Cocktails with a side of virtual reality? That's the proposition at the Alto Bar inside Caesars Palace, where guests can take an Oculus Rift headset for a free 10-minute test drive after making any purchase at the bar.
A Caesars executive first came across the headsets while visiting Facebook headquarters and immediately recognized the potential to create a virtual reality experience inside the casino. On Dec. 28, the Oculus Virtual Reality Lounge debuted in a VIP area within the Alto Bar with four Oculus Rift headsets with Touch controllers available to guests.
Caesars Palace lounge operations manager David Ponte said the devices have been well received. "It's very in-depth and realistic. People are like, 'Wow, it's so immersive.' You actually feel like you're in this other world."
Four games are available as part of the demo: a basketball three-point shooting challenge, a rock-climbing game, a role-playing experience and a virtual world build. The Touch controllers allow you to use your hands within the virtual environment, so that you can haul yourself up a desert spire or sink an incredible shot on the basketball court.
During CES, Ponte said the Virtual Reality Lounge was a big hit, with a waiting list of tech-savvy guests hoping to check out the new toys every night. If that popularity continues, it could make the case for maintaining the pop-up VR lounge, which is scheduled to close March 28.
"That's as of right now," Ponte said. "If it does well, if there's an uptick in revenue, maybe we could make it permanent."