MRP, Japan firm put up VR-powered entertainment, dining space at City of Dreams

Integrated gaming resort operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp. (MRP) has teamed up with Bandai Namco Amusement of Japan, one of the world’s leading video digital entertainment development firms, to roll out a virtual reality (VR)-powered entertainment and dining space at City of Dreams Manila.

State-of-the-art The Garage, which opened on Oct. 14, is a 2,714-square-meter VR zone and a 563-seater food park that offers a selection of casual dining choices in trucks and trailers. This concept was touted as the first of its kind in the Philippines.

“The Garage is City of Dreams Manila’s latest attraction featuring unique entertainment activities in partnership with Bandai Namco Amusement. With their creativity and cutting-edge technology, we are honored and delighted to partner with them, and together blaze a trail in delivering extraordinary entertainment experiences that go beyond gaming and recreation in the Philippines,” City of Dreams Manila’s chief operating officer Kevin Benning said in a recent disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.
“We hope to bring outside of Japan an immense, multisensory and fun activities to Filipinos and foreign guests with our unique VR activities at The Garage,” Bandai Namco general manager Kunihisa Yagihista said.

The Garage, which is located at the upper ground floor of City of Dreams Manila, was designed by award-winning Paris-based creative design agency Malherbe Design in collaboration with Westar Architectural Interior Design.

The site also features graffiti works of two prominent names in the street art scene: Kookoo Ramos and DeeJae Paeste.

Among the games featured at the VR Zone is Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, which was developed under license from Nintendo. This brings players into the action-packed world of Mario Kart universe. This can be played by up to four persons aged 13 and above.

Hospital Escape Terror is a horror game open to thrill-seekers aged 13 above.

Another VR attraction is Ski Rodeo, a steep downhill ski simulator that lets a player ski a vast snowy mountain course with sharp slopes and steep drops at an immense speed. This game, which can be played in pairs, is open to individuals with height of at least 140 centimetres (4’7”).

Single player ticket price is P450 while packages are available for those playing in groups or in pairs: P800 for two persons playing Ski Rodeo; P1,200 per person for three activities and P1,600 for a group of four playing Hospital Escape Terror or Mario Kart.

Dining options include those offered by Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, Katsu Tora, Pink’s Hotdog, Little Flour, El Chupacabra, Pizza Grigliata, Farmacy, Chocol8, The Roaster and Juiced. —DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA