Review: The Void

The Void is a theme park that aims to create a captivating virtual world experience by incorporating physical world stage along with special effects. By wearing the special gear called Rapture, which is a virtual reality device that share similarities to that of HTC Vive or Occulus Rift, the participants are encouraged to move and explore the virtual world with physical objects and walls that one can touch and feel thus creating a "hyper reality" experience. Some special effects include heat from lamps that correlate with fire, wind and mist for various environments, 3D surround sound, unique physical walls that correlate with virtual world and various intractable objects.

The Void experience is made possible by the Rapture gear that encompasses four key components. Rapture HMD, Rapture Vest, Rapture MarkiV Gun, and Rapture Backtop. Since the Rature Backtop is a light-weight high performance computer that links all the individual devices wirelessly, it allows the user to utilize the full range of motion and setting this experience apart from that of HTV Vive or Occulus Rift.

The Void provides some really amazing virtual reality experience but also has its disadvantages. For starters The Void provide a captivating virtual experience that one can feel. Being able to touch is big deal as it allows the players to have more grounded experience and provide a sense of "place" rather than just seeing a virtual world. Being able to believe that such place exist is pretty big accomplishment. Another great thing about The Void is that it provides a solid virtual experience that can be shared together. Such experiences create and add re-play ability as communication and interaction between players are always different thus enhancing the overall experience of the game. This goes especially for games that require teamwork for executions. Teamwork often create a deeper sense of accomplishment at the end. Another great thing about The Void experience is that the game designer can create a whole new world on top of preexisting physical set that can be very different from previous allowing returning players to experience a whole new experience.

Unfortunately, although The Void has really solid virtual experience but it also has its downsides. Many that has to do with breaking the immersive virtual experience. The first issue is that The Void suit is quite heavy weighting several pounds. The weight for some people could translate into the virtual world but not always. For example a game were the player is wearing an armor, this would make sense or believable but for some this weight can deter players from having a fully immersive experience. One of the bigger problem with The Void experience is that the boundaries that the player perceives in the virtual world must correlate in the physical world. For example, if the player sees an open hall way and starts walking toward it only to run into a wall in the physical set could pose alot of problems. When this occurs the sense of "trust" that the physical set exist and that it is correlates to the virtual world is broken. This sense of trust is vital as it allows the player to "relax" knowing that there is nothing that will pose a threat to one's safety. Once this bond is broken it not only pulls the player out of the virtual experience but also will make it difficult for the player to play it again as one starts to question their safety and the existence of virtual world objects. Similarly having objects that peek our senses could often make or break the experience. People are curious by nature. In the virtual world player may see a torch and feel the warmth coming from a lamp in the physical set. This warmth can make the user believe the existence of the object but as soon as one reaches out to grab it, the player finds out that it does not exist, for obvious safety reasons. This incoherent information often take away from the virtual experience or leave the player feel "unsatisfied". Smaller issue is that The Void experience is only available at Pleasant Grove Utah, Times Square New York City, and in Orlando Florida and cost $30 and up for a brief thirty min session.

Overall The Void is highly satisfying experience that really pushes the virtual reality to the limit. The Void creates an amazing environment that allows users to interact, face the challenges, and reach for the objective creating an amazing shareable virtual experience

that is always new and unique. Although it may have some loop holes that can pull the user way from the virtual experience, many that has to do with the perception of information, but overall it is an amazing attraction that everyone should give it a try.