EXPERIENCE ILLUSION FUSION  

You may have heard already about Virtual Reality, the electronic world called Cyberspace, in which any real or imagined world designed on a computer can be entered and experienced. Until recently this experience has been restricted to the few developing this exciting new industry and a few privileged intruders. Now at least one form of this dimension is available to the public.

The first two virtual reality video games to be installed in North America were purchased from the British manufacturer by Quarters of Kirkville, Washington. For just US $5 you can sample four minutes of this world first. I did. It certainly is different. It permitted me to "travel" within a computer-generated -- but virtually real -- three-dimensional world and experience virtual adventure. By mounting a circular platform, putting on a headset (called a VISETTE ), and operating a small "joy stick", participants are transported to a space somewhere between reality and illusion. A place somewhere between imagination and experience. The games playable in this electronically-altered state have broken new horizons for an immersion completely detached from normal reality.

I could look up, down, backwards, left or right. Stereoscopic images were projected onto my liquid crystal screens about 1.5 inches from each eye inside my visor, the doorway to Virtual Reality. With the VISETTE linked via EXPALITY, a high-powered computer system that monitors position and direction of gaze and powers one into computergenerated three-dimensional images and sound that whirl you into a dream-like world. By operating a joy stick, accelerator pedal, t-shift, hand-held wand or simply by taking steps, I was able to move backwards and forwards, climb stairs and fly through a world full of high-quality three dimensional graphics and life-like sound effects. The unit responds with instant feedback to operator actions. This new type of exploration goes beyond the boundaries of past human experience. To find it in a video game is enlightening.

"W" Industries of Leicester, England is the manufacturer of Illusion Fusion. Managing Director Dr. Jonathan Waldern, a 31-year-old computer scientist is one of the few in this field who has put up his own money to bankroll the early development of Virtuality, as they call it, into a world leading mixture of technological systems. Horizon Entertainment is the U.S. distribution company. Virtuality Canada is the Canadian distributor. At the moment the company has four operational games: EXEROX, a futuristic exoskeletal combat vehicle game; VTOL, a Vertical Take-Off and Landing jump jet aircraft game; TOTAL DESTRUCTION, where you find yourself in the frantic world of car racing and DACTYL NIGHTMARE, a virtual world for two where giant pterodactyls might swoop players up through this virtual nightmare, thus giving the sensation of flying. This is the one I played. According to another authority in this field, Bo Gehring of Toronto, the inventor of acoustical virtual reality, future experiences, with really advanced software, will include many experiences outside of video games.

I was shown around the sophisticated video game arcade Quarters (contains 50 different video game machines), by Manager Gary Cichy, who has been in charge of the operation since its opening on Friday December 13th, 1991. He says most VR players are computer literate and in their late twenties.

One local computer company manager enjoyed the game so much that he purchased $2,000 worth of gift certificates for his staff. Another booked the arcade for and evening so his workers could be among the first to learn about Virtual Reality video games.

Cost of each VR unit is US $70,000 each. Cichy says the electronic stimulation gets everyone, especially couples excited. It does have a roller coaster, psychic impact.

The first Canadian display will be this summer at The Human Adventure Area, Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto.

And, for parents who say playing virtual reality video games is a waste of time, let me point out that's how the astronauts were trained for spacewalks and U.S. Air Force pilots for flight. It teaches pattern recognition in a rapid, easily-absorbable and economic manner. Take the kids now or they may sue you for electronic-deprivation or at the very best still be living at home until they are 35. Directions: Take U.S. Highway I-5 towards Seattle, peel off at the Highway 405 sign towards Kirkland. After entrance to Kirkland, continue one block to next light. Shopping Plaza on left, park. Quarters sign directs you to video arcade.

More information: Todd Cravens, President or Gary Cichy, Manager, Quarters, 206 Main St., Kirkland, Washington 98033. Phone: 206/889-2555.

Canadian Distributor: Gregg Thompson, President or Elaine MacArthur, Vice President, Virtuality Canada, 260 Richmond St. West, Toronto, Ontario M5V 1W5 Phone: 416/341-8787 Fax: 416/341-8788.

U.S. Distributor: Horizon Entertainment, P.O. Box 14020, St. Louis, MO 63178-4020. Phone: 1-800-ILLUSION.

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