The Virtual Worlds Entertainment, Virtual World venues had once been the biggest of the LBE (dedicated playing venue) developers during the early Nineties with over 33-venues worldwide (from Japan to England, America to Australia). Following the collapse of the market in 1996, the sector fragmented and VWE software operation was acquired by Microsoft, the remaining VWE LLC group in 1997 reverted from wholly owned facilities to a franchise operation, signing an agreement with D&B to install in a number of their venues (VWE first installing systems in their sites back in 1994 with the first Virtual World Outpost).

VWE was able to communicate with TSR and explain the situation. The facts regarding the company’s deployment proved interesting. The company over past years has developed their capsule and software experience but has found a better focus for their business. The Tesla Cockpit System, the innovative non-motion immersive simulator, has been made available to private owners. This came as every cockpit was removed from D&B, and was sold to either a commercial operator or a private party. Most sets were sold in whole, but several were divided up to sets of 4 or even 2, the normal installation usually 8 systems create their ideal retail package.

VWE revealed there will be more individual installations of the Tesla System than there have ever been in its ten-year history since D&B moved to exercise their obligations. In 1994 a D&B store in Marietta, Georgia became the first VWE operator; the relationship grew to a total of 13 stores by 2003, all of which operated Virtual World’s Tesla II Systems. The lease for those systems expired in 2005 and the parties did not renew the lease, the last D&B location to be removed is the same store that spawned the relationship - Marietta, Georgia. The systems had proven loyal customer pleasers, the VWE fans following hardware across the country and revealing a picture of a strong following.

However, for D&B the LBE model proved a changeable route to attract a mixed audience. The VWE platform and gaming experience is a detailed sci-fi robot battling environment that offers a steep learning curve but longevity of play unseen by any other style of conventional game system. Part of the dream that was LBE (see Stinger #442), a number of venues experimented with the concept though only a handful remain.

VWE has attempted to grow the technology and concept, forming partnerships. Gameleap, in South Korea implemented the design for the updated game experience, known as 'Battletech: Firestorm'. More widely, VWE has been working with Gameleap on a non-operator attended version of the Tesla II System, this system a multi-player system and will allow for play across a LAN as well as WAN for site-to-site play if operators are so equipped.

This coincides with the home hobbyist deployment of a number of systems that will see mass online tournaments of arcade and home playing leagues, blurring the lines that once governed the implementation of LBE systems. It is expected that the cockpit simulation experience in a themed environment will be seen as a ProSumer as well as new entertainment retail experience - the same way cinema and home video coexist.

For D&B the company has turned to Jesler to install their ‘Thunder’ (PC Hardware) racecar simulator attraction, with over 20 systems installed at the end of August. For Jesler there is some recognition of the opportunity of LBE application, having developed the multiple pod space experience that Sony METREON installed in their first site in San Francisco - only for by 2000 the whole system was ripped out of the sites Portal One location (in this case not to be salvaged).

Launched at JAMMA '05 the Bandai owned group demonstrated an eight-cockpit simulator, without motion but an immersive display based on a hardware license from Namco. The concept saw the deployment of a team based robot battle game, with stored IC Card interaction - all elements that VWE have championed.

Too far ahead of their time the VWE concept established ideas we now treat as proven successes:

- PC based online gaming
(VWE's parent FASA and their home BattleTech game, eventually sold to Microsoft
- VIPs cards
(First deployment of player loyalty cards linked to player stats)
- Immersive Displays
(The Teslar incorporating a 180' mini-dome display as far back as 1994)

Now reappraising the installed base for VWE, adding to the mix with connected Privateer Leagues is seen to allow the company to defend their turf, while new entrants prove that the idea is sound, if the market is still undecided.

Other LBE remaining developers include Silicon Motorsports, who have devised a compact single simulator package for their original over-10 facility operation. In selling single sims that can be hocked up to the gaming environment LBE is given wider coverage and greater penetration.

From an arcade standpoint Taito's 'Half-Life Survivor’ (TypeX+) is a rudimentary LBE concept though borrowing more from LAN site than BattleTech. Another LBE champion is MagiQuest and more recently a non simulator based, but themed interactive entertainment environment MagiQuest showed at IAAPA confirming a market re-insurgence as retail looks to enthrall.

Breaking Stinger News - As we rush headlong into 2006 and the turmoil of the merger and acquisitions in the amusement sector seem to have spilled over into the theme park sector. The reality is that a number of the large investment operations have decided to follow Lego’s lead and divest their theme park operation as a restricting crimp to future investment.

During the first quarter of 2006, CBS Corporation confirmed industry speculation that they had started the process to divest themselves of their Paramount Parks division. The details of the plans will see the group of family entertainment facilities sold by the middle of 2006 if not sooner. At the same time the story of the current saga in the board room battle for control and direction of the Six Flags group took an interesting twist as new management lead pointed towards new objectives.

Re-investment from Merit Entertainment the new owners of the Lego theme park operation was also announced in January, with a new Pirates attraction zone for LegoLand Winsor; rumors that the Carlsbad facility will also be seeing greater investment that could include a hotel operation surrounding the park.

Investment in the film and attraction sector had marked the end of 2005, with the sale of the DreamWorks operation to Paramount - To start 2006, Walt Disney Company announced the plans to complete a $7.4 billion deal to acquire their supplier and one time sparing partner under previous board direction - Pixar Animation. The appearance of Mr. Iger seems to have been a breath of fresh air through the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’, this new found good will seeing Steve Jobs, the owner founder of Pixar, and Apple surpremo backing a major investor in Disney and starting rumors that he could become the next Chief of ABC or even Disney (along with obvious opportunities for Apple hardware software interests).

In the United Kingdom along with the LegoLand Winsor news, large venue and museum operator Madame Tussaud’s announced that the 40-year-old Planetarium exhibit adjacent to their successful Madame Tussaud’s Waxworks Museum will be closed and replaced with a more popular attraction. It was claimed that over 70 per cent of the visitors to Madame Tussaud’s want to look at the wax works alone, leaving the Planetarium (included on the same ticket price) vacant. This has forced Tussaud’s hand to close the Planetarium - making London one of the few cities in the world without a planetarium exhibit - and changing the familiar London landmark to the new ‘Auditorium’ venue, which will increase the coverage of the waxwork exhibition.

The current UK cult of celebrity has been blamed on a downturn in the venues Planetarium venue, though some industry observers have seen a more mercenary motive that saw the attraction run-down, missing out on much of the investment form the most recent refurbishment. What will be the outcome to the London scene of this change will be reflected possibly by more populist centric attractions and exhibits at other venues.