That would be the VR Arcade and Attractions Summit coming up in March. But until then, we will have to settle for IAAPA Expo in Orlando.

That's kind of a joke. Maybe...

New Developments

We’ve announced the first three speakers for the VR Arcade and Attractions Summit in March.

Brent Bushnell, Chairman and co-founder of Two Bit Circus

As a visionary in experiential entertainment, Brent has led pioneering efforts in virtual reality and immersive play. With recent reflections on his journey building the world’s first immersive micro-amusement parks, Brent brings invaluable insights into the evolution of VR experiences in social settings. His passion for integrating art with science and technology continues to redefine STEAM learning, inspiring the next generation of inventors. At the Summit, Brent will share his unique perspective on the role of VR in creating meaningful, shared experiences, illustrating how immersive media can shape the future of entertainment and education.

James Jensen, founder and CEO of Jump by Limitless Flight

James is a trailblazer in immersive VR. He is known for his groundbreaking work as the technical founder of The VOID, which redefined location-based VR with fully interactive, multi-sensory experiences. Now at the helm of Jump by Limitless Flight, James continues to push the boundaries of virtual reality by creating experiences that allow people to feel the thrill of human flight. With a passion for merging the physical and digital worlds, James brings a forward-thinking approach to VR innovation, sharing insights into the power of virtual reality as a catalyst for human transformation through entertainment.

Sam Wang, founder of Mirra and SoReal

Sam is a visionary in the world of immersive entertainment, having been instrumental in pioneering cutting-edge VR experiences that captivate audiences and redefine interactive entertainment. Mirra is the world’s first social VR arcade, designed from the ground up to leverage VR into the hot trend of competitive socialization. Before Mirra, Sam created SoReal, China's world’s first large-scale VR theme park. Sam also has a background in film production as the GM of SFX house Phenom Films. His dedication to pushing the limits of virtual reality and his insights on blending technology with compelling storytelling promise invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of VR experiences and their potential to revolutionize the entertainment industry.

One Big Thing

That “Other” Show

It’s hard to tell what the One Big Thing will be this week, as companies like to surprise us during IAAPA. There are new VR arcade games from old-school arcade manufacturers like Sega and Unis. There’s an update on last year’s smash hit Godzilla from Raw Thrills. LAI might unveil its new ruggedized headset from DPVR. Zero Latency makes its debut on the show floor with a turnkey arena designed for FECs. There’s a new wizard game from Hero Zone. New AI bots in Limitless VR from Creative Works, and more. 

There are events off the floor all week, too. Rabbit Hole VR’s “VR Showcase 2024” at Andretti’s will feature the new HTC Vision Focus headset. There will be free-roam VR and hands-on demos, and door prizes include a Mavrik-Pro blaster from Striker, a TactSuit X40 haptic vest from bHaptics, and an HTC Vive headset! If you need a code for a free ticket, just reply to this email and let me know. 

A central-florida collaboration between M3D and 302 Interactive is showcasing innovations in markerless motion capture and VR experiences at their “Immersive Experiences & Innovation Demo Event” held about a 15-minute drive from the convention center.  

VR Floor Tour

I’m hosting a Best of IAAPA VR Floor Tour on Wednesday at 1PM. We will meet at the LAI Games booth (#200) at the front of the trade show. You can reserve as slot at this link https://calendly.com/bobcooney-vr/iaapa-orlando-vr-tour

If you’d like to see the newest products and the latest updates from the show, visit the new online version of the IAAPA VR Buyer’s Guide. We’ve ditched the PDF and gone to a web-based mobile-friendly version you can use on your phone on the show floor. 

Check out this quick video with all the highlights. 

Studios and IP

Immersive entertainment in LBE is one of the hottest topics at the show this year. Studios continue to push into the market. Netflix will present on the Transforming IP into Tangible Magic: The Art of Immersive Attractions panel, hopefully offering a glimpse into what might be inside their forthcoming Netflix Houses next year.  I’m meeting with several other big IP holders who have contacted me and expressed interest in location-based VR opportunities. I’m excited to see if we can bring some more high-profile content to the market in 2025 and beyond. 

Live On Stage at IAAPA

I’m sure I’ll be talking about that during my fireside chat with Kevin Williams, who invited me to join him onstage on Monday at 4 PM to discuss the world of immersive entertainment. It’s called:

Reality Bytes - How Extended Reality (XR) Attractions are Reshaping Location-based Entertainment

It’s in room S310EFGH. Wow, that’s four rooms; they must expect a big crowd. 

You can see the details here, or add it to your show agenda here.

Kevin and I are the heavyweights of location-based immersive entertainment. Unlike the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul spectacle on Netflix Friday night, this one won’t be a snoozefest. 

Replay Magazine: The Experience Economy 2.0

By now you’ve heard of the “experience economy,” first referenced by Joe Pine and James Gilmore in their Harvard Business Review article, and later expanded in their best-selling book. The experience economy began 20 years ago, when people starting favoring experiences over possessions. Millennials are the poster children of the experience economy, and Instagram is their calling card, where they share with their friends and the world everything from travel photos to food porn.

Businesses have been chasing the experience economy goldmine for a decade now. Big brands have gotten involved now too. There’s an escalation in the war to provide experiences that’s reached…Click to Read More

If you see me around the show, say hi, snap an ussie, and make sure to let me know if you’ve seen anything you really like. It’s a massive show and it’s hard to find everything.