VR is something that movies have predicted for the last 25 years with popular movies such as “The Lawnmower Man” and “Johnny Mnemonic.” What seemed so far away in 1994, is now a reality today and this is not lost on both consumer and developer. Developers can build fantastic worlds and encase them inside of a user’s screen. There is still a large and untapped market for developers with VR as the technology is still fresh and new.
Enchanting games and programs utilizing the VR technology can be both a win for developers and users. The users can get completely lost and engrossed in this new world that exists within their VR helmets. The developers can experience healthy returns on investment and the capital needed to work on the next release. It’s a profitable and repeatable cycle if the marketing, development, and playability of the VR release are done correctly.
The above link is to the instructions on developing a simple game on the Oculus VR. Oculus has been in development for many years and it’s one of the leading VR companies to usher in this new era. With practice and getting the hang of the Oculus Development Kit, a developer could slowly expand his/her knowledge of the format and develop bigger projects. Eventually, over time, a developer could have an idea of a game by March and a finished game by June.
The adage “practice makes perfect” applies here, the old maxim “quality over quantity” also is applicable. There are many low-quality games that are not properly thought out, sure they make a couple of bucks because the developer didn’t invest too much time on them. But the lack of playability of these low-quality games elicits a negative response and a negative word of mouth from user to user on the poor experience.
In contrast, a studious developer who focuses on putting out the best game possible with great playability gets repeat business from users. Users spread the word of mouth in a positive light and there will be a growing user base ready for the next release by the developer. Everyone reading this remembers “Flappy Bird” which came out in 2013. The developer (Dong Nguyen) didn’t make the game as good as it could have looked, he just concentrated on the game playability. It was a huge hit as players gobbled up the game (it was a free game, the developer made money on the in-game advertisements) as a giant consensus found the game addicting.
For developers, the world of VR is the Wild West with tumbleweeds rolling outside; it’s still a relatively brand-new environment. The world is out there to explore and see what can be developed and to see how software developers can push the boundaries of VR development. The technology is also ever-changing and it’s akin to a speeding train with only the most astute of development companies being able to hang on to the railings as smaller companies are flying off. Don’t be one of those who get flung off, hold onto that railing with both hands as it is going to be a fast and amazing ride.
