Virtual reality seems to be the next big thing in the gaming world, as video game developers work hard to create impressive first-person gaming experiences for devices like the Oculus Rift.
Now, casino games developers are picking up on the trend, and we anticipate that 2015 will see the release of at least one high-quality virtual reality gambling title.
What is the Oculus Rift?
The Oculus Rift is a head-mounted virtual reality display. The user dons a headset which displays the video game right before their eyes, and the player navigates through the virtual world using their own body. There is no need for a control pad, as all motions are carried out by the user.
Currently, the Oculus Rift is still in development, but there are plenty of games developers who are currently in the process of creating new games for the device.
RiftSino
Developed by LuckyVR, RiftSino is a the first virtual reality casino to be used with the Oculus Rift device. Players can wander around the virtual casino, which features a luxurious design and classy music. There is also ambient noise, which certainly helps to make the user feel as though they are in an actual casino.
Players can engage in a wide range of gambling activities, such as playing slots, blackjack and various other casino games. The app aims to replicate the casino experience and, from what we can tell, it does a pretty good job of that.
Since it’s in its early stages, we won’t be too fussy. However, we did notice that the casino seems a little big barren. We hope that NPCs will be added in future versions of RiftSino to help make the virtual casino seem livelier.
Other Opportunities?
At the moment, there are no other casino games that support the Oculus Rift – which is a bit of a shame. We feel that there are plenty of opportunities available to casino game designers, especially now that social casinos are becoming hugely popular. Multiplayer casino games would be perfect for the Oculus Rift, as well as poker titles.
We could certainly see a World Series of Poker game for the Oculus Rift, in which gamers compete again the world’s best poker players in exotic locations around the world.
The Oculus Rift is certainly one of the biggest developments in the gaming world. Casino operators and games developers should take the time to consider the possibilities of developing virtual reality games for this device.
