Bournemouth virtual reality arcade Centre VR has seen enough success that they’ll be opening a bigger branch in February.
The arcade full of virtual reality headsets, which allow you to feel like you are in a video game, is currently based in the BH2 complex.
The new, bigger location opening will open in the Richmond Gardens shopping centre on 1 February.
People who visit the new branch will be able to wear VR headsets – goggles with screens that show each eye a slightly different version of the same image. This tricks your brain into seeing everything in a game, as if you were actually there.
When first introduced to the public, virtual reality was often spoken about as the next big step in entertainment. But like 3D televisions, some VR headsets may cost anywhere from £300-600. The cost for many consumers may be too expensive.
Virtual reality arcades like this can be a way of making VR more accessible to the public.
Devon Biddle, who works for Centre VR, told Buzz News that she thinks this will be the case: “Even if it’s a ‘try before you buy’ situation, people can come in and experience an hour in VR for a fraction of the price of purchasing your own headset.”
She also told us about what some peoples’ first time experiences were like: “A lot of people do put the headsets on and are wowed by the quality and game selection, it’s really fun! We’ve even had older members of the public visit us and have the time of their lives.”
This story is ongoing, so stay tuned for updates.
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