Using games in a VR Arcade? Note the license!

Due to the tremendous growth and development of Virtual Reality in recent years, there is also tremendous growth in the Virtual Reality entertainment industry. There are more and more VR arcades offering all kinds of VR experiences to their customers. That's not surprising, because VR is becoming more accessible to the masses and arcades can start small. After all, you only need a VR Headset (and possibly a Computer) to get someone playing already. There are even a number of free (demo) games that showcase the qualities of VR content, making entering the VR market a good move. But unfortunately you can't just use all VR content for free. If you want to offer Virtual Reality in a commercial environment - that is, an environment where you intend to make money - then you need to have a game license.

A few years ago there was hardly any game license; you just bought a game and could start offering it. However, the game developers are a lot more direct these days, so that you as an VR arcade have to delve into the licenses. Fortunately, nowadays there are also a lot of tools to make the licenses a bit easier and clearer. In this article, you can read everything about applying for, using and buying game licenses.

What is a VR game license and why do you need it?

The most used VR platforms are SteamVR, VivePort and Oculus Home. In the game library you can find a lot of games, often for reasonable prices. You may then purchase this game but not share it with with other people. You will therefore be notified by all platforms that you are not allowed to distribute the game. Doing so could result in a ban from your arcade account or - perhaps worse - a permanent ban from the platform. In this way it is no longer possible to use the games, and that is of course the last thing you want as an VR arcade. Therefore, always first check whether it is possible to obtain a commercial license for a game before opening it to the masses.

How can you get a game license?

Fortunately, there are also ways to use the games in an VR arcade or other commercial environment. You have the following options for this:

• Directly through the game developer / publisher;
• Via a license platform.

1. Via a game developer and / or publisher

Perhaps the easiest and straight forward way is to request a license directly from the developer. Via the game platform on which the game is offered, it is often possible to get in touch with with a developer. In this way you can ask the developer how they offer their games at other arcades. The way this is done differs per game and per developer. Some games require a one-time purchase, others require a per-minute payment. It is therefore completely dependent on the developer and the game which way of licensing they can offer you.

Once you have made contact with with a VR game developer, you can discuss the agreement you with want to make with each other. Finally, you want to be able to offer the game in your VR arcade, and the developer wants to be compensated for his work. The most appreciated way to reach an agreement between user and developer is to draw up a license agreement in advance. This is a legal document in which you make a proposal to the developer to use the game. After signing this document you get certain rights to use the VR game, in exchange for a certain amount that you pay to the developer.

Some examples of well-known developers in the VR arcade market are:

• Vertigo Games (Arizona Sunshine Arcade);
• Tower Tag;
• Ubisoft (Assassin's Creed Escape Rooms);

2. Via a software management system

An arcade software management system is essentially an umbrella platform of licensed VR games. Game developers are affiliated with the platform and when you enter into an agreement with the platform you automatically have permission from a developer to use the game. There are also several options for this platform, but we will explain the most commonly used game license platforms for you here.

Springboard VR

SpringboardVR is a game licensing platform specially made for Virtual Reality arcades. The core business of SpringboardVR is taking care of the game licenses, but there are also many other useful functionalities that SpringboardVR can offer your arcade. For example, SpringboardVR offers the possibility to manage multiple VR stations from a central point, it gives you insight and analyzes your played VR games, in-game software to give users a tutorial of the Controllers and Headset and provide a handy tool to implement a booking system in your arcade.

SpringboardVR game licenses are arranged through the Springboard market place. In this licensing market, content creators and developers are directly connected with VR arcade operators, making it much easier to get in touch with with each other. You no longer have to negotiate or come with with a legal document yourself, but everything has already been arranged and established in advance. After taking out a subscription with SpringboardVR you pay a fixed amount per month and debits are paid automatically. The amount you have to pay (often per minute) differs per game, but it is average at 0.07 per minute.

Synthesis VR

Synthesis VR offers essentially the same possibilities as Springboard VR. with Synthesis VR you also use the management system with which you can easily control all VR stations from a central Computer. Synthesis VR is mainly characterized by its ease of use. Where you with Springboard VR have a lot of functionalities for all kinds of useful solutions, Synthesis VR offers a relatively simple interface where you can easily choose between games. Synthesis VR offers the option for all games to pay per minute or to pay with a fixed price.

Viveport Arcade

Viveport Arcade offers two payment options: pay-as-you-go and a monthly subscription. The advantage of pay-as-you go is that you only spend the amount on VR games that are played. Via deze manier koop je ‘punten’ die je kunt uitgeven per VR game. This is a good solution for starting and/or smaller VR arcades, because this way you don't have to make a large monthly expense yet.

At Viveport Arcade it is also possible to pay monthly. You take out a monthly subscription with which you can play a number of games. The subscription price is the same every month. This form of payment is therefore a good license agreement if you have a large VR arcade or with some certainty attracts many visitors. You can also create a combination of the above methods: pay-as-you-go to test out a game, then sign up for a monthly subscription when you find it catching on.

ARVI VR Labs

ARVI VR Labs started as a game developer for specific VR Escape Room games, but has now grown into a real game platform suitable for VR arcades. A lot of VR games can now be found on the ARVI VR Labs platform, varying from an escape room game to a multiplayer shooter. And the biggest advantage of ARVI VR Labs is that, in addition to the games suitable for an VR arcade, the entire launch platform is also set up for VR arcades. This way you can control several Computers and VR Glasses from 1 central location (for example via a laptop or tablet). This is ideal for the operator in the room, so that he or she does not have to be physically present with every player, but can just watch from a distance.

Want to know more about ARVI VR Labs? Read our blog VR Escape Room Games for VR Arcades & Arcades then go through.