Why just play a video game when you can live inside a video game? That’s what you’ll experience when you strap on a virtual reality headset at CTRL V, Guelph’s virtual reality arcade.
For those who want to immerse themselves in the world of virtual reality, this is the best way to jump into an alternate universe where you become the character inside of the game.
Joe Balfour is the owner of CTRL V in Guelph and explains what first-timers can expect after their initial experience.
“People don’t really get it until they try it,” Balfour said. “What I hear quite a bit from our customers is: ‘That was way better than I was expecting.’
“A lot of people have this generic idea of VR because they tried one of the Google Cardboard ones with your phone and it’s a bit lower quality, or they’re worried about motion sickness. A lot of those things are not an issue and it’s very seamless to put on the headset, feel totally normal, and you’re in a whole different world.”
Instead of a regular coin-operated arcade, CTRL V has 16 virtual reality stations where up to 16 people can play the same game all at the same time. You’ll strap on a virtual reality headset where you can see, move and interact with your environment in these unique worlds.
Virtual reality is becoming more popular in the market with Playstation and Meta offering retail versions of at-home headsets, but those are quite expensive and you need appropriate space to play those games.
At CTRL V, players never have to worry about any of those concerns because there are 10-by-10-foot stations for people to move without worry of damaging anything in their living room.
“At CTRL V, we have 16 VR headsets all in the same space, so it’s a much more social experience,” Balfour said. “You can come with your friends and you can all play at the same time and see each other in VR and play the same game together in the same space.”
For those who want to delve into the world of VR but want to take a test drive, CTRL V offers a free 10-minute session for players to dive into virtual reality to see if it’s right for them. They’ll start with a basic game like Fruit Ninja or a game called Richie’s Plank Experience, where you feel you’re walking on a plank 80 stories above the ground.
You can also explore the world from a unique perspective with Google Earth VR. Using Google Earth, you can see the world’s most popular landmarks with a 360-degree view of surroundings like the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon.
CTRL V also has several escape rooms players can dive into, with up to 6 people working together in virtual reality to solve puzzles and work towards the ultimate goal of making it out of the room in time.
With the holidays coming up, CTRL V is a great place to book a unique holiday party experience where everybody can get in on the fun. Kids' birthday parties are always a popular choice, with children 8 and up able to play with their friends and celebrate together.
Once most people try VR gaming for the first time, they can’t wait to get back into the environment again. Book an hour at CTRL V or come in for a 10-minute free trial and experience for yourself what it’s like to test your limits in virtual reality.
Find out more at CTRLV.ca or visit CTRL V in Guelph at 212 Victoria Road South. Check out CTRL V on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.