Immersive Poker Experiences in VR Applications

08:30
04 Aug

Online poker seemed like a pipe dream before 1998. But thanks to advancements in mobile technology and the internet, poker players from across the globe can log in to an online poker room and play their favorite card game to their heart’s content. And it gets better. With developments in VR, providers are looking to make online poker more immersive. The idea is to wear a VR headset and immediately be transported into a realistic poker room with surround sounds and the avatars of other players like you. In this article, we review this exciting new field and how it could transform poker.

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What Is VR Poker?

VR poker is exactly what it sounds like – it is online poker played in a virtual world. With VR technology, players will be able to, through their avatars, enter gaming environments where poker is offered and interact with other players and dealers in real-time. VR poker is considered the next step from online and liver poker, offering more immersive than ever.

Because the avatars are virtual representations of the players, they will allow gamers to more accurately see and gauge their opponent’s reaction. This will solve a much-discussed problem presented by online poker – a lack of human contact.

The publisher’s platform allows players to design and create avatars, play several variations of poker in a 3D virtual world, and communicate with other players.

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Online Vs. VR Poker

When you log in to Aussie-friendly internet poker rooms, several technologies work together to help you play your favorite poker variation on your mobile phone or PC. However, this iteration of the game limits human interaction to chat rooms and message boards. You cannot see your opponent and, in single-player games, you mostly go up against a computer program.

This version of poker – online poker – grew very popular amid movement restrictions these past few years. Its mobility and convenience allowed gaming to continue anywhere and at any time. However, players have found themselves missing the human aspect of casino gaming without necessarily wanting to go back to the loud and smoke-filled Las Vegas casinos.

And this is where VR poker takes the reins. VR poker puts you in the room with other players and dealers without requiring you to leave your home. You can see, talk to, and interact with these people within a 3D virtual world and enjoy the human interaction previously lacking from online poker.

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What About Live Poker?

Live poker comes close but it does not offer the level of immersion available through VR poker. In live poker, streaming technology allows you to join a live game that is streamed in video format onto your PC or phone. You see the dealer, usually in a casino, as they deal the cards and you can place your bets online. You can also communicate with the dealer and other players in real-time through chat features.

And while a major leap from online poker, live dealer games do not put you in the room. You are physical and virtually in a different space from the dealer, who you can only watch through a video stream. This is widely different from VR poker, which features all the sights and sounds of a casino.

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Features of VR Poker Room

Speaking of features, once established, VR poker rooms will have some elements that set it apart from other versions of online poker. These include:

Realistic Poker Rooms

VR poker rooms like PokerStars VR are modeled against realistic poker rooms, complete with tables, lights, bars, and everything you would find in Las Vegas or Macau.

3D Game Elements

Naturally, all the elements are in 3D and player avatars can perceive and manipulate them as such. This means that instead of selecting a card on a screen, your avatar will be able to hold, see, and move the digital cards within a VR poker game.

Immersive Sound Effects

For the full effect, VR headsets are equipped with surround sound to help players fully immerse themselves in the game play. Whether it is music, instructions from the dealer, or the comments of other players, players will be able to hear everything in a VR poker room.

In-Game Communication

And since players can hear each other, they can also communicate. VR headsets also feature microphones to allow gamers to talk to each other in real-time without typing.

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How Will VR Affect Online Poker Strategy?

Arguably the best perk to come out of VR poker will be the renewed relevance of poker strategies like the bluff. Because players will be interacting with each other’s virtual representations in real-time, they will be able to read each other’s facial expressions, body movements, and tells. This will allow players to make better decisions about their moves, bringing back the most exciting aspect of playing poker.

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Wrapping Up

Playing online poker filled a gap created by movement restrictions around 2019 and 2020, allowing avid gamers to keep enjoying their favorite casino games from home. It also widened the igaming market, so that people who could not normally access physical casinos now had an avenue to engage in this exciting pastime. However, technology evolves and, with it, the many industries it affects. It seems the next phase of online poker is VR poker, where players can enjoy more immersive games than ever before.