The creators of the Omniverse treadmill target VR esports with a new multiplayer location-based arena.
Since the launch of its official Kickstarter back in 2014, Virtuix’s omnidirectional treadmill, referred to as the Virtuix Omni, has struggled to find a place in the constantly changing landscape that is the VR industry. As a result, the company is exiting the at-home VR market in search of greener pastures in which to implement its unique treadmill-based locomotion solution.
Developed in partnership with Funovation, a developer of small-footprint attractions, Virtuix is launching a brand new location-based attraction, the Omniverse VR ARENA.
Designed as an all-in-one VR esports market, the futuristic-looking arena features four individual VR set-ups, each of which equipped with four Omni platforms running on the companies improved Omni 2.0 motion technology.
Powered by the Omniverse content platform, players will have access to 18 treadmill-compatible experiences in which to compete, with another seven currently in development. These include Omni Arena, Karnage Chronicles, and Quivr, just to name a few.
VR ARENA features a seamless jump-in, jump-out experience, with only one staff member needed in order to operate the venue properly. Social media integration also allows players to share gameplay footage and photos with friends online (this content will be watermarked with the venue’s logo and digital signature.
“VR Arena incorporates two years of customer feedback,” stated Jan Goetgeluk, CEO of Virtuix, while speaking with VentureBeat. “We’ve listened to the concerns of our existing customers, particularly regarding the Omni’s player setup time and labor needs, and we’ve worked hard to address them.”
“VR Arena benefits from the maturity of the Omni, which is now a tested and proven technology. To date, we’ve shipped more than 3,000 Omni systems to over 500 entertainment venues in 45 countries, resulting in more than 500,000 Omni play sessions.”
Virtuix will sponsor ongoing contests at ARENA locations, with over $5,000 USD in cash prizes available each month. The best-of-the-best can also duke it out for an annual prize pool of a whopping $50,000 USD.
VR ARENA will make its initial debut at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2018 in Orlando, Florida, November 13th to November 16th. Visit here to sign up for a VIP demonstration, as well as a fast-pass to skip those pesky lines.
Image Credit: Virtuix / Funovation
