we tested a huge virtual reality arena with zombies in the middle of Paris

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On the left, zombies. On the right, zombies. Opposite, an army of zombies. Behind, new zombies. Faced with these repeated attacks, five players brandish a shotguna submachine gun and a revolver. Your choice. A castle acts as a hostile environment. In the game, he is engulfed in flames. In reality, it extends over 100 square meters with two shades: black and white. For the past month, virtual reality enthusiasts have had a new playground in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, near Place de Clichy, at 93 rue d’Amsterdam.

Three rooms of 80 to 100 m2

In the premises of a former decoration store, has been set up The Gate VRa space of 700 square meters divided into three meeting rooms 80 to 100 m2. Between the walls, an arena where players can move freely as a team or face-to-face.

Of fantastic has the horror passing through the terrorseveral themes await participants. News Paris took part in a game with a group of four people, made up of Arnaud, 46 years old, his son Arié, 18 years old, accompanied by two friends.

Equipped with a helmet, glasses and a fake rifle, the team immerses themselves in a universe dark et worrying. The walls represented in the virtual arena form a continuum of lines in red.

Players are therefore urged not to exceed these limits. For thirty minutes, the shots follow one another thanks to a trigger placed on the rifle. You have to be responsive. Because the zombies’ footsteps are getting louder. And their assaults may prove mortals.

Full immersion

Hordes of monsters cause wounds marked with a red screen. Vulnerability is significant. It is not uncommon to perform a back gesture at the sight of fictional characters.

To kill them, players must equip themselves with munitions left on the ground. Recovering them requires walking towards them. The number of cartridge cases is indicated on the weapon. In case of exhaustion, it is possible to move the rifle downwards to reload.

Every fatal shot is counted. So that the notion of team is erased in favor of a game where thepersonal interest prime. Particularly effective, Arnaud is one of the most productive shooters in the game.

“It’s a really pleasant feeling of freedom. You feel less oppressed than in a small traditional room”

he confides.

For The Gate VR, the creation of an open space is part of a desire to offer a fully immersive experience and to avoid physical alterations unexpected.

« The free rooming (the free space) bypasses the motion sickness (being sick while playing),” explains the venue’s manager, Clément Roy. “You can feel nauseous while standing still but feeling like you’re moving,” he continues.

While school holidays can be an opportunity to try your hand at integrating into this world, the room will remain open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., like Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. hours on Saturday. Prices range from 29,90 euros during off-peak hours 34,90 € during peak hours.

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