With a VR headset, a high-quality motion rig, and good haptic gear, roller coaster enthusiasts can now get a similar experience right in the comfort of their own homes.
Growing up, I always looked forward to our annual family vacation to one of the Six Flags amusement parks in Texas, Astroworld in particular being a standout. The Texas Cyclone was one of the fastest and largest wooden roller coasters from the 1980s. Every year, I’d get in the line for it and then nope out… Until one year when I did. This ride was the catalyst for my obsession with these wood-and-steel monstrosities. After a couple of family trips to amusement park, and with my kids now in the picture, it became clear that tickets are expensive and that travel is difficult. When you add up the costs of entry, transportation, accommodation, and meals for a five-person family, it could be thousands of dollars. This is just for one park. Imagine the cost of visiting several to experience all the coasters available in VR without having to travel. We’ve all seen roller coasters, and amusement park rides, emulated on virtual reality over the years. But, to me, the experience was missing something: the sensation of movement. In the past, when I was demoing VR equipment, I used to manually shake a chair and move it around for people. But that wasn’t an enjoyable experience. I recently got a Yaw 3 and some bHaptics equipment. This made me wonder what it would be like using this setup to ride roller coasters. The PC VR rabbit hole and the standalone ones led me to two games that brought the excitement of roller coasters right into my living room. While there are various other amusement park-style experiences available in virtual reality, No Limits 2 for PC VR and Epic Roller Coasters on both Quest and PC really nail the experience for different reasons.
Dynasty Dash – Epic Roller Coasters Quest 3 gameplay
Epic Roller Coasters
Epic Roller Coasters has been a go-to for many virtual thrill-seekers since it first debuted in 2018 and has been in constant development ever since, with recent updates adding real-time shadows and the ability to try a paid coaster for free. B4T Games, one of the original developers of the Yaw SDK and the bHaptics APIs was the first to implement them. This allows Epic Roller Coasters to work without a PC. That allows the app to work standalone with no PC required or additional motion compensation or other software needed to get the motion chair moving correctly and your chest and arms buzzing.
Epic Roller Coasters has different modes of play consisting of traditional coaster rides, each with a shooter game and a race component, as well as the ability to ride in multiplayer.
When the simulator started up, I’m immediately noticing those familiar and surprisingly real-feeling clicks and clacks of the track below me from the built-in motor-driven haptics, as well as from the vest I’m wearing. My heart started to beat faster as the cart began its descent towards the first drop. I also noticed that something had changed. After playing Epic Roller Coasters for years, I chose to test a track that I was familiar enough with. WOW… the motion and haptics really make a big difference. I picked a shooter for my first ride, and while I’m normally a good shot in most VR games, that additional motion here really makes me rethink my aim and timing with every squeeze of the triggers.
Playing Epic Roller Coasters like this feels amazing. It’s like I am playing the game for the very first time, even though I have played it so many times. Jumping into Epic Rollercoasters using the Yaw 3 Motion Simulator and bHaptics Tacsuit Pro with some extreme tracks that reach speeds of 180 MPH brings new fear for every drop. The game menu mentions location-based entertainment support (LBE). I urge readers to support their local VR attractions and arcades if they are interested in experiencing something similar. No Limits 2 PC Virtual Reality Gameplay – Crystal Beach Cyclone
While Epic Roller Coasters’ tracks and animations are great, some enthusiasts prefer the real-world feel. No Limits 2 is a virtual recreation of real amusement park coasters. The original No Limits, developed by Ole Lange was a simulation of a roller coaster that allowed hobbyists to build and ride their theme parks. No Limits 2 is the sequel to No Limits, which features enhanced graphics and physics. It also supports native VR. No Limits 2 can also be used by amateur roller coaster fans and some professionals who are prototyping new concepts. Over the years, the community has shared many of their creations. Some are faithful re-creations of existing rides while others push the limits of coaster engineering and physics. The Yaw 3 motion simulation delivers a realistic and intense experience. In this test I selected what was historically considered to be one of the most dangerous and extreme wooden coasters at its time. Crystal Beach Cyclone was launched with tragedy in 1938 when a rider died on its opening day. After a steep descent, it was off to the races as I was launched up and down and side-to-side at high speeds. It’s easy to see why there was an attendant at the exit of this ride when it debuted. In my virtual amusement park, there are no lines. In my new virtual amusement park, at least there are no lines.
The Final Drop
Combining No Limits 2, the Yaw 3 motion simulator, and the bHaptics Tacsuit Pro creates one of the closest-to-real-life roller coaster experiences I’ve ever had outside of going to an actual amusement park. This setup offers a thrilling set of rides with a much deeper sense of immersion, delivering physical sensations that are unmatched in virtual reality.
However, such an immersive experience isn’t cheap. Total investment for VR enthusiasts can be prohibitive. This includes a VR headset with motion control, haptic equipment, and other accessories. The total cost for the setup at home shown would be about $6000, plus shipping. While many people may not be able to afford to build a virtual amusement park in their home, VR arcades allow everyone to ride the ultimate roller coaster. The combination of cutting-edge technology and VR venues, whether you do it at home or in a VR venue near you, offers an exciting escape. It pushes virtual reality to its limits.