Parlour games are back in fashion - this was proven by last year's article in the Migros Magazine. So people get together again to play together. And what about in virtual reality? The studio called Experiment 7 is working on a VR platform that will bring people from all over the world together around a virtual table. A wide selection of social games is planned. In this way, "Magic Table" is to become a pioneering project in social VR.
The danger: Lonely instead of together?
Again and again, such applications raise the question of whether it is really the goal of our society to live in glasses and only talk to friends virtually? I think there are clearly people who are more at risk of excluding themselves more and more from real society with such applications. But how often have people feared in the past that people would isolate themselves with new media? I think VR also brings new possibilities in this context and complements fun evenings when we continue to enjoy sitting opposite each other in the real world playing social games in the flesh.
Always someone there for games
In Magic Table, you can play against friends, random players or artificial intelligences. So if no one can find the time and you fancy a game of dice or cards yourself, you can always look for company. A real plus point for VR.
Play everywhere
Since Magic Table requires neither spatial tracking nor a great deal of computing power, the virtual gaming table could also be interesting for users of mobile VR platforms. Especially when on the move, many people whip out their mobile phones for a short game to pass the time. As soon as the public gets used to VR glasses and fancier, lighter models are on the market, this will of course be an ingenious pastime.
Large selection
Also, one will be able to conveniently choose between any number of games in an instant. That is another logistical plus point. Experiment 7 has developed Magic Table as a platform for its own games for the time being, but in the future other developers will also have the opportunity to publish their games on the platform. This will probably also help VR to be used by the general public. Social games work for young and old, whereas shooters or similar games, which you might hear more about in the media at the moment, probably don't appeal to such a broad mass.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating
The first version of Magic Table is already available on Oculus Home for Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR available. Later, HTC Vive, Playstation VR and Google Daydream will also be supported. Access will be free of charge as far as possible. However, users will have to pay for special games.
In the version already available, there is only one room: you sit in a noble study with a fireplace. Soft music plays in the background. At present, the application only offers chess, where you can choose the design yourself. A multiplayer mode, avatars, interesting characters from samurais to butterflies and support for Oculus Touch are to follow soon.
By the way, the virtual game environments will also be exchangeable. This means that you will be able to equip them with objects, which, however, will most likely cost something.
Ludo
One not-so-serious question remains unanswered. In the virtual game Mensch Ärgere dich, won't you also be able to angrily tip over the board or sweep the game pieces off the table if you lose your nerve as a bad loser?
Source: vrodo.de / Experiment 7
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