The Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping complexes, is now home to VR Park, an indoor theme park spanning two floors and over 75,000 square feet of space, offering a wide variety of VR experiences, including several physical rides. At the opening of the park we went hands-on with the main attractions, many of which utilise the high-resolution, high-FOV StarVR headset.
The entrance to the VR Park makes a stunning first impression, with a huge, inverted model of central Dubai, skyscrapers extending out of a curved screen, complete with animated traffic, and the giant ‘PVRK’ logo. The flipping letter ‘A’ is perhaps also a slight nod to the small amount of Augmented Reality on show, but clearly the focus here is full-fat VR entertainment.
Once inside, you’re able to stock up on credits to pay for rides and games individually, but at 45 AED (about $12) each for the main attractions, this is an expensive way to spend a few minutes in VR. The more cost-effective approach is to select the Gold Package for 200 AED (about $54), which gives you access to seven experiences. While there are currently 18 attractions, I’d imagine working through seven of the big-hitters might be enough VR for one day for many people, if you factor in breaks and the potential queues during busy periods.
During a press event, we were whisked around the attractions at a rapid pace; I would’ve certainly preferred to take a breather after each one had I been a paying customer.
Starbreeze Content Takes Centre Stage
As the senior partner, at least three of Starbreeze’s eight projects are in view from the entrance: The Raft, a new four-player co-op shooter set in a swamp, Geminose: The VR Carousel, a colourful ride aimed at a younger audience, and Overkill’s The Walking Dead VR Outbreak, the wheelchair-based zombie shooter that was used to introduce the StarVR headset prototype at E3 2015.
While some of Starbreeze’s experiences have been seen at other venues (John Wick Chronicles and The Mummy Prodigium Strike are currently running in IMAX VR and SEGA Japan centres), the VR Park’s heavily-themed areas look and feel like permanent installations rather than glorified demo booths.
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Photo by Road to VR
Some areas were more enticing than others, but if you’re looking for one example of the ‘VR theme park’ concept done right, it’s the set decoration for The Walking Dead; easily the most striking to my eyes, with creepy rooms and corridors filled with franchise references, and the park staff also dressed the part. It felt like the most complete and elaborate installation; something that wouldn’t look out of place in any of the world’s best theme parks.
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He believes the VR Park Dubai project is doing the VR industry a “big favour” in using the accessibility and familiarity of a theme park setting to introduce VR to a wider audience. While generic ‘VR arcade’ venues (offering consumer-grade hardware and experiences in a pay-to-play setting) will continue to grow, the theme park approach is the more exciting one.
“You’re smiling from the moment to step through the door; it’s not just the VR, it’s the whole presentation. I think this is much better,” he says. “A little more costly (to build), but this place you’ll have for years and years. And the beautiful thing about our digital content is that we can keep updating and tweaking it.”
Source: Road To VR