VR at the Wiesn 2019

Like every year, there are innovations at the Munich Oktoberfest. This year it's also all about VR.

A next-generation dark ride is coming to Oktoberfest with "Dr Archibald - Master of Time". It is the first transportable adventure ride to be supported by virtual reality technology. Patrick Greier came up with the idea for this spectacular mix of ride and ghost train, which he realised after three years of development and production and presented for the first time at Hamburg Cathedral in 2018. He is A fifth-generation independent showman for ten years. It all started with a candy floss stand. "When I launch something new on the market, it should be thematically something completely different, something bombastic, something colourful. I think I succeeded in doing that. In the end, Dr Archibald even exceeded my expectations," enthuses the 32-year-old.

A VR adventure for walking and travelling

The passenger becomes part of a story: In the dilapidated museum of virtual worlds, he sets off in search of the missing Dr Archibald, a history professor, amateur archaeologist and inventor. With the help of high-resolution VR goggles, the Oculus Rift, he immerses himself in a virtual 360-degree world that he perceives as real. Thanks to the many immersive elements, he becomes the hero of the adventure: on a journey through time, he encounters dinosaurs, explores a futuristic city, marvels at the mysterious Atlantis and ends up in the era of industrialisation. Through interaction, the audiovisual content is recreated in real time and constantly adapts to the respective position of the visitor's gondola. Every ride is similar, but never the same. Fun and obstacle courses with shaking, water and sound effects, a catwalk and an X-ray simulation have to be completed before and after the ride in the virtual ride. Several fire, water and smoke effects, over a million LED lights and numerous interactive screens alone turn the dark ride into an unforgettable adventure.

The adventure begins right outside the shop. Even the impressive 800 square metre animated façade delivers an impressive 7-minute show. A 20 metre high robot interacts with an owl integrated into the façade.

Visits are possible from the age of six and are suitable for families.

Source: nachrichten-muenchen / hamburg