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Virtual Reality is considered by many to be the future of gaming. When you think of Virtual Reality you instantly imagine some guy wearing a visor and gloves, wiggling around on the spot to something no-one else can see. The simulation creates a 3D environment around you, making you feel like you are in this virtual world. This technology is around today, used mainly for military and pilot training. The realism makes it essential training for soldiers and pilots. However, the huge cost involved in making and running these machines makes it feel a long way off from being in peoples homes.

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But can you imagine World of Warcraft VR, where you can pick up your imaginary sword and go on long realistic quests where monsters are creeping up behind you? Or Wii Sports VR where you are surrounded by screaming fans, have to work harder for every swing of the tennis racket? You might not realise it, but Nintendo and Blizzard have already set the ball rolling for VR. The Wiimote allows you to move realistically to what it is portraying on screen, while millions of people have already spent hundreds of hours lost in a virtual world thanks to Warcraft. It's a case of taking these off the television screen and PC monitor and putting them into Virtual Reality.

The fine line between real and virtual could be too much for some, though. With video games already in the media spotlight every time a child is murdered, news headlines would look for any excuse to blame any wrong doing on VR. Likewise, if someone spends too many hours in a virtual world with a virtual gun, who's to say they won't lose all grip on the real world and begin to confuse the two. Naturally, many years of research and development would be needed and costs will need to be cut before VR will come into the home environment.

Games like Manhunt 2 already court controversy for their "realistic" depictions of violence

The innovation wars are on. While Nintendo and Blizzard are currently the companies setting the benchmark, the competition is wide open. It could easily be said that gaming's natural progression is Virtual Reality. Certainly for gamers there are exciting times ahead.