Mike Hillyer knows all too well how parents feel bringing their kids to dark-lit, uncomfortable VR arcades. While living up north with his sons, he would occasionally bring them to a birthday party or night out to a VR arcade that was---to say the least---not parent friendly.
Joining his wife, Jill Hillyer, and fellow parents and co-founders Retta Gavin and Quinn Resnick, Hillyer opened NexusVR, a VR arcade designed for kids and parents, in Duluth about a month ago.
Hillyer said there are a few ways to find VR in Atlanta, mostly at other attractions such as a trampoline park, Andretti and other family entertainment centers. But these places only offer limited experiences.
Before opening his own place, Hillyer said he spoke with several families and owners who left the VR business, including a group that recently closed their VR arcade in Suwanee.
"I’d actively seek out the ones that failed. They had the better lessons to learn," he said.
Though iSimu VR is also located in Duluth, Hillyer said the two arcades cater to different crowds, which allows them to coexist, not compete. iSimu VR, he said, caters to the young male VR gamer, whereas NexusVR was designed to be a brighter environment with comfortable chairs to accommodate the parents who bring their children there.
"We’re going to push not so much on the gamers but to the families and give the parents a nice environment," he said.
At NexusVR, you'll find beginner games for newcomers, such as Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja or dog sledding, and location experiences where you can explore places like a haunted house, Manhattan and even the recently destroyed Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
"One of our goals early on was to be able to essentially say we have something for everyone," he said. "We said, 'Okay, we want to be able to hit the entire spectrum of the people who come in.'"
NexusVR can cater to birthday parties, corporate events, a fun family night or even a private event where a customer can rent out the entire space, Hillyer said. Prices range from $25 for 30 minutes of VR all the way to $79 for two hours. Those who book their experience on Monday through Wednesday can cut their price in half.
The goal at NexusVR, is to be "virtually unforgettable," with "a curated experience in a clean and bright environment with a staff that's dedicated to making sure you have a good time," Hillyer said.
"We’re really big on just advocating the idea that VR gives you the chance to do something or be someone you’ve never been before," he said.
