Play Meter

COIN-OP NEWS Magic Edge, Namco to open VR center Magic Edge Inc. and Namco have announced plans to open a virtual reality entertainment center in Mt. View, Calif. The announcement follows the signing of a three-part joint venture agreement between the two companies. The Magic Edge Entertainment Center is slated to open on Shoreline Boulevard during the second quarter of 1994. The conceptual and architectural design has been developed by Magic Edge, which will continue to manage the project through the construction and grand opening phases . Magic Edge will operate the center for two years, at which point Namco will own and operate it. "We really want people to feel as if they have entered into a different world when they arrive at the Magic Edge Entertainment Center," said the company's Lei Tunnaye. "By combining a myriad of special effects with architectural and theming details, we have created a truly immersive and absorbing environment." At the heart of the 12,000-square-foot, fully themed facility are 12 two-ton, interactive flight simulators developed by Magic Edge . The singlepassenger simulators have all the trappings of an FI A-18 fighter plane and deliver a convincing PLAY METER lfj(,'$' "' .- From left: Namco Operations' David Bishop and Kevin Hayes; Magic Edge's Michael Chan and Donald Morris. aerial combat mission . Advanced technologies include high-resolution graphics, 3-D sound, and a patent-pending motion system. The units can be networked together so that players can dogfight with one another. "The location-based entertainment market has been projected to be a multi-billion-dollar industry ," said David Bishop, vice president of Namco Operations. "Namco and Magic Edge together have the technology and experience to set the standards in this emerging industry." Breaking ground in Mt. View, Calif., are Lei Tunnaye of Magic Edge and David Bishop of Namco Operations. 12 JANUARY 1994