How does The Void compare to Oculus Rift?

[BabybetterDisney]

During our September 2018 visit to WDW, My DS12 wanted to go to the Void Star Wars at Disney Springs, but couldn't because he was too young. I wasn't excited about it, though, because I already have Oculus Rift set up for my son at home, so he is used to playing virtual reality. And the Void is super expensive for what you get, so I wasn't excited about it at all.

So my question is only to those people who have been to the Void and also have played Oculus Rift: how does it compare? Is it worth $30 for some ten minute "experience"? I am feeling reluctant to dish out the money. For example, we've tried Trials on Tatooine with Oculus, just a free teaser, and it's really nice, about 10 minutes, and you see R2D2 standing right in front of you, moving and everything. Too bad it's not a full game. How does the Void compare to Trials on Tatooine?

Thanks for any help!

 

[QueenElinor]

I'm interested in hearing more about this, too. It sounds like something my boys would really like, they are a bit older, though, young adults.
I have to break it to them that Disney Quest is no longer- would The Void be a good substitute?

 

[BabybetterDisney]

I'm interested in hearing more about this, too. It sounds like something my boys would really like, they are a bit older, though, young adults.
I have to break it to them that Disney Quest is no longer- would The Void be a good substitute?

My boys did NOT take it well when Disney Quest went away. Biggest lost of Disney World in our family.

 

[adamreisinger]

I don't have an Oculus Rift, so I can't necessarily compare, but I was really impressed by the experience at The Void. The equipment is high quality and incredibly immersive, and the vest adds an extra level that you don't get with just a VR headset (you actually feel haptic feedback when you get "shot" by a Stormtrooper). You are walking around a set of rooms and holding an actual blaster prop during the experience, and there are recognizable characters if you're a fan of the Star Wars movies.

I'd say it's a must-do for any Star Wars fan visiting WDW, and a cool experience if you're a fan of first-person shooter video games (since that's essentially the core gameplay aspect of the experience, with the added immersion of a 360-degree VR experience). I visited as a solo traveler and got paired with a couple in their 20s and a kid (probably around 10 or so) who was doing it solo, and it seemed like everyone had a great time.

 

[MikeNamez]

Oculus Rift would be an NES and VOID would be a PS4. No comparison at all.

 

[QueenElinor]

I don't have an Oculus Rift, so I can't necessarily compare, but I was really impressed by the experience at The Void. The equipment is high quality and incredibly immersive, and the vest adds an extra level that you don't get with just a VR headset (you actually feel haptic feedback when you get "shot" by a Stormtrooper). You are walking around a set of rooms and holding an actual blaster prop during the experience, and there are recognizable characters if you're a fan of the Star Wars movies.

I'd say it's a must-do for any Star Wars fan visiting WDW, and a cool experience if you're a fan of first-person shooter video games (since that's essentially the core gameplay aspect of the experience, with the added immersion of a 360-degree VR experience). I visited as a solo traveler and got paired with a couple in their 20s and a kid (probably around 10 or so) who was doing it solo, and it seemed like everyone had a great time.

Well, my daughter and I are pretty huge SW fans, so we'll like that aspect. How long will they keep the SW theme running, do you think?

Sounds like all five of us will like this game. Can all of us play at once, on a team? Is there an option not to shoot/be shot? I'm easily frightened- sounds silly, but I am- I can't even watch horror flicks. I don't want to have nightmares for days.

Oculus Rift would be an NES and VOID would be a PS4. No comparison at all.

Haha, I'm sure my kids would understand that but I don't.

 

[MikeNamez]

Well, my daughter and I are pretty huge SW fans, so we'll like that aspect. How long will they keep the SW theme running, do you think?

Sounds like all five of us will like this game. Can all of us play at once, on a team? Is there an option not to shoot/be shot? I'm easily frightened- sounds silly, but I am- I can't even watch horror flicks. I don't want to have nightmares for days.

Haha, I'm sure my kids would understand that but I don't.

Lol ya OP will get it.

4 People go at one time and yes would be all on the same team. You don't have to shoot but would have to go through the motion of picking up the gun when its time during the game. You cannot prevent being shot as people are on your team can shoot you lol.

Also, Star Wars is closing soon and Wreck It Ralph is taking over so if you like Star Wars I'd do it ASAP. https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...irtual-reality-experience-to-debut-this-fall/

 

[QueenElinor]

Lol ya OP will get it.

4 People go at one time and yes would be all on the same team. You don't have to shoot but would have to go through the motion of picking up the gun when its time during the game. You cannot prevent being shot as people are on your team can shoot you lol.

Also, Star Wars is closing soon and Wreck It Ralph is taking over so if you like Star Wars I'd do it ASAP. https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...irtual-reality-experience-to-debut-this-fall/

Oh well, we won't be there until May. They like Wreck-it Ralph, though. Since there are only 4 on a team, I'll just sit it out.

 

[BrianL]

The VOID actually uses an Oculus Rift headset, so that aspect is the same. What is different is the feedback vest, free range of motion, and interactive environments.

 

[frisbeego]

Also, Star Wars is closing soon and Wreck It Ralph is taking over so if you like Star Wars I'd do it ASAP. https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...irtual-reality-experience-to-debut-this-fall/

It's my understanding that Star Wars isn't closing soon. At least through December, both Star Wars and Wreck It Ralph are available simultaneously.

 

[soniam]

The VOID actually uses an Oculus Rift headset, so that aspect is the same. What is different is the feedback vest, free range of motion, and interactive environments.

I think the audio and having the helmet makes it more immersive. I have read that they started out with an Oculus Rift headset but have since created a modified version and have faster processing. Here are some of the articles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Void_(virtual_reality)
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/544096/inside-the-first-vr-theme-park/ (From 2016)

 

[glocon]

The SW Void is phenomenal if you like SW. worth the $$

 

[greg9x]

During our September 2018 visit to WDW, My DS12 wanted to go to the Void Star Wars at Disney Springs, but couldn't because he was too young.

???... Unless something changed recently, 10 is the minimum age for The Void. Fudged my 9 3/4 year old sons age a couple months when we went in August... he played no problem.

Agree The Void is a couple steps up from a home VR setup.. especially how it is integrated with environment (can sit in the seats, push the buttons, feel heat, etc) could be a bit longer for the price, but it was fun.

 

[Brocktoon]

We did the Void Star Wars last Saturday and it was an amazing experience. As others have mentioned, the headsets are designed by Oculus but they are definitely a modified/improved version of the Rift headsets I've used. While the headset pretty much functions like the standard rift rig, the Void combines that with all your other senses ... if you see a wall then you can touch it and you'll be walking and interacting with your squad mates and the surroundings. You'll also smell the surrounding and feel temperature differences as well as other effects from the haptic vest. From a technical standpoint I noticed a few frame delays and 'clipping' of some of the character avatars but in the end it's pretty astonishing what the Void has achieved.

At one point I was was defending with my back against an entry way, using my free hand to physically lean into the open and pick off storm troopers while others in my squad were solving a puzzle across the room. At that moment it kinda dawned that while this may just be a short tech demo of what's to come, it's amazing to think where the tech will be in less than a decade!

 

[BabybetterDisney]

Oculus Rift would be an NES and VOID would be a PS4. No comparison at all.

Lol ya OP will get it.

4 People go at one time and yes would be all on the same team. You don't have to shoot but would have to go through the motion of picking up the gun when its time during the game. You cannot prevent being shot as people are on your team can shoot you lol.

Also, Star Wars is closing soon and Wreck It Ralph is taking over so if you like Star Wars I'd do it ASAP. https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...irtual-reality-experience-to-debut-this-fall/

No, I don't understand what you mean at all. How's NES no comparison to PS4? But even if it's a different platform, it's still VR, isn't it? You still wear the headset and walk around, feeling and seeing that you are at a completely different place, aren't you?

And, if Star Wars is closing, it must not be very good. Why else are they taking it out or replacing it? If they run both Star Wars and Wreck It Ralph, that's still removing half the Star Wars, and it hasn't been going for very long. It just doesn't sound like the Void is doing that good, unless they are expanding to have twice the space and running both Star Wars and Ralph at the same time.

 

[BabybetterDisney]

The VOID actually uses an Oculus Rift headset, so that aspect is the same. What is different is the feedback vest, free range of motion, and interactive environments.

Thanks for telling me that! I wonder if its resolution is any better? Probably not, though. Oculus Rift has a mesh look.

 

[BabybetterDisney]

???... Unless something changed recently, 10 is the minimum age for The Void. Fudged my 9 3/4 year old sons age a couple months when we went in August... he played no problem.

Agree The Void is a couple steps up from a home VR setup.. especially how it is integrated with environment (can sit in the seats, push the buttons, feel heat, etc) could be a bit longer for the price, but it was fun.

I meant alone. For going alone, you have to be 14, and my DS12 couldn't do it, and there's nobody in our family that can go with him. But what you say makes sense if you can sit in the seats and push the buttons and all, that does sound neat. Next year son will be 13 years 11 months when we go, so maybe he can bluff through and claim to be 14, I don't know.

Also, Oculus Rift isn't just some home VR setup. I have to use the GTX 1080 graphics card on my Alienware gaming computer for it to run smoothly. In the Star Wars demo, you look up and see the Millennium Falcon descending on your head, and it feels completely real, all the way around. All the people I've ever shown Oculus Rift to are blown away. But of course, you cannot touch the walls. That would make it better. It's so expensive, though. It just seems like the experience is worth maybe $10, not $30. I mean, for a family you are looking at $100 or more for half an hour. It doesn't seem to me like they are getting a lot of business at that rate.

 

[soniam]

Thanks for telling me that! I wonder if its resolution is any better? Probably not, though. Oculus Rift has a mesh look.

Keep reading the responses. It's not the normal Oculus Rift. It's heavily modified and way better than anything you can buy commercially. You wear a helmet that completely blocks out anything that you can see, other than the VR images, and blocks out all sound. It doesn't have any sort of "mesh" look. You wear a haptic vest that provides feeling to your body, and the audio is upgraded. They have physical props to interact with as well. For instance, you can feel yourself walking across a metal bridge. They provide smells and ambient temperatures too. It's actually very popular. They have many locations that provide more than 1 experience. I think they are providing an additional experience for repeat customers or those not interested in Star Wars.

EDIT: Everyone that I know who has done it would repeat it in a heartbeat. We can't justify the value to you. It felt like we were in there for 20 or 30 minutes, but it's only 10. There's a whole story behind it and issues to resolve with multiple scenes. It's kind of like going through a maze virtually. Oculus Rift is a home VR setup. You are only running 1 commercially available graphics processor on a commercially available gaming system. They are using hardware and software specially designed by their company in conjunction with others that isn't for sale. I am an Electrical Engineer who does microprocessor design for a living. I understand the difference between commercial and specialized hardware.

 

[greg9x]

Also, Oculus Rift isn't just some home VR setup. I have to use the GTX 1080 graphics card on my Alienware gaming computer for it to run smoothly. In the Star Wars demo, you look up and see the Millennium Falcon descending on your head, and it feels completely real, all the way around. All the people I've ever shown Oculus Rift to are blown away. But of course, you cannot touch the walls. That would make it better. It's so expensive, though. It just seems like the experience is worth maybe $10, not $30. I mean, for a family you are looking at $100 or more for half an hour. It doesn't seem to me like they are getting a lot of business at that rate.

Sure your setup is great.. But the void actually integrates what's outside in to the view... The seats and walls are just office cube type setup and wooden bench, but when you look at them in the VR they are starship seats and base walls. When I looked at my son he was a short stormtrooper, every move he did I saw, but with him in VR generated effects. When you look at your hands and move them, you see stormtrooper armor on you.
Cool how you can walk around and not run in to anything or anyone because it's all integrated so well.

It's a bit short on length, but was worth $70 for us to experience it... Of course my son wanted to go again immediately, but I couldn't justify that price again for what was going to be the same play through. If they offered a 1/2 price replay probably would have gone again.

I will say it was not busy when we did it, but there was a down pour and everyone else was holed up in the stores. How much business it does normally not sure.

 

[aviva5675]

we went last Tuesday and enjoyed it a lot. Spent all of dinner after trying to figure it out. Would go again, and might take daughter visiting early Dec. It is expensive for a short thing but i don't think you can get that kind of VR experience anywhere else.