Midweek Mugging: Nearby Planet VR

Thor Henrikson, owner of Nearby Planet VR, is this week’s Midweek Mugging recipient.

Located at 2093 Gottingen St., Nearby Planet offers customers the chance to engage in a virtual reality gaming experience.

“It’s something that you can’t explain,” Henrikson said. “VR is something you really have to experience.”

Customers use virtual reality goggles to play on TV screens in one of the three game rooms. The games can be played alone or with a group.

“We have a lot of people who come in just to play by themselves,” Henrikson said. “And then we have groups of two, four and larger.”

While the most people a typical room can accommodate is four, larger groups are able to partake in multiplayer games from separate rooms, allowing everyone to play together in the same virtual space.

There is also a VIP room available to use for parties and corporate events.

There are over 70 virtual reality games on offer for players to choose from. Henrikson said the most requested games are Richie’s Plank Experience and Beat Saber, a “rhythm game using light sabers.”

He said Google Tilt Brush is also popular with those who want to paint or draw in a 3D space.

Each gaming session is an hour long. The studio offers a loyalty program for repeat customers, giving players their fourth gaming session for free.

Henrikson said he’s seen people of all ages try out virtual reality. However, the minimum recommended age for players is nine years-old, due to the size of the goggles players wear and the complexity of some games.

Prior to opening Nearby Planet in 2017, Henrikson worked in the film industry. A self-described tech geek, he said he became interested in virtual reality as soon as he heard about it.

“When I experienced VR the first time…I was sold,” he said.

For those who are curious about virtual reality, the studio offers a free 15 minute trial to give people a taste of what they could experience.

“I love seeing people have fun,” Henrikson said. “That’s the most satisfying thing about it.”