While several industry sectors faced operational challenges due to the stringent lockdowns during the covid-19 pandemic, one (relatively new) industry emerged strong.
The gaming industry, that has grown tremendously over the last few years, saw an interesting surge since the pandemic hit the world. Studies show that it is the integration of technologies, such as virtual reality, with games have helped in creating a larger-than-life experience for gamers.
This amalgamation of a three-dimensional (3-D) artificial environment with computer games is together known as virtual reality (VR) gaming.
How does a VR game look like?
A VR game is a module which allows the users to perform the gaming activity under a 3D-based interactive setup. VR headgears, VR rooms with wearable technology, and sensory elements including scents and haptics devices for tactile feedback are some accessories that enable users to experience VR games.
To control VR gaming, a standard keyboard, mouse, or games console can be used.
Some of the established names in VR headsets manufacturing include:
Majority of these companies provide products with motion-sensing controllers and a tracker that works with the headset. Some are designed to be used in a stationary position, while others are geared to be used in a room-scale VR environment.
Interestingly, VR games can be used for many forms of training and virtual reality therapy in addition to amusement.
Market Overview of the VR Gaming Industry
On a global scale, augmented reality and virtual reality technologies continue to grow in popularity and profitability. The widespread rise of the worldwide AR and VR market is due to the ubiquitous availability of smartphones and tablet computers, high mobility and adaptability, growing interest from significant-tech businesses, and technological advancement.
According to a study from BIS Research, the digital gaming market is expected to develop at rapid pace in the coming years. This growth rate accelerated due to rising consumer awareness of these technologies, widespread acceptance of AR and VR in multiple industry verticals, and the merging of AR and VR to create a mixed-reality for future applications.
Virtual Reality Features
Some of the main features of virtual reality that adds advantage to the technology are:
Environment continuity: The user experiences a consistent environment in all directions. It does not create a disrupted view in between.
Conformance to human vision: To put it simply, a football should look of the same size in VR as in the real world. Visual content must comply with features that allow humans to perceive objects in VR as per their understanding of size and distance.
Freedom of movement: The user must be able to move freely within the limits of the environment. This capability can be attained in room-scale VR and dedicated VR rooms. Stationary VR requires complex technology, and sitting VR is unattainable. The user can move around the field freely without any restrictions.
Physical interaction: Users will be able to engage with virtual items in the same way they behave with real-world objects. Data gloves, for example, can allow the user to interact with objects in a natural way, such as hitting a ball, crashing a car, picking up a racket, or performing actions like running or dodging.
Sensory feedback: Haptic feedback should be provided to the user to simulate the sense of real-world interaction. For example, when a user hits a ball, they are not only replicating the movement but also experiencing the sensation of holding the object in their hand.
Contextual interaction: The user must control the narrative's flow. Cues in the surroundings should lead the user to make intriguing developments. The behavior of the user must have circumstantial movements. For example, if the ball is kicked toward the goal, it should move in the same direction.
3D sound: VR systems must reconstruct the natural positioning of sounds relative to people and objects in the environment. The user's head is then; truly immersed. If a car crashes, it should replicate the sounds of that incident.
To conclude, the gaming industry will progress altogether with the new elements. The games will provide an immersive experience as in the real-life. Similarly, AI and VR will have a significant impact on all the other industries.
