Sega VR-1


 * Not to be confused for the unreleased Sega VR peripheral for the Sega Genesis

The VR-1 is a large-scale, virtual reality motion simulation attraction co-developed by Sega AM3, Sega AM5, and Virtuality.

It was designed to be one of the premier attractions of Sega's indoor Amusement Theme Park venues in Japan, as well as in SegaWorld London and Sega World Sydney. It was one of the more well-received aspects of the venture, due in part to the Mega Visor Display headset, and is still considered a highly advanced example of immersive VR technology for its time.

Characteristics
The VR-1 is essentially an interactive virtual reality amusement park attraction. While little is known about the computer hardware that it ran on, the system's three main elements are the Mega Visor Display, motion simulators, and software, which when combined created near-total immersion for the riders.

Mega Visor Display

 * Main article: Mega Visor Display

Motion simulators
The VR-1 uses four hydraulic motion simulators, each of which seating up to eight people, to give off a strong immersion effect to its full capacity of 32 people. Each simulator utilized a 4-axis base, using the earlier AS-1 simulator co-developed by Sega and Douglas Trumbull as its basis.

Keeping with a space-age design motif, the simulators were modeled on spaceship pods. When in use, the bases could provide 380mm vertical up/down and 34 degree left/right movement; riders were provided with pre-requisite safety belts for this. When not in use, MVD headsets were stored in stations mounted between the seats. Alongside lighting systems and floor maps, the four simulators incorporated the primary color-coding of red, yellow, green and blue, though it is not clear if riders were accordingly divided up into teams based on this.

Software
One of the main selling points of Sega's indoor theme park locations was to provide interactive ride attractions that were not too dissimilar to coin-operated arcade games. In keeping with this, the VR-1 was developed with limited but fully functioning gameplay elements instead of remaining purely as a simulation experience.

For the original July 1994 installation and most others, a first-person rail-shooter game, Space Mission, was implemented. Shortly after a renewal where the MVD headsets and the sound system were tweaked, a software update, Planet Adventure, was released for the original Yokohama Joypolis installation in 1995, and later at the Fukuoka location in April 1996.

Ride experience
The VR-1, in both its Space Mission and Planet Adventure incarnations at Yokohama Joypolis, made use of three areas. Each would approximately take three minutes to complete, making for a nine-minute-long attraction in total. Some installations of the system are believed to have been smaller than the original version sited in Yokohama, likely not containing at least one of the former two areas before the main attraction.

MVD Trial Section
Before entering the attraction proper or joining existing queue lines, new riders can familiarize themselves with the Mega Visor Display headsets for the first time in an optional area, the MVD Trial Section, consisting of three trial pods that can be used free of charge.

In the pods, a promotional film demonstrating the MVD's intricacies is played. Dummy headsets are supplied for users to view a basic VR environment similar to the one in-game, and get accustomed with the adjustment levers and switches for their own personal comfort in the attraction.

Pre-show
After initial admission and before the ride begins, live actors/staff direct riders to a pre-show viewing area similar to those in most Disneyland rides, as well as Namco's earlier Galaxian 3 attraction.

Displayed by a series of three rear projection screens with a lighting system, the show briefs the riders on the details and overall goal of the upcoming game with a short video recording. In it, the main character of the currently run software appears, relaying the information to the awaiting attendees.

This area, like the main Space Mission game, was localized for the attraction's overseas appearances. Due to its setup, the interior décor differed between locations, and a number of installations may have even used the area for queue lines.

Gameplay
After the pre-show ends, staff guide riders again toward the main attraction area, dividing them up into teams of two to four if in groups larger than 8. Once all are seated and secure with the Mega Visor Display, the interactive software and motion simulator pods are ran.

Initially viewing a pre-rendered opening cutscene that sets up the scenario, riders then are prompted to participate in a first-person rail shooter game, using the triggers situated to the left and right sides of them to dispose of enemy targets and achieve the highest score.

When the interactive software ends, the attraction's on-hand staff can assist riders with removing their Mega Visor Displays and disembarking from the pods. If the highest scoring patron is discerned, a "Best Gunner" badge is presented to them as a souvenir before exiting.

External Link(s)

 * VR-1 at Sega Retro