Video Games are the fastest growing and most innovative application developed for personal computers and the Internet. At first, video games were mainly for boys. Nowadays, there are numerous girl gamers. Games like ” FIFA” and ” NBA 2″ are among the most popular girl’s games.
Video Games as Physical Exercise. In a virtual reality game, a player may play a game indoors or outside, meaning they don’t move their fingers or thumbs, and not only their eyes. Some K 12 schools are starting to introduce virtual fitness exercises in the class or at athletic club events. This is a great way to make students physically active while learning at the same time.
Video Games as Stress Relief. In some virtual reality games, users are placed into situations that make them feel tense and stressed out. In such situations, playing a fun game like ” FIFA” or ” VR Basketball” on the PC, while being in a calm, peaceful environment, is a good stress reliever.
Virtual Reality as Social Interaction. The popularity of video games is at an all-time high. Children are begging their parents for video games. It is very common to see young adults playing games with friends and family in the living room, kitchen, or any place that offers a comfortable place to be alone. Video headsets allow for this virtual reality experience. Today’s headsets have very good sound quality and allow users to interact with their friends in real time.
Video Games as Mobile Gaming. Mobile gaming is on the rise with more people owning cell phones. With the release of more powerful mobile phones with video capabilities, the video games industry is beginning to experience its own wave of growth.
Video Games as Social Interaction. As mentioned above, there is a growing trend of gamers hanging out in social spaces such as a bar or club. Some also do their gaming in public. This has lead to the creation of “social video games.” For example, one such game is “My Friends Are More Than Friends.”
AI, or artificial intelligence, is the term used to refer to complex, computer-generated characters (usually in video games) that make decisions. It is almost a subcategory of computer programming, but is not considered as such by many in the gaming industry. Developers refer to these as “immersive simulators.” For example, in “World of Warcraft,” you will battle dragons and other creatures using complex AIs. In this case, the AIs are so complex that they can actually talk.
One interesting trend developing in mobile gaming is the use of data to guide player character movements in a game. A good example is in “MLB baseball.” One player’s movement is based on mathematical data from previous games and a player’s success in a game is based on how he or she moved in previous games.
Owlchemy Labs was recently acquired by Zynga. The makers of “MapleStory” and “Godus” have created a multiplayer online role-playing game for Facebook called “Owlchemy Studios.” According to David Crane, director of business development at Owlchemy Labs, the company plans to combine storytelling with real world elements in the new game. The first game they are releasing is a MMORPG called “Mana.” The new game will have more in-depth elements than what we saw in the Wii launch of MapleStory.
According to Crane, “The focus is on storytelling and visual senses instead of just text and screens. We really want to bring the nature elements into the game rather than using just the ai.” He went on to say, “We’ve been very careful that the ai in the title does not look like a robot, it looks more like a bird or something that is bird-like. It will have a feel of actual interaction and physical touch, just like any VR experience.”
California based Caliberix Media, Inc., has been working hard on Caligua, which has been released by Owlchemy Labs. The company is taking the data from the games and converting it into virtual data that can be used in augmented reality devices. Users of these devices will be able to see and interact with objects just as if they were in the real world. This is a particularly neat feature as many VR users have complained that it can be hard to distinguish between the worlds because they are not in them. By making the digital world available to them, they will be able to enjoy augmented reality even if they are not in their offices.
vrData, a developer and manufacturer of an open-source software platform for creating augmented reality software, has developed an open-source application that will allow businesses to access and analyze large amounts of data. vrData CEO Scott Griffith explained the methodology behind the creation of the software, “vrData’s application will allow business owners and managers to rapidly and easily obtain and manage real-time information from anywhere they are in contact with the VR ecosystem. vrData’s platform leverages the power of VR devices by using webcams, web/mobile apps, handheld devices and handheld sensors to bring real-time data to the forefront of businesses.” In this way businesses will be able to make informed decisions from anywhereVR is available. vrData’s ambition is to create a one stop solution for integrating VR into business operations. In the future you will be able to use your Vive/Oculus rift to perform in the office, on the go and everywhere you are.