At least since the takeover of Oculus Rift by Facebook, one thing has been certain: virtual reality accessories are the new thing for gamers. Whether glasses, treadmills or motion tracking sensors – gimmicks that let us completely immerse ourselves in virtual worlds are on the rise. But what possibilities are there already and what can we expect in the coming years? And – probably the most important question for WoW fans – can you also experience Azeroth with the help of the futuristic accessories?

Mouse and keyboard were yesterday – the gamer of tomorrow is immersing himself in virtual reality today. But what exactly is this new reality? And what does it have to do with the good old online role-playing game World of Warcraft? We deal with these questions in this article. It starts with a brief history of the virtual reality accessories, followed by the presentation of some promising pieces of hardware. Last but not least, we look into the question of which games are made for the innovative accessory – and whether WoW is part of it.

What is virtual reality?
The term “virtual reality” was probably coined in 1982 by Australian writer Damien Broderick in his sci-fi novel “The Judas Mandala”. Today, on the one hand, it means an artificially created world – a game or simulation that feels real to the player or the person who is in it. On the other hand, Virtual Reality (VR for short) refers to the hardware needed to immerse yourself in the simulation; these include 3D glasses or special controllers. Even treadmills are coming onto the market soon. 2014 is supposed to be the year of virtual reality: In addition to the most famous example, Oculus Rift, a number of products were announced that should enable gamers to immerse themselves completely in the game world. Using sensors, human movements in front of the PC or console should trigger realistic reactions in the virtual world. And – hardly imaginable from today’s point of view – even role-playing games should work with the innovative accessories.

Is the gaming world ready for virtual reality?
Hardware and software developers were already trying their hand at virtual reality in the 1980s and 90s. In 1995, Nintendo proudly released the Virtual Boy. The console, marketed as a handheld, consisted of a controller and VR glasses with two LC displays. But instead of the promised three-dimensional world, players only got a headache: The Virtual Boy was far too heavy and even needed a support. Surprise: The console flopped. The same fate befell the Forte VFX-1. The VR helmet with a head-mounted display, two headphone shells and a microphone was almost as expensive as a new PC at 1,800 DM (900 euros) and also didn’t exactly impress with its high resolution. In addition, the helmet was not compatible with all graphics cards and sometimes had to be configured at great expense. From 1997 to 1998, Sony also tried its luck in the VR market. The Glasstron glasses with two LC displays were available in a console and a PC version. At 1,800 and 3,900 DM (900 and 1,800 euros, respectively), both models were almost unaffordable. The result: you already guessed it, the glasses flopped.

Too expensive, unwieldy, not sophisticated … the VR attempts in the past all failed. But the topic has never really been forgotten – it continues to occupy people, as the films “Tron” or “eXistenZ” prove. Nowadays, many companies are trying their luck again in the field of “virtual reality” – and the interest seems to be enormous. Intrigued by 3D monitors, voice and motion controls, many consumers seem ready to take the next step towards virtual reality.

Oculus Rift: The pioneer in virtual reality
The gaming community has long been waiting for the Oculus Rift VR glasses announced for autumn 2014. Almost 10,000 people supported the extremely successful Oculus Kickstarter campaign, raising almost $2.5 million. For comparison: The goal of the campaign was set at $250,000. At the beginning of 2014, the company was even bought by Facebook – Oculus Rift is now owned by Mark Zuckerberg, who is known to have a knack for good business. But what exactly can Oculus Rift do, what makes the glasses so interesting? It is a modern variant of the Virtual Boy – glasses with an integrated mini-display. Oculus Rift is not only more compact, but also has a resolution that corresponds to today’s standards. The version that has been available for tests and measurements for a long time offers “

Everyone wants a piece of the VR cake
Oculus Rift is probably the most anticipated VR product of 2014. But there’s a catch: the glasses are only intended for PCs, not for consoles. But that doesn’t mean that PS4 and Xbox One players are left out. At the GDC 2014, Sony announced that it would develop its own VR glasses for the Playstation 4. The good piece is called Project Morpheus and it should only be compatible with Sony’s console. But that’s not all: At the end of March 2014, True Player Gear announced out of nowhere that the company was working on its own VR glasses. This should be compatible with all platforms – PC and high-end consoles. This would allow fans of The Elder Scrolls Online to experience the game more intensely on both PC and Xbox One than without VR accessories.

Oculus Rift, Project Morpheus and True Player Gear compared
The Oculus VR PC glasses currently have 1,280 x 800 pixels – 640 x 800 per eye – with a display size of 7 inches (Full HD resolution is planned). The Sony glasses, on the other hand, only have a 5-inch screen, but offer 960 x 1,080 pixels per eye. Both products have a field of view of 90 degrees (horizontal) and accelerometers. The True Player Gear model offers not only a Full HD display and motion sensors, but also two built-in cameras. This will probably make it more expensive than the Oculus Rift.

Cyberith Virtualizer: VR with full physical activity
Why limit virtual reality to just the eyes? In cooperation with the Technical University of Vienna, the company Cyberith is developing a so-called locomotion device that involves the whole body – the Cyberith Virtualizer. It is a walking frame with a height-adjustable strap that holds the player. The heart of the Virtualizer, however, is the low-friction plate in the middle. A person in socks can walk or run on it without actually moving – held in place by a strap. The built-in sensors record not only the steps, but also the posture – whether the player is crouched or upright and how fast. Walk backwards, jump or sit in the game? No problem.

Virtuix Omni: The bathtub for the living room
The Virtuix Omni is similar to the Virtualizer in terms of structure, but instead of standing on a platform in socks, you stand in a small plastic tub with special shoes. The feet are guided by means of a pin in the grooves of the tub. The Virtuix Omni is said to only cost about $500, but despite the price, the prospects for success aren’t all that rosy. Why? Although the frame takes up less space than the Virtualizer, it is difficult to combine with the cozy atmosphere of a living room due to the tub and the special shoes.

PrioVR: Sensor corsets for gamers
If you don’t like the idea of ​​a walking frame, Prio VR should be of interest. The development (a Kickstarter success at the second attempt) by the company YEI Technology from Portsmouth, Ohio, impresses with its freedom of movement. In contrast to the Virtualizer, you don’t have to stand on a walking frame – the sensors are attached to your body. According to the manufacturer, the Pro version with 17 sensors all over the body is so precise that it is even suitable for motion capture. Anyone who speculates about a possible VR future of WoW will probably not come up with the PrioVR, which is particularly suitable for games with action-based combat systems.

Tactical Haptics Reactive Grip: VR for the hands
What could also make sense in WoW is a special controller. Because virtual reality means not only seeing and exploring, but also feeling. Reactive Grip is a new type of handle-shaped controller that uses small plates to create friction in the hand. As a result, you can clearly feel how the virtual gun recoils in your hand or how the pixel rod swings back and forth in your hand. This is exactly what distinguishes the Reactive Grip from a Wii or Move controller and could also make it interesting for WoW players: finally the long-awaited feedback when fishing when a fish bites! Or get haptic feedback when you’re standing in a poisonous puddle again – that would be something. The problem: In contrast to Oculus Rift or the Virtualizer, one cannot directly imagine how the effect of this controller actually turns out – you would have to have held the handle in your hand once. Therefore, Tactical Haptics’ plan to establish a VR controller remains a dream of the future. The company’s first Kickstarter campaign failed in December 2013. Cooperation with Sixense, the developer of the STEM system, is planned for the future.

STEM System: The Future?
A mix of the features of the PrioVR and the Reactive Grip controller, compatible with over 250 PC games – all this Sixense wants to offer in the future (Editor’s note: The company also has the hardware for the Razer Hydra- controller supplied). STEM system – this is a wireless, modular motion tracking platform with a base station and up to five modules, with the help of which STEM records the movements of the user and implements them as movements in the game. The STEM sensors can be inserted into the two controllers supplied and also attached to the body as desired. Among other things, the STEM system is compatible with all games in which Razer Hydra also works. You can also combine the system with Oculus Rift and Virtuix Omni. The first copies are to be delivered in July 2014.

But for whom is the STEM system interesting? It has some advantages compared to Virtualizer & Co.: The system is just as compact as PrioVR. This product offers more flexibility by being able to either use just two controllers or equip any number of STEM sensors. In addition, as an open platform, it will give software and hardware developers the opportunity to develop compatible products at will. The disadvantage: Additional hardware, such as glasses, is not included. For the time being, the STEM system will probably remain more of a gimmick for fans. For WoW players, exactly the same problem arises here as with PrioVR: If you look at the combat system of WoW, accessories like the STEM system would just be money thrown out the window. Action game fans in particular will get their money’s worth here – the sensors develop their full potential in battle scenes. But games in which the character often jumps or performs movements can also be experienced more intensely with the STEM system.

What is WoW Classic?

World of Warcraft Classic is a true recreation of the original WoW as you know it from 2006. All parts of the game – from combat mechanics and talent trees to character models and zones – have been recreated, contributing to the authentic experience.

Getting Started

All players with an active World of Warcraft subscription or game time on their accounts have access toWoW Classic at no additional cost.

1. Open the Blizzard Battle.net Desktop App and select World of Warcraft from the menu.
2. Select World of Warcraft Classic from the Version menu. If you have more than one World of Warcraft account, you’ll see a second Account drop-down list. In this column, select the active account you want to play with.
3. Click the Install button. The progress bar will tell you when your game is ready to play.
4. Click the Play button when the installation is complete.

You will need to select the realm you want to play on from several different realm types. Make sure you choose the same realm as your friends – in World of Warcraft Classic, you can only group with characters that are on the same realm as you!

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