The subject of blending reality and virtual has been around for years and counting. The idea is to bring out virtual items into a reality setting where players can interact with these intangible objects. The thought behind it is to blend both dimensions together seamlessly. Several games have stepped forward, pursuing these technologies. What does this mean for the gaming and entertainment industry?
Bringing forth something that has never existed is a concept that has always fascinated technological pioneers. The development of such technology began since the late 1930’s toward the 1940’s transforming and manipulating technology introducing the first X-Ray machines. In a way, the machine brought out what humans looked inside without surgery. Now, decades later this same technology has evolved into something more intricate and complex. Games are beginning to integrate this as a means to introduce a new generation of gaming. Such games which applies augmented reality are: Kingdom Hearts 3D and Kinectimals for example.
The idea behind this is for players to interact with the game. By placing a ‘code’ or AR card (Augmented Reality card) on a flat surface, players can point their gaming device or camera on the code. The app in association with the game identifies the code and ultimately projects the 3D image on top the code. In games, this is taken a step further where players can directly interact with the creature by bathing it, playing with it, tickling it are a few examples. In Kingdom Hearts 3D, by purchasing the Kingdom Hearts 3D Mark of Mastery Edition, it comes with AR Cards which produces re-skinned rare Dream Eaters. Out of the game, players can use these Dream Eaters to battle one another or as mentioned previously, play with them.
By introducing new AR concepts, gaming can take a momentous leap forward. Games in the future can apply AR technology by bring forth a new era of horror-survival games, for example. It is not a farfetched idea if a special type of eye-wear with a sensor is developed to incorporate the game. Players will be able to experience the haunting sights and sounds of the game psychologically linking the player to the environments. Perhaps in the future, these types of games will use specialized controllers to serve as a weapon in these types of games as well.
The possibilities are limitless applying AR technology to videogames. Within a couple of years, the majority of videogames will be projected to be immensely immersive. The line between virtual and reality will be blended to the point the human mind can be tricked into believing something that does not exist. The idea of a projected future shaped by videogames is indeed an ongoing reality where things will not be what they seem. Perhaps in the long run, virtual technology will manipulate the human brain into touching or feeling something which never existed in the first place. This concept alone will be the driving force of videogames designated in the near future to come.