We’re happy to report new of yet another new arcade facility opening it’s doors to the public, although this one is a little different as they don’t appear to have any coin-operated arcades (except for the LightSpace floor, a device we talked about a while back but that is on freeplay) and instead are focusing on ‘virtual reality’ and ‘simulation’ type games. That also includes a number of game consoles that are lined up along the walls that play from a variety of games they can switch out (which I imagine have to be attended constantly to 
avoid theft or the changing out of a game). It looks like a couple of those also have a motion seat for the player to get comfy in. I also think they have one of Trio-Tech’s 3D theaters although they do not mention it by name or show any pictures of the unit, they just say that it’s a 4 person virtual theater.
They also have some exerbikes with a game installed called Game Bike Pro. We’ve discussed something similar to these where an exercise bike is essentially the game controller. I hadn’t seen any amusment facilities pick them up until now so it will be interesting to see how they do outside of a gym.
Finally they have a game called Makoto – you stand in this area with up to two friends and there are these polls that have sensors which will light up and you’re supposed to hit it with a soft bat, competing for the high score. It’s an interesting game that I hadn’t seen before but in the brief appearance this game makes in the video below it looks like the sensors weren’t lighting up very fast.
With a refreshment area, golf simulator leagues, GLO Wii Bowling and a pretty cool environment at night they will easily reach their target market of college age kids. It would be cool if they got a couple of proper arcade machines in there too but for now it certainly looks like they have enough to keep people quite entertained.
BTW – VirtualKade is located in Murray Kentucky.
[VirtualKade website] [News article about VirtualKade via Kentucky State & Regional wire] [Discuss on the Forum]
Interesting! Not really a gym, but more of an interactive video game arcade. The Makoto can go to higher levels and the lights can go VERY fast; you probably saw it on the first level, which is a lot slower than the higher levels.
Hope it works out!