Gaming technology is evolving at a rate of knots, and yet it still seems that virtual reality (VR), despite all the hype and promises from designers and developers, has not lived up to expectations.
Virtual reality has been well bigged up since as long ago as the 1980s, so you’d think that some 40 years later, technology would have advanced enough to be able to offer us a user experience that is beyond fantastic? Well, apparently not. Where it exists, content is more often than not unimaginative and weak and of very low quality compared to what we are used to seeing on our computer screens. And just how many people are using it?
Prolific gamers have been longing for an all-encompassing, fully immersive gaming experience where you get the chance to feel as though you are actually IN the game. Imagine a game like Resident Evil in full VR? Ever since the days of Tron, we’ve been expecting big things from developers, especially since Facebook (Meta) bought Oculus in 2014 for $2billion and released the Rift, the first VR headset. In addition, Sony released their PlayStation VR, and HTC released the Vive with a whole lot of empty promises. We were expecting an “out of this world,” fully immersive gaming experience – but we got awkward gameplay, poor visuals, and heavy, uncomfortable headsets that mess up our hair and smudge our make-up.
Of course, all of these products have a place in the virtual reality market, but they all leave us asking one question… is virtual reality a genuinely sought-after gaming method, or is it all just a gimmick? PlayStation VR and the Vive rely on your gaming machines and are commonly wired and console/PC driven, although the Oculus Quest, which was released back in 2020, is as VR as it gets at the moment. It is stand-alone, giving you the freedom to move around at will without being tethered to your console.
Why Hasn’t VR Caught On?
One of the main reasons VR hasn’t caught on is probably the price, with headsets alone setting you back at least $300. Then there’s the fact that the headsets are heavy, uncomfortable, and cumbersome and can leave you with a headache and feeling disorientated after just a few minutes.
iGaming, especially in the form of online casinos, is ordinarily the first to jump on board with new technology, yet when it comes to virtual reality, the sector has been hesitant. There are some options, like VR versions of the Avalon or Dead or Alive 2 slot games.
But it all seems very much in the embryonic stage, and iGaming players are still opting instead to play at online casinos with dealers at live tables so they can play games such as poker, baccarat, and blackjack. At this stage, it looks like developers have swept plans of an all-singing, all-dancing virtual reality casino under the carpet and have quietly put their VR casino plans on ice due to a lack of interest from players.
Are all VR Games Bad?
Don’t get us wrong; there are a couple of good virtual reality games, such as Valve’s Half-Life: Alyx, a virtual reality, first-person shooter released in 2020 for Linux and Windows and supports most PC-compatible VR headsets. If there is one game that makes owning a VR headset worth it, then this is it, with its fully immersive gameplay, fantastic graphics, and excellent narrative.
Users also report simulation titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator can be amazing on VR if your computer system is up to the task.
The Reality?
The crux of the matter is that virtual reality gaming is a vicious circle and suffers from a chicken and egg dilemma. To access the content, you need a headset. But if the content is rubbish and not worth seeing, then what’s the point in buying the expensive hardware? Developers have been somewhat reluctant to create content for what is still very much a niche market, and gamers are understandably wary of paying 100’s of dollars for something that is going to sit on top of the closet gathering dust.
VR headsets and content have largely been marketed towards the gamers out there – even Apple is releasing a headset – but there is one problem that developers take into account – they don’t want it. Newly released games already have incredible graphics, and gamers have decided that VR simply doesn’t offer them enough in terms of gameplay or value to be worth investing in.
The Bottom Line
Just because VR hasn’t metamorphosized into the ubiquitous tech we were led to believe it would be, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no place for it. Game developers are still creating new titles for the market, so they still have some faith clearly, and there may still come the point in the future when there is enough GOOD content for a higher percent of gamers to start buying it. If truth be told, the possibilities for virtual reality are endless, and the only limitation is undoubtedly our own imagination.
