In an attempt to find the next hot product for the Las Vegas market, American casino operator Boyd Gaming Corporation is reportedly trialing a pair of new virtual reality archery titles from International Game Technology (IGT) inside its The Orleans Hotel and Casino.
According to a Monday report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper, the ArcheryVR and SiegeVR games each see players don virtual reality headsets while inside large booths before going through the physical motion of firing fantasy arrows in an attempt to defend a digitally imagined castle.
The newspaper reported that Boyd Gaming Corporation is currently charging $10 for each 90-second game on the one-player ArcheryVR while teams of two virtual archers can enjoy a session on its SiegeVR counterpart for $30. The single-player title is purportedly offering members of the casino’s B Connected loyalty program the chance to bank Slot Dollar prizes worth as much as $125 while squads may walk away with up to $300 in casino cash from the latter innovation.
“This is about the broader strategy of how do we expand our customer base [and] how we do connect with customers we aren’t reaching today,” David Strow from Boyd Gaming Corporation reportedly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “The virtual zone is another step in the direction of attracting younger customers. It hits two interesting bases. It’s a new technology but also skill-based.”
The newspaper reported that The Orleans Hotel and Casino relocated slots next to its Bailiwick All-American Pub and Eatery in order to make room for its new Virtual Zone offering the two virtual reality archery games and intends to give the unit a three-month trial before deciding whether to continue.
Strow also reportedly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the location of the Virtual Zone near the bar may ‘create a center of interest that can perhaps connect with a younger demographic’ before detailing that ArcheryVR and SiegeVR games are being offered on alternating days.
“The Virtual Zone adds diversity to the casino floor and complements The Orleans Hotel and Casino’s gaming entertainment offerings,” read a Friday statement from Matt Ryan, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice-President for Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corporation. “Now our B Connected players can experience the latest in virtual reality immersive technology while competing for Slot Dollar prizes.”
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that this is not the first time a Las Vegas casino has premiered virtual reality games following MGM Resorts International’s debut in September of the 2,000 sq ft Virtual Reality Powered By Zero Latency arena inside its MGM Grand. This attraction purportedly offers teams of up to eight people the chance to enjoy 30-minute sessions on one of three games from developer Zero Latency in exchange for a fee of $50.