A veritable profusion of virtual events has taken the world by storm. Often, we think of Skype, Zoom or FaceTime as the only virtual event software, but plenty of other options abound. Our high-tech world is populated with intelligent software designed to bring people together en masse in virtual enclaves. Think of large-scale gatherings like conferences, networking powwows, trade shows, webinars, virtual concerts, and even social gaming options online.
For the astute techie, this is all second nature. Virtual event software plays an important part in the selection process; it is central to the quality of the experience. Pretty much any gathering of the folk can be enjoyed online, with educational, entertainment, and social experiences showcased in grand style through the leading platforms.
According to Statista, virtual events burst onto the scene in a big way during the pandemic and have retained mass-market appeal ever since. For example, in 2020 the global market size of MICE industry (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) topped $1 trillion. Many companies shifted their focus to virtual engagements online.
While webinars are the go-to selections for approximately 50% of worldwide event attendees, other popular selections include livestream video broadcasts available over the Internet. We see a growing preference for virtual events, particularly as it relates to remote work, or hybrid options. Indeed, a synergy of in-person and online options is preferred to just one or the other.
Virtual Entertainment
Virtual entertainment has grown in leaps and bounds of late. This innovative landscape is dynamic, fast-paced, and engaging to the max. A bustling market, virtual entertainment is focused on leveraging sophisticated technology, including augmented reality, virtual reality, live streaming, and traditional online entertainment. This arena encompasses social games from leading software providers.
For example, virtual games like Pub Kings by Pragmatic Play – a renowned social casino games developer – are readily available to players. The beauty of virtual entertainment lies in the massive variety of high-quality attractions available to players. With social casino games – a niche genre – players are privy to Megaways™, Hold & Spin attractions, multipliers, wilds, scatters, free spins, and in-game bonuses, all available for free.
Virtual entertainment negates the need for in-person gatherings, reduces overheads, eliminates inefficiency, and maximizes overall value. Plus, there’s the added benefit of a much greater social community with players from all corners of the globe participating. Specific forms of virtual entertainment, such as social casino games, offer unique benefits: free play online.
An impossibility with traditional in-person games, the novel gold coin (GC) system facilitates free play with virtual in-game currency and no real-money winnings. Virtual Entertainment takes many forms besides online games. These include arts and crafts, New Year celebrations, performances, food and drink experiences, celebrations, health and well-being, magicians, musicians, teambuilding, and scores of other virtual options.
Popular Virtual Events
| Category | Examples of Virtual Events |
|---|---|
| Creative Arts | Flower arranging, online painting workshops, origami |
| Performing Arts | Online dance classes, talent shows, storytelling |
| Music and Singing | Online concerts, karaoke |
| Photography & Film | Online photography classes |
| Culinary Arts | Online mixology classes, wine tastings, and dinner parties |
| Gardening | Gardening classes |
| Educational & Fun | Happy hours and escape rooms |
This table organizes the types of virtual events into categories, providing clear examples within each category, and showcasing the range from educational activities to more leisure-oriented gatherings.
How Big Tech Is Driving the Virtual Events Industry
Just recently, Apple Inc launched Vision Pro – a seamless blend of digital content and physical space. An augmented reality product, Apple Vision Pro is a high-tech solution that seamlessly brings the virtual world and corporeal world together. Designed with meticulous attention to detail, navigation is achieved through a combination of eye movements, hand movements, and voice. An ingenious concept, Apple Vision Pro removes boundaries and creates a frictionless environment of audio-visual prowess where anything is possible.
It is a veritable theater of entertainment which fully supports all of the aforementioned virtual events, entertainment options, and gatherings. Meta’s equivalent is Meta Quest 3 with a good amount of the same features, albeit a lower-quality, lower resolution alternative. Other options include Xreal Air 2 Pro, and Meta Quest Pro. With huge price differentials between options, it often comes down to what type of virtual technology gear people can afford. Fortunately, many of these gaming options are also available for FREE!