Whatever Happened to Virtual Reality Gaming?

Long ago, it was thought the future of gaming was in a technology that used helmets/visors and electronic gloves to view and interact in virtual environments, aka virtual reality. But while the gaming industry has seen many changes since then, often similar to that of virtual reality, the helmet-and-gloves aspects of VR appears to have been put on the back shelf. While game developers have come out with some great stuff, I kind of wish the boys in the backroom would get back to work on this. And actually, they kind of have.

Virtual reality has two basic characteristics that define it:

• Three-dimensional images that appear to be life-sized from the perspective of the user.
• The ability to track a user’s motions, particularly their head and eye movements, and correspondingly adjust the images on the user’s display to reflect the change in perspective.

So while we have some great games, they’re a far cry from the virtual reality experience we were once promised. While places like Azeroth can be described as virtual worlds, they’re not exactly the same as virtual reality. But they are a step in the right direction. Even The Matrix doesn’t exactly offer a user-friendly virtual world, either. Seriously, is a USB port not an option?

"Sarah Connor?"

Following a Power Glove-induced depression, I was eager for games that I could play with my hands as the controller. Meanwhile, consoles came and went, with each generation bringing forth newer and more improved graphics. But still, nothing like the virtual reality we were promised so long ago. Virtual Boy tried to deliver a kind of virtual reality, but I think we can all agree that it failed completely. The Wii comes closer with the Wiimote, but it’s still not what the Power Glove could have been. Of course, Johnny Lee’s Wii head tracking is multiple leaps closer.

Not all hope is lost though, for you who are also yearning for an at-home virtual reality experience. We’ve previously reported on two really cool innovations that could fall into this category. The first is a gamer vest developed by TN Games that allows you a more realistic game experience by enabling you to feel the effects of damage your character does, but with a lot less pain. The second is an incredible innovation known as the Emotiv Epoc. It’s a headset that actually responds to human thought, enabling you to control games with your mind. Now that’s a step in the right direction! Even if it could lead to a certain GotGame writer/editor taking over the world.

Field Kick!

The original virtual reality may be gathering dust, but its influence in the gaming world has been strong and kind of anonymous. However, if future technologies are any indication, what was thought of as a fantasy and an old technology could be the future of gaming. Even the virtusphere, though it does look like a giant hamster ball, is pretty impressive. I’m ready. Plug me in.