Arcades have become somewhat forgotten, but a new initiative could bring them back. Located in Barcelona, Spain, Virtual Playground is an arcade room that uses virtual reality, with four screens on the walls and four computers equipped with HTC Vive headsets for playing.
Víctor Scialom, a 26-year-old Venezuelan, has opened Virtual Playground, an arcade room that uses virtual reality. Situated in the heart of Barcelona (Spain), Virtual Playground is essentially an arcade (although it doesn’t look like one physically), with four wall-mounted screens and four computers with HTC Vive headsets that include two controllers. The computers feature several games to choose from, including Raw Data, Hover Junkers, and Trials on Tatooine, to name just a few. The games themselves vary in play style and overall theme, but all have the ability to fully immerse the player in an alternative reality.
A Social Experience
All the games are equally entertaining for both players and onlookers, as they can enjoy watching their friends dodge obstacles and attack invisible enemies. Everything the player sees through the headset is also visible on the attached screen, so you can get a look at the worlds the player has entered. Another impressive feature of Virtual Playground is the chance to play in multiplayer mode. Certain games let you and your friends play simultaneously in the same world, while those outside can watch them move and react to real-time stimuli.
Serious Sam VR, for example, lets you and a friend fight together against a horde of aliens and monsters using heavy artillery to survive each wave of enemies, requiring teamwork. If you’re more competitive, there are archery games in The Lab.
Currently most people have never tried VR technology before, and if you're one of them, don't worry because the staff at Virtual Playground are ready to teach you how to play and recommend the easiest games to ease you into virtual reality. The rate costs 5 euros for every ten minutes of play, so if you have the opportunity, don't hesitate to go.
