New Virtual Reality Arcade to Open in Sevierville: Virtual Villains
Video gamers are going to love Sevierville’s newest attraction! Expected to open late this summer, Virtual Villains is a one-of-a-kind virtual reality arcade that will allow guests to fully immerse themselves in their favorite games. With state of the art VR headsets and other high tech gear, players will jump right into popular video games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Battlefield. Read on to find out everything we know about Virtual Villains.
Watch Virtual Reality Gameplay
Still a little confused about how virtual reality video games work? Check out this video from the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show to see what VR technology looks like in action:
As you can see in the above clip, playing a VR video game is a full-body experience! Instead of sitting on the couch with a controller, guests at Virtual Villains will be on their feet: running across digital landscapes, dodging obstacles, and blasting away enemies.
The Virtuix Omni: The Future of Gaming
In the video from the Consumer Electronics Show, you probably noticed that the players are moving around on a bowl-shaped treadmill. This device is known as the Virtuix Omni, and it is a major game changer for the world of virtual reality. The Omni is so named because it is an “omnidirectional” treadmill, allowing users to walk or run in any direction inside of a video game.
The Omni was one of the ten biggest campaigns on the Kickstarter website, raising over a million dollars in funding in 2013. Since then, the Omni has appeared on the Shark Tank television show and been on display at the Electronic Entertainment Expo and South by Southwest. Business Insider called the Omni, “hands down the most immersive gaming experience we’ve seen so far”.
Virtual Villains in Sevierville will have a number of Virtuix Omni platforms for guests to play on. The arcade plans to offer Omni-compatible versions of Battlefield, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and other awesome video games.
More Fun at Virtual Villains
In addition to the Omni, Virtual Villains will offer a 100 square foot area for guests to play with the HTC Vive. When you’re wearing the Vive headset, you’ll be able to draw with light in mid-air, shoot at flying robots, or experience what it is like to duel with a lightsaber!
Virtual Villains recommends that all of its guests be at least 12 years of age to ensure that the VR headsets fit properly. Since some games are violent or feature mature content, guests who are under 18 years old must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
Virtual Villains Location
Virtual Villains is located at 266 Collier Drive in Sevierville next to the Sevier Air Trampoline Park. The arcade is still under construction, but the owners hope to open before the end of summer. For the most up to date information, follow Virtual Villains on Facebook.
Looking for more fun attractions to visit during your next vacation? Check out our guide to all of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains!
