VR Gaming - Is there a market for it?

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CamH

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#201289 12-Aug-2016 00:03

One of our subsidiary companies currently owns a 30-computer internet cafe which we have been looking into redeveloping into something new in the near (1-3 months) future due to the immense cost of upgrading all of the computers that we'll face in 12 months if we stay in the slowly dying PC gaming industry.

We were thinking of removing / selling all the machines and creating 4-5 3x3m areas and having VR kits (likely HTC Vive) for use on a 30 minute / hourly basis.

Our target market would probably be geeks mainly - so I ask, Geekzone - is there a market for this sort of thing? Would you pay to play VR games or perhaps experience the world via Google Earth?

Opinions and ideas would be much appreciated!

gbwelly

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#1610416 12-Aug-2016 07:34

I think you would have plenty of paying customers, but you would earn your money. You would need to be the personal concierge, helping them stay tangle free, launching games, troubleshooting etc. Not everyone will be able to handle 30 minutes at a go, and the wear and tear of constant use will require rigorous upkeep on the equipment.

You might want to follow Level Up! in Christchurch and just hire them out to people for the week.

dman

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#1644378 2-Oct-2016 20:31

Is this internet cafe in Auckland?
As I couldn't see a smaller center (Hamilton/Taupo/Gisborne/Invercargill/etc) being able to support a VR cafe niche.

The VR gaming industry is currently both fragmented and advancing quickly (as it is still early days), which further increases your risks if you're sinking a substantial amount of capital into it.

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

petes117

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#1644426 2-Oct-2016 22:35

I'd dispute the idea that the PC gaming market is dying... unless you mean internet cafes specifically, no offense. The bigger shift is to digital distribution and free-to-play (i.e. people want to play at home, on demand, for cheap).

So I do understand it takes a lot to get someone out of the house and have them pay by the hour. What do most people use gaming cafes for these days... WoW, LoL, Dota 2, Diablo and CS:GO? They are very social and competitive games, but there is nothing like that for VR and probably won't be for a year or two at least.

Having said that, the last time I used an internet cafe was when I couldn't afford to use the high end equipment, and for many people that might mean VR.

So if you went that route, as gbwelly said, you'd need staff to hand-hold customers the entire time which would likely increase staff costs... Maybe something seated would be better, like racing sims (Dirt Rally and Project Cars) or flight sims (Elite Dangerous, Star Citizen... eventually) which would save you space allowing more units at a time for longer periods of time (with a few open areas on the side for the motion-controlled games)

Good luck, and if you do go for it don't sell all your machines ;) Those HTC Vives don't run themselves, they still need a high end PC.

PhantomNVD

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#1644465 3-Oct-2016 00:17

Having looked at some VR videos using a decent headpiece based on google cardboard and my iPhone 6s in the slot, I'd say VR will pull the crowd, but I'd really recommend a 'partial shift' and buying one or two devices (maybe one of each of the main ones?) and seeing how they pan out?

I have yet to see a game I would want to pay to play in VR, but I'm sure for the next couple years at least you're likely to get plenty of 'try before I buy' type clients (and I'd probably be one too if there's a 'killer game' released) but not sure how well the payback would work if you turn 30 paying clients/hour into 10/hour and don't triple the price, which may well kill the teenager-who-can't-afford-his-own-kit clientele...

CamH

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#1644869 3-Oct-2016 18:51

Thanks so much guys for your feedback. We did go ahead with this idea, and yes it's in Auckland. We launch next week - 4 VR sets, each in their own 3.5m x 3.5m room. Our goal is to provide the experience of VR in a non-restrictive dedicated area where participants are free to move around without too much concern.

I would be interested in getting the following opinions from GZ members however:

How much would you expect to pay for 30mins / 60mins of VR time?
Does anyone have any Vive games they really think look great or that they want to try?

PhantomNVD

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#1644890 3-Oct-2016 19:34

Pricing is always a tricky task... on the one hand you want to pull the crowds, on the other you need to make money to stay in business and pay the staff 🤔

I'd say no more per hour than the local movies charge? So something like $5-$7 for 1/2 hour and 8-10/hour? Again maybe I'm cheap, or maybe these are good spitball figures... your costs and calculations will probably dictate your final price it an "opening special" or 2for1 deal or some such may boost your local presence and the neighbourhood awareness of your upgrade?

Maybe even a Freedom Friday launch with $2/10min quick rotation to whet their appetites might go well?

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

petes117

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#1644932 3-Oct-2016 20:47

CamH:

How much would you expect to pay for 30mins / 60mins of VR time?
Does anyone have any Vive games they really think look great or that they want to try?

Personally I'd pay similar pricing to a movie ticket around $10-20 per hour before any concession or promotional discounts you might run. Pricing is tricky...

If you connect your 4 Vives over a network I'd be very keen to play Star Trek Bridge Crew since it's a 4 player co-operative experience. No idea if it's any good yet but the concept sounds great. It's due out end of November.

gbwelly

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#1644963 3-Oct-2016 23:03

CamH:

Thanks so much guys for your feedback. We did go ahead with this idea, and yes it's in Auckland. We launch next week - 4 VR sets, each in their own 3.5m x 3.5m room. Our goal is to provide the experience of VR in a non-restrictive dedicated area where participants are free to move around without too much concern.

I would be interested in getting the following opinions from GZ members however:

How much would you expect to pay for 30mins / 60mins of VR time?
Does anyone have any Vive games they really think look great or that they want to try?

I'd suggest $8 for 10 minutes initially. I have my VR legs but 30 minutes is plenty for me. I have found the thrill of VR wears off, short sessions leave people wanting more.

I like Project Cars with force feedback wheel on California Highway in the Lotus 98T, and Windlands.

You might want to just show some demos to wow first timers.

dman

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#1646256 5-Oct-2016 22:24

Ohhhhhh.......... this is happening! Where is it, address?

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

georgect435

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#1664137 5-Nov-2016 09:45

You already know that PC game industry is dying. I remember a time when people used to go to gaming zones. That was also a good business as cyber cafe. But that industry had stopped shining after steam, origin, social club etc.

Knowing all these, I don't think you should spent all these money to it. I have another million dollar suggestion for you. Open a store where people can play mobile games. I haven't seen a store like this yet. But all of us already seen plenty of people are playing in their mobile. And I think people will love to play these games in a store rather keeping some heavy games (Asphalt 8, Real Football etc) in their own device. What do you think?

gbwelly

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#1664479 6-Nov-2016 08:49

georgect435:

You already know that PC game industry is dying. I remember a time when people used to go to gaming zones. That was also a good business as cyber cafe. But that industry had stopped shining after steam, origin, social club etc.

Knowing all these, I don't think you should spent all these money to it. I have another million dollar suggestion for you. Open a store where people can play mobile games. I haven't seen a store like this yet. But all of us already seen plenty of people are playing in their mobile. And I think people will love to play these games in a store rather keeping some heavy games (Asphalt 8, Real Football etc) in their own device.

What do you think?

I think this is a weak trolling attempt.