Frisco | June 2023

FIRST LOOK Zero Latency Business owner brings adrenaline highs to Frisco W ithout a headset, the tennis court-sized room at Zero Latency seems like an with some restrictions because the VR gear could be too heavy or the games could be too scary, Wright said. “Our minimum age is 12,” Wright said. “Even then when we get BY ALEX REECE

empty, sprawling space with plastic guns and backpacks hanging on the wall. But after adding the noise-cancel- ing headphones, microphone and light-blocking virtual reality helmet, players often forget they are still on solid ground, Zero Latency owner Jason Wright said. “There’s one part

Owner Jason Wright rst opened Zero Latency in Addison, Texas, where its popularity inspired him to open a second location in Frisco in January. (Alex Reece/Community Impact)

somebody that wants to play ‘Far Cry,’ we always ask the parents, ‘Hey, this is rated M [Mature], you understand?’ There are plans to add more child- friendly games in the next six months, Wright said. As of May 8, the only games oered at Frisco’s Zero Latency are “Sol Raiders,” “Outbreak Origins,” “Singularity,” “Zombie

IMMERSIVE GAMING

Zero Latency oers seven dierent virtual reality immersive experiences priced at $49 per person.

”Zombie Survival” Name of the game

Survive a zombie apocalypse while waiting for rescue. Objective Players ght each other for control of an alien energy source. Prepare to battle infected zombies while searching for a cure. Race to get o an island where pirates hunt visitors for sport. Be the last one standing in a post- apocalyptic reality show pitting zombies against humans for the chance at becoming rich and famous. Complete challenging puzzles in a oating environment on an exotic planet. Take down robots and drones in a mysteriously damaged space station.

1-8 Players

30 minutes Time

[of a game], you walk up the side of a sky- scraper,” Wright said. “We have people that are saying, ‘I can’t do it.’ You’re on the oor.” Bringing a Zero Latency, which has 70 locations worldwide,

“IT’S NOT LIKE GOLF, IT’S NOT BOWLING. YOU’LL GET LOST IN THE VR WORLD AND

”Sol Raiders”

4-8

45 minutes

Survival,” “Enginee- rium,” “Far Cry” and “Undead Arena,” all lasting 30-45 minutes each. Zero Latency’s space allows up to eight players to run

”Outbreak Origins”

1-8

45 minutes

FORGET YOU’RE IN AN ARENA.” JASON WRIGHT, OWNER

1-8

45 minutes

”Far Cry”*

”Undead Arena”

1-8

45 minutes

into Frisco in January was a chance to give the area around The Star a new form of entertainment, Wright said. “I live in Frisco,” Wright said. “When we started talking about [opening], there wasn’t a lot of enter- tainment in Frisco that didn’t center around food and beverage.” Virtual reality technologies and gaming are mostly advertised for children, but the average age of customers at Zero Latency is 31 years old, Wright said. “My dad’s 72, and he’s addicted to it,” Wright said. “It takes him 15-20 minutes to get his heart rate back down after he plays our ‘Sol Raiders’ game.” Younger players can also play, but

completely untethered in each game, bringing both exercise and commu- nity into video games, Wright said. Couples on a date, companywide team bonding exercises, birthday parties and more are all reasons he has heard behind a group booking the room, Wright said. “The most fun event we ever did in the [Addison] store was actually a bachelorette party,” Wright said about another location he owns. One of the best parts of virtual reality gaming is it does not require previous experience or innate skills, Wright said. “It’s not like golf, it’s not bowling,” Wright said. “You’ll get lost in the VR world and forget you’re in an arena.”

”Engineerium”

1-8

30 minutes

”Singularity”

1-8

45 minutes

*MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY

LEGACY DR.

Zero Latency Frisco 1125 Legacy Drive, Ste. 100, Frisco 214-618-0146 www.zerolatencydfw.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. noon-8 p.m., Fri. noon-11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. noon-8 p.m.

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