Virtual Reality Gaming Treadmill experience is here

Virtual reality gaming is an extensive use of audio, video, and other experiences to provide a reality-like experience of the games. It aims to provide an immersive and interactive environment for playing games. It focuses on involving the person in the game with the help of a headgear, motion platform etc. The gaming can be of many types, like either involving the use of a joystick or your body as per what requirement needs. Most of them involve some games where the person can move around in the virtual gaming world using the joystick as a method to interact with it simultaneously. However, in many cases, one can also use one’s body and the motion of it to interact with the virtual gaming platform.

Since its inception, many virtual reality gaming arcades and consoles have tried their hand at the technology and have received different kinds of reviews for each of them. Apart from the use of a joystick, different sensors, etc., many types of equipment are made to analyze the body motion of the gamers and thus, interpret it into the 3D gaming space and react accordingly. In full body motion platform, tiny sensors are attached to a data glove, suit or the body to record movements of the same in the 3D space. The computer interprets these movements that result in the change of environment accordingly. Here, one can take up the role of the character they’re playing in the game and move around and act like the character itself. This makes the game more life-like and adds value to the whole experience of the gamer. This type of experience is known as an immersive experience.

There have been many sensors, equipment, etc. that have been invented in the past to analyze body movements and use them in the game. Gadgets like a portable joystick, glove sensors, suits, etc. have responded very well to the virtual reality games. However, virtual reality gaming treadmill has changed the face of VR gaming by making it more immersive than it was before. The virtual reality treadmill is a system where a person’s motions like walking, running, crouching, etc. can be tracked by the game and interact as per the actions of the player. The model was introduced in 2012 and it has been evolving ever since. These type of games aim at engaging one’s entire body and transform it into an interactive gaming experience. Motions like walking, running, jumping, etc. are interpreted and interacted with the 3D gaming environment. The treadmill was launched with the concept of keeping active playing in mind, to help most gamers get off the couch and start actively involving themselves in the game. This concept not only helped in making the overall experience of the game better but also helped a lot of people get into shape by making the concept more interactive and fun than ever. The various movements required for the game even for short duration lead to active involvement of the participants, become a bit tiresome, and thus, present to be a nice workout without feeling like it.

The virtual reality gaming treadmill is made out of a multidirectional treadmill that consists of a circular structure with a sloping concave bottom. It comes in with a bowl in which you’re placed to run or walk around. Along with that, it also has straps that you’re supposed to wear while playing and shoes that track your motion. The shoes come with clip-on motion trackers that cling on to the shoe laces and help the virtual reality treadmill track your motion and respond accordingly as per the game. The shoes are low-friction shoes which are specially made to help the person playing not slip on the circular treadmill. That’s why sneakers and other kinds of shoes are usually not allowed while using this structure for playing any games as they may lead the gamer to trip or fall. The treadmill also comprises of a guardrail or a ring that serves the purpose of helping the person not falling off or tripping from their place. Many of the structures omit the guardrail and replace it with a net or harness of some sort to protect the gamers. They’re designed to keep the person in a limited area while enhancing their physical activity for the game. They define the exact perimeter in which the gamer can move so that it’s only their speed that matters in the game. Since the person on the treadmill will be unable to see anything while playing, they are accompanied with a harness to tie them well to the equipment and monitor their movements. The harness can be ordered along with the console as per one’s size and adjusted accordingly. They help you keep in place and do not let you fall.

In order to use the treadmill, it first needs to be connected with a virtual reality game. The virtual reality treadmill works with any PC or phone based virtual reality games, and many gaming consoles as well. They treat the treadmill just like a gaming console itself and thus, work as per the motion of the person. The virtual reality gaming treadmill can be easily paired an Oculus Rift, HTC vive, Samsung Gear VR, etc. To use it, one needs to put on the low-friction shoes first, step onto the platform’s guardrail, and then put on the harness to avoid any slipping. After connecting the game with the treadmill, the first few movements needs to be slow in order to establish the connection and the pace can increase later on. The treadmill interprets your movements and can thus, move in 360 degree directions. The faster walking leads to faster movements in the game. You can pair the treadmill with a virtual reality headgear to get into the game and a joystick for further interaction. The motion sensor sense the movement of one’s body and their position while the joystick helps in aiming and interacting with the environment in the form of a trigger that the game might need.

Walking, however, is not the only movement that the treadmill can track. Though the most common one, the treadmill is also able to track different motions like running, jumping, sitting, crouching, etc. The break of a few seconds may be recognized as rest in a few games or time out depending upon the kind you’re playing. However, you can also set the functionality of the same to pause if the rest lasts for a longer duration. The structure has been designed for an active play where you can get reach your fitness goals along with playing a few games. Many other platforms, for example, HTC Vivo are also compatible with room sensors where a person can move around the whole room while playing. However, the scenario may lead to motion sickness as the person is unable to see the actual environment and has to move recklessly. It may also lead to someone running into the fall, tripping or falling off and leading to an injury. Thus, depending on the possible hazards that might follow in case the room sensors are kept instead of the treadmill, the latter was chosen to be the better option. It is, therefore, perfect for the games that are focused on running and gunning, walking and exploring.

The virtual reality gaming treadmill, ever since its inception, has received mixed reviews. Though designed for active play, the treadmill does hinder one’s movements and thus, is more tiring than actually walking or running in real life. However, the console does allow a few rest breaks while playing. It also eliminates the hazards of playing virtual reality role-play games in an open room, like running into a wall, feeling dizzy, motion sickness, etc. But, these things are also gigantic and cannot easily fit into one’s house. Most of them do not come with the required headgear and other equipment which needs to be bought from the third party, making it even more expensive than it already is. However, given the motivation that the device provides to its users and the immersion level it gives to the gamers, it has still become a hit and is being widely accepted by people.

The treadmill not only serves a purpose for gaming but is also used on other platforms. It has recently been introduced into military training to train soldiers for several combats, shooting, running, etc. The treadmill will allow them to understand to work in closed areas and aim well on their targets. They will also be enhanced further to add various other facilities to train them as well. This equipment will also be introduced in the medical field to analyze the movements of recovering patients as well.