Equipment? Checked. Weapons? Checked. Zombies and alien robots? Bring it on! Recently, I joined a group of six at Zero Latency Singapore for a session of multi-player virtual-reality (VR) game. We teleported into a VR world where we cooperated and fought our way to safety. One of my team mates leaped backwards when the zombie horde crashed through the barrier and bumped into me. It reminded me that there is actually a real person behind the avatar that I am seeing.

The game master briefing us on the safety aspects that we need to take note of during the VR games.

Just 10 minutes earlier, the game master repeatedly emphasized on the visual safety alerts that will appear in our head mounted display should we get too close to other players or physical walls. I guess we were too engrossed familiarising ourselves to Raven instead of her. Raven? It is actually the prop rifle that we will be using. Although it is a prop rifle, it still feels pretty real in terms of weight and balance.

The VR Gears

The Super-weapon – Raven

Raven – the super-weapon that you will be using in Zero Latency’s VR world. It seems to weigh at least 2 kg. (img src: Gizmodo Australia)

The Raven is perfectly balanced so the handling doesn’t feel awkward when you tilt or angle the rifle when reloading or using as a shield from attacks. It has a forestock/ pump for reloading shotgun and sniper rifle, reload button for assault rifles and mode button for cycling through the available weapons for the mission. What’s lacking is haptic feedback.

“Guys, spread yourselves out.“. The game master constantly reminded us to prevent us from bumping into or other or accidentally jabbing each other with the Raven. Honestly, surprise enemy attacks can really make you forget all about the safety stuffs.

The Backpack

For those who had went through some form of military training, it would feel like wearing a webbing or load bearing vest. If you don’t know what am I talking about, just take it that it is just another backpack that feels pretty solid where the contents (of the bag) doesn’t roll around as you explore Zero Latency’s VR world.

The VR backpacks waiting to be donned by its player.

The backpack actually holds the Alienware small form-factor PC responsible for churning out the realistic VR view you see in the head mounted display. It is hooked up to the Razer OSVR HDK 2 head mounted display and Razer headphone with integrated microphone for in-game communications. All of these taps on the power from the backpack itself so you are free to roam in the VR (and physical) world.

The Razer headphone actually delivers surround sound so you will be able to discern where your team mates are shouting from.

Gearing Up

My colleague with the VR backpack. It isn’t as big as it seems to be from the earlier pictures.

The entire VR gear comprise of the VR backpack, head mounted display, headphones and the rifle.

If you are concerned with the hygiene factor, the VR gears are actually cleaned after each play. So you will not be planting your face into an oily head mounted display.

Just a little tip. Do make sure the backpack is secured and not too tight. Same goes for the straps for the head mounted display and headphones. You wouldn’t want loose equipment sliding off and banging around which could mar the entire VR gaming experience. One VR session lasts about 30 minutes.

You cannot wear your spectacles with the head mounted display. if you have high myopia or astigmatism, it is recommended to wear contact lenses for the session. The diopters (on the head mounted display) covers +4.5 to -2 adjustments so it would work well for a player with nearsightedness up to 200 degrees and farsightedness up to 450 degrees. Highlight to the crews if you cannot find the adjustment levers for the diopters.

For people with long hair, it is recommended to tie them up.

A final tip, perhaps it is good to do some stretching to warm up those arm muscles and fingers. All of us got sore arms and fingers after a session of frantic sweeping and trigger squeezing.

Well, with everything properly secured and adjusted, it is time to be transported into Zero Latency’s realistic virtual reality world.

The Space

The huge indoor space that we will be exploring. Physically it is just a empty space, virtually, it is where all the magic and fun happens!

Zero Latency offers a free-roaming VR experience. In most of the current day’s VR setup, you are typically confined to the size of the CAVE (cave automatic virtual environment) or the size of the room. What Zero Latency Singapore has is a massive 200 sqm room for the team to roam in. Yes, you heard me right. You roam, or physically walk, to navigate yourself in the virtual world and not using WSAD or D-Pad.

Despite having a space almost the size of a basketball court, we still got pretty close to each other during the game. At times I do notice that I got two other players in close proximity to me.

My advice? Don’t swing your rifle around should the close proximity prompt appears.

The Games Packages

We went through three different games currently offered by Zero Latency – Engineerium, Zombie Survival and Singularity.

Engineerium

Engineerium is a walking adventure and puzzle experience set on a fantastical ancient alien world, suspended above an ocean, where gravity does not function as expected. Walk among flying whales and parrot rays and connect the platforms to progress through the puzzle. Colourful characters and bright, friendly music accompany you on the journey. Teamwork is key in this unique virtual reality game that lets you walk up and down ramps and twisty, curvy walls, defying gravity. Engineerium is suitable for all ages and is the first game to use VR to experience physics-based puzzles.

Engineerium is a family-friendly 15 minutes puzzle game and walking adventure set on a fantastical ancient alien world that lets you walk up and down ramps and twisty, curvy walls, defying gravity.

Zombie Survival

Your team is trapped, bunkered in a fort, amidst the chaos brought on by a zombie outbreak. A rescue team is on its way but you must defend the fort and hold on until they arrive. You and your team must put down wave after wave of zombies (ranging from undead civilians to hard-to-drop zombies in riot gear to BIG shirtless terrors) and rebuild barriers to protect yourselves while you wait. Easily switch between a range of weapons for use in the mission, including: assault rifle; pumpaction shotgun for high damage in close quarters; highly accurate sniper rifle for headshots from a distance; or go all-out with the heavy assault rifle or fully automatic mini gun when the barriers fall.

Zombie Survival is an intense, undead-themed 15 minute VR shooter, in which players are caught in a zombie outbreak and need to destroy the undead hordes while they wait for help to arrive.

Singularity

You and your team are sent to investigate a secretive military research space station that has gone dark. No life signs have been detected and only the defensive robots remain. Something is very wrong. Battle through robots, killer drones, and gun turrets as you explore the narrow corridors, lifts and, zero-gravity environment of the space station to find the answers. But don’t worry, gravity boots keep your feet firmly planted on the floor (or the walls). Use strategy to determine which of the four weapon modes (scatter, beam, pulse rifle, or rail gun) to use on which enemy. Hold the gun sideways to deploy a force shield that protects you from enemy fire.

Singularity is an immersive space-themed 30 minute shooter in which players battle through robots, killer drones, and gun turrets in the zero-gravity environment of a military space station.

The Leaderboard

After the exhilarating VR game, check how you perform on the TV screen in the lounge area right outside the game room.

We realised that you can get into the leader board by simply walking alot or dying (virtually) a lot. For the latter, simply walk into the horde of zombies or evil robots and scare the hell out of your team mates. And no, shooting your team mates (virtually) don’t kill them, neither will shooting yourself work.

While others are gaming inside, you can actually view their performance and position within the physical space. That is just the viewing portion.

You will actually hear all the screaming, cursing, yelling too. Though not from the television but from the game room. It made me wonder if we were so “noisy” (or excited) when we were in there earlier.

Summing Things Up

The team that fought our way through hordes of zombies and evil robots.

A full session of three scenarios (Engineerium, Zombie Survival, Singularity) will set you back by S$138. Currently, there is a promotional rate going on so it will cost you S$118 for one hour of immersive first person VR experience.

Package	Duration	Usual Price	Introductory Price
Engineerium + Zombie Survival	15 mins + 15 mins	S$69	S$59
2 x Zombie Survival	15 mins + 15 mins	S$69	S$59
Singularity	30 mins	S$69	S$59

My take? Go for Singularity and Zombie Survival! These two games are really exciting! I heard that they are introducing new games in the future. I can’t wait to experience them.

Personally I don’t play first person shooter games but this is a totally different experience. The user experience is great as we use natural body movement to control our avatars. We walk physically to control our avatars, we point our rifles physically at the target to direct our shots in the virtual world to the enemies. No coordination problems like when we use keyboard/ D-Pad, mouse and monitors. If you can walk and point at stuffs in the real-world, you will not have problem controlling your avatar in Zero Latency’s virtual world.

Zero Latency Singapore opens its doors today (24th November 2017). So do take advantage of the introductory price and grab your buddies down for a game or two during this holiday period.