HTC VIVE, a leading virtual reality (VR) platform and ecosystem, and SPREE Interactive, a leading provider of active free-roam VR experiences, were both recognised with VR Bobble Awards at last month’s IAAPA Expo Europe in London. These awards celebrate innovation in the location-based VR sector.
HTC VIVE received the accolade for its VIVE Focus 3 headset and location-based software suite (LBSS), while SPREE Interactive was recognised for its SPREE Arena.
HTC VIVE Focus 3 VR headset
HTC VIVE’s new Focus 3 VR headset was created to meet the needs of the LBE market. Users can enjoy their VR experience without requiring bulky backpacks or cable connections, and there is also no need for expensive computers. The headset is based on the Qualcomm XR2 chipset for reliable multiplayer experiences in big spaces, without external tracking cameras.
“The Focus 3 is the best LBVR headset available right now,” says Bob Cooney, who is the founder of the VR Bobble Awards. “HTC did an amazing job of listening to the market over the last several years. Every VR experience creator I talk to in the world has either moved to Focus 3 or has plans to in 2023. The VIVE Focus 3 will become the industry standard headset for location-based entertainment.
“This will be a boon to operators, as they will be able to consolidate parts, service, and repair skills around a common set of equipment.”
Dave Myers, director of enterprise tech services at HTC, says:
“We’re honored to receive this year’s VR Bobble Award for VIVE Focus 3. It’s wonderful to see LBEs now able to deploy at a larger scale and showcase engaging, multi-user content through Focus 3 and our LBSS suite. I expect the LBE industry is about to see a lot of new, highly imaginative VR experiences that will drive business. And HTC will keep building upon the already successful Focus 3 platform to support that growth.”
SPREE VR Arena
The SPREE Arena was also celebrated at the VR Bobble Awards. The company has been concentrating on the under-12s market, which has generally been ignored by VR developers in the LBE space. With the SPREE Arena, children as young as five can enjoy fun and simple games. The games last around 3 minutes, meaning that the throughput for the Arena is over 120 players per hour. Some locations are seeing more than 10,000 plays per week.
“SPREE has been focused on trampoline parks for the last few years,” says Cooney. “They’ve been expanding at rapid clip, thanks to their partnership with Urban Air, who is deploying a customized version of the SPREE Arena across their network. The family entertainment center business really focused on entertainment for families with kids under 12, but there are few if any VR systems catering to that market.”
“To be recognized for our relentless focus on delivering the very best VR experience for kids is a huge honor,” adds Jonathan Nowak Delgado, co-founder and managing director of SPREE Interactive. “Our game designers have cracked the code to create games that capture the imagination of younger children, a huge segment of the FEC market being ignored by VR developers.
“Allowing younger kids to play together with their parents and even grandparents sparks joy for the whole family. And that’s what our industry is about.”
Earlier this year, HTC VIVE, announced that it will be bringing its state-of-the-art VIVE Focus 3 to FECs across the globe, powering memorable free-roam VR experiences. Meanwhile, SPREE Interactive has supplied a new six-player virtual reality arena for a major FEC venue in Dubai, collaborating with Amusement Services International (ASI) to launch the first SPREE VR Arena in the Middle East.
