Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that creates an immersive simulated environment, typically using a head-mounted display (HMD). As users cannot see their environment, they often become absorbed in the artificial reality presented to them. This is particularly apparent when VR is used for games, which also require the player to move and act as though what they see is really their own surroundings. Virtual reality within gaming is a growing trend, with many video game companies opting to use VR in their console and computer games.
Examples of games that are currently using this technology include Beat Saber, a rhythm-based game where players are must hit musical notes to complete songs, Subnautica, a game themed around a submarine traversing the ocean floor, and Vader Immortal, a part-puzzle part-adventure game in which players embark on a quest through the Star Wars universe.
As these types of games are becoming more popular, we ask whether VR could ever be used for online bingo games. These already incorporate augmented reality into their bingo games with jackpot, as they have super-imposed computer-generated 3D images embedded within games. So, how would virtual reality differ from and enhance the online bingo experience?
Virtual Reality Environments
VR could open up worlds of opportunities for online bingo. With an HMD virtual reality headset, players could be transported to a virtual bingo hall in any location, and experience the classic sights and sounds that are found at land-based venues. This could mean being surrounded by other virtual players, allowing players to experience the games in real-time with other people. They’d then be able to see the bingo caller and could interact with them, making for entertainment that differs from playing online from a computer or mobile.
The virtual environment wouldn’t only have to be a bingo hall, either. This technology could utilise a range of environments if developed thoroughly enough, and perhaps base the setting of the virtual bingo game within popular films or themed destinations, such as in the grand hall a castle, in the depths of the jungle, or even in a scorching desert. Virtual reality in bingo would not only allow for players to be transported into a new world, but it could also inspire them to visit places in real life after seeing what they are like virtually.
The Future of Bingo
Playing bingo traditionally, online and on mobile is a pretty popular pastime. The experiences of playing the game on different devices, as well as introducing augmented reality, allows for people to see how varied playing bingo can be. With virtual reality implemented into bingo, players would be able to experience yet another spin on the game, blending real-life features with online features to create a medium that enhances the senses, yet entertains players from their own homes.
Some of these features would include the sensation of direct presence, making the players feeling like they’re within the game and experiencing the events first-hand. The realism of the immersion could even convince the player into thinking they’re actually sitting within the confines of a bingo hall, or within the heart of a wild jungle, opening up their imagination to their surroundings which is an advantage in-game.
The possibilities of using VR to create a future collection of bingo games is endless.