The presence of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), to Mixed Reality (MR) technology has provided new options. Not only for the game industry but other general industries. Although the number of startup activists targeting VR, AR and MR technology is still relatively small, their presence in Indonesia is increasingly familiar and widely used by the general public.

Now in the online class session 7 at DG Fest 2021, this time we discuss the history of AR and VR in Indonesia. Accompanied by two practitioners who are experts in the field, namely Lee Marvin, VP Gamification of AGATE and Evan Surya Kusuma, Founder of Virtu.

This discussion is very interesting because AR and VR technology are starting to be known by many Indonesians. But many are still unfamiliar with this advanced technology. Surely many are wondering how the history of AR and VR began? Answering that, Lee Marvin said that AR and VR technology came from the results of the United States military research in the 1960s. Unlike today's VR devices, the form of VR devices created in the 1960s has a very large shape.

Although not yet commercial and mostly used for education, construction, and health, VR is often used in the United States. In the 1980s, VR technology returned with more sophisticated products, but again not widely used by the general public.

Until the 2010s, a company called Oculus re-developed VR technology aimed at the gaming industry. It also received a positive response because it managed to provide significant progress compared to previous VR technology.

Adding Lee's statement, Evan also explained that the development of VR technology at that time was very limited. These limitations are due to the fact that the device is still expensive and quite complicated to manufacture. Especially at that time VR devices were still using cables as power connectors.

Now VR devices are easy to manufacture, plus they're also wireless. This also has an impact on prices that are increasingly affordable. Currently there are various manufacturers that make VR devices, ranging from Oculus, HTC, to PlayStation. The presence of this VR technology brings a very different playing experience compared to using a console or PC via a keyboard and mouse.

However, the use of VR technology is not limited to playing games, but also for other productive things. So that users of VR technology will be facilitated to create digital products that have economic value. This will also have an impact on business people who are involved in the VR technology industry.

Especially recently Mark Zuckerberg changed the name of his company from Facebook to Meta. This name change also changes their business pattern which revolutionized the digital era into the VR era by announcing a powerful feature called Metaverse. Metaverse itself is a virtual world that is being developed by Meta. In the virtual world, users will be able to perform various digital interaction activities. Of course, this is supported by the Oculust Quest 2 VR device which is predicted to be a device that supports these advanced features.

But surely many are asking when VR technology becomes a technology that is adapted by a wider audience. Answering the question, Lee Marvin explained with the announcement of the virtual world plan announced by Mark Zuckerber, he believes that this VR technology will be accepted in the next 2 or 3 years.

Online class session 8

At the end of DG Fest 2021, the 8th online class session became a session that had an interesting discussion. Because this session discusses how to collect and analyze data through gaming and esports. This topic is also filled by practitioners who are experts in their fields, including; Daria Belous, Escharts Editor, Yabes Elia, Hybrid.co.id Chief Editor, and Wijoyo Research, GM Digital Lifestyle Performance & Settlement Telkomsel.

This discussion begins with a question about the current demographics of game and esports players in Indonesia and globally. The answer is also very interesting, because it is based on each practitioner. Daria Belous said in a presentation that the demographics of game and esports players in the Asian region in the January to September 2021 quarter were dominated by Indonesia. With two top games dominating in the Asian region, namely Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and PUBG Mobile.

Then there is the question of the demographics of male and female gamers in Indonesia for Yabes Elia. He explained that he had researched the demographics of male and female gamers, until finally he found statistical data on the distribution of mobile games with 74% men and 70% women. So currently, the demographic of gamers in Indonesia are not much different between men and women. However, he added that this statistical data is different from the statistical data of esports players and esports supporters. If further revealed, the statistical data will be much different.

An interesting thing came from the information provided by Wijoyo Research, GM Digital Lifestyle Performance & Settlement Telkomsel which stated that based on Newzoo's research data from September 2021, the total gamers in Indonesia are estimated at around 115 million. Because Telkomsel's business is mobile-based, the research data is narrowed down to mobile users. This shows that Telkomsel's subscribers who play games are around 75 million. So that more or less Telkomsel controls 65% of the total gamers in Indonesia. In fact, 45% of Telkomsel's total customers are gamers.

Meanwhile, when looking at the demographics, Telkomsel subscriber gamers are more concentrated on the island of Java, precisely in Greater Jakarta, Surabaya, and several other big cities. Meanwhile, for Sumatra, the highest concentration is in the Medan area, and for the East area, the highest concentration is in Makassar.

So, that's the summary of online class sessions 7 and 8 at DG Fest 2021. Don't forget to invite your friends to join the spectacular gamer festival from Dunia Games which is held online!

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