The impact of virtual reality in the entertainment industry today is a dream that we had decades ago. Today, it is now always featured in sci-fi as a means of escaping from the real world and getting lost inside digital lands.
That technology is now more than a pipe dream; VR is changing how we consume entertainment right now. Just imagine this, you wear a VR headset and you are in a movie scene, fighting in a video game, or attending a concert from your home as if it’s front row.
Each of these experiences is a small taste of the way virtual reality can reshape entertainment. The reach of VR encompasses gaming, cinema, live events, and even social spaces entering a realm that transcends all other media.
Due to the more affordable price of VR devices, it is clear that VR will soon change the entertainment industry. Let’s delve into more details about the impact of virtual reality on entertainment.
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The Impact of Virtual Reality On Entertainment: Current VR Technologies
The technologies powering VR today, widely seen as the best yet found for the job, are able to create more immersive and realistic experiences than ever before. Many of the key VR headsets; including the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR all give users high-resolution graphics, a 3D soundtrack as well as accurate motion tracking.
Such devices provide an immersive experience by allowing users to interact with virtual objects, characters and spaces as they would in the real world. Do modern VR headsets offer hand tracking? room scale movement? wireless support? which allows for a smoother and more immersive experience today.
#1. Haptic feedback
Haptic feedback technology can enhance the interaction in VR even further by adding a sense of touch. When it comes to tactile feedback — say, the punch of a virtual knuckle sandwich or the feel of its flesh (or other material) in your hand — haptic gloves or vests can provide sensory access.
One of the major uses of this technology is VR gaming. Titles such as the music-rhythm experience “Beat Saber” and highly polished shooter “Half-Life: Alyx, demonstrate both the deeply immersive potential of VR gameplay.”
Unlike traditional gaming which involves merely a screen and controller, VR gaming not only places the player in the game but requires their entire body as they move, duck, dodge and interact with environments not available to standard consoles.
Such deep immersion has made VR gaming an entirely new and expanding segment of the entertainment industry.
VR: From Gaming to Movie Experience Beyond gaming, VR is also making waves in cinematic experiences.
Image source: pixabay
#2. Cinematic VR
Cinematic VR experiences allow viewers to enter the film, stepping into the story and choosing a perspective of their own. As an example, in a 360-degree film, the viewer is put at the centre of the action and can look around to follow bits of the narrative they are interested in.
It replaces the passive principle of watching a movie with actively participating, and viewers can feel as if they have agency in the story.
VR is also slowly making its way into live sports and music events. Picture strapping on a VR headset and instantly being transported to the sidelines of an NBA game or front row at a major music festival. For fans who can’t attend live events due to geographic and ticketing restrictions, VR offers an exciting alternative.
Recently, due to evolution in VR tech, sports leagues and musical artists have struck partnerships with VR companies to provide live immersion experiences enabling fans to connect more widely with the teams or artists they adore.
It enables events to be more accessible and also provides an additional revenue stream for the entertainment industry.
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The Impact of Virtual Reality On Entertainment: Potential for Growth in Africa
With an aspirant youthful and tech-savvy populace to back it up plus increasing access to mobile broadband Africa is uniquely positioned to assist usher within the era of VR in entertainment.
While virtual reality hardware is more costly and still somewhat limited in supply in certain parts of the world, digital experiences are enticing. If this low-cost VR hardware manages to penetrate the market, it might be able to benefit deeply from Europe’s strong mobile technology focus in the next few years.
Local innovators are starting to investigate the potential VR has in areas like education, tourism and even socializing — all of which fall under the umbrella of entertainment.
Imagine VR doing anything as wonderful as bringing the African storytelling to world audiences, and giving people an opportunity to experience African culture, history, and landscapes in incredibly immersive ways. Now that could change the game in cultural exchange and audiences will now be able to try different cultures through immersive visual experiences.
Similarly, African tech companies are seeking partners to create low-cost VR hardware and VR content that is relevant to the continent.
The potential for VR to reach audiences in Africa is also promising especially as connectivity improves and the costs of devices decreases. This growth could potentially expand more forms of entertainment offering Africans more opportunities to interact with stories and experiences relatable to them.
VR also could be a valuable new weapon for an overlooked market opportunity in Africa, home to compelling and authentic storytelling.
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Wrap-Up: The Impact of Virtual Reality On Entertainment
The boundary between passive watching and active participation in entertainment is blurring as VR technologies evolve. Whether it be video games, movies, or even live concerts and sports events, VR enables audiences to immerse themselves into their hobbies and interests on a whole new level by letting them enter the entertainment that resonates with them the most.
With an expanding digital ecosystem and constant interest in the adoption of emerging technology, Africa presents itself as a key target market for VR expansion. Africa has a unique heritage of storytelling and cultural diversity, which provide an abundant creative context for the development of VR content that can be consumed anywhere in the world.
And as VR gets adoption, African creators and companies can plant their flags in this brand new, experiential stage to tell their stories accompanied by a unique set of enriching experiences that provide the rest of the world with never-before- seen views into Africa.
Adopting VR is a leap into technological advancement, but it’s also a movement towards the future of entertainment where everything will be more immersive than ever and open to everyone.
