Remember Roto VR, the company building a chair specifically designed for virtual reality (VR)? Well, after an unsuccessful Kickstarter in 2015 pre-orders began in 2016 with shipments expecting to go out in 2017. Some did to developers but then that was halted, with further production announcements and delays following. Finally, there’s some good news as shipments to pre-order customers begin this week.
The company has managed to raise over $1 million USD from pre-order customers which include blue-chip companies, development studios, schools, universities, arcades, museums, internet cafes, and home consumers. Compatible with most VR headsets (except PlayStation VR) has been designed to physically rotate users to match the VR environment, whilst offering additional features like haptic feedback.
A fully motorised chair which can turn either through player input or by head movements, the entire system features built-in cabling so there are no external wires to become entangled or worry about.
A basic Roto VR Chair retails for $1,499.00 containing all the main components, chair, base, head tracker, touch pedals, double rumble and control box. There are a few additional options to enhance the Roto VR experience including tablettes for Hotas control or the racing pack for mounting steering wheels and pedals. Or there is the Total Roto VR Package most of the other accessories for $1,899.65 (normally $2,025.00).
“It’s certainly not just about gaming, we are fortunate to have a unique insight into a wide range of complementary businesses/concepts,” notes Elliot Myers, founder of Roto VR Chair in a statement. “For example, Blue chip companies are looking to VR to boost their brands as well as productivity, Universities, schools, movie theatres and stadiums are looking to transition towards interactive seating. Game arcades, shopping malls, hotels, airports and internet cafes are starting to adopt VR to boost business. We can’t wait to see how profoundly Roto VR is going to help to shape the landscape of seated interactivity worldwide.”
If you happen to be attending the Family Attraction Expo at the NEC in Birmingham, UK this week, Roto VR Chair will be on hand to test. As shipments ramp up VRFocus will keep you updated on the latest Roto VR news.