Page 54 - Payout Magazine Online Volume 8.4

Movies such as The Lawnmower Man in over their home environment. From the virtual of what appears to be an emerging industry
1992 and the matrix in 1999 have been partly control panel lights could be turned on or off, that is growing in strength and popularity
responsible for popularizing the concept of the volume on the TV could be adjusted, or a every day.
VR in recent decades. However, consumer live stream from an outside security camera
level technology at the time failed to provide could appear as a monitor floating in space. Sony’s PlayStation has brought VR into the
the experiences enthusiasts were craving. home of millions of families and can transport
Graphics were sub-par, and most efforts were Virtual Reality is adding new dimensions the wearer into new fantasy worlds with a
awkward to wear or produced uncomfortable of fantasy to all types of leisure activities, level of immersion previously not possible. The
sensations. with many theme parks adding VR goggles Oculus, Vive, Google DayDream, and Samsung
to their rides, including roller coasters, and Gear VR Systems have also played a big part
The 21st century has seen a resurgence even water slides. The Kraken Unleashed at in bringing VR closer to the mainstream.
in VR technology, however, as rapid SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, is an excellent
advancements in technology lead to ever example of how VR can transport us from the With minimal and affordable equipment Vr
more powerful CPUs and GPUs capable physical world into the fantasy realm. enthusiasts can experience first-hand what it
of rendering highly detailed environments. is like to be “questioned” by a fellow gangster,
Players can now be transported strange new Riders experience all the same twists and travel about a derelict spaceship in a mech
worlds from the comfort of their lounge room, turns as in the physical world, but inside the suit, guide a little mouse through a series of
and experience unique gameplay mechanics VR HMD (Head Mounted Display), they are puzzles as a god-like protagonist, and share
not possible on a standard 2D screen. transported to a new world of imagination and movies with a friend via a virtual theater.
fantasy.
Virtual reality is but one segment of the In many cases, the wearer can see virtual
technology capable of producing immersion at As the ride progresses, they are taken on representations of themselves inside the VR
unprecedented levels as there have also been an underwater journey featuring encounters environment.
progressions made in the field of augmented with fantastical beasts, teeming schools of
Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR). fish, and close encounters with curious and They are no longer separated from the
playful dolphins. Each twist, turn, or dive in the action by a few meters of a lounge room
Augmented reality is a system which real-world corresponds to one in the fantasy but become a part of it. It’s quite the feeling
overlays computer-generated imagery over a realm, creating the illusion of another reality - to confront a 3-story spider while having to
live view of the real world. A famous example complete with physical sensations. crane your neck to take it all in, rather than
of the technology can be found in the popular manipulating a control stick to adjust the
mobile game Pokémon Go, where the mobile Another take on VR promises an entirely camera angle.
phone provides a “lens” which allows the new type of theme park as it allows visitors to
player to peer into the hidden world and reveal step into a life-size fantasy world and enjoy a Likewise, driving games are taken to a
creatures at various locations according to a brief stint as a Jedi warrior or stormtrooper. whole new level as cockpits are now viewable
GPS coordinate. Players don a backpack containing a powerful in 360 degrees, and all one has to do is turn
CPU, and a VR helmet to step into the world. their head. Other cars on the track appearing
Players can hunt and then capture the The entire system is self-contained, with as large as life also helps to increase the
creatures by throwing virtual “Pokemon” balls players able to freely move about inside the feeling of being there dramatically.
at them whenever they manage to locate specially designed game world.
one. The game is immensely popular and has VR, in all its various guises, are fantastic
recorded billions of downloads worldwide. It Large rooms are a laid out with real physical pieces of tech, but the best is yet to come. As
has also managed to cause a good deal of objects corresponding to in-game artifacts processing power continues to rise, and prices
havoc, as players would often put themselves that players can duck behind for cover, or drop even further, more VR units will enter
in harm’s way to catch a creature - such as doors they can physically walk through to homes with promises of exciting new games
running out into the street or drive while they progress to different parts of the map. and unprecedented levels of immersion.
are hunting.
In Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, the Better screens with higher resolution,
mixed reality (mr) is a slightly different take immersion has been taken to such a level haptic feedback, and VR treadmills adding
on the technology which extends the uses of that players will even feel the squishy give of full unrestricted motion to VR experiences all
VR and AR beyond fantasy and entertainment. the in-game lava they are forced to traverse add up to an exciting future where players can
during one section of the game. become fully immersed in their fantasy world,
For example, a control screen may be rather than remain a distracted bystander
presented to the viewer as an object floating in The VR of today is impressive, but we are viewing the action through a small window
space which could give the user digital control still experiencing the very first building blocks into the world.

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