Sometimes to assess new technology you have to consider what’s familiar first. But by thinking about simple human movement when playing Cloudlands, a VR mini-golf experience, you can begin to understand the marvelous power of VR and how it can change the perception of something as simple as hitting a ball with a stick.
Unlike the the rest of the multiplayer experiences in or our catalog, Cloudlands supports local multiplayer which means that the 3 people sharing a system can take turns putting. Of course 4 players can be in VR at the same time, going through their strokes and watching the others go through theirs, all the while either giving pointers or making fun of their friends or co-workers.
What makes Cloudlands such a cool VR experience though is the fact that because the game’s physics allow you to do some crazy things that would not be possible on a normal course. The most obvious aspect is that courses can be multi-layered, either across multiple floating islands or, in some cases, stretched beyond the length of any traditional course, littered with all the obstacles of traditional mini golf.
The nice thing about mini golf, and this stays true for the virtual version as well, is that is a game of patience. At the end of the day it is a competitive sport, one that requires a level of preparation before each stroke, but one that exists in a more relaxed and social environment.
So why is Cloudlands good for team building?
First and foremost it is an environment conducive to communication. While shooting zombies will forge a team bond through a shared traumatic experience, sometimes a simple chat outside office hours, something you can’t have when you’re manning the walls raining arrows on a relentless enemy, can bring workmates closer together.
But beyond giving people an opportunity to get to know one another, mini golf is still a competitive environment that encourages some degree of cooperation and tutelage. What i mean by this is that in a group of four, those who finish first will have to wait for the others to finish in order to proceed to the next hole. Finishing early might make a person more inclined to help a colleague finish faster. And from a simple tip or suggestion, a lengthy discussion can emerge, bringing the group closer or at least having a better understanding of each other.
Next week we’ll be switching gears and taking things to a whole other level with Modbox, a platform that allows users to build the experiences they will play within.
But until then, if you wanna take a breather from the day to day minutia of office work, check out our play packages above and drop by for some mini golf! (pine scent may or may not be included)
