Futuristic Virtual Reality Arcade Coming To Del Amo Mall In Torrance

Source: Daily Breeze, Nick Green
Photo: Courtesy of Survios

Los Angeles-based virtual reality video game developer Survios will open its first-ever arcade at Torrance’s Del Amo Fashion Center next year, officials said.

The store reflects a trend of retailers adding entertainment-oriented experiences at malls, which are trying to keep potential shoppers on site — and spending money at brick and mortar businesses as long as possible.

The 2,020-square-foot space on the ground floor of the mall’s outdoor lifestyle wing will include a dozen gaming stations designed to provide an “immersive, interactive experience.”

“The goal of the business is to provide access to six degree of freedom virtual reality games and experiences that most consumers are not able to have in their homes,” Survios said in a statement to the Torrance Planning Commission. “Customers can play games either as a single player or with friends in a multiplayer game. There is also a spectating area where friends can see what the player sees on a projected screen to share in the player experience.”

The Planning Commission unanimously approved the arcade last week.

It’s unclear exactly when the Survios Virtual Reality Arcade arcade will open; a company spokeswoman observed that this will be the the young company’s first such arcade.

But a mall spokesman said the arcade will complement the 42,336-square-foot Dave & Buster’s scheduled to open in the south end of the mall next year near Sears. Dave & Buster’s is the nation’s largest restaurant chain that offers such high-tech video games.

“The Simon leasing team is focused on curating Del Amo Fashion Center’s offerings to meet consumer demands for unique experiences, expansive food offerings, and dynamic retail concepts, and Survios fits into two of the three categories,” said Christopher Yates, the mall’s director of marketing and business development in an emailed statement.

The 2.6-million-square-foot mall, among the nation’s largest, is undergoing a $300-million revamp, adding high-end clothing stores and restaurants.

Survios creates high-tech virtual reality video games such as “Raw Data” a multiplayer combat game and “Sprint Vector,” which the company says “merges the physical thrill of extreme sports competition with the unhinged energy of a zany game show spectacle.”

Nick Green
Nick Green is the longtime soccer columnist for the Southern California Newspaper Group and covers Torrance, Lomita and the craft beer industry for the Daily Breeze. He also blogs about soccer at www.insidesocal.com/soccer, the local craft beer scene at www.insidesocal.com/beer and the South Bay at blogs.dailybreeze.com/southbay/. The native of England lives in Old Torrance with his wife and two cats.

Photo Caption: Photo courtesy Survios LA-based virtual reality video game creator Survios will bring an arcade to Del Amo mall in Torrance to showcase its products.

https://www.dailybreeze.com/2017/12/24/futuristic-virtual-reality-arcade-coming-to-del-amo-mall