Virtual reality is truly a new benchmark for video gaming, and for developers and studios looking to provide a better, more immersive experience for gamers it's a lot of exciting new design space to explore.
One great use for it will be in horror games, especially for hardcore horror fanatics who want their skins to crawl in fear as designers think of new ways to scare them. "Resident Evil 7," the latest in the popular "Resident Evil" franchise, is the latest game to take advantage of burgeoning VR technology.
While fans and critics have expressed doubt that "Resident Evil 7"'s much-touted VR mode would result in nausea and motion sickness for players, Capcom discovered a much different problem with the game's groundbreaking new feature—they find that it's plain too scary. Capcom Europe CEO Katsuhiko Ichii believes that if players choose to play it on VR—which is a possible option—they should prepare themselves for the worst.
It's interesting to note, as Gaming Bolt reports that Capcom originally designed the game for regular screens, not for VR. "Resident Evil 7"'s focus on the supernatural, and not merely the undead, makes it even scarier when played through virtual reality.
Couple that with the series' penchant for jump scares, and "Resident Evil 7" might very well be the scariest game on VR right now. But at the moment, Capcom is trying to figure out how to produce a good VR experience without getting players in any real physical danger. Once they figure out how to do that, then they'd be well on their way to making a "Resident Evil" game worthy of the series' early triumphs.
"Resident Evil 7" is scheduled for release for the Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC in January of next year, and players won't need VR headsets to play the game.
