VR gaming has turned a dream into a reality by providing an immersive and interactive experience that is opposite to traditional gaming systems. There is a spike in Emotional investment, physical activity, and hands-on engagement of the VR gaming players that was not seen before.
Virtual reality gaming provides a unique, interactive, and engaging experience to its users. It is an escape from the real world. It transports the player into a 3D fantasy world having different environments and situations, unlike traditional gaming by wearing headsets like Oculus Quest 2 (now Meta Quest 2), HTC Vive, and Valve Index. It is enough to blur the boundaries between reality and fantasy. A sense of presence and life-like interactions can be made by using VR gaming.
Core element of VR Gaming:
- Headsets are one of the essentials that enhance the experience of VR gaming. The player’s eyes and ears are covered by the headset which also makes it the core of VR gaming as the sense of sight and hearing are manipulated by it and the sudo world is as real as the real world which enables the players to even interact with the virtual characters physically.
- Controllers are required to interact with the virtual world and special hand-tracking devices or motion controllers aid players. Hands movements of players are translated into the actions in the virtual world like holding an object, drawing a weapon, or shooting an enemy.
- Sensors and cameras are used externally in many VR systems to track the exact movement of the player along with the controllers. It helps in navigating physical actions with better precision like walking, taking turns, or crouching.
Variety in VR Games:
- VR Games and First-Person Shooter (FPS): These games not only transport players into a completely different environment but also allow players to turn into a character and from their perspective they can get their hands on the shooting mechanism. Pavlov VR, Arizona Sunshine, and Half-Life: Alyx are some FPS VR games.
- Thrill and Exploration: Undertaking quests, solving puzzles, and exploring new worlds are done in these games; mostly there is a backstory that unfolds as the levels of the game increase. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, No Man’s Sky VR, and Star Wars: Squadrons are the primary game examples.
- Athletics: These games include physical activities like exercise, running, jumping, etc. Players are bound to move their whole body to fully experience the virtual reality of gaming. Games like Superhot VR (Action game), Thrill of the Fight (Boxing game), and Fitness Boxing 2 are the primary examples of athletic games.
Pros of VR Games
VR games are immersive and players can enjoy their time while playing as they can experience what standing on the game ground looks like and they are more invested in the game emotionally. Not only that, as VR games require physical movement, players’ fitness is also increased while playing. Traditional gaming systems do not support the physical interaction of players with the character or items present in the game, VR gaming has made it possible which provides a truly hands-on experience.
Cons of VR Games
Premium VR headsets and controllers require a certain amount of fortune for better quality and experience. In fast-paced VR games, some players can feel discomfort or nausea because of the disparity between visual and physical movement. Another issue players encounter is physical space as VR gaming requires a large play area for easy movement. Setting up VR gaming is a bit complicated as it can require some external base stations, sensors, or calibration which can be tricky for beginners to understand.
