REMAKING REALITY

The Peak’s selection of virtual experiences for a taste of the finer things in life while staying home is a timely reminder of what the world will still have to offer once this is all over.

Simulators aren’t new; Drivemobile, the first racing simulator machine was released in 1968 by Sega. Others soon followed in a myriad of genres, from sports to hunting, kick-starting an era of arcades that drained generations of children’s pocket money.

Some have had the potential for more practical uses. In education, for example, they are tapped to perform dangerous tasks practically risk-free. Others, like the virtual flying system Icaros, are utilised to gamify physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises.

As virtual fidelity and accuracy continuously improves, the sky’s the limit – though we’d wager that it might be a while before we see any full-dive virtual experiences à la The Matrix’s martial arts dojo.

WALK IN NEW WORLDS

Virtual Reality (VR) once promised sights and sounds indistinguishable from real life but its early days could only conjure terrible simulacrums that didn’t garner much public favour. Then, in 2014, with Facebook’s US$2.3 billion (S$3.27 billion) acquisition of Oculus, a new era of VR emerged. The headsets are lighter, motion tracking is leaps better and visuals are now as realistic as whatever modern computers can render – and stunningly at that.

What’s more, while top-of-the-line headsets like the Oculus Rift S and HTC’s Vive Cosmos already provide incredibly immersive experiences, you can take them a step further with omnidirectional treadmills. These gadgets allow you to walk and run endlessly in any direction, creating the illusion of expansive worlds in your living room.

Consumer-friendly models like the Kat Walk Mini from the China-based KAT VR are already seeing an increase in sales from both individuals after first-class entertainment and businesses seeking solutions to being stuck inside. www.at-vr.com

TERROIR WINE SIMULATOR

Created by Singapore and UK-based studio General Interactive, Terroir allows you to run a vineyard on your PC. The game allows players to make numerous decisions, like your estate name, the type of grapes you want to plant – from the world’s most widely planted varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon to the comparatively esoteric Rkatsiteli – and whether you want bottles with corks or screw caps. All the decisions will count towards how successful your wine is, and consequently, its prices. Not a bad start to your dreams of becoming a vigneron. www.generalinteractive.co

SHIFTING GEARS

Designed for the most zealous racing fanatics, the Motion Pro Racing Simulator is produced by Singapore-based Simfai Solutions, whose self-avowed racing enthusiasts have endeavoured to bring the feel of the track to your home with a mix of cutting-edge high definition audio, visuals and a wind kit, race-accurate custom steering wheel and Federation Internationale de l’Automobile bucket seats that move in six directions to replicate the awesome feeling of taking a bend at speed. www.simfai-solutions.com

SWINGER’S CLUBS

Centrum is Singapore’s largest supplier of pool and game tables with a 50-year history in the home leisure industry. The company’s entertainment options include a golf simulator that’s also a home cinema and karaoke system. You can practise your swing on any of its 150 virtual courses, thanks to the dual highspeed camera that measures your stroke to 99 per cent accuracy. www.centrumleisure.com

FLIGHTS OF FANCY

There’s no chance of flying too close to the sun with the Icaros. It uses virtual reality (VR) goggles and gimbal to transport you to the skies. Designed to gamify fitness, you also get an impressive workout as you control your flight movements by moving limbs and shifting your weight. Optional: a mist fan to complete the experience of gliding through the clouds. www.icaros.com

TEXT ALVIN LIM & WEETS GOH

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