Starting a Virtual Reality Arcade

This blog addresses the following topics:

• The different types of VR hardware.
• Choosing the right VR hardware.
• The various types of VR software.
• Practical tips for running a VR Arcade.

When you hear Virtual Reality, you might quickly think of someone simply putting on a VR headset and starting to play a game. But did you know there are many different ways to let someone play? Generally, when you talk about a VR setup, you're referring to one of the following two setups:

Standing/Seated: A standing or seated setup is often called a VR Cubicle, as the player usually stands in their own play space. A VR Cubicle is one of the most popular setups for a successful Virtual Reality Arcade. The advantage of a cubicle is that you can offer a wide range of virtual games. Nearly any game can be played in a VR Cubicle, from an extensive adventure game to experiencing the first moon landing. The disadvantage of a VR Cubicle is that the player is limited in their space and cannot move around freely as they would in a free-roaming setup.

Tip: watch this video to see how a VR Cubicle can be set up.

Free-roaming: In a free-roaming setup, players can freely walk around a space. Here, the player is no longer tethered to a cable, typically using a wireless standalone headset such as the Oculus Quest 2 or Pico Neo 2. With these headsets, players can choose a game where they can see each other on the playfield, such as in the game Cops vs. Robbers. The advantage of a free-roaming setup is that players can play together in the same space. The disadvantage is that the range of games is much more limited than in a VR Cubicle.

Tip: watch this video to see an example of a free-roaming space.

The choice of VR headset is partly decisive for the direction your Virtual Reality Arcade will take. With the tips earlier in this blog, you can guide the choice of the right headset.

In general, we recommend the following headsets for the following applications:

• When you want a VR Cubicle with good tracking: HTC VIVE Pro or VIVE Pro 2.
• When you want a Racing Simulator or other static setup where the player doesn’t need to move much: HP Reverb G2.
• When you want a free-roaming setup: Oculus Quest 2, Pico Neo 2, or HTC VIVE Focus 3.

Advantages of the HTC VIVE Pro (2): The HTC VIVE Pro (2) is a business-grade headset that uses external tracking sensors. Because of the external sensors, tracking is accurate to the centimeter. For this reason, the HTC VIVE Pro is great for use in a VR Cubicle, where the player has plenty of space to move around wildly. Additionally, HTC offers a VIVE Warranty Service, allowing you to use the HTC VIVE Pro in a business and/or commercial environment without problems.

Advantages of the HP Reverb G2: The HP Reverb G2 currently offers the highest image resolution of all the headsets on the market (excluding professional headsets like the Varjo). The Reverb G2 uses built-in tracking cameras, meaning tracking is done from the headset itself. Therefore, no external sensors are needed, unlike the HTC VIVE Pro 2. However, the disadvantage of built-in tracking cameras is that the tracking is less accurate. For this reason, the HP Reverb G2 is less suitable for use in a VR Cubicle.

Advantages of the Oculus Quest 2: The Oculus Quest 2 is a standalone headset. This means no cables and no computer are needed to power the headset. However, in a VR Arcade, it is recommended to have (at least) one server laptop or PC. You use this PC to start a game.

When you use a high-end headset like the HTC VIVE Pro 2 or HP Reverb G2 in your Virtual Reality Arcade, it is important that it meets the recommended system requirements of the headset. Because you want to offer people an optimal gaming experience, it is recommended to have a good PC with a powerful graphics card and processor in your arcade. Therefore, always choose at least a computer with an RTX graphics card and an Intel Core processor.

We offer several certified computers to guarantee that you have the right PC for your arcade! Visit our page VR Certified Computers to see all PCs.

Now that you have chosen the right VR hardware, such as the headset and computer, you can dive into the software. When you want to offer a game in a commercial environment, you must always have the rights to do so. It's not as simple as buying a game once and then offering it to your customers.

Most VR Arcades use an external software provider for this reason. This provider ensures that the licenses are covered and often has the added benefit of having a 'Software Management System'. With this, you can easily control a headset from a central location, such as a laptop or a tablet. This prevents you from having to switch a game on or off for each headset individually.

The three most used VR Arcade Software Management Systems at the moment are:

• SpringboardVR: SpringboardVR is currently the most comprehensive content management platform available. This software is used by arcades worldwide and has the major advantage of having a vast selection of games. There are also many features for system administration and various forms of data analysis to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for players. A drawback of SpringboardVR is that it is a relatively expensive subscription, and in some cases, you might not need the full potential of the platform (for example, in a relatively small VR Arcade setup).
• Synthesis VR is a premium facilities management and content licensing platform for VR Entertainment locations worldwide. With over 400 locations worldwide, Synthesis VR is the all-in-one solution for all your VR content licenses, including games, educational content, and corporate training. In addition to content licensing, Synthesis VR is the complete management platform to operate your location seamlessly and efficiently with advanced features such as memberships, gift cards, payments, waivers, an online booking platform, and much more. 
• Viveport Arcade: Viveport Arcade is the VR distribution platform from HTC VIVE. The system's offerings are comparable to Synthesis VR, but you can only use Viveport Arcade if you have an HTC VIVE headset.

You can also choose to get games directly from a developer. Some developers specifically focus on VR Escape Rooms or games you can play with multiple players simultaneously. Some examples are:

• Ubisoft Escape Rooms: Ubisoft is, of course, a well-known company in the gaming industry. But they have now also developed some amazing VR games! These are specific VR Escape Room games that can be played in a commercial environment.
• ARVI VR Lab: ARVI VR is a combination of a developer that creates its own games and a software management system. They offer a wide range of virtual reality escape room games, each with its own theme. ARVI VR is very user-friendly, and we recommend it for users who are just starting with a VR Arcade.
• Vertigo Arcades: Vertigo Games is known for the mega-hit 'Arizona Sunshine'. The zombie-shooter is considered by many users to be the ultimate virtual reality multiplayer-game. And when you offer this game through Vertigo Arcades, you get an organised system that allows you to start players simultaneously in the same world!

When setting up and running a VR Arcade, there are many things to consider that you might not initially think about. We’d like to give you a few handy tips so that you don’t encounter any issues in the future!

Tip #1: Choose a theme: For many users, virtual reality is still something new. Often, people have heard of it but have never actually worn a VR-bril. It, therefore, has a futuristic and technologically advanced feel. You can perfectly utilise this when setting up your VR Arcade! Ensure that when customers enter your arcade for the first time, they step into a wondrous, futuristic world. For example, you can make the space quite dark and work with different coloured LED-lampen, or go for a very industrial design so people feel like they are stepping into a steampunk-omgeving.

In the 360 graden-afbeelding below, you can take a look inside a VR Arcade. This arcade (Futuruum) has designed its environment with the previously discussed VR Cubicles. Each Cube has its own light, giving players the feeling they are in their own world.

Tip #2: Give players enough space: The last thing you want to happen is for a player to hit the wall with their controller (or run into it themselves). Always make sure a player has enough play space around them to move freely. For a VR Cubicle, we recommend making a booth of at least 2.5 x 2.5 meters, and for a free-roam area, you can allow a space of about 8 x 8 meters (depending on the number of players).

For a VR Cubicle, use 'dividers' to separate the different booths. Ensure these are always made of matte/niet-reflecterende materials so that you don’t experience any tracking issues. For example, don’t use glass walls. However, you could use curtains, which have the added benefit of being easily opened and closed, creating a more hybrid environment.

Tip #3: Tidy away all cables: This might seem obvious, but it still happens in many Arcades: cables from the headset, computer, TV, and sensors are left lying around untidily. To make your VR Arcade look professional, it is highly recommended to keep these cables neatly tucked away. In some cases, you might still need a cable (for instance, when updating a wireless HTC VIVE-headset), so you don’t need to hide the cables behind a separate wall where no one can reach them. But by tidying up the HDMI-kabels of the TV-scherm, all computer cables, and your headset-kabel, you’ll create a more organised and professional atmosphere in the play area.

Tip #4: Ensure staff are 100% familiar with the games Ensure that the staff in your VR Arcade are enthusiastic about virtual reality and fully familiar with the games you offer. When a player has a question about a game or encounters a problem, one of the staff should be able to guide the players through it. If the operator can’t do this, the player’s experience will be significantly diminished, as they may find the game much less enjoyable than they had anticipated.

When staff are familiar with the different types of VR-spellen, you can also take their input into account when choosing the games to offer in your Arcade. For example, if one of the operators is a fan of a game like Synth Riders, there’s a good chance your upcoming audience will enjoy it too!

Tip #5: Make it as simple as possible for the user The last thing you want to see in your VR Arcade is a player experiencing issues with starting a game, thereby losing valuable playtime. This diminishes the customer’s experience. Always ensure that the game startup process is as simple as possible. In some cases, it’s also advisable to offer a very limited selection of VR-games so that (especially new players) don’t experience ‘decision stress’ when they have to choose from a long list of games.

For instance, you could offer x-aantal action games, escape room games, and children’s games. This way, a player can choose a genre instead of selecting a specific game. And since your employees are fully familiar with the games, they can give great input on which games are the most fun!

Tip #6: Also entertain players who aren’t currently engaged in VR: Especially when you host groups like children's parties or company outings, you’ll find that not everyone is equally enthusiastic about VR. Some people may get motion sickness, or perhaps they just don’t enjoy gaming in general. Ensure there is other entertainment available in your VR area. This could be something as simple as a game of tic-tac-toe on the waiting table, or you could expand with a pool- or ping-pong table.

Tip #7: Take a look at other VR Arcades: Perhaps the best tip we can give you: get inspired by other VR Arcades! Visit an Arcade and see what they do well and what they might not do as well. Maybe they’ve chosen a completely different type of setup than you initially envisioned, and you can create a nice combination of the two. Or take a look at how they handle their pricing. Use other VR Arcades as examples for inspiration but be careful not to copy them. Always keep your own identity in mind. This way, you can distinguish yourself from the hundreds of other arcades around the world!

Curious about VR Arcades located in the Netherlands and surrounding areas? Check out the following arcades, or visit our VR Arcade overview for a complete list.