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Tokyo Arcade Owner looks to VR Games to Boost Profits

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In Japan, Adores Inc., a Tokyo arcade operator has revealed a new virtual reality (VR) facility at its four-story arcade in the city’s Shibuya district.

The facility is based on one floor of the arcade. It will showcase high-end virtual reality in a relaxed and informal enviroment. It has has six VR games. These include ghost shooting, baseball, riding on a flying carpet and walking along a narrow bridge.

A Tokyo-based game company,  Gree Inc.,  is providing the VR Games.

Eiji Araki, vice president of Gree Inc. said,  “To accelerate the launch of the VR market in Japan, we think it’s important to utilize arcades and amusement parks.”

Decline of Tokyo Arcades

In order to experience VR at home,  people need to purchase expensive headsets, Araki said. Instead, VR arcades give gamers a high-quality experience at an affordable price.

The president of Adores, Seiji Uehara, noted that the arcade industry has seen declining revenues in recent years. With the VR games the firm is moving beyond the traditional arcade business model.

The Japan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association estimates that annual arcade sales have fallen from around ¥700 billion in 2006 to just over ¥420 billion in 2014 due to the proliferation of smartphones and competing options for leisure time activities.

 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/14/business/tech/tokyo-arcade-looks-vr-highlight-high-end-tech-boost-business/#.WFFG23fMxjQ

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Charles Read

Charles is managing director at blooloop. He attends numerous trade shows around the world and frequently speaks about trends and social media for the attractions industry at conferences. Outside of blooloop, his passions are diving, trees and cricket.

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