The application of XR into the attraction and amusement landscape is covered by industry specialist Kevin Williams. His latest Virtual Arena column investigates developments as the LBE sector moves toward applying streaming VR technology to drive a high-fidelity experience.
Image credit: Zero Latency
While the establishment of location-based entertainment (LBE) takes hold across the international market. The application of the technology deployed within these facilities is in constant flux. Evolving with the latest developments in the immersive entertainment industry. It is this innovation that makes the market a barometer of the latest trends that could play a part in defining the consumer application of this tech.
One of the biggest trends sweeping LBE has been the deployment of free-roaming experiences, as charted in recent coverage in this column. But technological advances have been made that allow the free-roaming VR experience to be significantly improved and made assessable to a wider audience with a much-reduced cost-benefit (removing cumbersome PC backpacks). A higher fidelity of VR experience moves beyond that achieved using just the mobile processor of current standalone headsets. The developer of these low-latency 5G network applications have been actively reaching out to the LBE community for adoption.
What we mean by streaming VR, is pushing high-fidelity VR directly into the latest headsets. Most of these implementations use a 5G connection between the host PC and a VR headset. This streaming infrastructure also supports updated positional tracking for multiple-player deployment. All this is supported by the latest Qualcomm XR2 standalone headsets, such as the HTC Focus 3, along with the latest systems from Varjo, Pico, and Pimax, focused on commercial application, (as is promised with the Meta Project Cambria, still to be released). This is technology that has been refined for enterprise (SeriousVR) applications such as for training, CAD design, and now commercial entertainment.
The deployment of this approach in entertainment has been gathering momentum. Recently AT&T teamed with Warner Bros., Ericsson, Qualcomm, Dreamscape Immersive, Nvidia and Wevr, to create an ambitious proof-of-concept immersive location-based experience. This was based on the already installed Harry Potter: Chaos at Hogwarts free-roaming VR experience opened at the Harry Potter Wizarding World New York venue. Now using AT&T’s 5G streaming technology, and NVIDIA’s CloudXR, Dreamscape were able to create a prototype version of the experience, at their test facility that removed the need for the cumbersome PC backpacks and streamlined the experience. This development was a proof-of-concept towards being able to offer their high-fidelity VR attraction based on this technology.
The ability for manufacturers in the LBE sector to upgrade towards the latest technology is a benefit of owning the space. Where consumer VR application needs to establish customer penetration, LBE brings the technology to the player, and so upgrades accordingly. This is best illustrated by Zero Latency, a company that has constantly been on an iterative path with its free-roaming attraction. The company announced its move towards ditching PC backpacks and moving to streamed VR but keeping the high-fidelity VR experience. The company deploying a new system streaming over a local Wi-Fi 6E network to players using HTC Focus 3 headsets. This technology has to ensure the high-end performance needed, as seen with their latest free-roam VR adventure, from Ubisoft, set in the world of Far Cry 3.
Image credit: Zero Latency
The growth in VR entertainment facility deployment has seen the providers of the content also adopting a streaming methodology. SynthesisVR, a location-based virtual reality content distribution and facility management platform, recently partnered with QuarkXR, a trusted solution provider focused on VR streaming. Towards offering all LBE VR arcade operators a simple, and automated VR streaming solution, previously not available. A solution for wireless VR game streaming was created specifically for the industry through this exclusive co-developed solution, connecting the host PC and Android VR Headset. This will allow VR arcade operators to benefit from the opportunities of streamed VR applications, and the cost-saving this will bring.
We are seeing many established LBE developers migrate to a streaming VR approach, such as with the announcement of the new ‘Hologate-X’ platform. Developed by market leader Hologate, who has established their tethered VR arena platform across the market. The company staying on the cutting edge of new development have created their own streamed VR platform. To be launched at their flagship Hologate-World location in Germany, the ‘Hologate-X’ attraction running the inhouse developed game ‘SIGVRIED: Escape from Valhalla’, offers streamed low-latency 5G network VR direct to headsets, allowing the four players to simultaneously explore the virtual world unencumbered. For the application, Hologate has added haptic vests, along with feedback from the weapons the players carry. All supported by the 4D effects of the arena space they play within.
SIGVRIED: Escape from Valhalla. Image credit: Hologate
It is this ability to offer such a high-fidelity VR experience, supported by 4D physical effects that separate what is achievable with commercial immersive experiences from the casual consumer experience. Thus showcasing how VR streaming is able to deliver a new level of VR experience to users. We look forward to reporting on further developments in streaming VR soon.
In the first of a two-part report observing the current immersive Out-of-Home entertainment scene for VRFocus, Kevin Williams‘ latest Virtual Arena looks at the re-emergence of LBE though the popular free-roaming entertainment trend. Evaluating the pitfalls, and the early fallers, and those operations that have re-opened and hope to define the next phase of business.
While some pontificate that location-based VR has probably taken a terminal hit from COVID – at the same time we have reports on the reopening of venues in Asia and Europe and even America, and see the return of the audience, though in tentative numbers. One aspect of the successful growth of LBE VR before the ravishes of the global health crisis closed all forms of social interaction and entertainment, was the growth in interest of “Arena-Scale”, also dubbed “Free-Roaming” or in Asia “Walking Attractions”. Players donning powerful backpack PC’s and taking part in multi-player immersive experiences. The compelling nature of these experiences were such that major venture capitalists had vied to invest considerable sums in the early developers of this genre of immersive entertainment.
But even before the global-pandemic suspended business, cracks in the business proposition of some arena-scale operations had started to manifest. Gradually exiting lockdown and the issues that impacted some business plans has been magnified, and we start to see the damage inflicted by a loss of revenue. While some of these immersive operations are facing more permanent closures, others are seeing renewed interest in their offering and a new arms race to dominate what is still seen as a lucrative opportunity.
The “Next Gen” virtual playing Arena: Image credit: Bandai Namco
The Landscape Ahead
Seen as one of the first exponents of the concept of immersive, free-roaming experience – The VOID tantalized the investment and operations community with a dream of transporting groups of players into a magical virtual environment, (what the company labelled “Hyper-Reality”), powered by their claimed unique “redirected walking”, with physical effects and props. Seen as one of the prominent representations of the growth in interest in free-roaming immersive experiences – the company had high profile investment, initially from the Disney’s Accelerator fund, including business mentorship that saw development resource through ILMxLab.
The VOID has been heavily dependent on the development resources of ILMxLab for most of their content, with only Ghostbusters, and horror-experience Nicodemus developed internally (in partnership with Ninja Theory), receiving mixed reviews. It was however the draw of the big IP and crafted VR experiences based on blockbuster movies that drew the attention. Much of their hyped original design hardware would have to be scaled back to reverting to off the shelf hardware, such as their tracking system from OptiTrack or their headset, in reality, being made with components from an Oculus CV1 unit, eventually under license, (after a planned in house design was abandoned). The company at its hight operating some 17 facilities offering a selection of Walt Disney movie IP VR experiences. But the sites opened seemed to offer conflicting information on their actual success, and cracks started to appear.
The company had seen a churn in management, with the revolving door of top executives. Also, behind the scenes the operation had been haemorrhaging finances, plans for a permanent London site was abandoned near completion, and a total restructuring of the operation. Deals were signed with the shopping sector to place a new model of the attraction that was hoped to address the difficulties of audience retention. Things, however, had not gone as planned for The VOID operation, with numerous major executive departures and claimed venue expansion abandoned. Sources suggested that investments were being stretched and revenues were not proving as expected. By this time, the full impact of the global health crisis by March 2020, and all 17 VOID facilities had been at the time temporarily shuttered. But then things started to take a new turn, sources revealed information that one and then a second The VOID facilities on Walt Disney property had posted notices announcing their permanent closure and that all assets associated with Walt Disney were to be removed.
The shut-down order posted on The VOID Disney locations doors. Image credit: WDW
An incredible silence has enveloped an operation that was once so prolific at promotion – while the US venues remained closed, with no information at this time on what the situation of their reopening will be, with only the Malaysia (Genting) venues had reopened for business since August. The VOID Malaysia site had removed all their Disney themed experiences only offering ‘Nicodemus’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Dimension’. And that was all the information that could be garnered at this time. Many will try and paint this as a bigger problem with the free-roaming VR sector, there seems to be a pattern emerging from the initial operators that expensive IP and a problematic business model has been accentuated by the financial impact of the COVID Lockdown.
There is another recent recipient of investment and mentorship from the Disney Accelerator fund that is based in the arena-scale VR sector. Japanese start-up Tyffon has opened their own Tyffonium – Magical-Reality Theater – a backpack VR experience centre. While less well-known than the other Disney Accelerator investment in VR attractions, the operation had developed internally three attractions which they operated in their two Japanese venues. Much more aimed at a theatrical, sensory experience, looking at young couples as a key demographic, offering three game experiences that support up to four VR players for 30-minute durations. The operation would go on to raise their Series A round of funding – added to the previous investment this saw the company valued at $12 million by the end of that year. With this investment, the operation had received publicity towards a plan to open in the US. By March of this year, the Japanese operation had entered lockdown, with plans for the US operation still on the drawing board, and their 35 employees furloughed, though the facilities did reopen by October.
The unique couples focused VR game experience from Tyffon. Image credit: Tyffon
Another of the early pioneers, wanting to carve out an empire for themselves was Dreamscape Immersive. Described as a “Virtual Reality Experience Like No Other”, the company took on a movie theatre style of approach to offering their unique platform – having amassed an impressive cadre of investment from powerhouses from the movie industry. Investors also included AMC and IMAX – cinema legends looking at the concept of LBE VR, to address flagging movie ticket revenue. Along with an impressive lobby presenting the VR experiences on offer like movies – the guests in groups of six would enter donning rooms, putting on their PC backpacks and wearing foot and hand tracking devices based on the Vicon system. Then once inside the VR room, would put on their headset (originally the Oculus Rift CV1, but later the company would migrate over to theHP Reverb platform) – the environment offering physical effects within the space that mirrored the high-quality virtual experience rendered for the players.
Dreamscapes’ facility operation had opened first in Los Angeles, as part of the Westfield Century City shopping mall in the shadow of an AMCtheatre, in Dallas and Columbus, and then venturing to Dubai. This UAE-based location reopened in July and has seen strong returning audiences – proving the health of LBE VR post-COVID lockdown. October will see the US chain of stores also reopening. But following the upheaval in business following the health crisis the corporation revealed the acceleration of plans for a brand new initiative. Dreamscape Immersive, partnered with Arizona State University (ASU), to launch ‘Dreamscape Learn’. The concept is for “Immersive Education” avatar-driven VR experiences being offered to both campus-based and online courses; planning to start with introductory biology and eventually expanding throughout the sciences and beyond, (vetted by top professors and learning scientists). The plan will utilize the immersive VR story lead experience of the VR company married to the educational platform for students and explorers to create a unique learning environment (immense VR “laboratory”) which will see virtual pods created to traverse students around virtual environments.
A capture of the ‘Dreamscape Learn’ immersive VR laboratory. Image credit: Dreamscape
Numerous developers of arena-scale platforms had already started the process of redressing their business model to embrace new verticals. One of the front-runners in the development of IP based arena-scale VR experiences was the new operation SPACES. The company retained a wealth of experience having been spun out of DreamWorks Animation back in 2016. The corporation saw investment from Tencent and other leading players launched its first arena-scale platform with Terminator Salvation: Fight for the Future, opening the first permanent location in San Jose and then a temporary installation in partnership with Cinemark. Also, SPACES had signed agreements with SEGA JOYPOLIS to install its VR experience at their Japanese sites. The operation was in the process of redefining their offering following feedback as the global crisis hit, but its innovation continued, and pivoted during lockdown to create a ground-breaking VR based video conferencing product. The interest in this product was such that SPACES announced in August that the company had been acquired by tech-giant Apple, for an undisclosed sum.
Sandbox VR had been a prominent name in the LBE VR business, coming from a meteoric rise supported by the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, and raising some $68m and $11m round of investment. With this investment, the operation focused on both improving the level of experience on offer, signing a licensing agreement to use major IP, such as releasing an experience based on ‘Star Trek: Discovery’. In total some 8 venues, split between Asian sites and their first few US locations, offering four-player backpack PC VR, using Oculus Rift CV1 headsets. But following the lockdown, Sandbox VR (Glostation USA Inc.) filed for Chapter 11 protection in August, this was on top of the previous announcement of the loss of their original CEO and 80-per-cent of their workforce. It was revealed that the company had started to reopen its venues, promoting new safety measures to ensure guests and staff post lockdown. The restructured management evaluating a plan of survival with the VR centre (single attraction) model.
Players beaming into Sandbox VR’s Star Trek: Discovery adventure. Image credit: Sandbox VR
While not getting the same publicity as other arena-scale installations in the West, one of the first VR ZONE free-roaming offerings developed by Bandai Namco and being shuttered at MAZARIA is Dragon Quest VR. Developed for the original VR ZONE brand back in 2018 the videogame is based on the popular RPG property, with four-player PC backpacks (HTC Vive headset) – it’s one of the few arena scale installations that use wholly unique player interfaces representing the shields, and swords of the game. This was not the only Arena Scale VR attraction Bandai Namco developed – with a Ghost In The Shell property, (‘Ghost In The Shell: Arise Stealth Hounds’) back in 2017. Going on from the closure of their MAZARIA facility, the corporation is reappraising its approach to VR and immersive entertainment, with new plans to be revealed soon that could see new free-roaming properties.
Players working as a team against the bosses in Dragon Quest VR. Image credit: KWP
Other Japanese amusement factories that operate their own venues in the territory have been attempting to jump onto the arena scale bandwagon. CAPCOM with its PLAZA CAPCOM chain of sites has added the CAPCOM VR-X areas to their landscape, and with that created a unique arena-scale VR experience based off corporation owned IP. Biohazard: Valiant Raid (better known in the West as Resident Evil) launched last year, the four-player experiences negates the use of cumbersome backpack PC’s for a restricted player space using tethered HTC Vive headsets and customized controllers.
One of the largest of the Japanese amusement and gaming corporations is SEGA, and they have invested heavily into VR attractions for their facility business. Under the SEGA Joypolis VR chain, operated through CA SEGA JOYPOLIS (the co-Chinese and Japanese partnership), the company has deployed several third-party VR attractions. At this time SEGA’s amusement GM division has not created a unique VR platform of their own, favouring in representing other developers’ products as they evaluate the opportunities provided by this technology. The Asian market has seen the adoption of the term “Walking Attraction” when describing arena-scale VR experiences, the PC backpack offering freedom over tethered enclosures. Such operating systems include Mortal Blitz for Walking Attraction, developed by Skonec Entertainment. SEGA had also fielded the system from SPACES (as mentioned above), and later the Zero Latency free-roam experience in several Joypolis sites.
Zero Latency is one of the earliest to see the opportunity and unique compelling nature of free-roam VR entertainment. The company deploying their first facility in 2014, and then went on to establish and defined their unique up to eight-player immersive arena experiences, amassing a considerable library of seven popular games. Emerging from the global lockdown, the company has continued to plough a course in this sector. Developing their own backpack harnesses, haptic game controllers, along with the needs for appropriate briefing, loading, and unloading of players, staff training, all packaged in a franchisee offering operations have added to their entertainment venues. The company announced a major partnership to bring AAA content to their platform, Ubisoft – creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services revealed that it would be bringing its million-selling consumer game license to VR with Far Cry VR: Dive into Insanity. This LBE VR experience for up to eight players takes them back to Rook Islands, the setting of‘Far Cry 3 for some intense action. Working in partnership to develop and implement their multi-player combative experience with Zero Latency, the game will be released across their 45 venues in 22 countries during 2021.
Image credit: KWP
This concludes the first part of this extensive coverage; we will now look at the rest of the sector and the new entrants bouncing back into business after lockdown in the following coverage.
Startup Dreamscape Immersive is opening a VR location in Columbus, Ohio at the Easton Town Center.
The startup’s partnership with AMC Theatres brings The Blu, Alien Zoo, and Curse of the Lost Pearl to the movie venue there. Three Dreamscape VR pods will be located on level two of the Station Building inside the AMC.
Dreamscape is planning to open additional VR destinations in the New York/New Jersey area later this year. Previously, the startup opened its flagship location in Los Angeles at Westfield Century City Mall and another in Dallas at NorthPark Center. The new Columbus location opens on February 28 and tickets are available now. Dreamscape says it is also planning more international locations following the December 2018 opening of a location at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.
Dreamscape’s three initial experiences are an “Alien Zoo” that calls back to Jurassic Park in some ways, a theatrically-themed Indiana Jones-like temple in “Curse of the Lost Pearl: A Magic Projector Adventure”, and the gorgeous underwater adventure “The Blu: Deep Rescue” produced in partnership with WeVR Studios. Dreamscape’s experiences are typically backpack-powered VR walk-around attractions with accessories you wear on your limbs to provide full-body avatars. The experiences also typically feature very compelling environmental effects.
Tickets for Dreamscape appear to be set around $20 per person but are priced a few dollars more on weekends and during the holiday season. The ticketing website also advises “travelers must be age 10+” and at least 48 inches tall.
Dreamscape plans to “refresh” its experiences on a regular basis.
If you’re a Men in Black fan in or near LA, you’re in luck. LA-based location based VR company Dreamscape is launching a new experience called Men in Black: First Assignment.
This will be Dreamscape’s first experience based on a major franchise or brand, which makes it the company’s biggest move yet.
The company described the experience as follows:
You will leave your identity behind, rise above the system, as you take on your first heart pounding MIB mission — escorting the royal family of Zarthania safely back to the edge of the galaxy aboard your intergalactic hoverbikes, evading the evil Octopoid alien invaders along the way and hopefully making your way back to MIB headquarters.
The experience is being produced by Walter Parkes. Parkes was the executive producer for all four Men in Black films, as well as other major films like Minority Report. He is a co-founder and co-chairman of Dreamscape. Interestingly, back in the mid 1990’s he helped found DreamWorks, so clearly he has an interest in advancements in entertainment technology.
“Our goal at Dreamscape is to combine the emotional power of cinematic storytelling with the epic thrill of amusement park rides — and with MIB: First Assignment, you will truly be the hero of the adventure”, Parkes stated.
Dreamscape Immersive
Dreamscape launched back in November with three experiences, the same lineup as today: Alien Zoo, The Blu: Deep Rescue, and Lavan’s Magic Projector.
We’ve tried all three of Dreamscape’s current experiences, and hope to try First Assignment when it launches. You can read our hands-ons here:
Dreamscape’s The Blu: Deep Rescue took me back to 1996. When I was a kid I made it a point to tell anyone I knew that I wanted to be a marine biologist. I was super obsessed with ocean life – specifically whales – growing up. Couldn’t tell you how many times I watched the Free Willy movies, because I’ve honestly lost count. That being said, growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area and wanting to constantly be around ocean life wasn’t exactly easy.
Sure, my family would take me to Marine World (now known as Discovery Kingdom) to see the dolphins and orcas, but they wouldn’t let me sit close up. When I was twelve, we went to Hawaii and went on a whale watching tour… Except not a single whale showed up. Eventually, I gave up on my hopes of being a marine biologist. My obsession with ocean life still shows, though every so often. When Ian gave me background on The Blu and its history, I only had one question. Am I going to get emotional?
A shot of the waiting area at Dreamscape Immersive in Century City. Photo provided by Dreamscape Immersive.
Walking into Dreamscape
Dreamscape currently only has one location: the Century City Westfield Mall near West Los Angeles. When you walk in, a Dreamscape employee greets you, and helps you check in. The check in process is simple if you printed your ticket at home: Scan the QR code, fill out basic information, and sign a waiver. After signing, you get to choose an avatar for your experience. Both experiences offered male, female, and gender non-binary avatars from which to choose.
A mini-gallery of various VR headsets in the departure lounge. Photo provided by Dreamscape Immersive.
After you check in and hang a left, you enter a large, comfortable lounge to relax in prior to your adventure. If you arrive early for your booked slot, or are even waiting for an additional adventure, you could purchase a variety of beverages, snacks, and souvenirs. Merchandise includes from t-shirts and jackets as well as coffee table books about whales and endangered animals. If you don’t want to sit and enjoy a beverage before going in, you could walk around and look at the Alien Zoo exhibit they had set up (and cool photos of various VR headsets from over the years on the wall).
The departure lounge and boarding area reminded me of Disneyland’s Soarin’ Around the World. Using dark blue and copper tones, I got a retro steampunk vibe from the place. The overall space is very comfortable for individuals and families alike. I wouldn’t mind having to wait a while, as it’s a nice escape from the loud, busy mall.
This is the area where you and up to five others gear up for your adventure. Photo provided by Dreamscape Immersive.
Gearing up for the adventure
Roughly ten to fifteen minutes prior to your booked time slot, an adventure guide (the employee who assists you with gear and remains in the room during the experience) comes and gets everyone. You walk into a room with six seats, three on each side. One seat is assigned to each guest.
The employee told us to put on our equipment in a specific order. First were the foot trackers, which slide on and tighten around the center of your feet. Next was the backpack, which seemed significantly lighter than the one worn for VOID experiences. Then there’s a hand tracker for each hand, and finally, the Oculus Rift.
You’ll get to see all sorts of ocean life on your journey. Photo provided by Dreamscape Immersive.
The adventure begins
You then enter the room where the experience takes place. For The Blu, it was just Ian and myself. The employee instructed us to put on and secure our headsets, and step on a set of footprints on the ground. With our hands at our sides, the system then calibrated avatars for our bodies. Our avatars popped up in front of us, in a kind of mirror, and once we confirmed we could see them, the screen went black momentarily. Then we transported somewhere else.
Ian and I started our journey looking at a giant projected globe. We could step into the globe, put our hands through it, walk, and look around. The narrator asked us if one singular form of life was ever important enough to make risks for, and ultimately save. We then transported to a state-of-the-art underwater laboratory. The narrator briefed us on our mission. We were going to dive deep into the ocean and look for a whale in need of help.
The room’s layout as we saw it in the real world was matched inside VR. There were rails around the space, and a center platform area. After looking around the laboratory for a bit, the narrator instructed us to stand on the center platform, and hold on for the descent into the deep blue ocean.
I would love to play with seals for hours in VR, thanks. Photo provided by Wevr.
I could have done this for hours
Yeah, I got a bit emotional. I teared up a bit. As the platform “lowered” into the ocean, it really felt like we were moving, just without all the pressure building up in our ears. Loads of beautiful sea life surrounded us, including adorable seals! They were very animated, playfully swimming around us. Ian tapped me on the shoulder and pointed down, and there was another seal, looking up at us from below with curiosity. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, reminding me of when I first touched a seal in the real world at Discovery Kingdom. I forgot about the world outside of Dreamscape.
We got off the platform to restore power to a shipwreck, and some sea scooters. While searching for a power button I leaned in close to examine some of the sea anemones. They varied in color – vibrant pinks, oranges, and greens – and mimicked the movement of real sea anemones. For whatever reason, I decided I wanted to reach out and “touch” one. When my hand got close, the anemone closed up. I thought surely it was just a coincidence, so I did it to a few others, which reacted the same. I called Ian over and we both started poking sea anemones.
Once we powered up the underwater scooters, we hopped on. These scooters were visible around the outer edge of the platform when we first arrived. Hesitating to reach forward and grab the handlebars, I honestly expected them to truly not be there. Much to my surprise, the handlebars were exactly where I expected them to be.
From there, our scooters took off. I could still hear Ian next to me, of course, but we had freedom to move around on our scooters. Ian sped up in front of me, and at one point, I was in front of him. We could turn around and wave at each other. Each scooter takes a different path, so at one point we were truly separated. I think we were both low-key terrified of some sea monster attacking us while we lost sight of one another. There are no sea monsters here though. And because we saw completely different things I want to go back and try other scooter paths.
If you love the ocean, The Blue isn’t an experience you’ll want to miss. Photo provided by Dreamscape Immersive.
Toward the end of the trip as you’re raising back to the surface, multiple whales are swimming all around you. This, for me, was the most emotional part of the whole adventure. Accelerating on the underwater scooter and looking down to see a giant whale eye peer deep into my soul took me back to being the kindergartner who dreamed of having that moment in real life. I definitely wasn’t underwater in scuba gear and the whales that surrounded me singing their beautiful songs weren’t real either. But it felt real.
Dreamscape’s The Blu: Deep Rescue is an amazing experience. For $20, I dove into something that left me refreshed, relaxed, and rejuvenated. As someone who is constantly busy and generally high-anxiety, I can absolutely see myself returning to Dreamscape to unplug from the world for a bit. I highly recommend The Blu for those who are looking to do immersive virtual reality for the first time, as it isn’t intense. If you’re just getting into VR, I don’t recommend starting with Lavan’s Magic Projector: The Lost Pearl.
Employees at Dreamscape said there would be new adventures coming to Century City “very soon.” I for one, am very excited to see what the company has in store.
You can also check out Ian’s hands-on feature of Dreamscape’s Alien Zoo from last year by clicking here.
There is a cinematic element to all three of Dreamscape Immersive’s launch projects.
Alien Zoo is just like a trip to Jurassic Park. The Blu grows from its origins wowing VR early adopters in Vive and Rift headsets at home in 2015 and 2016. On Dreamscape’s big stage, The Blu’s underwater encounters with giants of the deep becomes an even more grandiose multiplayer adventure. The engrossing immersive effects make for indelible memories.
Lavan’s Magic Projector: The Lost Pearl
Lavan’s Magic Projector, though, is one of the best introductions to VR available in 2019 — though it may not be very kid-friendly.
There was a heavy Indiana Jones theme on this adventure. Photo provided by Dreamscape Immersive.
It was 2012 when the Oculus Rift Kickstarter first promised people could “step into the game.” Seven years on most people at home only take a step or two in any direction while wearing an Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR headset. Excellent for Beat Saber, sure, but not for exploring large underground Indiana Jones-like temples.
The Dreamscape system uses five sensors. Two sensors attach to the back of the hands and two attach to the top of your shoes. A fifth is mounted to the top of the Oculus Rift headset. This system fulfills the promise of the original Rift in spectacular fashion with full body tracking. Magic Projector ticketholders take a step through a doorway much like the one Dorothy Gale took for the first time on the big screen more than 70 years ago.
Stepping Through The Screen
Dreamscape launched a trial run early last year of Alien Zoo followed by a more permanent location at one of the highest end malls in the Los Angeles Area — Westfield Century City. The Blu, Alien Zoo and Lavan’s Magic Projector are $20 per ticket and vary enough for each to feel surprising, even if you’ve seen the other two.
Here is the official description:
In 1936, American inventor Clarissa Lavan announced an invention that would change motion pictures forever – the Haptioscope, a projector that not only showed movies, but allowed you to enter into them. But on the night before its premiere, Clarissa mysteriously vanished, and her invention was lost to time. Until now. Dreamscape Immersive has rebuilt the fabled Haptioscope. Those brave enough to step into its unknown worlds, need only to turn it on.
A look at the check in booth. Photo provided by Dreamscape Immersive.
The entry to Dreamscape is a standard tablet-based onboarding process. Ticketholders need to sign the agreement and pick an avatar. Dreamscape sets an age guideline of at least 10 years old and 48-inches tall to participate. Unfortunately, none of the avatars are proportioned for children. That means a young girl joining us on our journey was proportioned and had features like an adult while bout half as tall as the rest of us.
Age Guideline
The Magic Projector’s elements are potentially frightening to those stretching the age guideline.
The little girl who joined us held her guardian’s hand and bravely followed her through the underground temple’s traps. Both avatars were represented across a chasm, even holding hands. The avatar’s size, emotionless appearance and incorrect proportions made her look like a trained monkey or hobbit. The girl’s hands gathered up beneath her headset. It became apparent she was peeking out from underneath. Then she disappeared. One minute there were six of us in the underground temple. The next there were five of us. We finished the last few steps of the journey without the little girl.
We found her after the trip concluded. She seemed pretty sad because the experience stopped for her at some point.
The Magic Projector utilizes the space incredibly well. Photo provided by Dreamscape Immersive.
Dreamscape Pricing
Dreamscape’s pricing is middle of the road when it comes to VR attractions. At one end there are VR headsets you can wear at Dave & Busters for a trip to Jurassic World, or on the back of a dragon, for about $5 per ticket. At the other end is The VOID selling $30-$35 per ticket for most visits to the universes of Star Wars,Ghostbusters, Wreck It Ralph and the haunted world’s fair of Nicodemus. Spaces, which offers Terminator battles, goes from $20-$30 per ticket with matinee times at the low end.
Dreamscape Immersive is drawing people into its worlds for the first time when they enter through the door. That’s different from The VOID, which usually depends on the lure of visiting well known dimensions for some of its appeal. Past Dreamscape’s tablets is a seating area featuring artifacts from the worlds you’ll be visiting. There are beverages and snacks to buy alongside merchandise. Overall, repeat visitors will find the atmosphere more inviting than other location-based VR attractions, with pricing right in the middle.
Dreamscape Immersive is clearly inspired by cinema but provides something entirely different from it. While The Blu and Alien Zoo are fun trips as well, Lavan’s Magic Projector is the perfect transportation device and a powerful introduction to VR for those ready for its slightly scarier elements.
Das amerikanische VR-Start-up Dreamscape Immersive expandiert und eröffnet vier neue Arcades mit zusätzlichen VR-Erfahrungen. Bisher stellte das Unternehmen nur temporären Zugang zu den exklusiven VR-Multiplayer-Erfahrungen zur Verfügung, nun werden an den Standorten in Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey, Dallas und Columbus, Ohio dauerhafte Arcade-Einrichtungen in den AMC-Kinos bereitgestellt.
Dreamscape Immersive – Vier neue Arcades mit zusätzlichen VR-Erfahrungen in Amerika
Das Entertainment- und Technologie-Start-up Dreamscape Immersive präsentierte bisher äußerst erfolgreich die VR-Erfahrung Alien Zoo für einen kurzen Zeitraum in Los Angeles. Nun steht eine Expansion an, denn die Multiplayer-Erfahrung zieht gemeinsam mit zwei weiteren VR-Attraktionen in vier feste Standorte in die AMC-Kinos in den USA ein. So wird nicht nur in Los Angeles eine Arcade eingerichtet, auch in New York, New Jersey, Dallas und Colombus, Ohio dürfen Besucher und Besucherinnen zukünftig in die aufwendigen VR-Angebote eintauchen.
In der VR-Attraktion Alien Zoo dürfen die Gäste an einen intergalaktischen Ort reisen, um auf Tuchfühlung mit gefährdeten außerirdischen Kreaturen aus der gesamten Galaxis zu gehen. So dürfen die Besucher unter anderem mit einer exotischen Mischung aus Katze und Frosch Ball spielen oder mit majestätischen Tierwesen kuscheln. Außerdem könnt ihr auf Konfrontationskurs mit dem gefährlichsten Raubtier der gesamten Galaxie gehen.
Image courtesy: Dreamscape Immersive
Lavan’s Magic Projector: The Lost Pearl führt die Gäste dagegen durch die vierte Wand und projiziert sie direkt in einen Kinofilm. So gilt es Hinweise zu entschlüsseln und sich vor gefährlichen Fallen in Acht zu nehmen, um das Geheimnis hinter der herzzerreißenden Geschichte von The Lost Pearl zu entdecken.
Lavan’s Magic Projector: The Lost Pearl | Image courtesy: Dreamscape Interactive
The Blu: Deep Rescue entstand in Kooperation mit WeVR und führt euch in die Tiefen des blauen Meeres, um in schillernde Unterwasserwelten einzutauchen und die Meereslebewesen kennenzulernen. Dabei stoßt ihr auf ein gefangenes Blauwalbaby, das eure Hilfe benötigt, um wieder mit seiner Mutter vereint zu werden.
The Blu: Deep Rescue | Image courtesy: Dreamscape Interactive
Die VR-Angebote bieten euch ungefähr 25 Minuten Laufzeit. Weitere Informationen findet ihr auf der offiziellen Webseite.
Insgesamt fünf zusätzliche VR-Erfahrungen sollen in Zukunft folgen. Das Unternehmen wird von großen Investoren unterstützt, darunter IMAX, Westfield Malls, Warner Bros, 21st Century Fox, MGM und Steven Spielberg und konnte sich in der letzten Finanzierungsrunde über 30 Millionen US-Dollar zur Entwicklung von hochkarätigen VR-Erfahrungen sichern.
Ob die Arcades auch in Europa zugänglich werden, steht derzeit noch nicht fest.
You may remember VRFocus reporting on location-based virtual reality (VR) specialist Dreamscape Immersive opening a pop-up location in Los Angeles earlier this year to showcase its brand new experience, Alien Zoo, for a month. That was just a precursor to today’s announcement, with the company announcing today that its flagship location in Westfield Century City will open this December.
This first location will see the introduction of three original VR adventures, designed for guests of all ages to experience the magic of immersive storytelling.
Alien Zoo
Allows viewers to travel to a larger than life, intergalactic haven where they come face-to-face with endangered alien creatures from across the galaxy.
The Blu: Deep Rescue
Dreamscape’s co-production with WeVR, a descent into the ocean to explore dazzling underwater worlds and aquatic life soon becomes an urgent mission to rescue a trapped baby Blue Whale and unite it with its mother.
Lavan’s Magic Projector: The Lost Pearl
Inside this heart-pumping adventure, participants will be challenged to unlock clues, escape treacherous traps, and work together as they discover the secret of The Lost Pearl.
“At its heart, Dreamscape is about merging the scope and emotional power of cinema with the pure visceral excitement of a great theme-park ride — all within a totally new VR technology that allows our audience to enter into and become part of the story,” notes Walter Parkes, co-chairman of Dreamscape Immersive in a statement.
The opening marks the start of a period of rapid expansion for Dreamscape Immersive, which includes the introduction of four new stand-alone and in-theatre venues via its partnership with AMC Theatres. Markets that AMC has identified for new Dreamscape destinations, include Dallas/Ft. Worth, Columbus Ohio, and the New York/New Jersey metro area. Plans are underway to open these locations during 2019.
“What sets Dreamscape VR apart from all others are the magical minds responsible for crafting such captivating, immersive experiences, the likes of which has never been seen before,” said Adam Aron, CEO and President of AMC Entertainment. “Audiences have come to expect innovations from our company, and Dreamscape and AMC are going to deliver a next-level entertainment option.”
You can purchase advance tickets for the Westfield location starting today from Dreamscape Immersive’s website. For further updates keep reading VRFocus.
Dreamscape Immersive, the location-based VR startup backed by some of the biggest companies in Hollywood, today announced it will be opening four US-based locations in addition to its flagship LA venue.
Until now, Dreamscape Immersive has operated pop-up venues for limited time engagements with their multiplayer VR experiences.
The company plans to bring four stand-alone and theater-based locations to Dallas/Ft. Worth, to the New York & New Jersey metro areas, and to Columbus, Ohio.
Dreamscape Immersive’s Westfield Century City Mall location is now a permanent installation. The LA location currently features three multiplayer VR experiences; Alien Zoo, The Blu: Deep Rescue, and Lavan’s Magic Projector: The Lost Pearl—all available at $20 per person for a 25 minute experience.
The company says it will soon offer five in-house developed multiplayer VR adventures.
“At its heart, Dreamscape is about merging the scope and emotional power of cinema with the pure visceral excitement of a great theme-park ride — all within a totally new VR technology that allows our audience to enter into and become part of the story,” said Walter Parkes, co-chairman of Dreamscape Immersive in a press statement.
Dreamscape Interactive’s $30 million Series B financing round, announced in September 2017, was led by AMC, and followed by investors including Steven Spielberg, 21st Century Fox, IMAX, Warner Bros., and Bold Capital Partners.
Startup Dreamscape Immersive is beginning its roll-out of location-based VR entertainment beginning with a premier location at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles followed by multiple locations in 2019 at AMC Theatres.
One of the physical props used in the entry room to Alien Zoo from Dreamscape Immersive during its trial run early in 2018.
I visited Dreamscape Immersive earlier this year during its Alien Zoo trial run and came away impressed by the sense of awe they and wonder they were able to create with an original story unconnected to any existing property — a departure from the strategy being employed by startup The VOID for its VR locations.
The Alien Zoo will be joined by an exclusive version of WEVR’s groundbreaking The Blu experience co-produced by the two startups, as well as Lavan’s Magic Projector: The Lost Pearl, all available starting Dec. 14 at the Westfield Century City mall. The location will ultimately house five “adventure pods featuring an array of exciting original and studio-based experiences that will be refreshed on a regular basis.”
Advance tickets to the Wesfield location are available starting today from dreamscapeimmersive.com. By mid-2019, Dreamscape representatives plan to launch more locations in partnership with AMC Theatres in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Columbus Ohio and the New York/New Jersey area.
“Dreamscape is about merging the scope and emotional power of cinema with the pure visceral excitement of a great theme-park ride — all within a totally new VR technology that allows our audience to enter into and become part of the story,” said Walter Parkes, co-chairman of Dreamscape Immersive, in a prepared statement.
Here are official summaries for the three initial experiences:
“Alien Zoo…offers guests the opportunity to travel to a larger than life, intergalactic haven where they come face-to-face with endangered alien creatures from across the galaxy. Upon arrival, travelers will experience the exhilaration of being able to play ball with exotic frogcats, pet majestic creatures, and, by working together, even narrowly escape the galaxy’s greatest predator.”
“In Lavan’s Magic Projector: The Lost Pearl audiences are offered a fundamental wish fulfillment: to step through the screen and become part of a movie. Once inside this heart-pumping adventure, participants will be challenged to unlock clues, escape treacherous traps, and work together as they discover the secret of The Lost Pearl.”
“In The Blu: Deep Rescue, Dreamscape’s breathtaking co-production with WeVR, an epic descent into the ocean to explore dazzling underwater worlds and aquatic life soon becomes an urgent mission to rescue a trapped baby Blue Whale and unite it with its mother.”
This first location will see the introduction of three original VR adventures, designed for guests of all ages to experience the magic of immersive storytelling.
