Open VR venue: Tips and advice

What is an LBVR?

A VR room or location-based virtual reality is a space dedicated to video games in virtual reality. A virtual reality room provides equipment, spaces, and experiences to different audiences wishing to experience adventures with friends.

Virtual reality rooms are new players in the leisure market. There are great analogies to be made between historical attractions such as laser games, bowling, and more recent ones such as escape games or ax throwing rooms. There are similarities in the target audience for example.

Why opening an LBVR?

Virtual reality and the associated hardware have been convincing in the eyes of non-techies for only a few semesters. Today, the amounts dedicated to the installations and the supply times of the equipment are reduced and, in fact, the global environment is more and more favorable to the development of VR rooms.

On notes a market development on par with that of escape room spaces a few years ago. Everywhere, we can see VR theater projects opening or taking place.

Estimates vary, but the global VR games market could reach up to $ 45 billion by 2025, according to SuperData Research, a division of Nielsen Company.

“Almost one in two French people has already experienced virtual reality. It is a new form of creation, which particularly appeals to young people. A real sector of the future. " Frédérique Bredin, President of the CNC

Today, different profiles are investing in the opening of VR rooms: from game enthusiasts, technophiles, to serial entrepreneurs, including the group in professional retraining, all wish to develop offers in this booming market.

Today we can see that virtual reality is democratizing among the general public, in particular thanks to autonomous headsets like the Oculus Quest and the reduction in the cost of purchasing these helmets.

In order to differentiate yourself and attract customers to your room, you must focus on two things that players will not be able to reproduce at home: free-roaming (or free movement) and premium experiences.

How to open an LBVR?

We will try to provide you with a starting point on this page and answer your various questions related to the opening of a VR room. What are the logistics, hardware, and software deadlines and stages? We will also discuss in these pages which VR equipment, also called hardware, is to be taken into account when opening a VR operation.

Opening a virtual reality gaming room also means choosing the location of its premises, its address, and its place of operation. This is also a point that should not be overlooked that we will address together in order to choose the right place of operation. The same goes for the layout of this space, which often turns out to be a logistical puzzle without knowledge of the environment and its potential future developments.

In order to open a VR room more serenely, it is advisable to seek assistance and advice. Experts will be able to support you in this creation so as not to be odd and open under the right conditions and desired deadlines. It is a real constellation of trades involved in a room opening initiative.

Opening an LBVR: what are the deadlines for opening a VR room?

Inevitably, in this race for positioning, deadlines must be taken into account in the VR room opening plans. We will see what elements are likely to lengthen the deadlines, and anticipate ways to cope with them.

Opening an LBVR: which are the steps to open it?

Opening an LBVR is a succession of steps, to be considered in a specific order, surrounding yourself with the right trades. Like any operation in the leisure sector, there are also codes to respect on the one hand to reach its audience, but also to have a healthy and viable activity.

Opening an LBVR: which equipment to choose to open it?

A LBVR is a concentrate of digital innovation, cutting-edge equipment, and technologies. Visitors come to discover innovative material, which they do not have and wish to live a truly immersive and innovative experience. It is therefore essential to take into consideration the vital aspect of the material selection of a VR room: headsets, computers, network equipment, comfort, and hygiene.

Which software should i get to open a VR venue ?

The hardware is an essential component of an LBVR, just like the various software necessary for the proper functioning of your operation. This list includes the software necessary for the proper functioning of the games but also for the general management of the room ( launch of games, spectator, score, cash register, reservation, communication, etc.) Good tools are not only controlled, secure operations but above all additional comfort for those in charge of welcoming visitors. They will be able to focus on the quality of the welcome and the customer experience.

Open an LBVR: Open a virtual reality location-based: which location to choose to open it?

The location of your LBVR is essential and in particular, determines the strategy to be adopted to attract its customers. An accessible and visible space will be an excellent starting point for starting a business. What are the essential criteria that your premises must-have?

Opening an LBVR: how to set up your VR room?

Depending on the equipment, the planned experiences, or even the desired attendance, setting up your LBVR can quickly become a giant puzzle. It is also possible to provide for the layout of a modular and scalable VR room for the rest of the operation.

Opening an LBVR: companies and professions to open it?

Virtual reality location-based isn't just for video game enthusiasts. Like any profession in the leisure sector, it is not enough only to welcome people, nor to turn on PCs, we will see together who are the actors who can support you in your project and what skills it will be necessary to bring together to arrive. a viable operation.

From creation work to the installation of specifications, to training your team in good operating practices, in how to use hardware, software… Let's look at the various bodies together of trades with which to get closer to achieve an efficient operation.

How much does it cost to open an LBVR?

Inevitably, starting a virtual reality business involves investing. Material investments, logistics equipment, game licenses, software, rent, general operating costs ... How much does opening an LBVR cost? What are the recurring costs? How to best manage your cash flow? Let's list these different elements together.

What games to put in an LBVR?

If you think a VR room is for gamers only, that's a mistake. Virtual reality now attracts a large and diverse clientele, ranging from families who have never played video games, businesses, to young video game enthusiasts.

In order to satisfy this audience, you had to select suitable games, which they cannot do at home with their own headsets. These games must also meet quality criteria (see motion sickness), generate replayability, be sufficiently fun, etc.

We will see together what types and number of games you should have in your catalog. We will also discuss the duration, the number of players, theme, pricing, and legal issues related to the operation of virtual reality video games.