Zero Latency (company)

Zero Latency is a technology company that develops free-roam virtual reality systems.[1] It was founded by Tim Ruse, Scott Vandonkelaar, Kyel Smith, who are currently directors of the company, with Dean Dorrell as the chairman.[2] In August 2015, Zero Latency opened the world’s first VR entertainment venue in North Melbourne, Australia.[3][4]

History

The founders' idea to develop a free-roam virtual reality experience first emerged in 2012 following the success of Oculus Rift's kickstarter campaign,[5] and was initially tested as a single-player game called Inversion VR, in early 2013.[6][7] A prototype of Zero Latency's multiplayer free-roam virtual reality system was first demonstrated to the public at Pausefest, a digital innovation conference, in early 2014.[8][9] Following this, Zero Latency secured almost $30,000 from a crowdfunding campaign,[10] as well as a $60,000 grant from Film Victoria.[11] The company subsequently received $1 million in funding from Carthona Capital, a venture capital firm.[12][13][14] In February 2015, Zero Latency partnered with Dell's gaming division, Alienware, to provide high-performance computer hardware for use in Zero Latency's operations.[15] On 14 August 2015, Zero Latency opened its retail operations, which was the first time in history that multiplayer free-roam virtual reality became publicly available.[16] The first public game played was a simulated zombie apocalypse with four players, however the original game currently allows a maximum of eight players to play at once.[16]

Free-roam

Free-roam virtual reality allows users to move freely in an open space and not be constrained by cables and other immobile equipment.[17] Perceptual tricks such as "Change Blindness Redirection" are used in free-roam virtual reality to create the illusion of a virtual environment larger than what is physically available.[17] Zero Latency employs these perceptual tricks at its 400m2 venue in North Melbourne to allow players to travel between 700m and 1 km during a standard game session.[5]

Motion capture technology is used to track the physical location of players, which allows the in-game virtual location of players' avatars to be generated accurately.[9] It took several years to develop the software and hardware allowing players' physical movements to be instantly replicated by their in-game avatars.[18][19] Proximity sensors are used to warn players of hazards and prevent players from leaving the physical play area.[16] Zero Latency also uses haptic feedback techniques (e.g. using fans to generate wind) to increase immersion.[20][21]

Products

Zero Latency operates virtual reality gaming venues in North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and Newstead, Queensland, Australia which are available to ticket holders aged 13 or older.[22][23] The company also sells its systems to businesses requiring free-roam virtual reality applications.[11] Due to their cost and complexity, Zero Latency's systems are not ideal for private use.[24][25] Instead, they are intended to be used as public virtual gaming spaces or theme park attractions.[12][24][26] Zero Latency has also partnered with a real estate group to offer virtual house inspections.[27]

Locations

Zero Latency is open in 19 locations.

  • Melbourne, Australia. Opened August 2015. [28]
  • Brisbane, Australia. Opened October 2017.[23]
  • Tokyo, Japan. In conjunction with Sega at the Joypolis amusement center. Opened July 2016.[29]
  • Osaka, Japan. In conjunction with Sega. Opened August 2017.[30]
  • Madrid, Spain. In conjunction with 7Fun Centre. Opened November 2016 [31]
  • Lisbon, Portugal. In conjunction with 7Fun Centre. Opened December 2017.[32]
  • Singapore. In conjunction with Tomorrow Entertainment at Suntec City. Opened November 2017.[33]
  • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In conjunction with Adventuria at The Rift. Opened November 2017.[34]
  • Busan, South Korea. In conjunction with Wawa Company. Opened January 2018.[35]
  • Orlando, Florida. In conjunction with Main Event Entertainment, V-Play powered by Zero Latency. Opened November 2016.[36]
  • Pocono, Pennsylvania. In conjunction with Family Entertainment Group, LLC at the Kalahari Waterpark. Opened January 2017.[37]
  • Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. In conjunction with Family Entertainment Group, LLC at the Kalahari Waterpark. Opened January 2017 [37]
  • Scottsdale, Arizona. In conjunction with Octane Raceway. Opened May 2017.[38]
  • Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. In conjunction with Xtreme Racing and Entertainment. Opened June 2017.[39]
  • Las Vegas, Nevada. In conjunction with MGM Grand. Opened September 2017.[40]
  • Woburn, Boston, MA. In conjunction with MindTrek. Opened September 2017.[41]
  • Marlborough, Boston, MA. In conjunction with MindTrek. Opened December 2017.[42]
  • Mexico City, Mexico. In conjunction with Cinepolis. Opened November 2017.[43]
  • Macau, China. In conjunction with Tomorrow Entertainment at Galaxy Casino.[44]
  • Bangkok, Thailand. Opened September 2018 [45]
  • Nottingham, United Kingdom. Opened October 2018 [46]

References

  1. ↑ UTC, Ariel BogleAustralia2015-11-04 06:00:44. "Fightings zombies with Zero Latency is virtual reality gaming at its best". Mashable. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  2. ↑ Simpson, Campbell. "This Is Zero Latency, The Future Of Immersive Gaming". www.gizmodo.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  3. ↑ "Kill Zombies at Melbourne's Virtual Reality Game Centre | The Creators Project". The Creators Project. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  4. ↑ "Australia just opened the first ever virtual reality entertainment facility". Business Insider. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  5. 1 2 "Good Game Stories - Zero Latency". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  6. ↑ Hopewell, Luke. "Meet Zero Latency: The Future Of Immersive Gaming, Built In Australia". www.gizmodo.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  7. ↑ Lang, Ben. "Inversion Project: 'Pop-up' VR Environment, Zombie Game Demo Video". Road to VR. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  8. ↑ McCarthy, Tyler (2014-07-02). "Fighting Zombies Just Got Intense With This Virtual Reality System". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  9. 1 2 "Holodeck-style virtual reality gets a step closer with the Inversion VR system". TechSpot. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  10. ↑ "Zero Latency - Inversion VR by Zero Latency". Pozible. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  11. 1 2 "Zero Latency: The VR revolution begins in Melbourne, Australia". CNET. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  12. 1 2 "Zero Latency". Fast Company. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  13. ↑ "Zero Latency: The VR revolution begins in Melbourne, Australia". CNET. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  14. ↑ "Zombie virtual reality Melbourne: Zero Latency's city warehouse brings the undead 'to life'".
  15. ↑ au, Dell. "Press Releases". Dell. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  16. 1 2 3 "Virtual reality offers tantalising taste of brave new world". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  17. 1 2 "Forget the joysticks — let's push the boundaries of virtual reality". news.usc.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  18. ↑ UTC, Ariel BogleAustralia2015-11-04 06:00:44. "Fightings zombies with Zero Latency is virtual reality gaming at its best". Mashable. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  19. ↑ "Immersive Virtual Reality gaming center opens in Australia". Engadget. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  20. ↑ UTC, Ariel BogleAustralia2015-11-04 06:00:44. "Fightings zombies with Zero Latency is virtual reality gaming at its best". Mashable. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  21. ↑ "We Killed Zombies at Melbourne's Virtual Reality Game Centre—And It Was Crazy | The Creators Project". The Creators Project. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  22. ↑ "Virtual reality offer tantalising taste of brave new world".
  23. 1 2 "Brisbane's New VR Experience Launches Today!". Press Start Australia - Bringing The Best Of Video Games & Gaming To Australia. 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  24. 1 2 "this. | Virtual reality: games". this. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  25. ↑ "World's first VR entertainment facility opens in Australia". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  26. ↑ "Zero Latency is igniting conversations about the future of VR technology in Australia - Startup Daily". Startup Daily. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  27. ↑ "Zero Latency uses Oculus Rift to kill zombies and help REA Group sell properties".
  28. ↑ Simpson, Campbell. "This Is Zero Latency, The Future Of Immersive Gaming". Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  29. ↑ "Australia's Zero Latency, virtual zombies head to Japan". Financial Review. 2016-06-07. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  30. ↑ "Sega and Zero Latency Create Second VR Gaming Arena in Japan". VRFocus. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  31. ↑ "Zero Latency llega a Madrid para que flipes con la realidad virtual". Buhomag (in Spanish). Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  32. ↑ "Experiência de VR Zero Latency chega a Portugal [com vídeo] - B!t Magazine". B!t Magazine (in Portuguese). 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  33. ↑ "Staying ahead of the game: Singapore company bets on VR to draw the gamers | Channel Newsasia". Channel Newsasia. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  34. ↑ "The Rift wants to offer visitors out of this world AR/VR experiences". Digital News Asia. 2017-12-27. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  35. ↑ "세계적인 VR게임 제로레이턴시, 국내 1호점 한국에 오픈". 스포츠서울 (in Korean). 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  36. ↑ "Main Event Entertainment Opening Free-Roam, Multiplayer VR experience V-Play Reality in Orlando | VRFocus". VRFocus. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  37. 1 2 "Family Entertainment Group and Zero Latency Opening Two VR Centres in US | VRFocus". VRFocus. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  38. ↑ "Octane Raceway in Arizona Opens VR Arena". VRFocus. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  39. ↑ "Karting centre set to open latest Zero Latency multiplayer VR gaming arena | blooloop". Blooloop. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  40. ↑ Brennan, Dominic (2017-08-25). "Zero Latency's 'Warehouse Scale' VR Arena Comes to MGM Grand in Vegas". Road to VR. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  41. ↑ "Game On At MindTrek". NBC10 Boston. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  42. ↑ "Virtual reality company brings innovative tech to Marlborough". Worcester Business Journal. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  43. ↑ "Mexico's Cinépolis Theater Chain Installs Zero Latency | RePlay Magazine". www.replaymag.com. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  44. ↑ "Galaxy Macau Casino opens Zero Latency free-roam multiplayer VR arena". Blooloop. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  45. ↑ https://bangkok-today.com/web/%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0/
  46. ↑ https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/09/zero-latency-opens-new-vr-centre-in-nottingham-uk/
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.