A Myrtle Beach entertainment venue is redefining the traditional arcade experience by offering cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) gaming for all ages. Interactive Experience Unleashed (IEU), located at 7621 N. Kings Highway, immerses players into a virtual world with its array of reality-altering technologies.
Richard Thai, the manager at IEU, describes the venue as a unique gaming destination powered by a blend of augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR). “We offer a one-of-a-kind gaming experience,” he said, highlighting the innovative use of these technologies to create engaging and interactive environments.
Exploring the Realities: AR, VR, and MR
Augmented reality combines computer-generated images with the real-world environment, allowing users to interact with digital elements in their physical surroundings. Virtual reality, on the other hand, immerses users in a completely artificial environment through sensory stimuli such as sights and sounds. Mixed reality merges aspects of both AR and VR, enabling real-world and digital elements to interact seamlessly.
The Vex Play area at IEU is equipped with Pico 4 VR headsets, which Thai describes as the “Ferrari” of VR headsets. Players select their games and experience MR through these advanced headsets. “Four people can go in, or we often see one kid playing with two others they don’t know, but they all see each other playing [in the game],” Thai explained.
Game Highlights and Unique Experiences
Among the popular games is “Granny’s Alien Invasion,” where players take on the role of animated grannies defending their freshly baked cakes from alien invaders using handheld vacuums. “Jump a Cheese” features astronaut mice protecting their cheese planet from bugs, while “Buckshot Bonanza” offers a western cowboy theme with competitive shooting and ziplines.
In the Valo-Arena, players enjoy AR experiences similar to XBox Kinect or Wii Sports. They walk onto a tiled floor displayed on a large screen, using their feet to make selections. “Ground Fall” challenges players in a virtual ‘floor-is-lava’ scenario, while another game immerses them in a bank heist with ‘red-light, green-light’ objectives. Each game lasts between five to eight minutes, depending on player skill.
“Because we are a time-based system, it depends on how you want to use your time in each area,” Thai said. “We always say the four-hour is more bang for your buck.”
Pricing and Additional Offerings
IEU recently reduced its four-hour admission price to $29.99, with a one-hour play costing $18.99. In addition to high-tech video games, the venue features a children’s playground with ball pits, slides, and tunnels. A four-hour playground card is priced at $14.99, including grip socks required for play.
For those needing a break, the Firebird Cafe offers refreshments such as pizza, hot dogs, and popcorn. The venue also provides four party rooms, ideal for birthday celebrations, where avatars in the games can be customized with birthday hats for a personalized touch.
Innovative Attractions and Future Plans
IEU is home to the world’s first MR and animatronics experience, “The Curse of Calypso.” This guided adventure takes players through an unknown world where they encounter the infamous pirate Blackbeard, search for the skull of Calypso, and attempt to “escape the Netherworld.”
Looking ahead, IEU plans to introduce annual membership deals, virtual reality golf, and additional party rooms by 2026, further enhancing their offerings and solidifying their position as a leader in immersive entertainment.
The announcement comes as the gaming industry continues to evolve, with venues like IEU pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment. As VR technology advances, such experiences are expected to become more prevalent, offering players increasingly sophisticated and engaging ways to interact with digital worlds.
