I stood in front of a packed stadium with the
floodlights intermittently blinding me as a row of footballers
prepared to rain shots at my goal post. I saved two, but the next
three flew past my flailing hands, and I was out.
Then I was transported atop a space station and tasked
to defend myself with a laser shield from a horde of enemy
drones.
Next, I found myself in a boxing ring facing off
against an opponent with a nasty scar. It took a herculean effort
before I knocked him out.
I also put my non-existent artistic skills to the test
with 3D painting game Tilt Brush, trying to recreate a 3D version
of The New Paper logo.
It all happened to me in a Marine Square shop on
Friday, made possible because of virtual reality technology, which
local firm Ignite VR tapped on to open Singapore's first virtual
reality arcade.
The Ignite VR Arcade, which opened on Dec 2, is a
modest-looking shop featuring just four stations.
Looking in from the outside, I thought the virtual
reality gamers looked silly and clumsy as they attempted to shoot
down robots or slice fruits.
My view changed once I put on the HTC Vive headset -
paired with its controllers and a pair of noise-cancelling Razer
headphones - as the crisp graphics and surround sound immediately
fooled my brain into thinking I was somewhere else.
Most games were a challenge, requiring players to
perform quick actions or fail.
While the concept of virtual reality arcades is not new
- it has been around in the US and Europe since the 1990s - it was
only in the past year or so that big tech companies jumped onto the
bandwagon.
Taiwan-based HTC announced at the Consumer Electronics
Show earlier this month that it was preparing initiatives aimed at
convincing developers to create more virtual reality experiences
and revealed plans for arcades in public venues, reported The
Business Times.
There are already thousands of virtual reality arcades
in China, according to Polygon.
The growing trend was what prompted Ignite VR founder
Roy Koo, 28, to set up the arcade.
"We initially started Ignite VR as a blog to spread
awareness about virtual reality.
"But once I tried out the HTC Vive last April, I was
hooked," said Mr Koo.
"We wanted more people to realise how amazing and
immersive this technology was, and last month, we moved to set up
this arcade for people to try."
I also put my non-existent artistic skills to the test... trying
to recreate a 3D version of The New Paper logo.
Most of the arcade's games are from Steam. Ignite VR
paid Steam for licences to use the titles commercially, and it
updates its line-up every month.
Customers - either individually or in a group - can
choose to play a game for $3 or pay $30 for an hour.
Since the arcade opened, response has been heartening,
according to Mr Mohd Muhaimin, who runs the operations.
"The crowd usually hits a peak on weekday nights and on
weekends.
"Often, we have no time for a break even," he said.
Most of the customers are families with children aged
12 and below or players aged between 25 and 35, along with a steady
stream of tourists.
One customer, Mr Ikhsan Suri, 28, a civil servant, told
TNP he visits the arcade at least once a week with friends.
"At first I thought it would be a bit gimmicky, but
once you put on the headset, wow, it is like you are in another
world. I was hooked," he said.
"I got so immersed I even knocked into walls or lost my
balance."
To keep customers coming back, Mr Koo said the arcade
will keep improving its hardware with the latest gadgets.
"Most of our gadgets now are wired. I believe in
future, most will become wireless and we will look to get them.
"The way I see it, virtual reality is becoming such a
big part of entertainment - from games to shows to everything.
"So we should embrace it," he said.
TNP