In October, he quietly opened the first virtual reality lounge in the Twin Cities. Voxel Virtual Reality Parlour also is among the first crop of such businesses around the country bringing the new technology to the masses.
The 1,500-square-foot space is in the same building as Lake Monster Brewing in St. Paul. It has three bays that patrons can rent out by the hour by themselves or with a group of friends. Each room can fit three to four people.
Inside each bay, customers take turns using an HTC Vive headset and can pick from 15 to 20 experiences. Trinh-Sy updates the list every month to add the newest releases. But some of the options include first-person shooter games, strategy and puzzle games, or immersive experiences that put you on top of a mountain or floating in space. On a screen in each room, friends can sit and watch what the person using the headset is seeing, too.
The lounge charges customers $35 an hour if you reserve the space for yourself. It costs about $20 to $25 per person if you share it with friends.