In 1999, The Matrix depicted a future where humanity is enslaved inside a virtual world, and set a terrifying stage for virtual reality. But in 2021? It’s at your kids birthday party. And you’re thinking of hogging the machine for yourself.
Virtual reality, once an idea thought only possible in the world of science fiction, is here. And while it really is just a screen inches away from your face filtered through a lens, its all the rage in the gaming world. And rightly so.
Now, virtual reality headsets have been attempted many times ever since 1996 when Nintendo introduced The Virtual Boy. But the machine was a complete commercial failure due to its notorious discomfort to use. But now that we can cram so much technology into so little, virtual reality has established itself as a mainstay in the gaming world, and continues to improve year by year with new headsets being released with multiple competitors in the market.
But virtual reality is still in its infancy, and for many consumers it continues to be too expensive and a real hassle to configure. Not only do you need to buy the headset (which can easily net you a cost up to $800), you must have a VR compatible room that allows you to move freely in the space without bumping into your coffee table and causing a scene during game night. Luckily, this isn’t the only time in history gaming was large, clunky, and expensive. Arcades have made a return – but this time, in virtual reality.
To read more about VR arcades, click here.