Sandbox VR delivers immersive zombie-hunting fun this Halloween season – Orange County Register
There’s no shortage of haunted houses popping up during the Halloween season, where horror fans will be haunted and terrified by all sorts of creatures of the night.
But there’s a new action-horror experience this year in a couple of Southern California cities for those who don’t want to run from the undead but come face-to-face with zombies while carrying tactical gear and an arsenal of weapons in an attempt to to save the world… a virtual world.
“You and your friends are dropped in Deadwood Valley, which has been overrun by zombie hordes, and you have a mission to rescue a scientist and his wife who have the antibodies to save humanity,” said Josh Cole , Senior Vice President of Marketing for Sandbox VR. The company offers virtual reality gaming experiences — like its latest, Deadwood Valley — and allows guests to play in these virtual worlds, strapping all sorts of tech devices on players and placing them in large rooms while their avatars in take action.
“You’re protecting that scientist while being attacked by zombies from all sides, from above and below,” explained Cole.
It’s like a laser tag game, but in an intricately detailed virtual world. Each player can see the others in the game and can talk and interact with each other, as well as physically feel the elements of combat as they battle their way through the zombie apocalypse.
How it works
Founded in 2016, Sandbox VR operates 26 locations in five countries, with local game rooms in Woodland Hills and Cerritos. Players strap on a VR headset and goggles, as well as motion sensors on their wrists and ankles. They also wear a haptic vest that creates vibrations to add to the realistic feel of the interactive world.
“So if a zombie comes in and maybe hits you, you feel like you’re getting hit,” said Cole, describing one of the vest’s features.
Then players can choose from a selection of rifles, shotguns, and other weapons before being placed in a combat room. These rooms are filled with cameras that capture the player’s full-body movements, meaning all players can clearly see each other’s avatars in the virtual space.
“Once the lights go out and VR comes on, you’re in a whole different world,” said Cole. “It’s totally immersive. You see and feel everything and it’s happening all around you. They are attacked from above, from below, from everywhere. So it’s really 360 degree action that you’re right in the middle of.”
The games
Once players arrive in Deadwood Valley, they go around town destroying zombies. At one point, they even jump onto the back of a truck while zombies try to climb and attack. Eventually, players end up in a rural area where they are faced with the choice of either saving the scientist or ending humanity.
“You are the hero of your own movie or video game,” said Cole. “You decide the outcome with your friends.”
Deadwood Valley isn’t the only world players can conquer, as Sandbox VR offers a total of six original games, each roughly 30 minutes long. This includes Deadwood Mansion, the original version of Deadwood Valley, set in a house rather than a town. There is also an alien adventure called Amber Sky 2088 in which players defend Earth from an alien swarm.
For the Trekkies, there’s Star Trek: Discovery, a game in which players are Starfleet officers on the USS Discovery investigating a distress signal from an alien world. Players are equipped with phasers and a tricorder, and you’ll even stand on a transporter pad and be beamed to your mission.
Although the games are suitable for players of all ages, Cole recommends Davy Jones’s Curse for younger children. This game uses more cartoon style graphics and players fight sea creatures with swords and pirate pistols while searching for Davy Jones’ treasure.
And while all games are geared towards cooperative team play, players can also fight each other in UFL, the Unbound Fighting League, a player versus player game using weapons like tridents, a lightsaber and a shield.
Cole said you don’t have to be a pro gamer to do well in these virtual experiences.
“When you come to our venue, it’s so easy because your body is your controller, you’re holding, you’re moving and you’re kicking,” he said.
Sandbox VR
Where: The Village at Westfield Topanga, 6316 Topanga Canyon Blvd., #1120, Woodland Hills and Los Cerritos Center, 454 Los Cerritos Center, Suite E13, Cerritos.
Hours: Multiple time slots available Monday-Thursday 11:20am-10:55pm and Friday-Sunday 11:20am-11:35pm in Woodland Hills; 11:00-22:15 Monday-Thursday and 11:00-23:00 Friday-Sunday in Cerritos.
Costs: $50 per person Monday-Thursday; $55 per person Friday through Sunday.
More information: 818-963-8003 for Woodland Hills and 562-888-8753 for Cerritos or sandboxvr.com.
https://www.ocregister.com/2022/10/17/sandbox-vr-provides-immersive-zombie-hunting-fun-this-halloween-season/ Sandbox VR delivers immersive zombie-hunting fun this Halloween season – Orange County Register
