Arcade gaming in Regina has literally gone virtual

A new arcade is hoping to bring a "virtually" more futuristic style of gaming to the residents of Regina. The Grid VR Arcade is set to have its grand opening on Friday October 14.

The VR stands for virtual reality and Regina business owner, Rob Bryanton, said he has been working with virtual reality technology since 2009 but it is only now starting to gain traction.

"We were one of the first leaders working in the field of augmented reality which of course just took off this year finally with Pokemon Go," said Bryanton.

"We've been doing virtual reality since it first became possible to do with gear accessible to the public."

Prior to going all-in on the arcade, Bryanton and his team created a virtual experience for the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina that allows someone to wear a VR headset and become a rider in their Musical Ride.

According to Bryanton, his arcade is only one of two in Canada and the decision to open the arcade was based on an overwhelming response from those who tried the technology.

"Right now we're the only facility in Western Canada and there is one more in Waterloo. This is actually a really unique experience in that everybody is in a shared room. (In) Waterloo, you are still all by yourself in a booth," said Bryanton.

He also said that The Grid VR is different because it allows the player to have full freedom of motion and the ability to walk around the room.

Longtime gamer and Regina resident, Mike Schlosser, said the experience is something that any person who is thinking about going to the arcade should try.

"It's a completely new experience...it's not like sitting back on your couch," said Schlosser. "It's you're moving around you're feeling it in your arms, you're looking back, you're looking left, you're looking right, up, down, it's a whole new world, you have to try it," said Schlosser.