The emergence of virtual reality arcades shows that what goes around also comes around. Sports and games have always been a very public affair. Video gaming narrowed it down to small groups and eventually to personalised recreation.
Card games are now a popular category in online games. But before it was online, Teen Patti or rummy games used to be participative events. People would even learn how to play rummy and other card games simply by watching the games unfold in their living rooms and clubs. With online card game platforms, you can now play in real-time, on a smartphone and against someone thousands of miles away. But then, if you are missing the crowd in gaming, the arcade is back again!
The Need for Arcades
While the word ‘arcade’ reminds us of gaming in the decades gone by, the Virtual Reality (VR) arcade gaming experience is well and truly modern. The use of VR in gaming has opened new avenues for innovation and experience. The global VR market was valued at $17.96 billion last year and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30.4%. By 2032, the market could garner a revenue of more than $189 billion.
Home VR has not caused the stir it was expected to make. But with the technology up for grabs, arcade VR gaming emerged as a feasible entertainment opportunity. Like the game zones you typically find in malls and commercial centres, VR arcades are businesses set up to entertain customers who want an immersive gaming experience. In fact, many game zones in India have adopted VR gaming into their fold.
It is ideal for gamers who aspire to have a VR gaming experience but don’t want to invest in it. Besides, it is something that gamers can look forward to when they go out for a few hours of entertainment.
Arcades are Buzzing in India
From HopUp in Chandigarh to Galaxy in Chennai, and from Zero Latency in Mumbai to all the Timezone outlets across India, VR arcade gaming in India has arrived. There has been an undercurrent of growth in gaming arcades in India, with or without VR.
VR arcades are introducing new games into their ensemble, which continues to build intrigue among the visitors. The immersive world of virtual reality is now accessible to all gaming enthusiasts, thanks to these arcades. The arcades also provide an inclusive and sociable atmosphere. There is ample avenue of social interaction in an arcade. Visiting one is often a group event for a bunch of gaming fans. It must be noted that socialising is one of the top three motivations for gaming in India.
As VR technology became commonplace in gaming, its variations have been explored and introduced over time. One such variation is the free-roaming VR gaming options that are being introduced in India. VR games have been offered in single-player mode and player vs player modes. A free-roam VR game, on the other hand, allows you to move around a perimeter and experience the game more realistically. It has full body movement tracking that makes the experience even more life-like. With free-roam VR, gamers can enjoy escape room games, role play, open-world adventures, etc.
VR arcades in India are now offering an umbrella of realistic gaming experiences and keeping up with the latest tech while doing so.
Different Shades of Reality
Gaming arcades in India are reaching new levels of urban entertainment by incorporating the latest technological innovations in their product suite. Arcades like VR Gamezone in Mumbai plan to expand from virtual reality and augmented reality to cutting-edge mixed reality and extended reality gaming experiences.
Mixed reality or MR combines elements of AR and VR that facilitate a real-time interaction of a game’s digital and physical elements. Devices like Microsoft HoloLens can project three-dimensional holographic objects in a physical space. Similarly, arcades and game centres can offer a futuristic extended reality experience to their patrons. In practical terms, it could be through devices like Oculus Quest 2 that enhance your gameplay in games like Beat Saber and Oculus Rift.
If you know how to play rummy, you may have played rummy games on popular platforms like RummyCulture. VR is seen as the next tool to enhance the real-money gaming experience. Like VR arcade games, don’t be surprised if you get a chance to participate in a VR rummy or poker tournament in the future.
The Next Level of Entertainment
All the entertainment media keeps pushing the limits of technology to keep the audience entertained. Cinema has gone from 3D to 9D and beyond, while venues like the Sphere in Las Vegas have redefined the live concert experience. Gaming, too, is relentless in its pursuit of excellence. Gala e-sports events, cloud and metaverse gaming, and virtual tournaments are some of the exciting new additions to gaming. In VR arcade gaming, the urban Indian finds an irresistible entertainment medium packed with the most immersive thrills and adventures.