You can be anything you want to be. You can fly a jet fighter, drive a Formula One car, fight zombies, move like a ninja, or wield a light saber. Maybe not in real life, but right now you can do all of these things in virtual reality at Capsule VEC.
We have come a long way from sitting on the couch, clutching our Atari joysticks to donning a headset and walking through three dimensional worlds where we can kick, hit and walk around. It is very Ready Player One.
Capsule VEC, which stands for Virtual Experience Center, is designed to mimic the interior of a space ship. It’s dark, with blue backlights and a faux window that shows you planet Earth as if we’re blasting away. Everything is futuristic and shiny. Even the computers running the code have been custom built to be powerful enough to run the software. They use a special water cooling system and radiator mounted fans to keep temperatures down. But they are cased in clear plexiglass to complete the visual effect.
They offer two different experiences, simulators and VR. Currently, there are eight car racing simulators, a formula one car and two plane simulators. It’s the full experience with the headsets, stereo sounds and seats that are hydraulically controlled for a true to-real-life experience that will amaze even the most experienced drivers. You will feel every speed bump and hit, and you will love it! While the experience is meant to be very realistic, it’s also meant to be shared with friends, as up to eight people can race against each other at the same time. The Formula One simulator is reserved for more advanced players. Just like in the real world, the faint of heart need not attempt driving this one.
Anas Kanawati, owner and founder of Capsule VEC has been bringing simulation games to Kuwait for almost a decade in the form of License to Drift. But this is his first stand-alone venue that is not shared with anyone else, and he does it all for the love of gaming and simulations.
The other experience you can enjoy at Capsule VEC is the virtual reality games. If you’re a horror fan then you’re going to love their special horror game. You’ll be asked to sit in a chair, and wear a headset and a wrist harness that stops you from trying to escape. Yes, it’s that scary.
Don’t worry if you’re the kind of person who likes to avoid giving themselves a fear-induced heart attack. You can still enjoy all the other fully immersive VR games. Many of us might have already purchased a VR headset and the nerdier among us have built their Google Cardboard sets. But the gear at Capsule is top-of-the-line. High-definition, clear, crisp imagery make the game worlds so much more believable. The mounted cameras make your motion in the make believe worlds match the ones you want to make. The technology works seamlessly and smoothly, all you have to worry about is that zombie trying to kill you.
There are dozens of games to choose from. From the child-friendly Fruit Ninja to the up-beat Beat Saber, there’s bound to be something that you will enjoy. While putting on a headset might seem like a solitary activity, there is a multiplayer mode. So, you can join up to three of your friends in a single game—great for quest and fighter games. In fact, the venue is proving especially popular with corporate events and children’s parties alike. There is enough space to accommodate twenty players at any given time and room left over for snacks and beverages.
Children as young as six years old can play, and parents can rest easy since the software can be set to block any content that is not suitable for their child’s age. Yet, most of Capsule VEC’s clientele are adults. Young men and women are showing up after a long workweek to wind down and have some extreme fun. And it can be physically demanding too. Since you control the gameplay by moving your hands while holding the controllers there’s a lot of movement involved in most of the games. It’s like a quick mini workout that gets your heart pumping and your blood flowing.
If you’re looking for a fun thing to do over the weekend, or better yet after a long Tuesday, Capsule VEC is your gateway to the virtual world. Capsule VEC is located in Mas Arena, Al-Rai. For more information on Capsule VEC follow them on Instagram @CapsuleVEC.
