Digital Out-of-Home Entertainment (DOE) – Page 2 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

September 25, 2018

Zero Latency Opens New VR Centre in Nottingham UK

As location-based virtual reality (VR) grows in popularity an increasing number of new centres are popping up all over the world. One of the latest to be announced is from warehouse-scale VR company Zero Latency, who have revealed it will be opening a new VR experience in Nottingham, UK.

The new Nottingham location will be the first Zero Latency site in the UK, and the company will be bringing its immersive social VR title Zombie Survival to customers.

Zombie Survival is a zombie battling VR title that encourages cooperation between players as they try to defend a fort from a horde of undead until the rescue team arrives. Other titles planned to be introduced at Zero Latency Nottingham include Singularity, where teams of players face off against killer robots and Engineerium, a fantasy world full of mazes and platform challenges.

Players who come to Zero Latency Nottingham will be equipped with headsets, headphones, a military-style backpack and in shooter titles, a gun peripheral. Players will then be able to enter the VR world and control their full-motion VR avatars through the environment, contained within a 180 sq meter e-sports arena.

John Lilley, Chief Experience Officer at Zero Latency said “It’s long been our ambition to launch Zero Latency in the top tech hub of Europe and we can’t wait to share with Brits the UK’s first free-roam, multiplayer VR entertainment experience. There’s a growing appetite for cutting-edge socially engaging VR experiences and the games we offer cater to a wide audience from avid-gamers to first time visitors, but at the heart of every game is a family fun adventure. We look forward to opening the doors of our first UK arena in Nottingham, and can’t wait to watch players battle against zombies and sacrifice their friends so that they can win!”

Further information, including how to pre-book places, can be found on the Zero Latency website. As usual, VRFocus will keep you informed on new and upcoming VR centres.

September 24, 2018

Arizona Sunshine – LB VR Edition Sees Light of Day at Euro Attractions Show

Since it was first launched back in 2016, Vertigo Games’ zombie-shooting title Arizona Sunshine has won fans across the world, becoming one of the most popular virtual reality (VR) titles. Now the company is bringing the title to the arcades, and visitors at the Euro Attractions Show (EAS) in Amsterdam will get a first look at the new location-based version.

Location-based VR centres have been growing massively in popularity, with new centres popping up all over the world. Arizona Sunshine – LB VR Edition feeds into this rising demand by offering an untethered, free-roaming multiplayer version of the zombie apocalypse experience.

Players will be able to move freely around a large arena space, enabled by full-body tracking. A wide range of virtual weaponry is available, so players will be able to choose their own custom layout to take out the zombies that infest the landscape.

The location-based version of Arizona Sunshine has been designed for play areas of a minimum 7m x 7m, up to 10m x 10m, though the designers say even larger area may be possible on a case-by-case basis. The experience has been built to run on a turn-key VR set-up that makes installation simple of VR location staff, with support for all VR ecosystems and peripherals.

Arizona Sunshine – LB VR Edition can run on either HTC Vive or HTC Vive Pro with Steam VR tracking, or alternatively, it can be presented on Oculs Rift with OptiTrack tracking.

The Vertigo Games team will be demonstrating the system at the Euro Attractions Show in Amsterdam, an event designed for leisure and attractions industry professionals, where over 11,000 professionals from the amusement industry will be present, including investors, operators and suppliers.

Arizona Sunshine – LB VR Edition will be demonstrated at EAS Booth 7-126, from 25th-27th September, 2018. Further information on EAS can be found on the official IAAPA website.

For future coverage on new and upcoming VR products and services, keep checking back with VRFocus.

September 20, 2018

Witness The Legend of The Golem In VR

One of the major advantages of virtual reality (VR) is its ability to create or re-create an immersive world. This can involve creating fantastic worlds drawn from the imagination, or re-creating scenes and locations from history or legend. The latter is the case for a new location-based VR attraction called The Golem VR at Hamleys Toy Store in the Czech Republic.

Though not as well known as many other European legends, the tale of the Golem is deeply tied into Jewish history and the history of Prague. The new VR attraction lets visitors be a part of the legend as it unfolds all around them.

Visitors can don a VR headset to be transported to 15th Century Prague, where Rabbi Löw is creating a creature known as a Golem. The golem is usually depicted as being crafted from stone or clay, animated by a powerful incantation written on its forehead.

According to the story, the Jews of Prague created a Golem to protect themselves from persecution. This goes wrong when the golem displays an inability to tell the victims and the oppessors apart, and the body count starts to rise.

Visitors to Hamleys Toy Store in Prague can put on a backpack PC and Oculus Rift headset, along with Leap Motion hand-trackers before walking through a ‘time tunnel’ portal which transports the visitors to the historic Charles Bridge in the year 1608.

The unfolding VR experience is designed as a virtual escape room, where participants need to cooperate in order to move forward in the experience, such as assisting Rabbi Löw in throwing balls of energy in order to tame the golem.

The Golem VR was created by Ondřej Bach, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of DIVR Labs. Visitors to Hamleys Toy Store in Prague can pay $450 CZK (Roughly €17.6 EUR) to take part in the experience.

For future coverage on new or upcoming VR experiences, keep checking back with VRFocus.

September 12, 2018

Immotion Group Targets Growth & Profit At Home & Abroad With New Leke VR Agreements

While there continues to be something of a debate about the proliferation of virtual reality (VR) arcades and VR’s role as a part of digital out-of-home entertainment (DOE) locations it can’t be denied that many names involved within DOE are continuing to expand their ventures. It’s something that’s touched on regularly in The Virtual Arena, but even beyond this in recent months we’ve seen new locations announced from the likes of The VOID, VRIGHT, a new spin-off studio from Vertigo Games specifically for DOE VR titles and much more.

Another name that has begun appearing with ever increasing frequency is Immotion (or the Immotion Group). The UK-based DOE group has had a very busy 2018 indeed, capitalising on an initial £1.3 million (GBP) of funding it received at the end of 2017 it has since floated on the London Stock Exchange’s junior market, AIM, which gave it another £5.75 million on top of another £500K it received in investment this April. New partners and venues are being announced seemingly on a monthly basis, including work with Merlin Entertainments’ Lego Discovery Center in Boston earlier this year, a venue in Birmingham in May, one in Yorkshire in August and just last week VRFocus reported on the opening of a fourth UK centre in Cardiff.

However, Immotion Group aren’t focusing solely on the UK seeking to grow its business in America as well as in Asia. To that end they have just announced an exclusive distribution agreement with Leke VR. The Beijing based firm have agreed an extension to the existing UK contract which sees the pair tied up through to December 31st next year. On top of this is a new exclusive distribution agreement for the USA, again contracted until the end of 2019. Immotion Group now will be selling Leke VR’s motion platform hardware in combination with their own experiences across both territories exclusively in addition to other markets while in return Leke VR will be bringing Immotion Group’s library of experiences to its already installed platforms across thirty countries.

“The Group will monetise its content on a ‘per play’ basis”.It explains in a statement. “The current usage on the Leke installed base is approximately 1 million ‘plays’ per month and the Directors expect this to grow strongly. The parties will now begin a full assessment of the relevant operational matters, with a view to such distribution beginning towards the end of 2018.”

ImmotionVR

“We are extremely pleased to have extended our exclusive relationship, and to be working much closer with Leke VR. We share the same vision with extremely complementary skills.” Adds CEO of Immotion Group, Martin Higginson. “Leke VR are, in our view, the market leaders in affordable VR motion platforms, whilst we believe Immotion is leading the way in immersive VR experiences. This unique combination, now available globally, will further propel both Immotion and Leke VR in their quest to lead the ‘out of home’ VR market.”

Higginson’s opposite number at Leke VR, Evan He, in turn said: “We are pleased to extend our exclusive distribution and manufacturing agreement with Immotion for both the UK, and now the USA, and to be working with them on the distribution of their VR experiences. The quality of experiences produced by the Immotion team is way above anything we have seen to date. We are convinced our customers will love them. The combination of the Immotion Group’s VR content and our VR motion platforms will allow Leke to deliver an offering which is far superior to other affordable VR experiences available to consumers globally.”

VRFocus will bring you more information about the developments in the DOE arena very soon.

September 11, 2018

WePlayVR Announces Multiplayer Options

Location-based virtual reality (VR) is experiencing a surge in popularity, with an increasing number of VR centres and arcades opening up, giving consumers the chance to try out VR without the expense of setting up the equipment at home. AiSolve is aiming to keep pace with this market, has has announced several new developments for its WePlayVR line, including multiplayer.

AiSolve will be showcasing some of its new products at the Euro Attractions Show (EAS), an event which hosts some of the biggest names in amusement and entertainment to display new products and services.

At EAS, AiSolve will be demonstrating its first multiplayer title for its WePlayVR location-based VR line. The title is called Star Defence, and is described as an action-packed two-person space adventure.

Star Defence requires players to work together to battle a horde of dangerous robot drones. The title is played inside a 3m x 3m WePlayVR arena, which incorporates the immersive, haptic-enhanced gameplay that AiSolve has used in previous titles.

The company believes that the multiplayer title will allow VR attraction operators to earn greater revenue, as more customers can be catered to simultaneously. The new product will be available for demonstration at the Bandai Namco booth at EAS.

In addition, AiSolve have announced a re-design of the WePlayVR arena. The new design keeps the small 3m x 3m footprint, but includes new panelling and spectator portals, in addition to allowing for multiple players simultaneously.

AiSolve are also revealing a partnership with Cartoon Network to launch a location-based VR experience called We Bare Bears: Food Truck Rush, which is based on one of Cartoon Network’s popular cartoon shows. The new experience will have its debut at Family Fun Center in Tukwila, Washington.

We Bare Bears: Food Truck Rush requires 2-3 players to work together to complete orders and avoid amusing kitchen disasters in a colourful cartoon world of talking animals.

For further news on AiSolve and other location-based VR projects, keep checking back with VRFocus.

September 4, 2018

Play Beat Saber for Free During Demo Days At US VR Centres

Location-based virtual reality (VR) centres are becoming popular attractions that allows visitors to try out VR experiences without the expense of buying their own home kit. One of North America’s biggest chains for VR centres, Ctrl V has announced its Demo Days, which will include free sessions for Space Pirate Trainer and Beat Saber.

Starting from 5th September, 2018, Ctrl V locations across the USA will be providing free 20-minute VR demos on the first Wednesday of every month. Sessions will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The Ctrl V vision has always been to facilitate the mass adoption of virtual reality,” stated Ctrl V CEO and co-founder, Ryan Brooks. “There are so many benefits to VR and we want them to be experienced by everyone. As the VR industry grows, its advancements can be applied to other areas through training, simulation and education, in addition to the current innovations we’re seeing in entertainment today. In the interim though, gaming is the optimal platform through which a new technology like VR can be introduced to the general public.”

According to Ctrl V, roughly 80% of its customers are experiencing Vr for the first time at a Ctrl V arcade. The company says that up to 10,000 new customers pass through its doors each month, many drawn by positive word-of-mouth.

“Most people don’t realize that VR can be experienced and enjoyed by anyone, whether you’re 6 years old or 86 years old. If you haven’t tried it before, it’s hard to truly understand why it’s so compelling. Many customers are apprehensive of new technology or are nervous about experiencing motion sickness. Though both of these factors have been virtually eliminated by the latest advancements in VR hardware and the high-caliber content we offer, we want to provide customers with zero-risk opportunities to experience this for themselves,” says Brooks.

Ctrl V - VIP Night

More information about the Free Demo Day program is available on the Ctrl V website. Further news on new developments in location-based VR will be covered here on VRFocus.

August 8, 2018

Inowize Announces Location-Based VR Attraction

One of the challenges faced by location-based virtual reality (VR) centres is how to offer a room-scale experience within a limited amount of space. Digital production agency Inowize thinks it might have the answer with its newly announced product, VR Quest Arena.

VR Quest Arena is a turnkey, location-based VR attraction which allows for three different types of VR videogaming experience from within the same gaming arena, able to provide for single player, multiplayer PvE or multiplayer PvP.

In order to circumvent the restrictions of space, VR Quest Arena utilises a labyrinth-like structure within its content that gives the illusion of a vast environment without needed a huge playing space. The company is promising several parks for customers, with the structure allowing for large walking environments, support for multi-sensory features all mapped to a 4.5m by 4.5m space.

On launch, VR Quest Arena will have two custom-developed VR titles available, one of which will be an action multiplayer experience, while the other will be an immersive single-player title. In order to enhance player engagement and add replay value, leaderboard and tournament options will be made available for its multiplayer modes.

Inowize expect that most of its clients for the VR Quest Arena system will be theme parks and family entertainment centers, and have developed a user-friendly management tool for the running and supervision of arcade operations.

“We aim to produce only high quality VR content, not just because we want our experiences to look good, but also because we want people to feel more comfortable with virtual reality, to embrace it as a new entertainment option,” said Claudia Mihalache, Co-founder of Inowize, referring to the company’s upcoming projects.

The single player VR experience developed by Inowize, Grim Helm, has already had positive feedback during its preview events in July.

Further information on VR Quest Arena can be found on the Inowize website. As usual, VRFocus will keep you up to date with news on new and upcoming VR content.

August 8, 2018

Inowize Announces Location-Based VR Attraction

The single player VR experience developed by Inowize, Grim Helm, has already had positive feedback during its preview events in July.

Further information on VR Quest Arena can be found on the Inowize website. As usual, VRFocus will keep you up to date with news on new and upcoming VR content.

July 25, 2018

Arizona Sunshine Studio Creates Vertigo Arcades Spin-off to Focus on Location-Based VR

Vertigo Games first made its location-based entertainment (LBE) interests known at the start of the year by announcing work on a new version of Arizona Sunshine. Today the company is taking that idea a step further by revealing a brand new company which will focus its efforts purely on LBE content and distribution, Vertigo Arcades.

Arizona Sunshine screenshot

Vertigo Arcades is a virtual reality (VR) arcade publisher and technology provider aimed at helping VR developers, large-scale VR arcades, and entertainment venues. Via its VR Arcade Suite, a content launcher for free-roaming LBE titles Vertigo Arcades will connect VR developers and VR arcades, whilst supplying an API for integrating a variety of key arcade features like tracking systems, peripherals, spectator and mixed reality functionality.

The platform provides access to Vertigo Games’ Arizona Sunshine and strategy title Skyworld, as well as I-Illusions’ award-winning Space Pirate Trainer, Island 359 by CloudGate Studio, and the upcoming A Fisherman’s Tale by Innerspace VR / ARTE France.

“Vertigo Arcades leverages its existing network of developers and physical footprint to grow the out-of-home VR revenue for our partners,” said Managing Director Richard Stitselaar in a statement. “From developer tools to in-arcade marketing and promotions, we’re working to make this market more accessible for consumers, VR arcades, and VR game developers alike. It’s our belief that larger, warehouse-scale experiences of VR games like Arizona Sunshine – LB VR Edition are a key part of expanding consumer interest and increasing the business viability of VR development.”

Arizona Sunshine screenshot

Developed specifically for large-scale, warehouse, LBE is Vertigo Games’ Arizona Sunshine – LB VR Edition. The untethered experience will launch in August, allowing up to four players to fight their way out of the zombie apocalypse.

Additionally, Vertigo Arcades has entered into a partnership with Nomadic to build a custom LBE VR title based on Arizona Sunshine leveraging Nomadic’s tactile technology to bring the post-apocalyptic world to life at Nomadic locations exclusively starting this fall. For further updates on Vertigo Arcades plans, keep reading VRFocus.

July 24, 2018

Koliseum Soccer VR Teases Player Look Update

The World Cup might be over, but football fever is still as hot as ever. For those who want to recreate the tension and excitement on a slightly smaller scale, location-based virtual reality (VR) experience Koliseum Soccer VR might be exactly what you are looking for, particularly when a new graphical update is in the offering.

Koliseum Soccer VR seeks to dip into nostalgia by recreating the joy of table football. only bringing the concept into virtual reality. For those who miss engaging in a few rounds of foosball in between pints, Koliseum Soccer VR has you covered.

Developer Kynoa have adapted the concept of table football into VR, even using the traditional bar-style controls, which means players need to pull and push to position players correctly, before snapping to block or shoot for the goal.

The Koliseum Soccer VR experience has two main elements, the arcade-style table cabinet that contains the controls, and a head-mounted display that provides the visuals and tracking. The HMD brings players into a futuristic world where football is dominated by robots.

Kynoa have said on Facebook that a ‘V2’ graphical update is currently worked on that will improve the robot players. Few details on this are currently available, but the developers did humorously note that their robot players had advantages over their flesh-and-blood counterparts: “Our players, huge metallic robots that have some interesting advantages over flesh & blood football players: no ego, easy-to-fix injuries, superlative strength and low-maintenance haircuts.”

Koliseum Soccer VR was recently shortlisted for the VR Awards, getting a nomination for ‘Best out-of-home VR experience’ alongside giants in the field such as ILMxLAB, The VOID and HOLOGATE.

Further information on Koliseum Soccer VR can be found on the Kynoa website, and the title can be found at a number of VR centres across Europe. For further coverage of Koliseum Soccer VR and other new and updated VR content, keep checking back with VRFocus.