Virtual reality technologies: basic principles of operation

“VR opens up new digital worlds that allow information to be visualized. This ability has the potential to change and open up new prospects for many industries in the future,” says our expert Yevhen Kasyanenko about the prospects for the development of digital world systems.

Today we will tell you:

• how the technology works,
• why virtual reality systems will become a key tool for the development of gaming projects,
• what equipment is needed to implement projects,
• what inventions are capable of achieving.

We invite you to dive into VR technology with us!

What is virtual reality and how does it work?

“VR is a digital space that is defined by a special program. It can be used for entertainment, education, industry, or medicine,” explains Yevhen Kasyanenko.

The main principles of VR systems are:

• Realism and complete immersion. Thanks to special equipment such as a VR headset, controller, sensors, motion sensors, headset, clothing, and much more, a sense of presence is created. Rendering helps to accurately replicate the player’s physical movements without delay. External factors from the real world are blocked, and the entire game process takes place with maximum accuracy.
• Interaction with objects within the digital world. The development of VR technology allows you to pick up objects, press buttons, move around locations, and interact with other characters as in real life.
• Three-dimensional 6DOF space. The system is capable of tracking movements and recording tilts, turns, movements, and bends of the arms, legs, and body. The technology is suitable for simulators and dynamic games.
• Final rendering (focusing the gaze). VR technology optimizes the area that is visible to the eye, thereby reducing the load on the system. This means that clear details are preserved where the participant is looking.
• Haptic digital world (simulation of tactility). VR controllers with gloves and sensory suits allow you to feel the texture, temperature, and force of pressing on objects in the digital environment. In the future, the technology will be able to simulate wind, vibration, humidity, and other climatic factors.
• Three-dimensional sound. Audio technologies immerse you in spatial sound, which is pleasant and natural to the ear. This makes the atmosphere very realistic, as external noise is not even audible.
• Eye control. Select objects with your gaze, without using your hands, and the system even reads your emotions, adjusting the interface to your mood.
• Brain-computer interface (BCI). Currently, these are used in medicine, for example, to control experimental prostheses and in rehabilitation. Development in the VR sphere is still in its early stages: Neuralink is being tested on animals, and the Ctrl-labs (Meta) project has been suspended until 2023. There is no mass application yet, but the field is actively developing.

How does VR affect the computer games industry?

No matter how you look at it, virtual reality is most often used in games today. And for good reason: it takes gameplay to a whole new level, turning a simple “toy” into a real adventure where you are truly inside the story.

Here’s what makes VR so cool in games:

1. Maximum immersion. Gamers don’t just control their game avatars from the outside, they become them.
2. A 360-degree view allows you to feel all the physical laws of the virtual world.
3. Detailing. Players don’t just see a picture, they can feel the depth of the virtual world.
4. Real movement. Thanks to sensors and indicators, players move around, rather than clicking on keys.
5. Physical and emotional involvement in the game allows players to experience the gameplay more deeply and makes their reactions much more intense.
6. The tactility of gloves and controllers allows players to feel surfaces, the hardness of objects, the force of blows, and the tension of the bowstring. All these features increase the realism of the game.
7. Cooperative interaction supports multiplayer mode. This feature allows several players to be in the same reality and interact within the gameplay: compete, complete missions, create.
8. The interactive format allows you to create unique game scenarios, supplementing reality so that the behavior of the characters adapts to the player’s choices and decisions.

“VR technologies develop cognitive abilities: spatial thinking, coordination, quick reactions, and a strategic approach,”emphasizes our specialist.

Modern technologies in VR games

The VR industry uses many modern tools to improve the quality of games, for example:

• Ray tracing technology provides realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections.
• AI and machine learning adapt the system to the user’s playing style.
• Cloud VR launches content without compromising quality, even without a powerful PC.

This also includes the combination of reality (VR + AR). This is when virtual elements are superimposed on the real world. It is important to distinguish between VR, which completely immerses you in a digital environment, and AR, which complements reality. For example, Meta Quest 3 uses passthrough AR (through video with object overlay), while devices like HoloLens create a full-fledged spatial augmented reality.

And that’s not all. VR is not just a cool picture, but a whole bundle of technologies that make the world around you real:

• tactile feedback to feel objects;
• eye tracking so that the system understands where the user is looking;
• body tracking—movements are repeated accurately and naturally.

The result is not just a game, but a real experience that draws you in completely.

Equipment for VR games

The quality of immersion in VR largely depends on the equipment itself. Among the most popular options, we would like to highlight the following:

• Meta Quest 2 and Pico 4 are standalone headsets. They work on their own, without connecting to a computer, and deliver cool mobile graphics. Very convenient and without unnecessary wires.
• HTC Vive, Valve Index, HP Reverb G2 are serious PC headsets. To use them, you need a powerful computer, but in return you get top-notch graphics, precise movements, and smooth gameplay. A true immersion!
• PlayStation VR 2 – VR systems designed to work with high-performance consoles.
• VR gloves, running platforms – devices for tactility that increase the level of realism, allowing you to feel the shapes, softness, and texture of objects within the game.

The future of VR: where is the technology headed?

VR is developing at a rapid pace and is already opening up new horizons and opportunities. Here’s what awaits us very soon:

• Your eyes won’t get tired from graphics and tricks, because Micro-OLED and Pancake lens technology eliminates the grid effect, which reduces eye strain.
• Mind control is no longer so surprising; developments already have neural interfaces that help control objects with the power of thought. This does not even require special controllers; the signal is transmitted directly to the system from the brain.
• Cloud technologies are contributing to the invention of wireless headsets, which improves the comfort of immersion. Players are not hindered by cables, and movements become smooth and realistic.

“The virtual and real worlds are getting closer and closer, and very soon it will be incredibly difficult to tell them apart,”emphasizes Yevhen Kasyanenko.

What challenges does virtual reality technology face?

Yes, VR is exciting and opens up whole new worlds, but there is also a downside that is important to remember:

• The price of entry. Helmets, controllers, powerful PCs—it’s not cheap. Even standalone devices require investment.
• Physiological limitations. Some players experience eye strain, dizziness, or motion sickness, especially when the settings are incorrect or during long sessions.
• Lack of content. Most VR games are short demos or indie projects. AAA projects are still rare, although interest is growing.
• The technology is still “in progress.” Eye tracking and mind control are promising developments, but they are still in the research or pilot case stage, especially in medicine.

VR is developing rapidly, but it is important to consider these limitations so that the project is based on quality rather than hype.

Why is it important to develop VR games with professionals?

VR is not just about “adding a helmet” to a regular game. It is a whole world where everything must work perfectly: from graphics and controls to how the player feels in this metaverse. If something goes wrong, instead of a “wow effect,” you’ll get motion sickness, lag, and disappointment.

How we approach VR development at KISS

At KISS Software, led by Yevhen Kasyanenko, we make VR games with our hearts and souls. Here’s how we approach it:

• We choose the right engine for the task — not just “whatever’s available,” but one that will make the project run fast and look cool.
• We take the player’s physiology into account — movements, interface, turns — everything should be natural and not cause discomfort.
• We optimize to perfection—no pixelated mess or lag. The game should be smooth and beautiful.
• We make sure there is no motion sickness—fine-tuning the camera and interactions helps avoid unpleasant sensations.
• We always stay in touch—updates, support, improvements, etc. We don’t abandon the project after release.

We don’t just make VR games, we create immersion: when the player puts on the headset and forgets that reality even exists.

Conclusion

The gaming industry benefits most from virtual reality. Interaction with the world that completely immerses you in various emotional states captivates people. But for this technology to really work properly, you need experience.

Our KISS.software team, led by Yevhen Kasyanenko, knows how to turn your idea into a powerful, technologically advanced product. Want a game you can’t put down? We’ll make it. Need a VR project for training, presentations, or medicine? No problem.

We select the right technologies for the task, gather UX, code, test, polish, and deliver a result that works and captivates.

Have an idea? Let’s discuss it, and then we’ll do everything right.