How VR Is Changing Gaming

Over the years, the gaming industry has seen some revolutionary changes. In just under fifty years, video games have evolved exponentially, transforming from 8-bit graphics to fully rendered three-dimensional (3-D) experiences.   

Today, the industry is worth over $100 billion, with revenue expected to grow to nearly $200 billion by 2021.   

The continued evolution of video games shows no sign of letting up with the emerging technology of virtual reality (VR). VR is the latest technology influencing the gaming industry. The interactive gaming experience provided by virtual reality gaming is incomparable to any other gaming technology.  

From mobile gaming and gaming consoles to VR amusement parks, the potential of virtual reality is seemingly limitless.   

What is virtual reality gaming? 

VR gaming takes the application of 3D environments and interactive software to create a 360-degree, first-person perspective gaming experience. To create this simulated environment, a head-mounted display (HMD) works in concert with motion-sensing controllers and motion-tracking technology.   

The artificial imaginary environment the player experiences is controlled by the movement of the player’s body.   

Recent innovations make use of state-of-the-art technology to improve the immersion experience. This addresses earlier problems associated with the virtual reality experience such as motion sickness and the VR “hangover,” or the mixed sensory signals the brain perceives from the VR world.  

A new level of immersion   

VR gaming requires certain prerequisites to perfectly simulate a three-dimensional immersive experience.   

HMDs must have a stereoscopic display that simulates depth. Two autofocus lenses in front of the eyes eliminate any external visual information. Any visual interaction with the real world can impact the immersive 3D experience. A certain amount of frame rate and refresh rate are required to avoid motion sickness.   

While each headset has different specifications regarding frame rate and refresh rate, a frame rate of at least 60 frames per second (FPS) needs to be achieved. Further, your frame rate should match your monitor’s refresh rate to avoid any loss of frames.   

Field of view (FOV) is also essential to how a player perceives the virtual environment.   

Because the immersive experience should transport the player into a virtual world, a minimum 100-degree FOV is required, although the ideal FOV is 180 degrees and 270 degrees with eye movements to avoid vision imperfection.   

Other elements that can impact the VR gaming experience include latency (the average total time it takes a screen to respond to action) and sound effects. Missing any of these elements, particularly frame rate, FOV, and latency, can cause disorientation and motion sickness.    

Types of VR games 

Despite being an emerging gaming platform, VR gaming already boasts an extensive catalog of games.   

Every year, more games and new content are pushing the boundaries of VR gaming. VR game developers are also tapping into the mobile market, taking advantage of the improved computing performance of the latest smartphones.   

The following is a list of the most popular gaming genres players can explore to test the virtual waters. 

First-person shooters 

Ranked as one of the most popular gaming genres, first-person shooters (FPS) are fast-paced and deliver nonstop action. Unsurprisingly, FPS games make ideal VR games due to the absorbing experience brought on by the first-person perspective.   

Unlike traditional controllers with require your thumbs to control movement and in-game interaction, first-person VR shooters rely on special controllers to move the player and interact with objects in the game.   

Notable immersive shooters to explore include Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope, Number Hunt, Ground Runner: Trials, and Robo Recall. 

Racing games 

Few genres are as adrenaline-inducing, thrilling, and as visceral as racing simulation games. Racing franchises like Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo celebrate realism and accurate simulation.   

VR racing games put players into the driver’s seat, allowing them to have a tactile experience.  

Games like Project Cars 2, Assetto Corsa Competizione, and DiRT Rally are highly praised for their presentation and control schemes. These types of racing games immerse players in exhilarating virtual worlds that come complete faithfully recreated detailed cockpits.   

When it comes to a true-to-life gaming experience, few are as compelling as VR racing games. 

Adventure games 

The sheer breadth of content found in adventure games is what continues to generate excitement for this genre. Action-adventure games are the newest niche in this genre, incorporating the fast-paced mechanics of action elements while supporting storytelling exploration.  

The open sandbox world of astounding titles like Skyrim VR shows off this technology’s explorative strengths. They offer an unparalleled virtual reality experience, bringing to life a completely open world that players can choose how to explore it at their own pace. 

Sports games 

Sports games are a heavyweight genre that allows players to channel their inner athlete and simulate their hopes and dreams of taking that final goal or sinking a buzzer-beater. VR adds a more enhanced sense of realism to an already immersive gaming experience.   

Sports VR games differ from other genres in that they encourage players to be more physically involved.   

A game like VR Sports Challenge provides players with immersive, full-body gaming experience. Physicality is rewarded as players are required to move to enable game mechanics to make the perfect play.   

New experiences in VR gaming 

While these game genres provide an exciting new medium for players to experience, they are still limiting.  

Take FPS VR games for example. Despite the use of special controllers, the aspect of movement is still a major obstacle. A conventional living room only has so much physical space. 

To address the limitation of physical space, new immersive virtual reality destinations have popped up in cities like Dubai, Anaheim, Seoul, and Tokyo. These VR theme parks have settings that map a virtual world over physical space, allowing players to interact with a walkable VR world. 

In a broad sense, these VR theme parks are removed from the traditional park idea. Rather, they compete with other location-based entertainment like escape rooms or laser tag. The differentiating factor of these virtual reality spaces though is the hyper-reality experience. 

The hyper-reality experience brought on by these immersive location-based VR experiences combines virtual and physical spaces, allowing players to walk through physically connected spaces as they interact with the virtual world around them. 

These free-roaming virtual reality experiences are discovering a new reality for VR gaming. The interactive virtual elements hidden throughout the physical space encourage interactivity and demand the player to explore the physical set around them.   

The exciting future of VR gaming is here 

Virtual reality is rapidly transforming the gaming sector with a fast growth rate. Virtual reality in gaming is becoming more accessible, allowing players to take their gaming experience to a whole new realm.  

As VR technology continues to advance, it will open new opportunities in the gaming industry. For players looking to experience a new type of gameplay, virtual reality represents the future of interactive experiences — a true game-changer.