Zoning out of reality
New VR arcade is just the start for the three tireless owners
Virtual reality has emerging potential in education, health care, retail and manufacturing. The trio of owners at the new VR Zone, on Yonge St. north of Steeles Ave., know all about these uses, and are working on them.
But right now, they’re fine with using virtual reality (VR) for fun.
“The arcade is just a start for us,” says Ray Zhu, one of the owners.
But because they’re all about state-of-the-art tech, the fun is pretty cool here.
While Zhu, a mortgage broker, knows business and customer service, the second partner, Melinda Wu, has other retail businesses and knows this sector. They’re the support team for third partner Wei Shi, a computer whiz whose inventions make the experience here unique.
The 3,000-square-foot storefront features 15 VR booths kitted up with top-of-the-line hardware, backed by VR games and software invented by Shi.
Game play starts with signing in to a wall box invented and 3D-printed by Shi. The unit explains the process and gets you access to the game — you get 50 minutes in the booth for $28.99 — plus it integrates with the overall house system. Players can navigate in and out of games while wearing the headset, so they don’t have to adjust it between games.
“We want you to have the best experience,” Zhu says, and that means making sure the products are easy to use so customers don’t waste time asking questions or feeling lost.
Along with the booths is a VR space in the lobby that offers access to a wireless backpack and a treadmill that lets you move while you play. “It’s like you’re in the game,” Zhu says.
He and Shi met years ago as roommates at Trent University. Zhu was studying economics while Shi had pretty much turned their dorm room into a lab, with his computer running all hours, and widgets and gizmos everywhere.
They stayed friends while Zhu launched his career and Shi worked in IT for large companies.
On the side, Shi invented things. One was an electronic controller for a motorcycle. Out of the project, he did manage to patent a special electrical circuit.
In 2015, he bought a cardboard VR set for $2.99 and, while the set was junk, it got him hooked. He soon bought a high-end headset and started designing games and then a superior navigation system for moving between games.
Last fall, with his system mostly developed, he shared his ideas with Zhu, who agreed the time was right to open a VR arcade. “I wanted to help him,” Zhu says. “I knew whatever he did would be good.”
They brought on Wu and found this location.
While Shi had already developed most of the software, there was still more to do. He tried hiring help, but it was too expensive. Despite having a new baby at home, he worked all hours, sleeping little to get everything done on time.
The venue opened in July, and weekends in particular are booked solid with VR enthusiasts.
On the side, meanwhile, these tireless owners — who still work their day jobs — have health-care training software in the works already.
Yes, VR is about gaming, but here it’s so much more.