Item VR-Hut Flair
Article: VR-Hut Flair Tests VR at Our Place
VR-HUT ARTICLE: Flair Tests VR for You: Defend a Fortress in Virtual Reality at VR-Hut
Spending an evening in a parallel world surrounded by your best friends is actually possible. I tried out the virtual reality experience at VR-Hut in Waterloo for you (and I still haven't gotten over it).
Have you heard of virtual reality? If your answer is “sort of,” you’re probably in the same boat as me. I’ve seen videos where people wear headsets and play while fully immersed in the game. All my slightly geeky friends dream of trying it out“because it’s so cool, you know—you play in a world that feels totally real.” As for me, I think it’s fantastic that technology can achieve such feats. But I wasn’t really excited about trying it out.
Yet, one Friday night, I found myself in Waterloo with my dream team at VR-Hut. As I stepped inside the building, I was quite taken aback. The artificial blue light and the completely sterile rooms didn’t do much for me.“Well, where’s the fun?” The fun is on the other side of the headset, and that’s where the magic of the experience lies.
Budding archers, scary monsters
We head to our game room. Four large squares are marked on the floor. In each one, a headset hangs from the ceiling. Matthieu from VR-Hut invites us to put it on and adjusts it so that our field of view is perfectly aligned. He explains how to shoot the bow and arrow. It’s very intuitive; we quickly get the hang of it.
“ There you go, now it’s your turn .”
Here I am, transported to a colorful world that seems endless. But there’s no way I’m leaving my post. The game has begun, and I have to help my three teammates defend a fortress against the enemy invasion. Matthieu gives us one last piece of advice: “ when you see an axe, duck .” The first wave hits. Suddenly, dozens of enemies pour in from all directions and attack us. Together, we shoot them down one by one. “ You survived the first wave .” We congratulate ourselves on our teamwork, but not for long. Because the enemy is approaching again. The monsters are getting bigger and bigger and more and more aggressive. My girlfriend Florence screams: “ WATCH OUT, A TROLL .” Everyone turns to look for it and quickly takes it down. Everyone except me. A little too distracted, I met my first virtual death at the hands of an axe that attacked me by surprise. While the pixels didn’t really hurt me (since that’s impossible, though we tend to forget it), my horrible shriek certainly pierced the ears of my three teammates.
I get a new life and go back on the offensive. After several rounds, I start to run out of steam. You know who the idiot is who had the bright idea of sitting on a low wall to rest even though it doesn’t exist in real life? It’s me. I managed to crash and burn in a 2-by-2-meter square where there was absolutely nothing to hurt me. When I tell you it’s addictive and feels just like the real thing, you’ll have to take my word for it!
After an hour of play, our session comes to an end. On the one hand, we’re really disappointed. We would have loved to keep going, and the game was incredibly immersive. But on the other hand, it was a real workout, and we’re even wondering if we’ll be up for the dinner we had planned. Luckily, the VR-Hut team has refreshments available.
Sore muscles and the beginnings of an addiction
That evening was unforgettable. We had a great time with friends—in fact, we’re still talking about it! We laughed, we screamed, and we felt the adrenaline rush through us over and over again. Even though we were barely 20 minutes from Brussels, it felt like I’d traveled to another planet.
The next day, my sore muscles made me realize that you don’t need a lot of space to work out. We gave it our all like never before, and it was totally addictive. One thing’s for sure: we want to go back.
About VR-Hut
Located in Waterloo, VR-Hut is a startup founded in 2018. It offers no less than 600 square meters of VR space divided into four 4-player rooms and one 3-player room, where you can enjoy virtual reality through a wide range of games and experiences: discovery activities, interactive videos, children’s games, and video games such as shooters, action, and adventure titles. There’s plenty to choose from to have fun according to your tastes and preferences.
We tested the game *Elven Assassin* in team mode, then in player-versus-player mode, as well as a quick warm-up game before the main event. But I won’t say any more—I want to keep it a surprise for you.
Thanks to its large space, VR-Hut can host team-building events, birthday parties, and parties for up to 100 people. I also really liked the guidance on how to overcome your fears. For example, if you’re afraid of heights, certain games can help you face that fear. Will I go back? Of course! That’s all I can think about: putting on my VR headset, grabbing my bow and arrow, and giving my boyfriend—who won the cup—a run for his money. Revenge is a dish best served cold!
How much does it cost?
For 4 players, with 4 headsets per player and a one-hour session, the cost is €30 per person. VisitVR-Hutfor more information.
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You can alsobook agame and try it out for yourself!