ParadropVR immersive paragliding experience to launch at EAS

In an exciting move for Simworx, the UK-based company has joined forces with a new name to the attractions industry, Frontgrid, to bring a brand new, “world-first” product to the market. The official product launch will take place at EAS 2017 in Berlin, Germany.

The patent-pending ParadropVR™ is an IP-protected, immersive, virtual reality (VR) attraction, featuring integrated gamification which allows the user to fully control the game play and movement.

Developed by the Conwy, North Wales-based Frontgrid team, led by co-founder and chief executive Matt Wells, ParadropVR™ provides a truly immersive VR experience that simulates flying a paraglider, with an up-and-down motion that incorporates sudden drops and smooth deceleration to create a realistic feeling of gliding through the skies.

Additionally, the ParadropVR™ ride features an interactive gaming element controlled by the participant, with points awarded to each individual rider as they make their way ‘back down to earth’. Riders will aim to fly through a series of targets, for example, to score as many points as possible. Riders physically move through a vertical distance of 1.8 metres (6 feet) during the experience.

With multiple theming and content options on offer and a modular design that provides high hourly capacity and low operating costs, ParadropVR™ is ideal for operation in a wide range of venues, including theme parks, FECs, shopping malls, cinemas, bowling locations, cruise ships and more, while also being an ideal attraction for the events and mobile sector.

“Our mission is to create world-first, iconic adventure experiences with strong brands and protectable IPs, underpinned by disruptive, high-growth, high-return business models,” says Wells. “We are delighted to have partnered with Simworx, a world leader in the development and supply of media-based, dynamic simulation attractions, to create and bring to market the first of our experiences. And, of course, we are excited to be launching ParadropVR™ at this year’s EAS. It’s a totally new concept and I’m sure it will create much interest among operators when revealed in September.”

Standard configurations of the attraction are four to 12 rider units, in line or double, and six to 20 rider units in a circular layout.