VR = Very Rad!
Especially so when it's the world's most advanced Free Roam Virtual Reality experience at the aptly named Zero Latency! Having only heard of VR till date and never having tried it, I was really excited to give this a shot with my Elite squad.
Parking at Kingsgate Mall was a breeze, and Zero Latency was right at the entrance of the complex. Even though I was a bit late in joining, Game Master James and Carlin were very patient and kind, and quickly took me through the process and provided the relevant instructions. Fully geared up with a vest, 4k headset, gun and what not, I soon joined my crew of Black Ops specialists aboard a secret military space station ready to take on rogue drones and bots! Singularity, ahoy!
For the next half an hour, our crew of eight was transported to a space station where we worked together to destroy the killer A. I. before it eliminated us. The graphics were amazing, the movements realistic and trippy, the feedback instantaneous when getting close to a teammate or a wall, and best was the fun in the team work, coordinating and joking with one another over the mic while we slayed our intergalactic foe! Oh yeah, mission accomplished! To say that the experience was immersive and cathartic (blasting evil to smithereens FTW!) would be an understatement. Not since my college days over a decade ago when I used to play soccer/ Quake3/ Counter Strike have I had so much fun in a team activity!
I was left sweating profusely with a racing heart, a big smile and a desire for more action at the end of this intense workout! Hey, it's no joke to cover 200m on a claustrophobic spaceship when carrying a heavy gun and armor while wearing warm winter clothes under a spacesuit! *panting* Game Master James ensured a smooth transition of the team back to planet earth as he debriefed us while neatly stowing away our gear. Getting to see our team score on the screen was cool, as was receiving it in the email that we had entered when signing the waiver at the start of the event. The folks at Zero Latency clicked some really cool pictures and videos of our group as we fought our way through the sci-fi thriller, and after we survived the ordeal!
Thank you to the Zero Latency team and my squad for this rejuvenating and thrilling experience that doubled as a fantastic birthday present for me. Can't wait to be back here to escape even if briefly from the real world into this alternate reality. For now, opening a can of chilled beer to cool off and celebrate the win!