Remember the old days when you and your mates used to go down to the local arcade and spend hours on those awesome old eighties monoliths? Those were the days!
Nowadays, however, that golden age has been replaced by techno music and flashing lights. For better or worse, times have certainly changed. And with those changing times, a new kid on the block is about to usher in the next era for the gaming arcade.
We’re talking, of course, about virtual reality.
The UK’s first VR arcade, a pop-up event for over-18s, ‘Other Worlds’ launched in London in Summer 2017, with a whole new perspective on the arcade concept. Live DJs provided the soundtrack and a cocktail bar serving ‘themed’ drinks mean that ‘Other Worlds’ was more of a hipster event than the real deal. However, ‘Other Worlds’ did give us an insight into what may come.
In terms of permanent VR arcades in London, DNA VR and Tension VR are two venues that use HTC Vive to offer a range of games and VR experiences. Available on a booking-only basis, unlike Other Worlds, these permanent venues are suitable for all ages and comprise both singleplayer and multiplayer experiences for up to six players.
But what about a full-on public arcade?
There appear to be more of these springing up in the US and Canada, where VR arcades are beginning to become a common sight in shopping malls and leisure complexes. That being said, at this point where the hardware is still pretty expensive, we’re not quite ready to let the public loose unsupervised, as we would with a big old Pacman machine.
That’s not to say they won’t come. It’s entirely possible we’ll start to see more open VR arcades as time goes on. But on the other hand, when that price does go down, virtual reality consoles will be more affordable for consumers, too. The chances are that we’ll be more inclined to have one in our own home than pay out to go play VR in an outside venue.
There may remain a market for VR arcades like those we are seeing now. For example, whilst it’s easy to get hold of karaoke equipment at home, establishments offering private rooms with waiter service and swish decor are pretty popular across the world. VR arcades could, possibly, take the same route, offering a full range of games and experiences that may prompt users to buy for their own home consoles. Bringing party spirit to the VR arcade, like Other Worlds did, may be the future of VR arcades that we are more likely to see - with cocktails for adults and pizza and juice for kids’ parties.
The other benefit to a VR arcade, as opposed to a console at home, is that - at least at present - tethered devices like the HTC Vive require a lot of space, sensors, and a host of cables and wires. Not everyone has the room for that in their living room. Only the most dedicated VR enthusiasts are likely to have this sort of set-up in their house. As the tech evolves, it’s likely these issues will be overcome. We’re just not quite there yet.
Finally, it’s worth noting that big-name theme parks, including the likes of Disneyland, are adding VR to the experiences offered at their resorts. Not only this, but some are going further, integrating augmented reality into rollercoasters and rides. As though plummeting through the air and turning somersaults in your seat wasn’t stimulating enough!
