Virtuality (gaming)
Encyclopedia
Virtuality is a line of virtual reality
gaming machines produced by Virtuality Group, and found in video arcades in the late 1990s. The machines deliver real time (less than 50ms
lag
) gaming via a stereoscopic visor, joysticks, and networked units for multi-player gaming.
Initially introduced in 1991, the systems were developed for industry, where the first two networked systems were sold to British Telecom Research Laboratories to experiment with networked telepresence
applications. Many other systems were sold to corporations including Ford, IBM
, Mitsubishi
and Olin. However, the users thrill of talking and mutually interacting with each others as virtual characters refocused the company's direction.
There are two types of units (referred to by the company as "pods"): One where the player stands up (SU), and the other where they sit down (SD). Both unit types utilize head-mounted display
s (the "Visette") which each contain two LCD
screens at resolutions of 276x372 each. Four speakers and a microphone were also built into the unit. The SU units have a circle of waist-height sensors and a free-moving joystick (the "Space Joystick"), while the SD design has the player sitting down with joysticks, a steering wheel, or aircraft yoke
for control, depending on the game. The SD system was developed and launched in 1993 at Wembley Stadium
in London
.
The stereoscopic display reacts to head movements to change the display based on what the player would be "looking at" within the gaming environment. The position of the joystick controls movement of the player's "virtual hand", and a button on the joystick moves the player forwards in the game arena.
, the 1000CS and 1000SD have a distinctive helmet comprising a brightly coloured front panel with 'VIRTUALITY' embossed across it.
-PC
. They have several more games, including Dactyl Nightmare 2 - Race For The Eggs!, Zone Hunter and Pac-Man VR
.
There was also a 3000 series.
The company is currently working on next generation optoelectronics
technology and applications including applications for Virtual Reality.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
gaming machines produced by Virtuality Group, and found in video arcades in the late 1990s. The machines deliver real time (less than 50ms
Millisecond
A millisecond is a thousandth of a second.10 milliseconds are called a centisecond....
lag
Lag
Lag is a common word meaning to fail to keep up or to fall behind. In real-time applications, the term is used when the application fails to respond in a timely fashion to inputs...
) gaming via a stereoscopic visor, joysticks, and networked units for multi-player gaming.
Initially introduced in 1991, the systems were developed for industry, where the first two networked systems were sold to British Telecom Research Laboratories to experiment with networked telepresence
Telepresence
Telepresence refers to a set of technologies which allow a person to feel as if they were present, to give the appearance of being present, or to have an effect, via telerobotics, at a place other than their true location....
applications. Many other systems were sold to corporations including Ford, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
and Olin. However, the users thrill of talking and mutually interacting with each others as virtual characters refocused the company's direction.
There are two types of units (referred to by the company as "pods"): One where the player stands up (SU), and the other where they sit down (SD). Both unit types utilize head-mounted display
Head-mounted display
A head-mounted display or helmet mounted display, both abbreviated HMD, is a display device, worn on the head or as part of a helmet, that has a small display optic in front of one or each eye .- Overview :...
s (the "Visette") which each contain two LCD
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is a flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals . LCs do not emit light directly....
screens at resolutions of 276x372 each. Four speakers and a microphone were also built into the unit. The SU units have a circle of waist-height sensors and a free-moving joystick (the "Space Joystick"), while the SD design has the player sitting down with joysticks, a steering wheel, or aircraft yoke
Yoke (aircraft)
A yoke, alternatively known as control column, is a device used for piloting in most fixed-wing aircraft.- Principle :The aviator uses the yoke to control the attitude of the plane, usually in both pitch and roll. Rotating the control wheel controls the ailerons and the roll axis...
for control, depending on the game. The SD system was developed and launched in 1993 at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The stereoscopic display reacts to head movements to change the display based on what the player would be "looking at" within the gaming environment. The position of the joystick controls movement of the player's "virtual hand", and a button on the joystick moves the player forwards in the game arena.
1000 Series
Introduced in October 1991, and powered by an Amiga 3000Amiga 3000
The Commodore Amiga 3000, or A3000, was the third major release in the Amiga computer family. Released in June 1990, it features improved processing speed, improved rendering of graphics, and a new revision of the operating system...
, the 1000CS and 1000SD have a distinctive helmet comprising a brightly coloured front panel with 'VIRTUALITY' embossed across it.
1000CS games
- Dactyl Nightmare - Multiplayer map with several levels and platforms; grenade launcher weapons and pterodactyl enemy.
- Grid Busters - Robot shoot-em-up.
- Hero - Locked door puzzle.
- Legend Quest - Fantasy adventure.
- VTOL – A Harrier Jump JetHarrier Jump JetThe Harrier, informally referred to as the Jump Jet, is a family of British-designed military jet aircraft capable of vertical/short takeoff and landing operations...
simulator.
1000SD games
- Battlesphere – Space battle.
- Exorex – Robot warriors.
- Total Destruction – Stock car racing.
2000 Series
The 2000SU and SD models were introduced in 1994, powered by an Intel 486Intel 80486
The Intel 80486 microprocessor was a higher performance follow up on the Intel 80386. Introduced in 1989, it was the first tightly pipelined x86 design as well as the first x86 chip to use more than a million transistors, due to a large on-chip cache and an integrated floating point unit...
-PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. They have several more games, including Dactyl Nightmare 2 - Race For The Eggs!, Zone Hunter and Pac-Man VR
Pac-Man VR
Pac-Man VR is a 1996 video game by Virtuality set in the Pac-Man universe.The game featured play in a 3D environment from the perspective of Pac-Man himself. The game did not change any game play mechanics of the original game, except adding a multiplayer feature. The game cabinet itself was...
.
There was also a 3000 series.
Company
Developed W. Industries (named after its founder Dr. Jonathan D. Waldern) and later renamed Virtuality Group Plc. The company was backed by Lord Wolfson of Wembly Group Plc, who with Apax Venture Capital company, were majority shareholders. There were five group subsidiaries. In 1997, rights to the entertainment machines (but not the Virtuality brand) were sold to CyberMind UK in a breakup of the group owing to a dramatic slump in demand for the expensive (then $65,000) theme park and Arcade machines, causing the manufacturing division (called Virtuality Entertainment) insolvency. Thereafter CyberMind UK was sold to Arcadian Virtual Reality LLC in 2004. In Australia, Fun City Entertainment Complex in Sunshine, Melbourne Victoria is the only venue in Australia running the SU 2000 models and is an agent for the sale and support of the Virtuality entertainment systems. During the company sale, Dr Waldern purchased all IP consumer technology rights, in addition to all Virtuality brand rights other than entertainment machines. In 1998 he launched a ($299) consumer VR display in partnership with Philips Electronics (under the brand name "Scuba") and also Takara, Japan. Combined, over 55,000 headsets were sold mostly in Japan.The company is currently working on next generation optoelectronics
Optoelectronics
Optoelectronics is the study and application of electronic devices that source, detect and control light, usually considered a sub-field of photonics. In this context, light often includes invisible forms of radiation such as gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet and infrared, in addition to visible light...
technology and applications including applications for Virtual Reality.
External links
- Owner of Virtuality Brand, Technology and new Product Development
- Virtuality (Internet Archive)
- Arcadian Virtual Reality LLC—the current owner of Virtuality SU, SD & CS Arcade Machines
- Arcade History—where all the above games can be found
- Cybermind—Overview of the different systems