Virtual Reality Games and Motion Gaming ideas for your next event
For all businesses, big or small, having an effective marketing strategy is a must. With increasing competition and newer engaging marketing practices, it becomes important for companies to continuously experiment and devise new methods of product promotion. This is not only limited to business events but also non business related events like weddings and birthdays where organizers also need newer ideas to keep the guests engaged and entertained. Hence, we have come up with this write-up to help you learn everything about Virtual Reality Games and Motion Gaming ideas for your next event.
1 . Introduction
Motion games or virtual reality games are those video games that are played on motion controllers and require hardware which supports Virtual Reality. These games involve tech that harnesses the movements of players through motion detecting cameras and require one or more controllers which detect movement in all directions. Through a head mounted unit, motion games bring the player a step closer to reality by displaying two stereoscopic images that give a perception of being in a 3D space.
The current meaning of virtual reality is generally associated with immersion and presence of the player in a virtual world by creating visual stimuli through a virtual reality headset in order to provide a surreal experience. In our broader sense, virtual reality has its application in places where a certain human sense needs to be replaced by a virtual one. Hence we can say that virtual reality or motion games are generally those games which take Visual and controlling experience to a whole new level when compared to traditional gaming.
2. History and development of motion games and Virtual reality
The first instances of motion gaming were noted in the 1980s with Mattel introducing Power Glove and Nintendo’s Virtual Boy. During the 1990s, virtual reality headsets became immensely popular with the debut of the film – Lawnmower Man. With continuous research and progress over the years, motion gaming products became more and more approachable for the commoners. Soon, many games adapted with virtual reality hardware with multiple video games being designed exclusively for virtual reality.
Head mounted hardware for VR systems witnessed development during the 90s with the evolution of computer automatic virtual environment CAVE. Such motion games were played on multiple flat screen displays which surrounded the human player and also had multiple motion tracking sensors to synchronize with the gaming hardware. With major innovations taking place in real time 3D graphic development, motion games on computers and other gaming consoles became more affordable for consumers.
With the advent of the 21st century, more possibilities of using virtual reality with augmented reality were explored and demonstrations were conducted to show the interaction of virtual reality hardware, software and human motion. The first low cost virtual reality hardware was introduced in the second decade of the 21st century. With the development of Oculus Rift, multiple companies like Sony Computer Entertainment along with Microsoft introduced modified versions of PlayStation and Xbox respectively for their consumers. These consoles were modified in consonance with motion gaming and supported a ton of motion controllers.
The development of motion games was not limited to computers and other gaming consoles as smartphone manufacturers added gyroscopes and accelerometers to cellular devices in order to provide a better gaming experience to their consumers. Alongside this, multiple companies introduced motion gaming controllers which were compatible with smart phones thereby making immersive gaming much more accessible. Moreover, Google introduced the Google cardboard which was an inexpensive headset that could be used with Android phones to turn them into VR headsets. Apart from this, Samsung also developed its own virtual reality headset named Samsung Gear VR which was introduced for consumers in 2015 and was supported on Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
Although virtual reality and motion gaming consoles became a lot economical, the market for motion gaming took off after the introduction of games like Super Hot VR and Beat Saber along with engaging games like Half Life. A company called Alyx developed a novel controller for virtual reality gaming to help users avoid motion sickness which was a major problem with previous virtual reality games.
In its initial days, the most limiting factor of motion gaming was the low latency between the actions of the player and the feedback received by them on the display. For the most engaging experience, the hardware was required to operate with low latency in order to provide real time feedback to the player in accordance with their actions. With multiple technological advancements, various hurdles like development of high frequency imagery and fast frame rates were overcome by using processors developed by Sun Microsystems and Silicon Graphics. Since then, motion gaming devices have now become compatible to deliver high speed real time rendering with screen frequencies as high as 60 Hertz along with providing high resolution images and graphics.
For providing a quality gaming experience, it was also important for motion gaming sensors to track and deliver information at a high exchange rate. With the advent of time, improvements were made in the sensor technology which enabled motion sensors to register movements at a faster pace along with features like movement prediction and synchronization of player and character. In order to provide immersive gaming solutions, companies are now trying to bring down the 25 millisecond processing gap with improved hardware and software.
3. Motion gaming consoles
Motion control gaming systems allow the players to interact with the hardware and software using body movements. The player has the flexibility to input commands that are either through speech or gestures and actions that are perceived by the sensors present in the system.
The first commercially produced motion controlled gaming system was the Nintendo Wii released in November of 2006. Currently, the Wii remote also known as Wii MotionPlus system competes with the Xbox 360 developed by Microsoft and the PlayStation series by Sony. These consoles generally rely on handheld controllers, the position of which is tracked using a camera based sensor. The controllers also come equipped with a gyroscope and accelerometer to capture the most frugal movements. This gathered information is then shared wirelessly with the gaming hardware.
On PlayStations, the controller stick has a glowing ball fixed on top of it which is continuously tracked by a video camera which is plugged into the gaming console. The camera identifies the coordinates it receives in the 3-D space and inputs information into the system accordingly. Apart from this, the PlayStation also comes with features like face recognition and a head positioning tracker.
Apart from Xbox and PlayStation, Kinect is also a type of motion gaming console which facilitates a controller free gaming system, using a host of hardware devices like a depth sensing camera along with motion sensors. With speech recognition, the device also accepts spoken commands other than creating a skeletal image of the player to track their movements.
For those who prefer gaming on Personal Computers, there are tech solutions that eliminate the requirement of a dedicated motion controlling hardware. These include a 2D camera which can be used to eliminate keyboard and mouse based controls. The video camera is used to translate the movements of the player(s) into inputs for the software such that the player can directly interact with the game environment.
Top games that can be played on motion gaming/virtual reality consoles
1. Tricky Titans
This is one of the best motion sensing games available for Android TV with a competitive multiplayer setup. The game requires its players to defend their village while they attack the territory of other players. The interface of the game is simple enough for anyone to learn and operate.
2. Alien Invaders
This game involves shooting aliens as they descend upon a spacecraft that is preoccupied by the player himself. Players can also use Chromecast to enjoy the game on their smartphones and tablets.
3. Trivia Bash
Based on the Chromecast, Trivia Bash is a quiz game which tests the players IQ and timing. Since it is a multi player game, the first person to answer a question correctly earns the most points.
4. Top smash tennis
As the name suggests, top smash tennis is a motion game that gives the user an experience of playing tennis within the boundaries of their comfort zones. The game supports single as well as dual players at a particular time and can be played on flat-screens or even virtual reality headsets in order to boost the gaming experience.
5. Kinect Sports
Developed for Xbox 360, This motion sensor technology gaming is a combination of sports along with eight mini games that incorporate the motion sensing abilities of Kinect. These games include boxing, table tennis, bowling, beach volleyball etc. Players stand in the forefront of the Kinect sensor and compete by copying all the actions performed in the sports when they are actually played.
6. Beat Saber
Beat Saber is a music rhythm based arcade game that is played using two lightsabers as handheld controllers and a virtual reality headset. The players have to slash through blocks coming from different directions avoiding bombs and other obstacles. Playing this nation based arcade game for a few minutes can actually be a challenging arm workout.
5. Benefits of using Virtual Reality/Motion games in events
Using virtual reality and motion games has its own benefits keeping in mind the competition that is prevalent in the market. Creating interactive digital games for marketing helps brands in promoting their products through active participation of the potential customers. Here, we have listed five advantages of using games as a marketing strategy:-
High customer engagement
One of the most important aspects of marketing is engaging with the customer which allows brands to put their product on display in a better way. The traditional methods of listening and viewing are not sufficient enough in such competitive times and hence companies can ensure An increased level of engagement by actively involving the customer in the process of marketing. -
Creating high quality content
When it comes to marketing, providing viewers with textual and audiovisual content is not always sufficient. Hence, it is essential for brands to produce high quality and highly valued content for viewers which is more technologically oriented and particularly targets the young techie audience. -
Interactive brand storytelling
Storytelling is the best way to acknowledge people about what the brand is good at and what is the purpose of the product that is being advertised by the brand. This marketing strategy can be taken a step ahead by ensuring active participation instead of passive participation of the viewers through dedicated games and quizzes which thereby increases engagement. -
Highly retainable
Advertisements that are done using games and other interactive methods which include the active participation of the viewer leave a long lasting impact in the minds of such viewers. Since games are better at conveying the message of a brand, viewers are able to link the good points of a certain product with the things they learnt during the game. Through this method, brands can try to convey a strong and unforgettable message, using a game in the most effective manner. -
Increasing loyalty through entertainment
Games can make people curious about a certain product. Not only this, games can also be used to turn customers into fans as they tend to generate immense loyalty and even create communities towards the same. Also, we all know the benefits of having loyal customers as they serve as a medium of free marketing themselves by recommending such products to other people. However, extracting these advantages through a game or other kinds of interactive sessions for marketing can be a difficult task. One needs to have a creative vision and come up with innovative ideas while developing a game that is in conformity with the ideals of the brand. Luckily, we here at Gokapture can help you with the best gaming solutions that you can use to kick-start your product promotion.
6. Event Examples
1. Coca Cola VR Sleigh Ride
For those who wonder what it feels like to take a ride in Santa’s sleigh while it rushes through the sky, the Coca Cola Virtual Reality sleigh ride can leave you awestruck. Developed in Poland for coca cola’s truck convoy, the virtual reality roller coaster experience was in itself a unique use of virtual reality for marketing. The Ride, which lasts for a few minutes, takes the viewers through decorated villages, snow covered plains and rocky mountain peaks other than passing through the convoy of Coca Cola trucks. This immersive experience not only brings joy to the viewers but also stays in their memory for a long time.
2. New York Times : The Displaced
In November 2015, the globally recognized New York Times launched its application for virtual reality known as NYT VR. Apart from this, the media giant also distributed more than a million disposable Google cardboard virtual reality headsets to their subscribers after they published their first 360 degree video- The Displaced, on the application.
This act was a part of the promotion of the documentary which is recorded as a 360 degree video that tells the story of three children that were displaced by the Second World War. The multimedia journey provides an immersive experience to the viewers about the conditions which prevailed in the warfront through texts, photographs and virtual reality. Through the documentary, the New York Times has tried to portray the impact of war and displacement on children by giving a heartbreaking yet realistic experience.
3. Boursin: The Sensorium
4. Top shop Catwalk Experience
5. Volvo XC90 Virtual Test Drive
Focused on providing users with an immersive experience in a stunning landscape with the beautiful interiors of the Volvo XC90 and the road itself, the virtual test drive by Volvo gave the flexibility to potential customers to review the car from the limits of their comfort zone using a low-cost virtual reality device – Google cardboard. Not only buyers but also enthusiasts could experience the breathtaking mountain drive in the all new Volvo XC90 using the Volvo reality app.
6. The Art of Patron : VR Experience
7. Merrell Trailscape Hike
Merrell, a boot making company, promised to deliver its customers the most technical hiking boots ever produced by the company. As a promotional event, Merrell wanted to simulate what the shoe could do by using virtual reality wherein the viewers were taken on a hiking trip through a thin mountain path across a rickety bridge. The Trailscape was launched at the Sundance Film Festival 2015 allowing visitors to step into the experience of wearing the Capra boots at its most extreme.
8. Marriott : The Teleporter
9. Lowe's Holoroom
Lowe’s developed a Virtual reality Do-it-yourself skills-training clinic named Holoroom How to in its stores in 2017. With these facilities in hand, customers were able to learn basic DIY skills, including supplies needed and steps to completion in a fun yet interactive virtual reality environment.
The Holoroom used a virtual reality headset with a handheld motion controller to simulate acts like painting, applying adhesives, hammering, sawing etc. Moreover, the Holoroom is a fully-immersive, multi-sensory experience that utilizes visuals, haptics and sound to let customers try power equipment in a safe, virtual space.
10. Somewhere Else and Adidas : Delicatessen Virtual Reality
The TERREX range from Adidas are trekking shoes for those who like to explore the unexplored and go on the road less traveled. The shoe symbolizes people who always tend to push their limits and perform beyond expectations in activities like climbing, trail running, mountain biking or multi mountain sports.
In order to maintain the extreme spirit of the brand, Adidas promoted the range through a virtual reality campaign wherein people could experience the mountain-climbing journey of two athletes – Ben Rueck and Delaney Miller, with a 360-degree view of the journey. Viewers were able to follow the climbers and climb along with them, using a VR headset and two sensory remote controls. The VR campaign provided a great marketing campaign for TERREX, Adidas‘s line of outdoor apparel and accessories.
11. Thomas Cook : Try before you fly
Thomas Cook, a pioneer when it comes to travelling and tourism, came up with an interesting concept of providing immersive 360 VR videos at its flagship stores to potential holidaymakers.
The viewers could experience destinations ranging from the deserts of the Middle East to the snowy Swiss Alps and the busy urban regions of New York and Singapore.
Through this visualization, viewers were given a chance to experience what their next holiday could be like and what Thomas Cook has in store for them.
In order to maintain the extreme spirit of the brand, Adidas promoted the range through a virtual reality campaign wherein people could experience the mountain-climbing journey of two athletes – Ben Rueck and Delaney Miller, with a 360-degree view of the journey. Viewers were able to follow the climbers and climb along with them, using a VR headset and two sensory remote controls. The VR campaign provided a great marketing campaign for TERREX, Adidas‘s line of outdoor apparel and accessories.
12. Toms Virtual Giving Trip
Toms, for its charity event of giving shoes to children who can’t afford it, used 360-degree Virtual Reality in order to let the viewers get a first hand experience of the impact that TOMS was leaving on the society. Through Virtual reality, customers were also made to see their contribution in making the world a better place. From soaring over a Peruvian village to playing on a school playground with kids, viewers will truly feel as though they are on a Giving Trip with the TOMS team.
The viewers could experience destinations ranging from the deserts of the Middle East to the snowy Swiss Alps and the busy urban regions of New York and Singapore.
Through this visualization, viewers were given a chance to experience what their next holiday could be like and what Thomas Cook has in store for them.
In order to maintain the extreme spirit of the brand, Adidas promoted the range through a virtual reality campaign wherein people could experience the mountain-climbing journey of two athletes – Ben Rueck and Delaney Miller, with a 360-degree view of the journey. Viewers were able to follow the climbers and climb along with them, using a VR headset and two sensory remote controls. The VR campaign provided a great marketing campaign for TERREX, Adidas‘s line of outdoor apparel and accessories.
13. Silicon Valley : Inside the Hacker Hostel
14. KFC Virtual Training Experience
15. Oreo’s Virtual Reality Experience
16. Stranger Things promotion on VR
7. Conclusion
With ever increasing competition and the age of cutting edge technological advancements, with ad blocking and alternative content channels posing a threat to traditional marketing techniques, using virtual reality games/motion games shall be considered by all growing as well as successful brands in order to maintain a foothold in the market. Delivering good quality Virtual reality content can be beneficial especially for those companies which are limited on budget when it comes to resource allocation. Hosting customers with interactive sessions of games and virtual reality may prove to be a more winning strategy in the near future.We here at Gokapture can help you in your next promotional interactive session with your audience by providing all kinds of technical aids that can make your marketing strategy the most effective and prominent. Our services our not limited to providing marketing essentials as we also provide motion gaming and virtual reality games and setup that can be customized and created exclusively for a specific event; be it birthdays, anniversaries or weddings, Gokapture has got all you you need to make your next event the most engaging and entertaining.
