06-14-2017 12:20 AM
Press Release:
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. (HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Satoshi Oshita) will open the largest VR entertainment facility in Japan, “VR ZONE SHINJUKU”, in Shinjuku Kabukicho Tokyo on Friday 14th July. Reservations will be available from Friday 16th June, 12:00PM (JST). Building upon the success of its predecessor “VR ZONE Project i Can”, VR ZONE SHINJUKU will house over 15 activities including the following new VR activities utilising IPs:
・Dragon Ball VR “Master the Kamehameha”
・Evangelion VR “The Throne of Souls”
・Ghost in the Shell Arise: Stealth Hounds
・MARIO KART ARCADE GP VR
VR ZONE SHINJUKU will also include a wide range of new non-IP VR activities where guests will be able to experience exploring a fantasy world on a winged bicycle, a horror-filled dinosaur survival run, and much more. Every activity is designed for the guests to lose themselves in the immersive VR experience. Guests will also be able to enjoy a variety of non VR activities, such as surviving from an expanding giant balloon in a locked cell, purchasing original souvenirs, and enjoy meals and activities in a virtually simulated resort themed dining space, making for a truly well-rounded entertainment experience. In addition, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. has teamed up with the popular digital art group NAKED to develop projection mapping installations in and out of the facility. The exterior will feature a projection of PAC-MAN among other images, while the inside will feature a ‘Centre Tree’ posing as the interface of the facility which will allow guests to interact with the building itself through touch.
Facility Exterior Image | VR ZONE SHINJUKU Logo | Facility Interior Image |
According to Yoshiyasu Horiuchi, Executive Officer of the Amusement Business Unit for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., the company plans to install their VR activities in over 20 locations worldwide in order to increase the opportunities for a larger audience to enjoy their VR entertainment. “VR ZONE SHINJUKU will be the flagship location for the next-generation of entertainment,” said Executive Officer Yoshiyasu Horiuchi. “A place where BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. carries out new challenges, delivers excitement and amazement to visitors from across the globe.”
Equipment Support: HTC, MSI
06-15-2017 04:25 AM
If you know anything about my background, before working in the theme park sector I worked in amusement and location-based entertainment development, mainly on the CGi system sales – and we worked very closely with the guys at BattleTech/VWE at the height of their investment.
Much of what we are doing now with the new destination and out-of-home entertainment VR Park projects builds heavily on the lessons learned during the VWE days and touches on the whole themed digital experience that goes far beyond lasertag or a “arcade” setting.
As with the JOYPOLIS and DisneyQuest concepts from the 90’s the market is set to see a rebirth of location-based entertainment venues – and with the initial success of IMAX VR, Zero Latency, and other dedicated spaces – this seems a rich vein to mine.
06-15-2017 04:34 AM
Morgrum said:
...
The centers just didn't catch on and couldn't pull in enough customers to cover their cost.
The pods are still around however a group bought them refurbished them and they bring them from con to con.
If you like meh warrior and you ever see them at a con check it out because it's worth it.
That’s not entirely true. BattelTech/VWE had 33 facilities internationally at their height generating serious revenue. The factor in their demise was an inability to feed the audience they created and to create a acceptable upgrade path as hardware improved. It took them nearly three years to come up to a replacement to the Mk2 cockpit, and by the time it was ready they still did not have the game software nailed down.
VWE found it difficult to be a IP owner, facility operator, game and hardware manufacturer and sales operation. As is very common at the moment, one company wanted to do it all so they could dominate the market, and ended up dropping the ball.
We managed to interview the previous founder of VWE for the book and it became clear that rather than the audience abandoning the operation, they made themselves toxic by hyperbole and over promising – sound familiar?06-15-2017 04:43 AM
kevinw729 said:
If you know anything about my background, before working in the theme park sector I worked in amusement and location-based entertainment development, mainly on the CGi system sales – and we worked very closely with the guys at BattleTech/VWE at the height of their investment.
Much of what we are doing now with the new destination and out-of-home entertainment VR Park projects builds heavily on the lessons learned during the VWE days and touches on the whole themed digital experience that goes far beyond lasertag or a “arcade” setting.
As with the JOYPOLIS and DisneyQuest concepts from the 90’s the market is set to see a rebirth of location-based entertainment venues – and with the initial success of IMAX VR, Zero Latency, and other dedicated spaces – this seems a rich vein to mine.
06-15-2017 07:11 AM
kevinw729 said:
I always wonder about those that say arcade is dead, but will not comment on the success of Dave & Buster’s
06-15-2017 07:55 AM
I agree.
Morgrum said:
...I hope your right because I grew up with those centers and I was sad to see them go.
No matter the vested interests of the out-of-work armchair profits – we are seeing an explosion in interest to develop, and with the likes of BANDAI entering the Western market with this platform – momentum is going to keep pace.
06-15-2017 11:00 AM
06-15-2017 11:03 AM
CrashFu said:
Then again this is being built in a country where sharing ear-buds is like... a normal, socially-acceptable thing people do? Maybe they just aren't shy about sweat, either. Me, I like to avoid other peoples' bodily substances. :grimace:
06-16-2017 04:36 AM
Yes, BANDAI NAMCO own the operation, and have thought on what you alluded too:
CrashFu said:
Ah, well that explains that other thread about the Mario Kart game (if Namco are the ones in charge if this entire arcade)
It's too bad few of us will ever have an opportunity to visit that place ourselves, I'm sure it'll be awesome... Although, I hope they've invested in disposable face-guards for the Vives on those arcade machines.
......
P.S. If you like barcades, I recommend seeing if there's a KDB in your area. I went to a 'Kitchen Den Bar' at a mall not too far from me, once, and it was a pretty cool place. And yes, the drinks were good, although I got one of those on my way out :tongue: (and went straight to the movie theater also in that mall. Good times.)
06-16-2017 08:12 AM
cybereality said:
Yeah, after visiting Japan it's kind of sad what happened in the US. Over there they have huge multi-floor arcades, people playing tourneys while smoking cigs like it was the old days.
06-16-2017 09:46 AM
Ah, the yellow ceiling we had when i was a lad!
The good-old-bad-old days of the arcade scene make me cringe. Part
of the reason I work so hard on addressing the needs for a better presentation
for immersive entertainment away from the nostalgic perception of the industry.
From this:
To this:
And now with the new immersive platforms (not just VR but the new
tech), there is a strong possibility for the sector to grow.