Simtec & The VOID Develop “Hyper-Reality Dark Ride”

(eap) The German company Simtec Systems and the US-based technology provider The VOID have announced their partnership to develop a “Hyper-Reality Dark Ride” that will combine Simtec’s motion-based vehicle technology with The VOID’s multisensory “Hyper-Reality” platform.

The goal, according to the companies, is to create a space-efficient alternative to traditional dark rides for amusement and leisure operators while maintaining high capacity. Guests will board a motion-based vehicle and, equipped with headsets, embark on virtual adventures – interactive and enhanced by synchronized motion effects.

“Simulators can only move so far; ride vehicles can maintain acceleration over distance, and guests feel the difference immediately. Guests will feel what they see, with sustained accelerations and motion cues that no static simulator can match. Coupled with The VOID's hyper-reality platform, this is an attraction unlike anything on the market,” said Mike Haimson, VP North American Operations at Simtec Systems.

Curtis Hickman, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at The VOID, added: “By combining Simtec’s sustained vehicle motion with VOID-style immersion, we’re delivering a smooth loading VR dark ride experience that’s thrilling for guests and scalable for operators.”

The vehicles, which run on a track, are designed to be compatible with various interchangeable content packages streamed directly to the headsets. Even before boarding, guests will put on their headsets to experience a pre-show in augmented reality. The main experience that follows will blend physical sensations with virtual visuals and offer numerous interactive elements – for example, targeting and collecting virtual objects. ■