Location-based virtual reality (VR) centres are beginning to pop up all over the world, but one of the places that very quickly embraced the new technology was Japan. One of the biggest VR locations is VR Zone Shinjuku, which has just launched its newest VR attraction, Ghost in the Shell: Arise Stealth Hounds.
The launch of the new attraction allows for a closer look at how the VR experience works and what content it contains. Ghost in the Shell: Arise Stealth Hounds is, of course, based on the Ghost in the Shell franchise, which started with the 1995 anime film and subsequently spawned a number of sequels, spin-offs and adaptations.
Ghost in the Shell: Arise Stealth Hounds is a room-scale VR experience where players are equipped not only with a HTC Vive VR headset, but also with a number of sensors, a backpack PC and a gun prop that also contains sensors.
As reported by Inside Games, a group of players is divided into two teams, the alpha and omega teams and given a briefing on how the experience works by staff. Once inside the VR experience, players are put under the command of Major Kusanagi, one of the most important characters in the Ghost in the Shell series. Players are presented with the task to find and eliminate terrorists. The maximum number of players is eight, with a 4 vs 4 set-up. A microphone is included to allow team members to talk to each other an coordinate tactics.
Points can be gained by eliminating the enemy or hacking into the attaché case, an item that appears roughly halfway through the match. Friendly fire is possible, so its best to be careful. It’s also possible, and indeed, advised, to be stealthy by moving slowly and quietly to sneak up on the enemy.
VRFocus will bring you further news on Ghost in the Shell: Arise Stealth Hounds as it becomes available.