LAI introduced its attendant-free virtual reality game, Virtual Rabbits at the IAAPA show in Orlando, US, to great interest from visitors last week.
Queues led up to the two machines on the company’s stand throughout the show. Each machine takes two players at a time, each donning a VR headset.
“We’ve tested it long enough now that when we say it’s unattended, it truly is,” said Steve Bryant, sales manager at LAI.
In an effort to deal with the issue of hygiene, which gives some people pause when considering a public VR game, LAI has included disposable masks that players have the choice to use.
“It depends on the country but on average we see that about 30 per cent of riders us it,” he explained.
Canyon Chaos, Holiday Hijinks and Alpine Adventure are the three experiences offered on the machine so far, but more are expected.
Canyon Chaos takes the player through a “rollercoaster gone wrong” with impressive immersive effects.
“We have put a lot of work into syncing the visuals with the other movements and effects. When it’s not done right people get motion sickness, but we made sure we had this right before we went ahead,” he said.
Attesting that this game will work globally, the company already has this game in Indonesia, Australia, the UK, the Middle East and the US.
“We have enough evidence to be able to speak from a position of confidence and strength when we say it does what we say it does,” Bryant added.
The ride is a VR experience with the visuals backed up by further physical effects on the machine including movement of the seat itself and air being blown at the players face.
He said that the only negative point that LAI received during the testing phase was that masks got left on the seats and on the floor around the ride. “So, we have plans to include a bin onto the set up.”
