| | NOVEMBER 202119However, toward the beginning of 2017, the business was unfortunately failing. "We had no investors, very few customers, and absolutely nothing left in the bank. A lot of people thought I should give up," says the young entrepreneur. "And to make matters worse, virtual reality--the darling of 2016--was becoming a total outcast. The signs were not good." Moreover, Zhao had also developed one of the best games in the VR marketplace, inspired by Star Trek's Holodeck, with the help of experienced professionals from EA, Ubisoft, and Sony as well.One of the main reasons that VR gaming did not gain as much traction as it did initially was solely due to the number of hardware components required. Moreover, it was expensive. So, an at-home VR experience was very rare. This fact alone was enough to scare away investors who never gave Sandbox VR a second opportunity despite having a solid, enjoyable game. People who eventually bought the hardware ended up not using it as often due to the few games that existed as well as the lack of multiplayer options; no one likes playing alone. This mindset proved very difficult for all games developers to create worlds that would incite more engagement from the gaming community and, unfortunately, reflected poorly on Zhao's dreams.It was in this moment of desperation that the Sandbox VR founder said it was now or never and bet everything he had toward bringing about the most incredibly immersive gaming experience the world had ever seen. Zhao communed with his engineers to help materialize his visions, asking them to create an environment where anybody could affordably have a full-body VR gaming experience. This was the birth of Sandbox VR as the world knows it today.An Escape from RealityLeveraging the latest innovations in the world of extended reality (XR), Sandbox VR implements best-in-class motion tracking sensors and moveable platforms to build a unique, original platform with a complete in-store experience. "Our innovation is not only designed to be a fun experience but also be sociable and fun-to-watch from the ground up. Every guest leaves with a viral video of their experience that is irresistible to share on social media," expresses Zhao. Sandbox VR's technology and media teams are constantly improving and updating the ways in which customers draw out more from each experience, which inevitably brings them back for more over time.The company is casting a new spell in the VR arcading arena with its innovative approach toward VR gaming, with a philosophy stating that this new medium is not about better movies or more immersive gaming experiences. According to Zhao and his team, it is something else altogether.Sandbox VR's Climb Back UpOver the past few years, after investing his ten-year-long saved nest egg entirely into his business, Zhao can finally breathe easy. Why? Because A-listers like Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake, among many others, have invested millions of dollars--and their interest--toward Sandbox VR's vision. The company is creating and designing completely new worlds that empower people, in various locations across the globe, to quite literally be their own heroes with their friends. Zhao and his team have built this incredible opportunity from the ground up based on the tenets of complete immersion, embodiment, and social activity. This resonates deeply within everybody, which is why the company is on a steep uphill climb toward a new kind of success that the world is happily supporting.The Road AheadWith a goal to bring this brand new VR experience to every neighborhood, Sandbox VR is expanding much more quickly than Zhao had anticipated since his negative experience during the company's formative years. However, with the newfound support, both monetarily and socially, he and his team are helping people gear up for the best gaming experience of their lives. Sandbox VR offers a wide array of games to choose from, all developed specifically to transport the player into the virtual shoes of their avatars, allowing them to feel the thrill on a whole new level. The future of gaming is in the making, and Sandbox VR is the closest portal to access this new realm of fantasy. Our innovation is not only designed to be a fun experience but also be sociable and fun-to-watch from the ground up. Every guest leaves with a viral video of their experience that is irresistible to share on social media
< Page 9 | Page 11 >