How VFX is changing the face of online casino game design

The world of online casino gaming continues to attract more players due to its innovative features. Every year, players have something new to look forward to, be it a new payout system, faster transactions, realistic graphics, or more game collections. And with NJ online casinos, players barely have to wait a year before they can set their eyes on new experiences. This decade has seen the rise of VFX in gaming. We explain what it entails and how it works.  

What is VFX?

It can be hard to keep up with all the upcoming technologies, ranging from AI to VR to AR. So, where does VFX fall? This technology, which is visual effects in full, comes down to the creation and use of images in media – this can be in television, gaming, movies, or any other settings where image manipulation is key. Instead of generating the images through live shoots, VFX creators use existing images to come up with concepts that can then play out in the media.

So, how does this look in the real world? Take the example of a movie like Jurassic Park. We all know that we do not actually have dinosaurs walking around – and even if they did, incorporating them in a movie set would likely not work. VFX creators take the dinosaur concept and use this imagery to create animations that film crews can then integrate into the movie plot. The process of doing this involves generating computer images, combining elements from various sources to come up with one image, capturing the movement of other objects and making the generated images appear to be the ones making the motion. With this process, almost anything can look real!

VFX in gaming.

For a long time, casino operators have invested in technologies that can make games more appealing to players, from virtual reality to augmented reality. These challenges can be hard to address due to technological advancements at this stage; for example, VR hardware tends to be costly. VFX offers a simplified yet balanced approach to innovative gaming in the following ways:

• It can portray even the smallest changes. This technology can visualise anything from fire to explosions as it uses simulations to make the imagery look real, e.g., smoke and fire.
• It can make movements seem realistic. When playing online games, players are often too aware of the fact that they are playing against a computer. VFX changes this by allowing players to interact with realistic characters whose movements seem human.

The goal of this technology is to make everything look realistic. When coupled with realistic sounds, players feel like they are in an actual casino, which makes their experiences feel more rewarding.

Looking at the bright side.

VFX continues to shine and gain traction, not just in gaming but other industries too. Let’s consider why:

1. It brings fantasies to life. Gone are the days when developers worked with unrealistic images. Now, they can shape the characters in games to look like actual casino players. But it’s not just about the clientele. They can also configure casino settings such that the architecture matches what players would expect in an actual casino. They can also create imaginative settings, e.g., a casino on the moon or a casino under the ocean – creativity is the only limitation.
2. It makes narratives more engaging. People spend a lot more time in a game if they are invested in the narrative. With realistic imagery, this is easy to achieve as games can include creative narrations.
3. It is cost-friendly. While many emerging technologies tend to be costly to the operator and the players, such is not the case with this technology. Operators do not have to actually set up locations to create similar imagery, nor do they need to act out scenes. Instead, all this is possible through computer imagery. What’s more, players do not need specialised software or hardware to access such games.

This revolutionary technology has made gaming more convenient, accessible, and realistic, making it even more appealing to the already eager market.

Addressing the challenges.

VFX has surely taken the gaming world by storm. But this has not been without its share of challenges, as follows:

• The need for accuracy. Players want realistic visuals. As such, a casino investing in this technology must also work with software providers that hire the best artists in the industry. Else, players will note the discrepancies, affecting the interactive experience.
• The lack of adequate skills. As the demand for VFX grows, finding skilled professionals has become quite an undertaking. After all, these services are necessary for more than just gaming – they are also essential in television, film, and everything in between. Casino operators must thus work with game providers who have access to this kind of job talent.
• The intricacies of creation. It may seem like an easy job to recreate computer images, but that is not the case. Artists often have to spend hours contemplating how to execute a movement and ensure coordination even before they can start executing their plans. Such work requires teams to work together, which can be time-consuming as accuracy is of the essence.

Game developers must also keep up with the changing technologies to ensure that their designs can integrate with the latest systems to avoid obsolescence in this fast world.