After months of hard work, sleepless nights, and fighting to get approval from the city, owners Beth and Shawn Reynolds were ecstatic to open their very own Ctrl V virtual reality arcade.
The grand opening of the new Ctrl V, located at 3000 Custer Road in the Parkwood Square shopping center, took place on July 30th and was an instant hit for many first-time VR enjoyers who took advantage of the free demos been offered.
“As a result of the pandemic, we have unfortunately, seen a number of our locations close. It’s a nice win for us to see a location open for a change. It reinvigorates us and reminds us that there is still a desire for amazing VR experiences and customer service that we know we can provide.” said Jason Brooks, Communications Manager for Ctrl V.
What You Virtually Experience
Plano Grand Opening
Ctrl V has 3,800 square feet of space in the popular Parkwood Square shopping center, 13 VR stations and a party room for brought-in refreshments and gifts.
Their game library includes over 40 VR experiences including some titles that are familiar to home gamers—such as Fruit Ninja, Angry Birds Isle of Pigs, Creed Rise to Glory and Superhot VR. About half the games can be multiplayer, with limits usually of two to 10 players, with Sweet Escape robust enough to handle all the stations.
Players can share audio with others, even if they’re playing different games. A monitor outside each station mirrors what players are seeing in their headset for spectators to enjoy, although it’s not in the immersive virtual reality. To help with social distancing, Ctrl V asks for only one observer per player.
What to Expect
A basic hour at Ctrl V costs $26, with promotions for a loyalty program, groups, new customer referrals and package deals.
The company recommends that players be at least 8 years old and 40 inches tall. Players under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Adult games—too much violence or gore and therefore rated 14+—can be locked out to younger children.
The HTC Vive head-mounted display is tethered to the ceiling for maximum flexibility, with two wireless full-motion controllers strapped to the player’s hands and tracking infrared lasers and LEDs that generate the virtual reality. Players must be shoeless, and the company recommends bringing a water bottle and wearing lightweight clothing. “VR is a full-body experience!” it says.
—Ctrl V is in the Parkwood Square shopping center, at 3000 Custer Road Unit 250. Operating hours are planned to be 3:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturdays and 11:00-7 p.m. Sundays. Information: www.ctrlvarcade.com/location/plano or plano@ctrlvarcade.com.