VR Coaster, Holodeck VR and MackMedia announced today (Aug. 13) that the Holodeck platform has been selected to create what they claim is the world’s first “Roam & Ride” VR attraction, described as a seamless combination of free-roaming VR and an intense VR thrill ride. The planned soft opening for the new VR attraction at Europa-Park in Germany is scheduled for September of this year.
“The Holodeck VR system, which can handle dozens of guests simultaneously, was the ideal extension to our patented approach of equipping ride attractions with VR,” said Thomas Wagner of VR Coaster.
Both systems use untethered mobile VR Headsets, making them a match since laptop-backpacks are no option on a rollercoaster. Together with MackMedia and EuropaCorp, VR Coaster has created Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, which they say is “a universe that sets new standards in visual quality.”
Holodeck reported, “By blending pre-rendered footage with real-time 3D, an enormous level of detail was achieved. Guests and operators appear as naturally moving avatars in a compelling free-roaming experience, before seamlessly boarding the thrilling VR ride of Eurosat Coastiality. Holodeck VR’s proprietary, patented tracking system offers the highest user throughput in the market, which makes it uniquely qualified for a major theme park like Europa-Park, welcoming more than 5.6 million visitors each year.”
Michael Mack of MackMedia was also full of excitement over the project. “As soon as I knew about Luc Besson’s new movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, I wanted to feature it on the new VR ride,” he said. “The setting, visuals and atmosphere are simply made for virtual reality. In combination with the innovative, world-first ‘Roam & Ride’ concept, Europa-Park visitors will embark on a virtual reality adventure like no other.” To learn more, visit www.holodeckvr.com, www.vrcoaster.com and www.mackmedia.de.