For the longest time, terms like virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) cooked up an image of a utopian (or dystopian, depending on who you’re talking to) reality where technology becomes the primary environment for human life. But, the reality is that both these forms of technology are already a part of our lives, expanding into interesting growth trajectories we wouldn’t have considered before

What Is Virtual Reality and How Is it Going to Change Our Future?

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment with scenes and objects that appear to be incredibly real, immersing you in the digitally generated environment. VR applications are evolving fast, emerging in industries as varied as healthcare and automobiles. But perhaps the most creative industry that is poised to be revolutionized by this technology is the gaming industry. 

Through VR headsets, virtual reality gaming now allows for a truly immersive experience where players can become one with their characters, interacting with the in-game environment exactly how they would in real life. Read on to learn what Guy Constantini, the man behind the critically acclaimed VR game “The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners,” has to say about the future of VR.

Prefer listening to the podcast instead? Here’s the link: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i-know-this-guy-with-norm-farrar/id1518495668 

What Is the Difference Between Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality?

While the average person may use both terms interchangeably, AR and VR are different technologies. While VR creates a completely virtual world, AR (Augmented Reality) is essentially a presentation method wherein objects in the real world are supplemented with artificial digital objects, which can be either constructive (i.e., adding to the real-world objects) or destructive (i.e., masking the real-world object). 

A prime example of AR? The Pokémon Go game that was all the rage during its release in 2016. A classic example of a constructive AR experience, the game had computer-generated characters overlaid into the real world, whereas an application that appears to show renditions of objects inside of another would be an example of destructive AR.

So the primary difference between AR and VR can be summarized as follows:

• VR creates the whole world that users experience using the headsets, while AR incorporates the world we live in with artificial objects, images, sounds e.t.c
• Users need to wear headsets to enjoy VR, but for AR, this may not be necessary.

During his interview, Guy Constantini mentioned that “VR is all like inside-out tracking. I think, eventually, you will have the seamless ability to sort of make certain parts of your experience transparent, so you can see the outside world and the people around you.”

“You can have a sort of virtual office and still see the world around you. So I can wear my headset and still interact with you, and I’ll feel I’m isolated, and you do not feel like you can mess with me,” he further adds.

Expectations are high from this industry, with IDC research suggesting that VR and AR investment will multiply 21-fold over the next four years, reaching 15.5 billion euros by 2022 (idc.com). VR and AR allow game developers to meet the insatiable need by diversifying the options available on the market and creating over-the-top virtual experiences.

The Evolution of Video Games

A popular entertainment option in many homes all over the world, video games have a long history behind them, dating back to the 1950s. Video games did not start as what we see on computers today. Games originated across a wide range of platforms, from arcade systems to home consoles, handheld consoles, and mobile devices and are often at the forefront of computer technology.

A good example of this was in 1962 when Steve Russell at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology invented Spacewar!, a computer-based space combat video game for the PDP-1 (Programmed Data Processor-1), then a cutting-edge computer mostly found at universities. It was the first video game that could be played on multiple computer installations.

According to Constantini, the visual leaps being made in the VR gaming industry often end up challenging the player’s understanding of reality. Some of these changes are mental milestones, such as turning a corner visually (without actually turning a corner in reality) and working with 2D images to give them the illusion of 3D. 

“Finally, 3D happened, and then when we started filtering textures and then started getting rid of the screen door effects, and started having video cards that would allow you to sort of not tax the processor, but have a chip specifically designed to make your visuals better. I think that when you go back, you see some of the magic of game design from way back when it was still present.”

Another interesting trend within the industry has been with game designers going back to the basics by studying board games. “If you look further back….Germany has been playing board games for hundreds of years. Big family tradition, and that’s where a lot of game designers that  [are] sort of going back to the traditional are trying to learn everything about game design, that they’ll start with German board games and card games”. 

Big gaming companies are going back to where it all started in a bid to do more in terms of innovation. Simply put, innovators in the industry are tracing back the original blueprints of board games, among other games. By doing this, they can include the history, the now and the future to deliver mind-blowing creations to eager gamers all over the world. Why so?

“Because the mechanics and the math behind it and the way that you engineer fun and attention, and you grab attention, and you design progression, all come from there, and they’ve been brought into the digital space, obviously, and there’s been more innovation,” Constantini says.

What Is the Future of Virtual Reality?

Projections in the VR gaming industry as a service in 2019 indicated that the industry earned $286.7 million last year. SuperData Research figures also estimated that the same could grow to a $2.3 billion industry by the end of 2020. 

This was just before COVID hit the world. Due to restrictions of movement, working from home, and other government directives, the figures skyrocketed. It is worth noting that the industry has a 118% compound annual growth rate, which makes VR one of the fastest-growing industries on the planet.

Here are some of the changes that are expected in VR gaming in a few years to come:

• Affordable gadgets and devices: As VR games become mainstream, providers must innovate and develop pocket-friendly devices to capture market share. 
• Improved interfaces: Defects, such as clipping that causes solid objects to appear ‘permeable’ are eliminated.
• Better gaming experiences: With a focus on reducing side effects like motion sickness, which is common in games with a lot of movement.
• Cable-free headgear: Tired of all the cables that come with your VR headsets? The good news is that game developers are now working toward releasing wireless headgear. As a plus, the headgear will have 3D features, allowing users to get the most out of the gaming sessions.

Game companies are also developing Virtual Reality headsets in 8K with much more powerful processors for optimized experiences. There is even talk that they could integrate Artificial Intelligence into the VR gaming experience in the next few years.

Another expectation by industry analysts is that with the implementation of 5G, more devices and larger user communities are expected to connect. In addition to this, its almost imperceptible latency will make it possible for consumers to receive images in real-time, almost as if they were seeing them with their own eyes.

In Conclusion

The VR Gaming industry is raring to go, and Guy Constantini has even more to say during his episode on the podcast, which you can listen to here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i-know-this-guy-with-norm-farrar/id1518495668

“I Know This Guy” is an exciting new podcast where father and son duo Norman Farrar and Hayden Farrar get together to interview some of the most fascinating people in the world, bringing their interesting stories to the forefront. Don’t miss out on their next interest story — subscribe today!