Yahoo Movies Zombies, sea monsters, Star Trek: Virtual reality experience opens in Johnson County
Sandbox VR, a full-body virtual reality entertainment experience, is now open in Leawood’s Town Center Plaza.
Sandbox VR, on the north side of the center at 4845 W. 117th St., is a social gaming operation that combines full-body motion capture and high-quality haptics technology for a more immersive experience than home versions or some other VR venues, the company said.
“We are thrilled to open our very first Kansas location in Leawood’s Town Center Plaza,” Steve Zhao, founder and CEO of Sandbox VR, said in a statement. “Town Center Plaza is bustling with stores for every shopping need and a wide variety of dining and entertainment options that draw visitors from all over the area.”
Sandbox VR has private rooms, called “holodecks,” for virtual reality game play.
Players are equipped with a VR headset, a haptic vest to make players feel the experience, and motion sensors on their wrists and ankles. This technology allows players to see and interact with one another while feeling like they are in the middle of an action movie, the company said.
Customers can select from six immersive experiences created by Sandbox VR.
▪ Star Trek: Discovery. Built in partnership with CBS Interactive, “Become a Starfleet officer and beam down with your friends to explore alien worlds.”
▪ Deadwood Mansion. “Do you have what it takes to survive a zombie apocalypse? Work with your team to protect Deadwood Mansion from a terrifying horde of undead.”
▪ Deadwood Valley. “An adrenaline-pumping thrill-ride through a town overrun by zombies. Your squad could stop the zombie menace forever — or die trying!”
▪ Curse of Davy Jones. “Battle on the high seas against a variety of supernatural creatures and hunt for the long-lost treasure of Davy Jones.”
▪ Amber Sky. “Become heroic Androids equipped with futuristic weapons and soar through the clouds on a space elevator while defending Earth from an alien invasion.”
▪ UFL (Unbound Fighting League): “Transform into a futuristic gladiator and compete against your friends in thrilling duels in a breathtaking arena beyond the limits of reality.”
After playing, customers receive personalized highlight videos, similar to movie trailers, which capture the experience.
Cost per customer is $50 Mondays through Thursdays, and $55 Fridays through Sundays for each experience. Players should expect to spend an hour at Sandbox VR: about 15 minutes of training and setup, about 30 minutes in the VR experience and another 15 minutes watching video highlights.
Teams can be two to six players. Single players and small groups have the option of sharing a holodeck with others when booking their experience on the website.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.
Sandbox VR, headquartered in San Francisco with an office in Hong Kong, has raised more than $37 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners, and Craft. Individual investors include celebrities Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Kevin Durant and Will Smith.
