Month: September 2023

Big consumer VR developments seemed to take place at the end of September, along with some additional developments that could change the scene. It is important that our readers understand that these developments will have ramifications for the Out-of-Home Entertainment landscape. Consumers’ intransigence to fully jump into the latest phase of home VR, means LBE becomes a prime provider of immersion. We look at these latest developments as we encapsulate them now. Meta Connect Taking place at the same time as the IAAPA Europe convention, and while there was no gathering of VR enthusiasts to hold a trade “Watch Party”, as had been for Apple a few months previously, there was still interest to see how the leading consumer VR developer’s presentation to the sector would be impacting this phase of VR. Meta held Connect (“Meta Connect 2023”) in California, […]

We continue the stock take of the incredible influx of new “Competitive Socializing” (abbreviated down to CompSoc) venues and trends that have been emerging over the last few months. This second part of our feature will hope to offer a snapshot of the developments, with more in-depth site visits and reviews planned. Northern Repurposing  The ability to drop CompSoc concepts into available and abandoned units has proven one of the endearing aspects of this new trend. One of the purveyors of the mixed-use approach in an urban entertainment placement is Gravity Entertainment, with their new ‘Gravity MAX’ concept. The second venue of this chain is opening in Liverpool and, again, the facility has been installed inside an old 100,000 sq. ft. Debenhams department store, previously abandoned in the city. The company is defining the venue as the biggest city arcade […]

It is important to take stock of the incredible influx of new “Competitive Socializing” (abbreviated down to CompSoc) venues and trends that have been emerging over the last few months. This two-part feature hopes to offer a snapshot of the developments, with more in-depth site visits and reviews planned. Start Your Engines! One trend that has seen a mixing of the RaceSim and CompSoc landscape is with Competitive Socializing and the racing experience. This was recently demonstrated by the opening of ‘VRROOM Brighton’ – a themed virtual race room, which comprises 12, Restech motion sims, supported by the venue, and includes a motorsports themed bar. The bar is used for a new aspect of the social entertainment mix of holding “Watch Parties” – linked to the motorsports races. This represents the continued development of the CompSoc style racing environment, which […]