Virtual Reality Gets the Theme Park Treatment

The concept of "virtual reality" goes back deep into the history of computers and digital technology. It forms the premise of many science fiction books and movies, with perhaps the most familiar example being the stylish (if philosophically pretentious) Matrix trilogy. But whereas virtual reality in those movies was portrayed as this overgrown conspiracy by rebellious computers to enslave humanity, in the real world it may become the next generation's entertainment.

What if you had a virtual reality theme park?

Enter projects like the Void, which aims to construct "Virtual Entertainment Centers" (VECs) across the planet, starting with Pleasant Grove, UT. These establishments, composed of seven 60x60 rooms each, would have players put on virtual reality headsets that will not only create the visual illusion of other worlds around them, but simulate even these setting's tactile sensations. As one report put it:

If your VR headset has you hiding behind a tree, you could feel its rough bark. If you're trying to open a spaceport, you could feel the metal beneath your hand. In addition to syncing up real-world touch with VR magic, the rooms can add "fourth dimension" components like blasts of steam from exposed pipes or cords that feel like the strands of cobwebs. There will also be motion simulators that can make you feel like you're in a jet fighter or a raging race car.

When I first heard of the concept, I was every bit as excited as most people. It reminds me almost of certain "laser tag" establishments I visited as a kid, which had us walk around this dark and murky stage and shoot each other with fake laser guns (the one I remember most fondly had a "Jurassic Park" motif with Velociraptors in the decor). VECs like this could represent the next evolution of those, since they could actually simulate a real futuristic base (or a prehistoric jungle, or any other environment for that matter) for players to explore while attacking either each other or common enemies. I could even see these VECs presenting serious competition with older parks like Disneyland or Six Flags given their power to simulate fantastical habitats.

But all that said, I wish that, in addition to these larger theme parks, they would release this kind of technology for private consumption within individual households. Not all of us enjoy playing with multiple teammates, and some of us would like a broader variety of settings than seven rooms in one theme park can provide (assuming each room represents its own world). It would be really nice if they dished out virtual reality games that players could modify to their own liking within the privacy of their own homes, or even make their own worlds and games from scratch. Nonetheless, this may be a step in the right direction when it comes to virtual reality in entertainment.