Commentary

European developers show no shortage of VR versatility

The IAAPA European Expo showcased a wealth of virtual reality innovation letting loose.

Image provided by iStock.

January 17, 2022 by Kevin Williams

The development of the virtual reality attraction market has not been slowed by the global health crisis — it would be better to say it has been redefined. Some have invested heavily in what is perceived as an accelerated future opportunity.

With all the attraction developers including a VR elements to their lineups at the IAAPA European Expo 2021 convention in Barcelona, these exhibits could be divided into three phases: the passive experiences and rides, the active immersive simulators and the latest free-roaming and hyper reality platforms.

This final in our three-part series on the IAAPA Europe Expo will explore all of these phases.

The virtual sleigh ride

One of the passive VR ride experiences on display was from Metaverum, the company having also developed a seasonal "Christmas Ride" VR experience as a pop-up installation for malls and entertainment venues. With "Santa Claus Sleigh," the riders sit in a motion base sleigh with a Pico G2 headset giving the view of the virtual ride. Along with this seasonal attraction, the company also revealed it will be launching the "Roller Coaster" VR experience, which will have riders sitting in a coaster car on a motion platform with thrilling coaster experiences seen through their headsets. This will be the latest application of this virtual experience approach based on roller coasters.

Meanwhile, Frontgrid updated its paragliding platform with the "Paradrop — Pod" system, offering a more compact platform designed to be attendant-free, with enhanced game elements and now being a multiplayer VR experience while retaining its unique motion effects using the HP Reverb G2 headset.

Another platform was from Somniacs with its updated "Birdly V2" — the motion-platform and guest interface system offer a compelling virtual flying experience using a HTC VIVE headset.

Also sharing the booth (labeled Swiss VR) was the developer Kynoa, demonstrating its "Koliseum" VR platform, running the "Koliseum Soccer VR" game, with four players competing in the virtual foosball viewed through HP Reverb headsets.

How about a snowball fight?

VR Enclosure developer Inowize announced "Winter Break" — a snowball fight style of game for its "Arkadia VR Arena." The game is developed in partnership with RyseUp Studios and offers up to six players on the platform, a fun and enjoyable game.

Zero Latency, the veteran backpack PC free-roam attraction developers, demonstrated "FarCry VR," developed in partnership with Ubisoft. This allowed many of the attendees, for the first time, to experience the new HP headset and backpack-powered next-generation platform now employed.

MackNeXT and partner VR Coaster presented products and services on a shared booth. The "Yu;lbe" free-roaming experience, a development by the two companies, has been promoted in two versions — with the "Yullbe" using full-body tracking and Pimax wide-field of view headsets. The compact "Yullbe" is planning to use the standalone HTC Focus 3 headsets for 2022, while using the original Pico for the time being, revised from the original release to be portable.

Following the first flagship location for the platform at Europa-Park, MackNeXT has been actively looking for future locations for its free-roaming platforms.

VR Coaster was also promoting its "Diving Theatre" and "SwimVR" headsets for dynamic underwater VR experiences in waterparks.

Other exhibitors of free-roam VR included French developer Hymersion-VR with a platform that has already been installed in several venues.

Free roaming action lets loose

Meanwhile, an attraction-based developer with an extensive interest in VR was Moviemex3D S.r.l,, promoting its immersive VR attraction, "VR Dungeon." The VR enclosure, using the standalone Pico Neo3 headset, negates the need for a backpack PC for free-roaming action.

With this, the company revealed three experiences that will be launched for the platform. The first being "Haunted House" followed by "Mayan Adventure" and "Magic Forest."

VEX Solutions, not to be outdone, demonstrated its "VEX Adventure 2.0." The hyper-reality free-roaming experience system supports up to six players, and now the new system has removed the backpack PC, using standalone Pico headsets.

The system is available in three different formats to accommodate different spaces and budgets.

VEX also showed its VEX Arena, a pared-down enclosure also using Pico standalone VR headsets and haptic vests.

Spree Interactive goes standalone

Another provider of free-roam VR from a standalone (non-backpack) perspective was Spree Interactive showing its "X6 Spree Arena," the latest version of the company's free-roaming enclosure.

This new game bundle includes one of the world's most popular VR e-sports titles, "Tower Tag" from developer VR Nerds, and the free-roaming Player versus Player shooter "Cops Vs Robbers," developed by Knucklehead Studios and Reality On Demand.

A number of lasertag developers have also embraced the opportunity of VR.

Lasertag.net exhibited its "Mars VR" platform which employs its lasertag weapon systems, combined with Oculus Quest2 VR headsets and controllers, and is able to accommodate up to 10 players — all taking place within an 850-square-foot. arena space.

The company confirmed populating the Quest2 headset with its own software and is using off-the-shelf Oculus systems.

Another exhibitor, LaserMaxx, was also promoting its entrance into VR sector with its "VirtualMaxx" offered in four- and eight-player configurations.

Away from the IAAPA Europe convention floor, Hologate launched its first dedicated facility called Hologate World, a 1,200-square-meter facility at the Flair Fürth retail mall in Germany.

Hologate World launches

Hologate World comprises a mix of systems, and the deployment of new hardware towards creating a unique entertainment venue. The site is the first location to see the deployment of "Hologate-X" — a free-roaming VR system, using a currently undisclosed streaming HMD with 5k resolution for each of the players.

The lightweight system receives streamed VR, rather than having a bulky PC on the players' backs, while offering full-body tracking (hands, feet and legs) with a vest with tactile sensations, and with the play space having full 4D effects (wind, scent and heat).

Players use several interactive props and tactile elements, including newly developed "VR Blasters." The opportunity that the new free-roam system offers the market is seen as a major step in viability for VR, with even talk of Streamed VR offering a "Lasertag 2.0" moment for the technology.

Hologate World is also the launch pad for several other developments from the company. One of these is "Hologate Hyper Golf" — a special effects laden miniature golf attraction bringing interactive high-tech courses to the mix.

Along with these attractions, and a dedicated e-sports arena and stage, an extensive cocktail bar area and limited food menu, Hologate is working hard to create a social entertainment mix, even including some amusement.

The company also developed content for its Hologate Arena platform, including a VR escape game called "Cyberpunk" offering a sci-fi based escape game with cyborgs in a futuristic setting.

The stage has unquestionably been set for an exciting year of VR attractions.

(Editor's note: Extracts from this blog are from recent coverage in The Stinger Report, published by KWP and its director, Kevin Williams, the leading interactive out-of-home entertainment news service covering the immersive frontier and beyond.)

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About Kevin Williams

Along with advisory positions with other entrants into the market he is founder and publisher of the Stinger Report, “a-must-read” e-zine for those working or investing in the amusement, attractions and entertainment industry. He is a prolific writer and provides regular news columns for main trade publications. He also travels the globe as a keynote speaker, moderator and panelist at numerous industry conferences and events. Author of “The Out-of-Home Immersive Entertainment Frontier: Expanding Interactive Boundaries in Leisure Facilities,” the only book on this aspect of the market, with the second edition scheduled for a 2023 release.

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