The concept of virtual reality has been around for decades. But for the first time, this concept will become commercially available when the Oculus Rift headset drops on April 23. This of course has major implications on plenty of industries, and online slots will no doubt be one of them. That said, let’s discuss several aspects that you should consider when the Oculus Rift headset becomes available later this month.
The Experience will extend beyond just Slots Games
While each online/mobile casino works to differentiate themselves from competitors, they are highly limited by the screen that comes between players and the casino. Instead, it is mainly the slots games that create the experience. Virtual reality seeks to change this, though, because players will also see the casino itself as an experience. For example, consider that VentureBeat describes SlotsMillion as being “in the clouds, on the 80th floor of a skyscraper in a futuristic, Blade Runner-esque cityscape.”
Social Slots might get First Crack
While it’s exciting to think about real-money gaming in the VR world, it will likely be social casinos that benefit first. After all, a large portion of those who buy Oculus Rift headsets right away will probably fall into the social-gaming category. As VentureBeat discusses, “They (customers) think like gamers, not gamblers, and their concerns are to beat the game rather than experience the thrill of risk-taking.”
You will pay a lot for Oculus Rift
Excited about playing slots through your Oculus Rift headset and want to be among the first to try it. That’s great…but, unfortunately, you’ll have to spend some major cash. Oculus Rift requires the help of a gaming specific computer at this time, meaning you could pay upwards of $1,500 – $3,000 to pre-order the whole package. Even if you just want the headset, it will run you $350, which definitely isn’t cheap.
Given the cost and limited number of casinos currently involved in the VR realm, we don’t see virtual reality slots taking off immediately. However, it’s still exciting to know that the next step in slots technology is here.