Fully-Automated ‘Beat Saber’ Machine to Debut Next Week at IAAPA Attractions Expo

By
Scott Hayden
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10

VRsenal, a company creating commercial VR attractions, has partnered with Beat Saber (2018) studio Beat Games to launch a VR arcade machine featuring the popular block-slicing rhythm game. The arcade cabinet, which is touted for its ability to run attendant-free, is set to debut next week at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida.

The fully-automated cabinet boasts a massive 80-inch 4K screen protected by quarter-inch windshield glass that mirrors the player’s in-game point of view. Integrated in the system is an HP VR-ready PC, replete with Intel i7 processor, Nvidia GTX 1080 graphics card, HTC Vive Pro headset, and Vive controllers. A cable management and retraction system hangs overhead for ease of use.

 

Touted as an attendant-free system, the machine also boasts an integrated self ticketing system, something the company says lets it achieve a 99% uptime record. VRsenal says the machine has been optimized for “high throughput, high uptime, high ROI, and low maintenance,” some of which can be attributed to an integrated card reader and on-screen instructions on how to both sanitize and correctly adjust the headset to fit the individual player.

As if the monolithic black and neon machine weren’t already attractive enough to curious onlookers, to top off the cabinet’s futuristic vibe two holographic-style signs blare the Beat Saber name.

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This isn’t the first deal Beat Games has made to bring the popular block-slicing rhythm game to VR arcades. In late August the studio partnered with Seoul-based SKonec Entertainment to roll out similar Beat Saber machines to arcades across South Korea and China.

Since its launch into Early Access this spring, Beat Saber has celebrated a notable degree of success, taking the number seven spot on Steam’s best rated games last month and posting more than $2 million in gross revenue in its first month. Beat Saber is also headed to PSVR this month, positioning it to be one of VR’s most popular titles yet.

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Scott Hayden
Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 4,000 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • impurekind

    I don’t quite get where player stands and how they’re attached to the VR headsets by looking at that footage. What I’d simply like to see is someone connected up and playing the game on this system, just to get a proper idea of how it all works.

    • Ben Smith

      Not sure but I think you connect to a headset and people are able to watch you play it with the machine so they are incentived to try it too.

    • DrunkenTrussell

      They are inside the machine obviously

  • Mateusz Pawluczuk

    I’m not sure about those claims of not just being first but actually “Worlds Only Attendant Free” arcade.. For example Rabbids: Big Ride by Ubisoft are attendant free and ubiquitous in UKs amusement parks. Haven’t tried them myself but they cost 3 pounds a ride so probably will. Great and cheap way for people infamiliar with VR to get their first experience btw. Rabbids premiered in 2017 so I don’t know what’s up with VRsenal claiming they are worlds only?

    On a different note, hats off to Hyberbolic Magnetism, Beat Saber’s already got 2 dedicated arcades + those airport VR stands, PSVR debut etc. This really helps popularize VR & encourage existing devs.

  • RavnosCC

    Awesome! Time to flood the planet. :)

  • silvaring

    This is a good first step, but sounds extremely expensive and convoluted still compared to a future where mom and pops shop arcades are around or gym facilities have arcade sections. I reckon mobile headsets and wireless mesh networking and durable, small and cheap wireless VR headsets are going to be the enabling technologies that make the leap. It also alleviates a lot of legal burden from the location in question since users aren’t playing with the locations ”potentially hazardous’ headsets.

  • JesuSaveSouls
    • Jistuce

      I think Beat Saber works in VR without VorpX, through the grace of Zoamelgustar.

  • Doctor Bambi

    Seriously Oculus needs to partner up with Beat Games here. Anyone who plays the arcade version could scan a QR code to drop them into a shopping cart with a Quest + Beat Saber bundle.
    Then again, that might have an impact on return visits to the arcade. :p

  • Zachary Scott Dickerson

    I played at IAAPA, it’s great, just as good as home version on the VIVE. My only gripe was that I kept getting tangled in the head cord when playing on expert+, as I move very quickly, lose track of teather over my head (cords were on the controllers, not ideal), fine for average person coming to play at a family entertainment center though. They did very well at the show, huge groups around them at all times.