Virtual  Reality Demonstrations” (CC BY 2.0) by  UTKnightCenter 

Virtual reality is about to become more than just a dream, in 2016, it’s set to become a reality. Although virtual reality headsets are going to cost a lot of money at first and may not be accessible to the mainstream, the transition of games to this medium should be a swift one.

By the time the hardware is affordable to the general public, one would expect some of the best game developers to have a firm handle on this new and exciting bit of technology. So what developments to games can players expect to see in this virtual reality?

Theme Parks

Virtual reality developers have already been experimenting with the possibilities of VR theme parks. Gamers should be able to slip on the headset and take a rollercoaster ride during their break at work, or while waiting for a TV show to start. Do you remember those theme park builders you used to play like Theme Park and Rollercoaster Tycoon? One possibility for virtual reality developers is to produce some kind of take on this.

Players would be able to create their own dream theme parks, and then walk around them and go on the rides. The scope for this kind of thing is endless, and it could be done with zoo and city simulators as well.

Casino Gaming

Online casinos have moved with the times effectively as technology has progressed. Just take a look at the slot machines on the 32red website to get an idea of this progression. This site has over 320 slot machines with different themes, and there are many ways of playing them. More than a hundred years ago, though, players had to pull a handle on the side of the Liberty Bell and try to spin in three matching symbols. Technology has allowed slots to evolve in an epic way, and now there are loads of special features and betting options.

Casino games are hugely popular now as well, and online casinos like 32red, Hollywood Casino, and Paddy Power have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years developing new ways of playing classics like roulette and blackjack. There is no doubt that these online casinos will make the switch to virtual reality in some way, but how would they go about doing this? One idea is that they may try to recreate the land-based casino experience through the virtual reality headset. Players can still play from the comfort of their own home and deposit funds online with their bank account, but they will also be able to enjoy the feel of a real casino. This is something that online casinos have never really been able to replicate, but virtual reality could change this.

Another idea is that slot machines could advance even further, by upping the ante on their bonus features. How about slipping on the virtual reality headset and actually entering the bonus stage of a slot machine? This could be an interesting new twist on the current formula.

Role playing games

The role playing game market is vast, and there is no doubt that role playing fans will get their fair share of representation in virtual reality. Again, there is a lot of scope for what could be done with this and it is a genre that has also evolved greatly over time.

Years ago, before the internet took off, players used to meet up and take part in large games of Warhammer and other role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. The internet served to enhance this popular pastime by expanding the possibilities to endless proportions. Now one of the most popular games, World of Warcraft, has over 9 million players.

These massively multiplayer online role-playing games, or MMORPGs, allow players to create their own characters and complete quests, while interacting with the massive universe of other players. Virtual reality could make this kind of game even better by allowing the players to actually enter the MMORPG world and walk around. It would make it a truly immersive experience.

These are intriguing and exciting times for gamers, as the wealth of possibilities for virtual reality seem to be endless. And this is just the start of the future of gaming. There are bound to be even more incredible developments in the years to come.