Hero Zone, a leading creator of immersive VR experiences, has revealed details of its partnership with Future Kid, a leading chain of family entertainment centres (FECs) in Kuwait.
Future Kid was founded in 1986 to provide a fun and safe environment where families could “create some of their first happy memories together.” The company now operates 14 venues, typically indoor mall locations, which boast a total of over 1,000 entertainment pieces ranging from trampoline parks to arcade games.
The company first added the Hero Zone Arena to its offer in 2022, and the attraction has proved highly successful.
Ahmed Al Khaled, director and head of quality assurance, says: “Hero Zone is in the top 25 or 30 games for Future Kid out of 1000 pieces and it’s #1 in video games.”
Ongoing innovation
Future Kid discovered Hero Zone at IAAPA Expo Europe 2022. The company had invested in VR attractions in the past but had found they had significant downtime and were difficult to repair. As such, it did not expect to buy a VR attraction at the Expo.
Al Khaled says: “Hero Zone convinced me! Once I tried its games, it was a shock moment. I was like, ‘Okay, this could work for our locations.”
“The price point is right and the graphics are on point,” he adds. “We liked that it was free roam VR, which was something new for us.”
Furthermore, Future Kid values the wide range of games which encourage repeat visits.
“Hero Zone is always coming up with new games, the company is not standing still, they are always making new content,” says Al Khaled.
“People can come and play, and not get bored. Hero Zone hits most age groups with the games library. A lot of games die down after a few years, but with Hero Zone there’s an update and you have something new.”
In addition to encouraging repeat visits, Future Kid has found that the Arena is helping its attractions to extend their audience. While their typical visitors are families with children aged three to 12, the VR attraction also appeals to teenagers.
“With Hero Zone teenagers are coming in just to play. We never used to attract teenagers. When families come in, their teens wouldn’t have as much fun. Now there is a game for them. Everyone can play Hero Zone; the father and mother can pay with their kids and they’re loving it.”
Rapid ROI
The Hangout VR party room is also a key feature for Future Kid. “In other VR games you are just standing there,” says Al Khaled. “In the Hangout you’re actually doing something, playing hoops or playing the crane game. You really feel like you’re in a different world.”
In addition, the attraction is fun to watch. “People watch people playing and they are very interested because they see people roaming around without wires. They’re ducking, they’re going up and down, they’re moving to other places, they’re talking. So that’s really an appeal for someone watching.”
According to Future Kid, the Arena’s comfortable play experience and promotion of active play for children are key benefits for its visitors. Operationally, its ability to differentiate the FEC offering, its affordable price point, and its trusted team set Hero Zone apart.
“Hero Zone is the best in the market in terms of free roam VR,” says Al Khaled.
“I already recouped all the money we spent in seven months in the first location. Everyone wants to try and play it, the Hero Zone Arena is doing great.”
Hero Zone will be attending the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure Exhibition 2025 (DEAL) from 8 to 10 April. Attendees can meet Aziza Jarnija, sales director, and Sebastian Malavasi, CEO, at the ASI pavilion, where the company will be present with its distributor.
Recently, the company announced the launch of Wizard Academy, a brand-new addition to its library of free-roam virtual reality games.
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