Virtual Reality is a set of computer technologies that incorporate visual, audio, and other types of sensations to provide the user with a life-like environment that is meant to simulate the user’s physical presence in them. It is also known as an immersive, interactive experience generated by a computer. The most typical example of virtual reality can be seen in modern video gaming that incorporates the use of headgear, etc. to enhance the experience of the game.
Since its inception, virtual reality has seen its uses in many industries like media, where many production houses made use of virtual reality to promote their films in the past. The technology has also been very well utilized in teaching, and understanding art by making one aware of the concept in 3D space. It has also helped people in the fields of engineering, medical, architectural design, and heritage learning. Recently, the technology had also been used to host concerts and was very well received by the audience. However, out of all its uses, virtual reality gaming is the one that has been utilized to its full potential and is a rage these days.
The 90s saw the evolution of virtual reality gaming when virtual reality head mounted displays came into the picture. They involved the use of a headset to create a virtual space in which a person could make use of a joystick or any other console to interact with the environment. Over time, this also evolved to the game sensing the movement of one’s body with the help of some sensors in a hand glove, suit, or shoes.
The rise in the culture of virtual reality gaming led to the mushrooming of various virtual reality arcade that has changed the face of gaming. Set up with head mounted displays, motion capture systems, real life 3D engines, etc., virtual reality arcade business aims to provide an interactive and wholesome gaming experience. Virtual reality arcade provides facilities like full-motion virtual reality gaming along with virtual reality-based entertainment. Full motion virtual reality gaming allows you to use your body and the athletic skills to full potential while playing a video game and tackling the difficulties in the same. These arcades also tend to provide the users with a 3D art experience which may involve walking into a painting or a video to experience it.
The internet cafes were the major start for the virtual reality arcades back in the 90s when along with surfing the internet, one could also get into one of the headsets that the café kept and experience a couple of games or stories set up in them. The experience created in these cafes wasn’t as immersive and interactive as compared to what it was now, and therefore, didn’t work as much given the limitation of space and time an internet café offers. However, with the evolution of time, the virtual reality arcade business just got bigger, with the experience become more immersive and wholesome as in previous versions and not sticking just to the internet cafes.
Post the internet cafes, the business was a major boom for the malls s they liked to keep simple elements of the virtual reality arcade in a particular section or spread across the mall so that people will enjoy the interactive games while roaming around. The first of the games that were introduced here the duck shooting. Here, a person was made to wear a headset that would play the storyline of a hunter where the player would have to shoot ducks with the help of a joystick. The game involved minimal movement and thus was a perfect scenario for a mall.
However, these days, the motion sensors have come into the picture that tracks the movement of one’s body parts while gaming and therefore, have made the gaming structure a lot better and the whole experience more interactive. Therefore, new games like walk the plank or roller coaster rides have come into the picture that only provides the required visual and audio elements but also enough sensations in the body to make it more immersive. The plank game involves a thin slab kept on the ground which looks like a plank set high up between two buildings on which the person is supposed to walk. Depending on the reality that the headset has created, the game helps one deal with the fear of heights and makes it more entertaining. This type of game is easier to set up in a mall as it also requires limited space and restricts one’s movements to the plank itself. Virtual reality arcade business, thus, saw many opportunities of being set in small scale in a mall to make the experience more worthy than boring.
With its continuous evolution and the kind of interest people have shown in virtual reality arcade gaming, the business has really gone up to a new level. Now, instead of setting small augmented reality games in the mall or an internet café, people have come with full-fledged arcades that offer a variety of gaming experiences to everyone around.
This virtual reality arcade business started getting fame in China and now has spread to United States, Canada, and many European countries. The games might involve shooting, running, fighting, which may involve the use of one’s whole body and require more space. The virtual reality gaming arcades have now become popular for providing the users with a wholesome experience by giving them more space and freedom to move. The advanced games require people to use their whole body and therefore, may require special suits or shoes to be worn with motion trackers to sense their movements. The arcade is set up on a huge area consisting of several rooms dedicated to their individual types of games. The games range from small scale ones that involve just the use of a headgear and joystick to the one that requires motion sensing, involving a room a full of sensors to analyze all the body movements. The arcades charge for these games by the hour or a number of participants involved depending on the genre. The arcades are divided into three sets of areas based on the kind of facilities they provide. The first kind offers the players to use their systems for dedicated gaming. The second consists of specialist franchise sites which are also known as VR Parks. They offer latest games of a particular franchise on dedicated systems and allow the gamers to indulge in the same.
The final and the most popular one of the all are virtual reality arena scale facilities that provide laser tag like experiences in a private room like environment. These arcades have become incredibly popular over the world, and are a great business to invest in. HTC Vive, one of the most popular virtual reality consoles recently launched its own set of arcades known as Viveland, given the popularity the business has gained. Not only these businesses help people get access to the virtual reality games but are also a good selling places for personal headsets, consoles, etc.
The virtual reality arcade business has not only made its way to the commercial platforms but also personal spaces. People all over the world are now interested in buying headsets for their personal use, in combination with platforms like HTC Vive, etc. along with a set of sensors and are establishing game room in their houses itself. This personal kind of arcade gives the player space to enhance their experience and play as long as they want to. Here, they can buy a variety of games exclusively for them and play with a group of friends as well. One can also take up latest games of a particular franchise and thus, indulge in them or can create a whole room designed with special features dedicated to a set of games. Many take this as an opportunity to buy virtual reality treadmill as well that seem to be a great use for the games that require a lot of walking, running, jumping, etc.
Virtual Reality is, therefore, a great business to invest in nowadays. With a number of arcades coming up along with the personal grade equipment available, many companies are investing in more games. The technology is advancing every day to make the experience even more immersive and interactive to engage the audience better. Therefore, their entertainment value is at an all-time high and is not declining anytime soon.
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