Download Links
The Product
Product name:
Roto VR Explorer
Retail Price:
£799 / $799
Description:
A motorized chair that rotates 360° with your head movements and syncs with game audio to deliver immersive vibrations, revolutionizing your VR experience forever.
What's included:
Roto VR Explorer Chair
Head Tracker
AC Adapter
Basic Cable Magazine
Key features of the Roto VR Explorer include:
- Roto VR’s proprietary Look & Turn technology intuitively rotates users to where they look, solving the problems of 360 viewing, locomotion and motion sickness.
- A built-in rumble pack that provides haptic feedback through the whole body, adding tangible immersion.
- Developed for Meta Quest headsets and is compatible with all seated VR Experiences, which is over 400+ games and apps on the Meta Quest store.
- Leather seat with back supports, adjustable seat height and a footrest for 360º comfort.
- Cable management solution and smart charging.
- The Roto VR chair modular design supports a range of accessories which add functionality for different types of game set-ups which are sold separately.
Things you might wish to know
(01) What's the idea behind Roto VR Explorer?
Most people choose to sit and watch a movie, work, play games, browse, chat and shop online. We believe that if VR is to fulfil its full potential and become an all encompassing new medium, people will need to be able to engage and explore 360º content whilst seated. We set out to solve the problems of viewing and moving around 360º whilst seated – the solution is Roto VR Explorer.
(02) Why can’t I just use a regular swivel chair?
We have found that almost no one swivels on their chair whilst in VR, even though they absolutely could (although they’d miss out on Roto VR Explorer’s added haptics and gravitational presence as explained below).
It’s not that people are simply lazy – it’s because the physical energy required to swivel doesn’t trump the ease of using the Thumbstick, yet using the Thumbstick is where seated VR breaks down. Smooth Thumbstick rotations = motion sickness for almost everyone, so to avoid motion sickness, the industry standard has evolved to snap-turning the user 360º with the slightest of Thumbstick touches, which breaks the VR illusion every time and is unintuitive to all but the most ardent VR enthusiasts. It’s so illusion breaking, users have become normalised into teleporting forwards as well, which all combined is not the immersive, comfortable and premium experience we think people want. VR is all about the immersion!
(03) How does Roto VR Explorer help with VR Exploration?
Roto’s Head Tracking technology allows for total freedom of 360º viewing, a small glance to the left, Roto VR Explorer will hardly move (you probably won’t even feel it), but if you want to look all around it will support your physical body by moving it to the most comfortable position, which is generally where your head is looking.
By supporting your body with rotations, your head is now able to look all around which means the signals from your inner ear will match what your brain is expecting from the visual cues = seamless VR without motion sickness (for most people).
(04) How does Roto VR Explorer help with motion sickness?
In addition to the above, when Roto VR Explorer’s motor moves your body around, your brain is naturally aware that ‘something weird is happening’ and then it pragmatically ignores any vestibular mismatches experienced, which is helpful for forwards and backward movements also.
(05) But won’t the rotations be annoying and throw off my aim in an FPS?
If you find your Roto VR Explorer is overly responsive, you can reduce the reaction speed by simply simultaneously pressing the two Move Buttons on the top of the Head Tracker. Please refer to the instruction manual for further details.
(06) What about PCVR? Won’t cables wrap around people’s necks?
Inside the Roto VR Explorer base is a Cable Magazine which houses gold-plated sliprings to pass power and data through the chair without cables getting tangled. Your current Roto VR Explorer has the Basic Cable Magaizine already installed, which provides power to the rumble pack and power to your VR headset (yes, you can charge your Quest whilst playing). We will soon release a PC Advanced Cable Magazine which supports USB-C 3.1 through the chair, so VR headsets, cameras, wheels and joysticks will be fully supported in 360º. More announcements to come on this soon.
(07) VR seems more real with Roto VR Explorer.
Another (unforeseen) benefit of Roto VR Explorer’s motor applying forces on all parts of your body as it moves, reminds your brain of your body’s matter (and gravity’s pull on it), which then gets transported into the VR world (as opposed to sitting statically where your body matter isn’t readily felt). We call it Gravitational Presence.
(08) There seems to be lots of additional "screw placements' underneath the seat.
Roto VR Explorer’s modular design will support lots more accessories (coming soon) which will further enhance the VR experience.
(09) Are there any games which natively support Roto VR Explorer?
Dig VR is the first game which natively supports Roto VR Explorer using our SDK (software development kit) which we supply to developers free of charge. Dig VR launches on October 24th. Here’s a sneak peak of Dig VR with Roto VR Explorer at Gamescom.
(10) Wasn't there a Roto V1 back in March 2020?
Yes, and our customers loved it, but it was super expensive to make (price was over $2,000) and ultimately, we couldn't get enough market traction. So, we went back to the drawing board, redesigned and improved everything from the ground up - and have managed to make it available for a more attractive price.
(11) Did the inventor of Roto VR Explorer create anything else?
Elliott Myers is the creator of Roto and previously created the first 3D games controller called Gametrak and helped bring the first consumer Force Feedback Wheel and Joystick to market plus many other award-winning products.
(12) Can I turn Roto VR Explorer into a regular (small) swivel chair?
Yes, Roto VR Explorer can be transformed into a regular swivel chair. Unscrew the top screw and take off the safety covers and pedals (remove the seat first).
Contact Info
For any further enquiries please email media@rotovr.com or call:
John Moore on +1 425-7360854
For press enquiries please contact:
USA:
Ember PR – dustin@ember-pr.com
We are here to help and look forward to hearing from you.