As virtual reality (VR) becomes populated with more people, places, and games to play, Betinvest Chief Research and Development Officer, Igor Popov, explains how the company is utilising the technology not just to increase player entertainment and engagement, but also to provide solutions for the industry that are both cutting edge and cost-effective.
Futurist and Google director of engineering Ray Kurzweil has given humanity until 2045 before the lines between virtual reality and physical reality become so blurred that nobody will know the difference. But to reach that point, this virtual future must be built one brick at a time by the tech-experts of today. Some of these world-builders are creating virtual estate agents with fully viewable virtual properties, while others construct virtual showrooms with cars that can be taken out for a virtual test drive. Meanwhile, Betinvest’s Chief Research and Development Officer Igor Popov oversees a team of engineers and developers that are building the virtual future of the gaming industry.
“The gaming industry is one of the first to have been affected by VR: while companies are vying to win over players, virtual reality has provided several solutions to their needs,” he explained. “First of all, it has drawn in new players: people who never previously showed an interest in gaming or weren’t fans of any game in particular. The novel form of gaming excited the interest of not only regular gamers, but also those who are new to this world. Secondly, VR has broadened users’ experiences: it has given them the chance to play in a whole new dimension, with the feeling of being physically immersed in the game. You don’t just play the game – you’re in it. And thirdly, virtual reality has raised gaming standards: other online games are now in competition with VR games. Providers and operators are therefore improving their games, by introducing more complex graphics, adaptations for various devices, and better bonus offers so as not to lose their most loyal players.”
Over the last few years, Betinvest has seen the demand for VR products soar from both players and the wider industry. The challenge with VR, however, has always been its barriers to entry, whether it’s the cost, clunkiness, or the amount of time it takes to set-up. Since the release of the first modern VR headset in 2014, progress has been made in all regards, with Popov detailing how Betinvest has made sure their VR slots are as accessible as possible for players.