Had an amazing company event here with 16 people. We played multiple first-person-shooter games of 8 players each, either free-for-all or on teams of 4. The employees were very helpful and the equipment (HTC Vive) was sufficient. The experience could've been much better for a company event if it displayed our actual names instead of randomized names, and if some people had a bit more time to get used to VR. There were the standard difficulties with glasses, people not understanding controls, and people having trouble seeing clearly...all of which might have been cleared up with a bit extra time at the start. Still, it was a great experience. read more

A layman's review of a Virtual Reality spot! Take off your shoes. Get in your booth. Put on the headset that drowns out your current reality. Put some controls in your hands (making sure you strap on the wrist loops) and off you go. Where you go is only limited by your imagination oh and maybe how long you have booked the booth for and what games there are and... It actually is pretty cool. We had a lot of fun. Couldn't figure out the group play thing to shoot zombies together until the end but it is pretty awesome even in single player mode. You do feel like you are somewhere else. And it does make the time go very fast. Real time that is. Is it perfect yet? Nope. Would I go back? Sure. Maybe won't touch but would not mind trying. I do think there are some improvements to be made. So in reality 3.5 stars. But the staff (adults) are cool. So the extra half star is awarded for their service in the line of duty. Bring your dad, mom, kids, and do try this out, that is if there is anyone out there like me that hadn't had the pleasure. read more

I saw this online and thought this would be a very cool experience but left unimpressed Although the staff were friendly and helpful I think the game selection could be improved and the software has too many bugs. After doing this in China we expected the same quality of games but a lot of the titles are quite cheesy. Our station froze several times and had to be reset yet they did not add Any extra time to our session to compensate for this. I would suggest they they work out the bugs in the software and get some better games. Or just delete the terrible ones like the light sa read more

The experience was such a blast, but for a first timer like me, it will take a lot to get used to the controls especially in some games such as the Arizona Sunshine (zombie fps game). I only played for an hour, but it felt like time flew by so fast. For me, this experience was more of a learning one. Definitely would go back and try some horror games next time! read more

We (my son) are regular users at the CtrlV in St Catharines, which is a great location and team but... I had a very difficult and unhelpful issue with the head office in Waterloo who seem much less worried about customers and much more worried about policy. Effectively unable to move a booking because of their charity weekend, which I was unaware of, despite the fact my receipt says I can move the booking. I gather I did not see a pop up or web disclaimer they say said otherwise, but it is nowhere on the receipt or in the q&a area. Wasn't even looking for a refund. Just to move my kids party so his friends could all come and the change was attempted within 24 hours of the original booking... When I pushed him on considering a change to the policy or even reconsidering for the future, the owner (?) (Ryan) decided to be painful by posting happy faces whenever he made a difficult comment. When I called him on it as being disingenuous he escalated by doing it more... As a guy who runs a larger charity myself, I feel like this was the opposite of what the charity wants or what the franchise owners would want. My two bits on a bad example of customer service. read more

Excellent location. Staff was friendly and very helpful. Will (customer service) made the experience even better. My wife, kids 11 & 9 and myself, would comeback again. Will suggest games to keep us all together and offered very helpful suggestions on game play if we were by ourselves. If you have a chance to visit this location or the one in Guelph, I would choose this one even with the drive. read more

Virtual reality is a new and fast developing industry where users have first-hand experience with cutting-edge technology. [1] Technology has always been an interest of ours, and our experience at the virtual reality arcade was an unforgettable one. We heard positive reviews and recommendations from Yelp and from people who had visited the destination so naturally, we were interested to try it out. Before we went to Ctrl V, we had visited their website and from the layout alone, it engaged viewers to explore the world of virtual reality. The webpage was organized and easily accessible, and making an appointment took less than a minute [2]! When we had arrived, the place was clean, the staff were very accommodating and immediately walked us through an intriguing virtual reality tutorial. The cost was fairly expensive, for a student budget however in our experience, totally worth it. It was $30 for a pair and one hour of play, which definitely passed by fast. The high quality of the virtual reality games and the wide selection of games being offered can attract any audience. There were even games being offered to those with disabilities, such as those confined to a wheelchair, and from our knowledge, were just as enjoyable as games where standing was required. One improvement we would suggest is for the owners to make the arcade a more comfortable and attractive atmosphere. The place felt vast and empty. We would suggest using dark lights to illuminate the place while stilling allowing for the best VR experience for customers. Ctrl V began as a new franchise in 2016 and has expanded all across the nation and now recently in the U.S. It is through advancements in computer systems that has allowed this technology to emerge. However, motion sickness and poor tracking are frequently an issue when playing certain games involving flying simulations and other similar experiences [3]. Cutting back or making modifications with simulations that may cause motion sickness has been implemented to ensure customer's safety and health [3]. Virtual reality has been extremely popular in the tourism industry as many destination management organizations are beginning to use virtual technology to promote products and services [6]. Technology can be used to boast visually impressive destinations which attracts tourists to destinations of their choice through visual stimulation; that is a tourist can "sample" a destination beforehand which can be influential in deciding which destinations they want to go to in reality. [6] My partner and I had played a skiing games in the virtual reality arcade and very much enjoyed the experience, it felt real and prompted us to visit a local ski resort this coming winter. As mentioned before, the virtual reality technology industry is fairly new and in the introductory phase of the "Product Life Cycle." [5] This growing industry is becoming increasingly successfully in promoting its product adequately through customer centricity [4]. Promotion is necessary to move on to the saturation phase of the cycle and to develop and grow this industry in the world of tourism. [5] Returning home was a quick transition back to reality, and my partner and I can't wait to come back to Ctrl V! It truly is a one of a kind experience. read more

The most fun games I've ever played! and I have a decent collection. Coordinating multiplayer games adds to the fun. I've gone about 5 times and there's lots of varying games to try, with an emmersive and realistic enough experience, that when you leave you might forget that moving requires using your legs. read more

VR has been getting lots of hype and I figured this would be overblown. After leaving Ctrl V, I'm now certain this will be the next form of entertainment for all ages. Ctrl V was an absolute blast and I can't wait to go back. It's worth noting that I'm not much of a video game player, but loved the VR experience. The staff were helpful, the game selection was good, and there wasn't a steep learning curve. I get motion sickness quite easily from any amusement park ride, but I had no issues with the VR. Easily 5 stars and will return soon. read more

I ended up here spur of the moment and the staff were nice enough to take us even though we didn't register or make a reservation ahead of time. It was really fun playing all of the games. I especially liked raw data because you could talk to the other players over the headset. The other multiplayer games would be more fun if they also had that capability. I thought it might make me feel a bit dizzy or something but it wasn't an issue. The only complaint is that the floor was a little uneven where I was so I had to be careful not to trip. Otherwise, the staff was really helpful and patient and it was lots of fun, definitely check it out! read more

I tried out Canada's first virtual reality arcade Ctrl V in Waterloo tonight and oh man, it is out of this world !! When you go, you gotta try their horror game, lab (by valve, who are known for developing and publishing outstanding video games ), and the secret room. It's full of surprises. I felt like I was in a fantasy world. Hoping to go back soon (I ran out of time and there's still so much to try ) read more

Great V R gaming venue. Staff are helpful and knowledgeable. Equipment is new and the experience is quite easy to get used to.

This is it. This is the future. Come here and see what the new future of gaming looks like! If you don't end up bouncing literally wall to wall you haven't had the real VR experience. Felt a bit awkward leaving my shoes around but hey overall pretty damn good. read more

Advancement of technology has lead to many new emerging fields, and the enhancement of many others; tourism being no exception. The planning phase of the trip occurred mostly online, viewing CTRL-V's website, to get a feel of what I should be expecting, and allowed me to narrow down several choices of games from a long list. This would have most likely not been possible had it not been for the advancement of the internet and computer systems in general (Nickerson, Kerr, & Murray, 2014). The website also offered other digital platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram for more reviews and information on their destination and visit. Additionally, "Social media applications have provided us with a swift and low-cost method of informing our visitors about the place in advance, preparing them for their visit and informing them about the advantages of online reservation" (World Tourism Organization UNWTO, 2011). Strategically located in the "tech sector" of Waterloo, CTRL-V offers easy accessibility and caters to the demographics of the surrounding area. While my trip to CTRL-V was informative regarding VR technology, it simultaneously provided a high degree of entertainment. Still, there were a number of minor, visible weaknesses regarding my experience at the arcade. The most glaring challenge was related to the design and advertisement of the facility and the experience itself. I expected a more realistic VR experience in comparison to what I received. Wearing the VR headset and holding the controllers slightly ruined the illusion that you are within the game since you are consciously aware of them. The mismatch between the true experience and the expectations of the experience creates a destination image; "a concept created by different demand and supply agents" (Banyai, 2009). This results in a predetermined idea of what a tourist destination will be like, despite the actual experience. Given the less than expected realism of the arcade, the overall ambience of the attraction did not disappoint. The LED lighting and concealed play areas created the perfect atmosphere to immerse oneself into the idea of VR. Currently, the lack of popularity of VR arcades provides the perfect motivator to grab the allocentric interested population of prospective guests (Nickerson et al., 2014). "A motivator is a prompter of action; it is what helps people do what they want when" (Nickerson et al., 2014). Another thing that solidifies this motivator is the lack of danger involved with VR. This fulfills the safety needs of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The potential opportunities for the integration of VR and tourism is to go beyond the scope of playing only video games, and have the ability of "transporting a person to a new environment in which they are not physically present but feel as if they are present and immersed through the stimulation of multiple senses"(Giberson, Griffin, & Dodds, 2017). Ultimately, the goal would be to mimic a real vacation, such as a trip to the beach, by using only VR. Works Cited 1. Nickerson, N. P., Murray, W. C., & Kerr, P. (2014). Snapshots: an introduction to tourism. Toronto: Pearson. 2. W. (2011). Technology in tourism. Affiliate Members Global Report, 1. Retrieved February 24, 2018, from http://www2.unwto.org/publication/am-reports-vol-1-technology-tourism 3. Giberson, J., Griffin, T., & Dodds, R. (2017). Virtual Reality and Tourism: Will the Future of Travel be Virtual? Institute for Hospital & Tourism Research. Retrieved February 25, 2018, from https://www.htmresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Sep-25-WORKING-PAPER.pdf. 4. Banyai, M. (2009). The image of tourism destinations: A case of Dracula tourism. Waterloo: University of Waterloo. read more

Best arcade ever! Very Friendly staff, ridiculously awesome space, top of the line tech, excellent location, super fun experience, perfect for groups i.e.: bachelor/stag and doe or birthday party's, corporate team building/staff party's, date night, all ages fun! Last weekend the family and I watched a not so great movie together, and sat in silence, today we enjoyed this virtual reality experience together and can't wait to go do it again/can't stop talking about how much fun we had playing virtual mini golf together. All around winner! 10 out of 10. read more

First off, the location of this franchise is perfect being beside the university. This gave easy access to my friends and I as we were walking distance away after classes. Their website was easy to navigate and be able to book a time that worked for us; along with explaining what we as a group had to do. When we arrived their staff was amazing, guiding us through the process of how to get started and how to use their soft adventure tourist attraction through an instructional video. Although the staff was amazing, the group that I came with felt the way the instructional video could have been done better. By this we mean if the video could be done while we are in the booths and set up it in the virtual reality equipment it would've been a lot easier to be able to grasp the controls faster in order to figure out how to play. But, that being said the staff did do a great job managing people when they saw them struggling; but that could be a way to make their system more efficient! CTRL V had many different virtual reality games to play, both single and multiple players, which were both entertaining and challenging at the same time. The first game our group tried was called "Arizona Sunshine", I highly recommend it; lots of fun and you have to work as a team to succeed. After finishing "Arizona Sunshine" we moved onto our own single player games, I personally played the Virtual Surgery Game. I found this both practical and hilarious at the same time and would recommend it to anyone. Definitely an amazing selection of games at CRTL V with every type of game you can think of from racing, shooting and technique games. But, a critique that we found was the lack of food or sitting area within the premises. This would fulfill the basic needs of everyone in CRTL V and improve the social aspect of when people aren't playing as well. The inclusion of food, even if restricted to a restricted area to prevent equipment issues, would also increase the length of which people could stay in their business as well; with not having to leave to eat and increase the demographic of people that might not enter to play video games in the first place. Furthermore, as a group we also concluded to try to switch your game as much as possible to get the most out of the experience, because you can lose track of time when playing a certain game. Overall, CTRL V was a great experience and I would definitely go back again. It is the perfect example of how advancement in technology has helped the tourism and entertainment industry take public entertainment to the next level! Definitely a solid 4 out of 5 stars! read more