VR Zone – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

March 4, 2020

BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Temporarily Closes VR Facilities in Japan

When it comes to stopping the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) events around the world are taking the precautionary approach of cancelling, such as the Games Developers Conference (GDC) and the Facebook Developers Conference (F8). As time goes on location-based entertainment (LBE) venues specialising in virtual reality (VR) are likely to face a similar decision to close, demonstrated in the fact that BANDAI NAMCO Amusement in Japan has temporarily suspended its facilities.

Bandai Namco Amusement

Outside of China, Japan has been one of the worst-hit with 287 reported cases. With that in mind BANDAI NAMCO Amusement said in a press release: “Based on the government’s basic policy on countermeasures against infection of new coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) in Japan, we have decided to temporarily suspend the amusement facilities we operate in Japan on the following schedule.”

The closures are due to last just under two weeks, affecting both VR and several over amusement sites:

VR ZONE Portal – From Wednesday, 4th March to Sunday, 15th March.
MAZARIA – 29th February until Sunday, 15th March.
VR ZONE OSAKA – 29th February until Sunday, 15th March.

The company also notes that: “there may be a sudden change in business hours and temporary closure after the business resumption date.”

There hasn’t been an update at the moment from BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Europe regarding its facilities which include VR ZONE Portal London and VR ZONE Portal Westminster, both of which have the latest Mario Kart Arcade GP VR experience.

Due to the interactivity associated with VR, wearing a headset then using either peripherals or motion controllers, this may cause customers to avoid the technology for fear of transmission. Well managed venues should have anti-bacterial/alcohol wipes on hand for basic hygiene reasons anyway, helping negate these worries in the first place.

COVID-19 has affected the VR industry in other ways, notably when it comes to hardware production. Companies like Facebook and Valve have said it’ll affect production and shipping. VR fans have been keen to get their hands on Valve Index ahead of the Half-Life: Alyx launch later this month. VRFocus will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated.

February 7, 2020

London’s Namco Funscape Become’s the Latest VR Zone Portal Offering Mario Kart VR

Even with the advent of headsets like Oculus Quest making it easier and cheaper to step into VR, for a lot of consumers, the price is still a hefty leap. Which is one of the reasons location-based entertainment (LBE) centres have been popping up worldwide, offering a cheaper chance to dip your toes into VR gaming. The Namco Funscape arcade in central London, UK is a great place to grab a beer and enjoy some gaming, with a new VR ZONE Portal section that includes the company’s famous Mario Kart Arcade GP VR.

VR Zone Portal Westminster

Bandai Namco Entertainment created its first VR ZONE Portal in Tokyo, Japan back in 2017, offering a range of immersive experiences and videogames. The company then decided to expand its ‘VR ZONE Portal’ brand overseas, with the UK being the first country selected. This saw the VR ZONE Portal London location open at The O2 arena, offering the first chance to play Mario Kart Arcade GP VR outside of Japan.

The Namco Funscape arcade is far more centrally located than The O2, making it easier to travel to. Located next to Waterloo Station as well as other attractions like the London Eye, The London Dungeon and London Aquarium – so there’s plenty to do. Obviously the star VR attraction at VR ZONE Portal Westminster is Mario Kart, allowing four players to compete against one another as some of the iconic characters from the franchise. As VRFocus has previously reported when playing the videogame in 2018 the system uses HTC Vive’s in conjunction with Vive Trackers so you can physically throw green shells and bananas at opponents. It costs £7.59 GBP per person for a 5-minute race or £24.95 for four people.

That’s not all VR ZONE Portal Westminster has to offer, however. One of the most popular home VR titles is rhythm-action videogame Beat Saber and back in 2018 developer Beat Games partnered up with South Korea’s Skonec Entertainment to build an arcade version for the Asian market. Namco Funscape is one of the few places in the UK you can try Beat Saber Arcade.

VR Zone Portal Westminster

You can also step onto the Extreme Machine with Oculus Rift S headsets attached. Here you can select from a range of smaller VR titles such as the jet skiing one seen above. All the videogames make use of a controller which you stand on, using your body weight to steer left and right or forwards/backwards depending on the experience. Ubisoft’s Virtual Rabbids: The Big Plan is on hand to offer some VR gaming suited to younger players.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of the latest LBE from around the world and don’t forget to read The Virtual Arena series for the latest industry news.

June 5, 2019

Green Shells at the Ready! Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is Coming to California

Forget about Nintendo’s attempt at virtual reality (VR) with the Labo VR Kit for Switch. If you really want to enjoy one of its iconic videogames in VR then Mario Kart Arcade VR is the experience of choice. The only problem, there aren’t many locations to play it. This month that gets a little easier for US residents with the videogame racing to its second location at K1 Speed in Irvine, California.

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR screenshot

K1 Speed is a family entertainment centre that features go-karts, with up to four players able to race on Mario Kart Arcade GP VR at once. With specially designed karts and HTC Vive headsets, guests can race through the Mushroom Kingdom as either Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Yoshi, picking up green shells and bananas which can be physically thrown thanks to Vive Tracker technology.

“We at BANDAI NAMCO Amusement America are incredibly excited to bring Mario Kart Arcade GP VR to more locations across the states,” said Nick Iftner, Virtual Reality Sales Manager at BANDAI NAMCO Amusement America in a statement. “The first location in the states in Washington D.C. proved to be a hit, and we’re eager to bring it to the West coast where we believe many are waiting to try it. We are confident that VR ZONE Portal Irvine will be a huge success at the Irvine location.”

The experience will only be the four in the world, with the original opening in 2017 at the VR Zone Shinjuku, Japan followed by London, UK. Mario Kart Arcade GP VR then made it to the US in 2018, opening at the VR Zone Portal in Union Station, Washington D.C. VRFocus went to the London opening, capturing footage of the arcade in action.

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR screenshot

“We cannot wait to have VR ZONE Portal Irvine with Mario Kart Arcade GP VR inside our Irvine location,” adds Susan Danglard, Owner and Marketing Director of K1 Speed. “This cutting-edge virtual reality experience is the perfect complement to our premium indoor kart racing experience. Visitors will get to physically race go-karts on our track and then virtually race at Mushroom Kingdom – we know this will be incredibly popular with people of all ages in Southern California.”

The Mario Kart Arcade GP VR will be available at VR ZONE Portal Irvine from 12th June. For further updates on the VR experience, keep reading VRFocus.

October 18, 2018

Co-op ‘Godzilla VR’ Game to Arrive at VR Arcades Across Japan Next Month

There’s no more befitting place or time for a roll-out of Godzilla VR, Bandai Namco’s latest addition to their Japan-based VR ZONE arcades. After all, November 3rd is Japan’s unofficial ‘Godzilla Day’, annually commemorating the giant lizard’s premiere on the silver screens in Japan back in 1954.

As first reported by Japanese VR tech site Mogura VR, the game is launching in Japan on November 3rd, coming to not only the flagship VR ZONE location in Shinjuku, but also the smaller VR ZONE Portals nationwide. Godzilla VR has already been in operation at VR ZONE in Osaka since September.

In Godzilla VR, four players sit in motion platforms outfitted with dual flight sticks and HTC Vive Pros, the physical pretense to what looks like an awe-inspiring co-op helicopter battle against the scaly behemoth.

With the launch of VR Zone Shinjuku last summer, Bandai Namco has been using their growing number of Japan-based facilities as staging grounds for some of the best location-based VR content around, including Mario Kart Arcade GP VR and the warehouse-scale PvP shooter Ghost in the Shell: Arise.

Mario Kart VR Is Coming to the USA

Since it was launched in the VR Zone in Shinjuku, Tokyo and subsequently in the UK, American fans of Mario Kart have been hoping that the virtual reality (VR) version of the popular racer would make it over to the USA in some form. Now it seems that hope was not in vain, as Bandai Namco launch a Mario Kart VR at the VR Zone Portal in Washington D.C.

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR screenshot Visitors to the VR Zone Portal in Union Station, Washington D.C. will now be able to hop into one of the specially designed karts to race as either Mario, Luigi, Peach or Yoshi. The Mario Kart Arcade GP VR experience will be located in Union Station for a six-month period. Argyle Shift, and Ski Rodeo will be joining the VR version of Nintendo’s popular kart racer,

The Mario Kart VR experience uses the HTC Vive VR headset along with the Vive Trackers which allow players to reach up and grab items such as banana skins or green shells to throw at opponents and potentially gain an advantage. Mario Kart VR also comes equipped with haptic feedback to make players more immersed in the colourful world they are driving in.

“BANDAI NAMCO is thrilled to be a part of the innovative, cutting-edge project that is VR ZONE Portal.” Said Steve Ignarski, National Sales Manager for BANDAI NAMCO Amusement America. “The launches in Japan and the UK brought great success, and we hope to follow suit in Washington, D.C. Mario Kart VR is a long-awaited title and we have no doubt it will be well-received in the states, due to its incredible, immersive game-play and outstanding equipment from HTC Vive.”

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR screenshot

Some of the VRFocus team got to go hands-on with Mario Kart VR in London, where their finding were reported on in a VLOG. Recently Bandai Namco also announced that Mario Kart VR would be coming to other VR Zone locations across the UK.

Argyle Shift meanwhile is a familiar title for those following the VR Zone story, a single-player videogame in which you take on the roll of a robot test pilot in the year 2145. Do you have the skills to pilot a giant mecha? Ski Rodeo meanwhile sets you down a snowy mountain range. Be prepared to get into the groove with your movements with the title’s pivoting base as you ski at high speed down the slopes “creating an exciting atmosphere like no other” according to Bandai Namco..

For further coverage of Mario Kart VR and other VR projects, keep checking back with VRFocus.

October 1, 2018

‘Mario Kart VR’ Comes to the US Today in Bandai Namco’s Newest VR Arcade

For the first time, BANDAI NAMCO is bringing to the United States a number of popular VR experiences once only available in Japan and UK-based VR ZONE arcades. Included in the line-up is the much-awaited Mario Kart Arcade GP VR.

VR ZONE Portal Washington D.C. is officially opening up shop today at Union Station near the national mall. Bandai Namco’s ‘Portal’ naming scheme indicates that the venue is smaller than the full-sized VR ZONEs in both Shinjuku and Osaka, Japan.

VR games available to the public include Mario Kart VR, Argyle Shift, and Ski Rodeo, and appear to be on a first-come, first-serve basis with no reservations required.

The star of the show is undoubtedly Mario Kart VR though, which pits four players against each other using HTC Vive headsets, Vive Trackers, and motion platform outfitted with a steering wheel, acceleration and brake pedals. Users, playing as Mario, Peach, Luigi, or Toad race around the track grabbing classic items like banana skins and shells while dodging Bowser—essentially what everyone wants from a VR version of Mario Kart.

“BANDAI NAMCO is thrilled to be a part of the innovative, cutting-edge project that is VR ZONE Portal. The launches in Japan and the UK brought great success, and we hope to follow suit in Washington, D.C.,” said Steve Ignarski, National Sales Manager for Bandai Namco Amusement America. “Mario Kart VR is a long-awaited title and we have no doubt it will be well-received in the states, due to its incredible, immersive game-play and outstanding equipment from HTC Vive.”

There’s a catch however. All three VR experiences will be featured for only six months, meaning the VR ZONE Portal in D.C. is a limited time engagement that will close up shop presumably sometime in March 2019. Check out the VR Zone Portal Washington D.C. Facebook page for more info.

The post ‘Mario Kart VR’ Comes to the US Today in Bandai Namco’s Newest VR Arcade appeared first on Road to VR.

September 12, 2018

Bandai Namco Says Mario Kart VR Will Be Coming to More UK Arcades

The Mario franchise is one of the most recognisable in the world, dating back to some of the earliest days of videogames. It has spawned innumerable sequels and spin-offs, including the Mario Kart series. Little wonder, then, that there was great excitement when it was revealed that a virtual reality (VR) version was heading to London. Now it seems more of the UK might get a chance to hurl red shells and bananas at karting opponents.

Nina Salomons of VRFocus spoke to the VR Project Manager at Bandai Namco about Mario Kart VR, and what plans the company has with regards to bringing the title to more parts of the UK.

The Mario Kart VR experience is currently available at the VR Zone at the Hollywood Bowl in London, after experiencing massive success in its home country of Japan. It is a 2-4 player VR experience which uses motion-based VR to immerse players in the colourful world of Mario Kart.

The experience uses a mix of different tracks from the Mario Kart series. Players are equipped not only with VR headsets, but also with HTC Vive trackers strapped to the hands, this allows players to take a hand off the steering wheel in order to reach out and grab items such as green shells or bananas which are attached to balloons scattered around the track, which can then be thrown at opponents.

Players can choose between Yoshi, Peach, Mario and Luigi. Four players can play for £24.99 (GBP) for a single play session.

There are plans to expand Mario Kart to other locations in the UK, with the VR Zone at Tunbridge Wells already set to get the Mario Kart VR experience later this year, with another planned for Leeds Hollywood Bowl. Further expansion is planned for Europe and the USA.

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR screenshot

The video interview is available to view below. Further coverage on new and upcoming VR projects will be here on VRFocus.

August 5, 2018

See Mario Kart Arcade GP VR In Action In New Gameplay Footage

If you have been keep track on all things Nintendo and virtual reality (VR) related, then you would of seen our recent coverage of Mario Kart Arcade GP VR. The popular racing videogame has bring brought over to VR thanks to HTC Vive and Namco Bandai and is now available to play in London, after previously only being available in Japan. If you were wondering what the title was like to play then you’ll be in luck, as we have some gameplay to share.

In Mario Kart Arcade GP VR players can expect the same experience they are use to but with the level of immersion that comes from VR along with the freedom to reach out, pick up objects, and throw them at other races. The experience is powered by a HTC Vive head mounted-display (HMD) – with the HTC Vive Pro coming soon – along with the HTC Vive Trackers placed on the the players hands, plus a kart themed to around the ones seen in the title. All of this comes together to offer a unique experience that is unlike anything else.

As seen in the gameplay video below, Mario Kart Arcade GP VR captures the look and feel of the series along with the colourful design that makes Mario so well known. It’s fast paced, immersive and has plenty of charm to keep players engaged all while enriching the fun of Mario Kart like never before. Items pack a punch, the karts move smoothly across the track and hitting your friend with a shell is still as satisfying as you would hope. There is even a giant inflatable hammer.

“Everyone has come out with a massive smile on their face.” Said Graham Wheeler, VP Sales, Product and Operations HTC Vive, Europe, when asked how the response to the experience has been in our recent interview: “We sent some of our office here when I came back from a business trip and literally the entire office just didn’t stop talking about it. So it just shows that even though we’ve been in VR a lot it’s a great kind of company to be in and VR experiences but this is just really immersive level people know Mario Kart, everyone has played it so they just naturally go into it so even the skeptics love Mario Kart VR.”

The Mario Kart Arcade GP VR experience is now open in London and you can watch the full gameplay footage in the below video. For more on the title you can watch our interview with Graham Wheeler and read our hands-on. For all things on VR in the future, stay tuned to VRFocus.

August 3, 2018

From Power Slides to Blue Shells, HTC Vive Talks Mario Kart Arcade GP VR

Out of all the virtual reality (VR) titles that have been released arguably the one that people have most looked forward to getting to try is Mario Kart Arcade GP VR. This experience was released in Japan but now, thanks to HTC Vive the title has made it’s way to London. After getting to try out the title VRFocus’ own Nina Salomons talked with Graham Wheeler, VP Sales, Product and Operations HTC Vive, Europe to discuss HTC’s involvement with the title.

“How we’re involved is basically making sure that we have great VR experiences everywhere where people can try them out and then get to understand what VR can do.” Wheeler explains: “So here with Mario Kart VR, first time in London, it’s just amazing. It adds that immersion to another level when you’re driving in Mario Kart you grab out, you chuck a turtle shell over to the next person and that’s the idea is showing people what you can do in VR and then hey want to try it at home.”

HTC have worked hard to be able to bring the popular title over to London at the VR Zone Portal located within the Hollywood Bowl at The O2. The location allows for up to four players to jump into a race with each other and see who is able to win the mushroom cup within VR. This release has been made possible thanks to the working relationship which HTC have with other parties which Wheeler explained by saying: “The relationship we have with the VR zone guys and Namco Bandai in Japan, so we’re just here making sure that it runs perfectly for these guys and making sure the setup is working great and making sure everyone gets a great experience.”

The setup for Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is built up of numerous components starting with the HTC Vive head-mounted display. They are running with the original Vive HMD for the moment but Wheeler does explain they are getting the Vive Pro setup and ready for the experience shortly. Users will also get to wear the deluxe audio strap for improved immersive and comfort, along with the HTC Vive Trackers which are used to track the hands in VR. This is important because it is what helps make Mario Kart VR stand out from other racing titles by offering that option to grab items to throw at other racers. All of this is then brought to life even further thanks to an actual kart setup which you sit in complete with a steering wheel.

“Everyone has come out with a massive smile on their face.” Said Wheeler when asked how the response to the experience has been: “We sent some of our office here when I came back from a business trip and literally the entire office just didn’t stop talking about it. So it just shows that even though we’ve been in VR a lot it’s a great kind of company to be in and VR experiences but this is just really immersive level people know Mario Kart, everyone has played it so they just naturally go into it so even the skeptics love Mario Kart VR.”

The Mario Kart Arcade GP VR experience is now open in London and the full interview with Wheeler is available to watch below. If you are curious what VRFocus thought about Mario Kart Arcade GP VR then read our hands-on and for all things VR in the future, keep reading.

August 2, 2018

Hands-on with Mario Kart Arcade GP VR: Leave Your Red Shells at Home

It’s a common belief that modern virtual reality (VR) needs the power of IP to succeed. In the world of approachable videogame entertainment, few franchises come as highly regarded as Mario Kart. For more than 25 years mushrooms, plumbers and princesses have been charging across varied landscapes and attacking one another with shells and banana skins trying to reach that pole position, and now you can join the action in VR.

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is the first step into VR for the Mario Kart franchise, though not in the out-of-home entertainment sector. There have been three previous Mario Kart Arcade GP releases, all of which have been developed by Namco Bandai Games under license from Nintendo. Mario Kart Arcade GP VR doesn’t break this rule, but of course the experience you’ll get when entering the lifesize kart replica is wholly different.

The most obvious change is one of perspective, of course. Mario Kart Arcade GP VR puts the player into the kart in first-person, with a full range of head-movement perspective offered by the HTC Vive that is coupled with every kart. The player chooses their character – Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach or Yoshi – and once in the HMD can see the position of their virtual hands thanks to Vive Tracker pucks which are attached via a velcro strap to each of their real hands. This is a surprising but important aspect of Mario Kart Arcade GP VR.

As will be familiar to any fans of the Mario Kart franchise, the player is tasked with getting around the track as fast as possible while racing through landscapes themed around the Super Mario titles. Mario Kart Arcade GP VR does only offer one course, but it includes a range of locales such as Bower’s Castle, Kamek’s Laboratory and Donut Plains, separated by boost ramps that fade into cloudy whiteness. A variety of dangers exist in the course – potholes, Thwomps, Piranha Plants and Bullet Bills, to name a few – and of course Mario Kart Arcade GP VR features some weaponry to assist your efforts to gain first place.

Sadly only three weapons have made the cut: the banana skin, green shell and a hammer. These weapons are no longer confined to question mark blocks however; as mentioned earlier the player wears Vive Tracker pucks on each hand which allow them to reach out and grab the chosen item from balloons drifting across the track. The banana skin and green shell can then be used similarly to every other edition of Mario Kart (however the effort to accurately throw the item in the desired direction seems to be replaced with a rather inaccurate approximation) while the hammer allows you to bash opponents close to you with physical swings of your hand. This of course is the most entertaining item available.

Elsewhere Mario Kart Arcade GP VR differs from the chosen formula of Mario Kart a little too much to be taken seriously by avid fans of the series. While lacking the commentary of Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, there are no powerslides or boost tricks in Mario Kart Arcade GP VR and in fact no real reason for a brake pedal. The rubber banding of opponents is extreme in all instances (a design for tension rather than fairness, no doubt) and the impact of weapons realistically has no effect on the outcome of a race until the final straight.

For more casual players however, Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is certainly going to offer a welcome step into the world of VR. The visual quality is almost parallel to that of Mario Kart Arcade GP DX – a decidedly bright and colorful world perfectly recreating the Super Mario aesthetic seen in more than 100 videogames, cartoons, books, clothing and other paraphernalia across the years – and the VR optimisation is without flaw. It’s a simple and intuitive experience designed to welcome anyone, and in that Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is certainly a proficient piece of content design.

Essentially, Mario Kart Arcade GP VR could never be everything to everyone, and so the development team has opted for a light-hearted and enjoyable – if forgettable – adaptation of a beloved franchise into VR. Fans of Mario Kart will certainly enjoy a flirt with the experience but are unlikely to become too involved, and so too are those who may have purchased one-or-two of the home videogames but never found themselves wishing for a recreation of their favourite Mario Kart 64 track. Given the high asking price for a single three-and-a-half minute experience (£7.99 GBP at the time of going to press) that might well be a good thing.