As we see a huge shift towards fairer working conditions for our many workforces all over the world that put the hours in for many of their companies to provide us with the majority of the services and products that we buy on a daily basis. It seems that some companies are wanting to push this idea further by providing their staff with high-end social spaces and gaming rooms where they can really take some time to themselves when they are on breaks or before and after a shift.  

It is so nice to see so many big industry names taking these steps to ensure that their workforce is looked after properly and that any time they spend working hard for their company is properly rewarded. Gaming rooms are just the start of this battle to create positive spaces in the workplace, with pay rates increasing to become more acceptable and to help provide so many hard-working individuals with the rate of pay and the work experience that they deserve. In recent news there have been a number of cases where workers have appealed for compensation regarding their treatment and their pay rate, suggesting that it is not appropriate for the level of work that they do. 

As the appeal continues and workers compensation leads are being searched for it is nice to see some companies going the extra mile for their staff during these times where negative staff treatment is no longer being tolerated. Below are a number of companies who have made this effort and the one thing that I can say is that I hope more companies follow suit with this new initiative.  

Sony

Sony was one of the first tech companies to unveil their new social spaces and gaming rooms dedicated to their hard-working head forces within many of their worldwide headquarters. It makes sense for Sony to do something like this as gaming and technology are a huge part of their enterprise, so it is likely that while they are doing a nice thing for their staff there is also an element of product testing to this initiative and its implementation.  

However, this doesn’t take away from the sentiment and in a general statement from a select few members of Sony’s staff, the unveiling of these new relaxation spaces was very well received. It has been a mantra of Sony that the happiness of the workforce is paramount to the business success and the fact that Sony is doing so well within the technology industry just shows how effective it can be to treat your staff with respect and to give them the rewards they deserve when they work so hard to maintain a business.  

Google

Another company that has implemented high-end gaming and relaxation spaces within their business premises are Google, this should come as no surprise but Google is a very technologically advanced business and the tech they implement within their offices is no exception. Google recently revealed a few pictures of their new gaming rooms and the futuristic lighting and design quality that has been used is exceptionally done. The fact that Google has gone above and beyond in terms of the design and quality of the gaming rooms they want to give to their staff just shows how much the company cares about the hard-working individuals who dedicate their time every day to building such a huge company.

Microsoft

The final company on this list that has also taken the time to give their staff the gift of some luxury social spaces and gaming rooms within their premises would have to be Microsoft. Microsoft is known for their proper treatment of their workforce from their yearly charity donations on behalf of each staff member to their high-quality insurance and pension schemes, Microsoft really knows how to keep their workers happy so that they can keep up the hard work with growing Microsoft into the huge industry giant that it is today. The gaming rooms, in particular, are very advanced and equipped with the latest consoles and plenty of controllers so that each staff member can join in for some huge group gaming sessions whenever they want to.  

Arcades were a dying breed not too long ago. At the advent of video games arcades were the only place you could go try the latest titles. But the invention of gaming consoles slowly brought arcades into decline. That was until the release of functional virtual reality technology.

Virtual reality arcades are now all the rage. Most people can’t afford a VR headset for their own home. Or they simply lack the space to properly enjoy them. VR arcades offer a fully immersive VR experience for groups of friends or single players.

Running a VR arcade can be an extremely profitable and rewarding venture. But there are a lot of things you need to consider before you open to the public. This guide will help you better understand the complexities of running your own VR arcade.

The Right Equipment

We will assume that you have already secured a good location to run your VR arcade from. One with lots of space and multiple rooms so you can host multiple groups at once. After that the main thing you need to consider is the equipment.

Most VR arcades won’t use the mainstream VR headsets such as Meta Quest or the Oculus Rift. They are too expensive and often restrictive in what programs you can run. Varjo Aero is a great brand for VR arcades to use. They are comfortable, sturdy, and come with no annual subscriptions. Meaning you get access to all the necessary software.

You will also want a number of VR accessories as well to enhance the player experience. Alongside the standard controllers you might look at getting guitar controllers, gun controllers, and omni-directional treadmills. Haptic feedback jackets are also a great way to increase the player’s immersion.

Storage

VR arcades naturally need a lot of hardware to function. And you will also need to invest in a lot of backups as well. Breakages happen. So you need replacements on standby while you repair any broken bits of kit. To that end you will want to invest in proper external storage.

There are two reasons for that. First, security. VR arcades present a pretty target for thieves. So keeping a lot of your more expensive equipment offsite when not in use is ideal. Having an external storage unit will also make it easier for you to switch up the themes of your rooms.

Secondly, insurance. You will naturally need to take out business insurance and public storage insurance. But the business and public storage insurance cost will be significantly cheaper than trying to insure just your business. Business insurance firms will likely lower your premiums if you can guarantee your more expensive equipment is safely secured offsite.

Change Your Games

The biggest draw to a VR arcade is the ability to step into another world. To immerse oneself in a different reality. To that end you want to ensure you are offering your customers a wide range of games to play. Much like how an escape room company will often change the themes of their rooms, you should constantly be adding new environments and games for your customers to enjoy.

You can keep a few of your rooms consistent. The classic zombie survival VR experience is one that people love. But you should have a few rooms that switch games every few weeks. One week it could be a game room focused on exploring a fantasy dungeon. The next week it could be a team game about piloting a starship.

Social Media Marketing

VR technology is at the forefront of the digital age right now. And, as such, you will need to focus your marketing more in digital spaces. Social media is the most powerful tool at your disposal for this.

You should be creating content every few days to post to your social media pages. Videos of customers enjoying your kit. Advertisements for your new games. Reels highlighting what kit you are using. Consider parenting with the company you buy your kit from to create joint social media posts. This is a great way to boost relations with them while also bringing in new followers.