The UK’s largest group of virtual reality experience centres is showcasing new haptic VR experience at its Bristol outlet throughout February.
AFFECTED: The Visit is a collaboration between ImmotionVR, game developer Fallen Planet Studios and Ultrahaptics, a world leader in harnessing ultrasound to create a sense of touch in mid air.
The game offers a new form of immersive entertainment by providing haptic feedback to the horror genre in a specially adapted version of Fallen Planet’s hit VR release, AFFECTED: The Manor.
Users enter a virtual haunted house and will experience a number of surprising events which have been augmented with mid-air haptic (touch) sensations. The experience has been demonstrated before at trade shows in the States such as IAAPA Attractions Expo and CES (Consumer Electronics Show). However, this is the first time that the UK public will have the chance to sample it.
“Audiences have really loved AFFECTED: The Visit,” says Tom Carter, chief technology officer and co-founder of Ultrahaptics. “This collaboration provides an opportunity to showcase what UK companies have to offer the growing virtual reality market. We can’t wait to share it with our home audience.”
Fallen Planet Studios CEO Alex Moretti says AFFECTED: The Visit offers “a compelling out-of-home experience that really has to be felt to be believed. By implementing Ultrahaptics’ mid-air technology, we are able to deepen the level of immersion to new levels, without saddling the user with additional hardware for them to navigate. To be unveiling this installation in partnership with ImmotionVR is a testament to the quality of their arcades and highlights the UK’s fast growing interest in location-based VR.”
AFFECTED: The Visit is available at ImmotionVR in Bristol’s Cabot Circus shopping centre until the end of February 2019. In total, Immotion operates eight VR experience centres around the UK, with its newest at Wembley Park in London.
