As much as it’s a gut-punch to say to past generations, the days of picking up a one-button Atari controller to play "Space Invaders" are long behind us.
Nowadays, the video gamer can be their own controller, with the best of rapidly expanding virtual reality technology on display at Player One VR World. The 1515 4th St location used to be considered the future of gaming, but the future is now in the 5,000-square foot space, considered the largest "free roam VR" location in California.
Free roam, or "location-based VR," are games that can be played in various "rooms" throughout the space. Once attached to a VIVE Focus 3 headset and "gun" attachment, players are dropped from the blank gray walls into worlds depicting anything from zombie apocalypse to being chased by killer pirates.
Though gamers may have seen similar technology on headsets like the Meta Quest line, the VIVE Focus 3s are the latest in virtual tech, with games made to pace players around the rooms in a way that both removes motion sickness concerns and the feeling you might be hitting a wall in real life.
"The game developers actually make the game with this room in mind [and] what that means is you have a lot of room to walk around," Player One Manager Bijan Mahdavi said. "They kind of have you snaking around so it feels even bigger than this [square footage]. We had someone in here … and they [said], ‘I was running all around [but] I felt like I was never gonna hit the wall,’ and that’s what they kind of do, they develop it … so that it feels even bigger than it really is."
Mahdavi has been playing video games since he was 5 years old, and has seen the gradual buildup of the industry into its latest VR achievements.
"It’s the best technology," he added. "It’s something that people have been kind of looking [at] for a while, and the technology hasn’t really been up there until now … now that the technology has officially progressed far enough, game developers are making some solid, quality games."
To find the latest gaming gems, the Player One crew has gone worldwide, taking innovative titles from companies like Australia’s Zero Latency, Taiwan’s VR Live, Hungary’s Anvio and Belgium’s Hero Zone. Games are built with "5K graphics" in mind, which Mahdavi said is similar to a 1080p YouTube video.
Once games are brought to staff, they have a playtest group that rates new selections from 1-10, not offering anything that is lower than a 7 average amongst the crew.
"[If we] only like two out of 10 games [from a developer], we’re only going to offer those two," Mahdavi said. "We want to make sure that if somebody comes here and picks the game at random, they’re going to have a good time."
The game library has become a vast, genre-spanning collection of quality, anchored by the zombie shooter Outbreak, one of the world’s premiere games in the zombie genre. Franchises known for their controller-based exploits have also transitioned into the catalog, such as Ubisoft’s successful Far Cry series’ VR debut, and Player One will soon have a title in the ever-popular "Warhammer" franchise.
Not just a shoot-em-up sanctuary, Player One has a "little bit of everything," including player-vs-player (PvP) games like laser tag for group sessions. PvP contests can serve up to eight guests, with the 4-on-4 action becoming "hectic" but still safe to operate, according to Mahdavi. These games are constructed to where although the game map is greater than the Player One space, various in-game "portals" can jump players into different levels without running out of room.
Family-friendly offerings are also part of the Player One experience, such as the Cook’d Up! cooking game where kids and adults alike can make their own hamburger creations. Families and other groups can also take advantage of VR Escape Rooms, giving players an hour to get out of their virtual surroundings.
Whichever game is chosen, Player One’s mission is a safe and clean time, as the crew sanitizes each set of headsets and gun attachments after every use. With the cleanliness and entertainment factors both taken care of, Mahdavi said the location attracts gamers of all experience levels.
"Both hardcore gamers and people who have never played before can get into it because you’re actually stepping into the game," Mahdavi said. "It’s more intuitive than picking up a controller and having to learn all the buttons … you are the control."
To book a playtime at Player One or view its entire catalog of games, visit playeronevrworld.com
thomas@smdp.com
