How Online Casino Games Have Become More Realistic
Posted by Harry Kane on Thursday, March 16, 2017
If you were a purveyor of online casino games at the turn of the century, you will recall the rudimentary graphics, poor quality audio and time-consuming downloading process. In short, the experience was as far-removed from a bricks-and-mortar casino as you could ever imagine, and this initially made it difficult for operators to achieve success within the virtual space.
This state of affairs could not be allowed to continue indefinitely, of course, particularly as the main objective of online operators was always to replicate a corporeal gambling experience online. Given this and the pace of technological advancement that we have seen during the last decade, it is little wonder that the online casino platforms of today are almost unrecognisable from their predecessors.
How Have Online Casino Games Become More Realistic Over Time?
With this in mind, it is worth looking at the evolution that have seen in the online casino market and appraising how this led to the development of more realistic games. Consider the following:
The Emergence of Superior Graphics and Audio
This is arguably the single most significant development, as the quality of graphics and audio associated with online gaming has improved immeasurable during the last decade. Not only have we seen the emergence of three-dimensional graphics and high-resolution displays, for example,but operators have also captured suitable sound effects and soundtracks that are synonymous with bricks-and-mortar casinos.
When combined, these sensory enhancements create a more authentic and immersive casino experience, and one that is instantly familiar to offline gamblers. With even mobile visuals and hardware having advanced thanks to the utilisation of graphic chips, players can now experience the best of both corporeal and virtual worlds when gambling online.
The Rise of Real-Time Gambling and Accurately Paced Gameplay
One of the key differentiators associated with corporeal gambling is the pace of gameplay, as individual hands and wheel spins are often impacted by interaction between players and the dealer. This is something that online operators have strived to emulate over time, by encouraging greater interaction with virtual dealers and mirroring the pace of specific games that are played offline.
As an example of this, online roulette games now feature an average of two spins per minute, as this replicates the type of experience usually enjoyed in a land-based casino.
Not only this, but we have also seen the emergence of real-time and real-money gambling online, which means that players can now access live and competitive tournaments through a PC and mobile device. This is a huge development, and one that has helped online gameplay to reach a brand new, exalted level.
Heralding the Dawn of Virtual Reality Gaming
At present, online casino gaming is approaching the final frontier in terms of authenticity, with virtual reality (VR) hardware now capable of replicating a three-dimensional casino environment anywhere in the world. With a number of HD-ready headsets due for release later this year, the dawn of VR-inspired, online casino gameplay is now upon us.
This is something that mobile gaming developer NetEnt has been to capitalise on, as the brand is set to launch a VR slot iteration of the famous Gonzo’s Quest in time for 2018. This 3D, real-money slot will be the first of its kind in the modern age, while it will lay the foundation for similar releases over the course of the next 18 months.
This is something that players can barely wait for, while it also represents the final step in the quest to replicate a corporeal gambling experience online.