaming
In the world of video gaming, technical advancement has left a trail of misconceptions and fallacies.
With the introduction of new consoles, more complicated games, and internet modes, gaming has evolved from a form of entertainment, amusement, or leisure to an activity with a significant impact on popular culture.
In the 1980s, technological advancements made it possible for video games to more closely resemble their real-world counterparts. As a result, developers were able to personalize the console by including accessories such as steering wheels.
These early games, with their 2D graphics, established the groundwork for modern video games.
In most video games released throughout the 1990s, 3D graphics quickly became the industry standard. This improves the graphics and gameplay, thereby garnering more fans.
Since the 1990s, video games have evolved and adopted modern technologies such as motion control and online play. Recently, VR-enabled 4D environments have enabled players to step into the shoes of their favorite characters, offering a more realistic experience.
Relationship between Virtual Reality and video gaming
Virtual Reality is a hot topic in the world of video gaming, promising a completely immersive and high-definition experience like none other.
In addition, there is a wide range of VR experiences that allow the user to engage with digital surroundings through compatible devices, from immersive YouTube videos to virtual roller coasters to pastimes like playing Minecraft in Virtual Reality.
The development of Virtual Reality devices such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR has sparked tremendous interest in Virtual Reality’s possibilities in the gaming business.
The explanation is obvious: the level of immersion provided by this technology enhances the player’s experience significantly.
The player feels as if he is in a completely different universe, complete with depth, 360º view, and all of the interaction possibilities that physical reality provides, such as picking up objects, hurling them, twisting them, or leaving them somewhere else.
The game, social behavior, and new technologies are all strongly intertwined. This synergy has the potential to change the way we behave, perceive circumstances, and widen our horizons.
Our thoughts are continually pushed and challenged by new techniques, which enables game designers to create fresh gaming experiences. Early adoption of technology, experimentation with it, and mixing it with the existing social phenomenon and conceptual frameworks create new chances in the gaming sector.
Video games are certainly the greatest strength of Virtual Reality at the moment, with thousands of games leveraging this capability every year, regardless of their nature.
Technically, this is not a new technology because VR and VR gaming have been around for a while, but we are now in a position where it is evident that VR games are a viable medium and are here to stay.
Future Prediction for Virtual Reality in Gaming
Furthermore, Virtual Reality is capable of not only entertaining us but also bringing our dreams and memories to life. The issue remains, though, if it has a future in the realm of video gaming.
However, the video game industry continues to gamble on Virtual Reality. Global revenue from this sector exceeded $115 billion in 2020, a significant rise from $5.2 billion in 2016.
Furthermore, Grand View Research predicts that the global VR industry would reach $87.0 billion by 2030. In the coming years, PC and console games will continue to play an important role in the market.
However, the development of Virtual Reality (VR) games is becoming more popular, and this trend is unlikely to alter very soon.
With more headsets being supplied than ever before, constantly advancing technology, and rising interest, Virtual Reality entertainment is in high demand. Future video games will be more complicated, with more personalization and environment.
Also with advancements in artificial intelligence, high-definition graphics, digital image processing, sensors, 3D design, and new types of the human-console interface, there will be an increasing immersion and realism of video games.
With Facebook’s new metaverse and the development of new VR tools, it’s possible to imagine Virtual Reality becoming a popular form of entertainment and offering gaming experiences unimaginable today and in the future.
Conclusion
From the data presented in this article, based on the rapid growth of Virtual Reality and its wide adoption in the gaming industry, we are confident that technological advancement will make VR the future of gaming and in turn improve revenue generation in the gaming industry.
