If smartphones shaped the 2010s, then immersive technologies are rolling these days. It seems that pretty soon they will fully revolutionise the surrounding world: the way we educate, work, engage with each other. The immersive approach is already being used by brand new casino sites for improved entertainment. For them, it is a way to tap into a higher level of competition and poach the audience or at least part of it. But how does the immersion work? Let’s see what it really is.
Immersiveness is an approach to the gaming process that makes it much easier for players to associate themselves with the characters or events taking place on the screen. This type of entertainment brings a simulated realm into one’s actual environment. It literally blurs the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds in a super interactive way.
Immersive experiences offered by new casino sites in the UK are based on certain technologies. Some of them deserve special attention.
Virtual reality, or simply VR, is a direction of immersive entertainment that is only at the beginning of its development. Despite the fact that the first headsets appeared on the market more than 15 years ago, the high price often scares players away. However, new UK casino operators strive to integrate more and more VR games to give customers unparalleled emotions.
When wearing a dedicated headset, the player enters a three-dimensional environment that looks completely realistic. This effect is achieved thanks to the absence of frames. The human brain perceives the image literally. So, without setting the end of the 'screen,' it quickly reconfigures itself and reacts to everything that happens in the digital realm as if it were happening in reality.
VR creates an inexhaustible number of different designs and solutions for iGaming platforms. This diversity is the main reason for the popularity of the VR approach.
AR, shortened from augmented reality, is developing simultaneously with virtual reality. This immersive technology does not require expensive headsets and can be implemented on a mobile device. It also mimics the actual world yet in lighter mode than VR does it. Using smartphone cameras to create realistic backgrounds is one of the AR-based approaches used by new UK casinos. Although the capabilitites of augmented reality are somewhat limited, it tempts lots of X, Y, and Z gamers.
The most widespread approach to immersiveness is the use of 3D graphics in the development of slots and other games. Layered object movements are combined with evolving narratives and more intricate themes are much more entertaining than flat graphics. This innovation has had a noticeable impact on player interaction in the best new casino sites in the UK. It resonates with modern fans and their demands.
More and more casino software vendors turn to three-dimensional characters, but Betsoft, Games Global and Thunderkick are leading the pack. Their products drove primitive slot spinning into a new, highly engaging era.
The starting point in the story of immersive technologies is considered a decade between 1990 and 2000. Why? The creators of computer games began to move towards complex storylines in their projects. Back then, new casino sites were far from what they look like now.
Even then it was clear that players needed to empathise with the characters or events they were watching on the screen. That is how the era of immersiveness began in the iGaing industry. The next major step was the announcement of the first Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets in 2010. It is also worth mentioning augmented reality solutions that could be used, for example, on the PSP.
True immersiveness we see at new casinos UK today came to the online gambling industry with the advent of the first virtual reality headsets. Since then, more and more game developers have been striving to create their own unique and successful projects in this area. At the same time, the technology is still far from ideal. Operators face technological difficulties, e.g, with the power required for servers to work properly.
Immersion, be it iGaming or any other field, always comes with both positive and negative consequences. Gambling platforms are venues where fans come for fun and enjoyment. However, sometimes innocent fun can easily turn into addiction and ruin lives (the punter’s and those of their surrounding circle). Immersive experiences should be approached with caution to prevent being sucked into the pit of hopelessness.
Fruit slots and blackjack provided at every new online casino attract players with their mechanics, randomness, and excitement. They play on emotions but do not cause attachment. With immersive games, everything is different.
Such entertainment features characters that players root for. It has a story and plot that can significantly increase the number of hours spent in front of the screen. At the same time, this is what provides a fertile ground for developing addiction. This negative aspect doesn’t allow the industry to reach a consensus on the question of immersive games and their safety.
Players never stop hunting down something that propels them towards a better gaming experience. Immersive entertainment offered by new online casino UK operators currently satisfies the latest demand for a more engaging environment. Virtual and augmented reality, together with earlier emerged 3D slots, are rolling the iGaming world with their revolutionised solutions. However, the danger of such immersion is on the surface and clearly needs special regulation from authorities.
Written with insights from Cardmates CEO and savvy iGaming expert, Maksym Baksheiev.
