Abstract: Described herein are techniques for providing a virtual experience including, but not limited to, the use of a virtual experience “pillar,” or virtual rotation of a virtual area and/or a participant in the virtual area. The entry of a participant into a physical environment via a physical entrance area is detected. The participant uses a head-mounted display (HMD) to view a virtual environment associated with the physical environment, the virtual environment including a virtual entrance coinciding with the physical entrance area. An outer virtual environment, and a virtual pillar upon which a virtual avatar representing the participant stands, are caused to be displayed in the virtual environment viewed by the participant.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for providing guide-assisted virtual experiences. A virtual experience operator provides participants with the opportunity to engage in virtual experiences at physical locations managed by the operator. These physical locations enable participants to engage with any of a variety of virtual realities provide by the operator—for example, participants may find them themselves in a virtual reality ghost-hunting mission, as a team of fictional soldiers on a mission to retrieve important cargo in outer space, in a horror-type experience at a deserted world's fair, within a number of arcade games, among other possible types of virtual experiences. Participants' engagement with such virtual experiences can be enhanced with the use of human “guides.” These guides represent employees or other affiliates of a virtual experience operator trained to help guide participant teams through some or all of a virtual experience and related phases at a virtual experience location.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for providing a virtual experience including, but not limited to, the use of a virtual experience “pillar,” or virtual rotation of a virtual area and/or a participant in the virtual area. The entry of a participant into a physical environment via a physical entrance area is detected. The participant uses a head-mounted display (HMD) to view a virtual environment associated with the physical environment, the virtual environment including a virtual entrance coinciding with the physical entrance area. An outer virtual environment, and a virtual pillar upon which a virtual avatar representing the participant stands, are caused to be displayed in the virtual environment viewed by the participant.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for providing a virtual experience including, but not limited to, the use of a virtual experience “pillar,” or virtual rotation of a virtual area and/or a participant in the virtual area. The entry of a participant into a physical environment via a physical entrance area is detected. The participant uses a head-mounted display (HMD) to view a virtual environment associated with the physical environment, the virtual environment including a virtual entrance coinciding with the physical entrance area. An outer virtual environment, and a virtual pillar upon which a virtual avatar representing the participant stands, are caused to be displayed in the virtual environment viewed by the participant.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for providing guide-assisted virtual experiences. A virtual experience operator provides participants with the opportunity to engage in virtual experiences at physical locations managed by the operator. These physical locations enable participants to engage with any of a variety of virtual realities provide by the operator—for example, participants may find them themselves in a virtual reality ghost-hunting mission, as a team of fictional soldiers on a mission to retrieve important cargo in outer space, in a horror-type experience at a deserted world's fair, within a number of arcade games, among other possible types of virtual experiences. Participants' engagement with such virtual experiences can be enhanced with the use of human “guides.” These guides represent employees or other affiliates of a virtual experience operator trained to help guide participant teams through some or all of a virtual experience and related phases at a virtual experience location.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for providing guide-assisted virtual experiences. A virtual experience operator provides participants with the opportunity to engage in virtual experiences at physical locations managed by the operator. These physical locations enable participants to engage with any of a variety of virtual realities provide by the operator—for example, participants may find them themselves in a virtual reality ghost-hunting mission, as a team of fictional soldiers on a mission to retrieve important cargo in outer space, in a horror-type experience at a deserted world's fair, within a number of arcade games, among other possible types of virtual experiences. Participants' engagement with such virtual experiences can be enhanced with the use of human “guides.” These guides represent employees or other affiliates of a virtual experience operator trained to help guide participant teams through some or all of a virtual experience and related phases at a virtual experience location.

Abstract: The flow of teams of one or more players is controlled through different geographical areas of a mixed virtual reality and physical experience that takes place on an attraction stage. The geographical areas may include rooms, compartments, or other geographical areas through which a team may progress. Within each geographical area, a team may engage in an experience and accomplish one or more checkpoints. Based on the time to achieve each checkpoint, the experience may be shortened or lengthened, either within the particular geographical area or the experience as a whole, to control the flow of the particular team through the series of geographical areas.

Abstract: In part, the disclosure related to systems and methods of merging a simulation experience with physical objects and sensory stimuli generated outside of the simulation in a controlled physical environment to enhance the simulated experience.

Abstract: The flow of teams of one or more players is controlled through different geographical areas of a mixed virtual reality and physical experience that takes place on an attraction stage. The geographical areas may include rooms, compartments, or other geographical areas through which a team may progress. Within each geographical area, a team may engage in an experience and accomplish one or more checkpoints. Based on the time to achieve each checkpoint, the experience may be shortened or lengthened, either within the particular geographical area or the experience as a whole, to control the flow of the particular team through the series of geographical areas.

Abstract: The flow of teams of one or more players is controlled through different geographical areas of a mixed virtual reality and physical experience that takes place on an attraction stage. The geographical areas may include rooms, compartments, or other geographical areas through which a team may progress. Within each geographical area, a team may engage in an experience and accomplish one or more checkpoints. Based on the time to achieve each checkpoint, the experience may be shortened or lengthened, either within the particular geographical area or the experience as a whole, to control the flow of the particular team through the series of geographical areas.

Abstract: A combined physical and virtual environment in which a user's position in a physical environment is displayed in an offset position within the virtual environment. The offset is determined based on mapping between the physical environment and the virtual environment and offsets generated for a user position and direction as a user moves throughout the physical environment. The physical environment and corresponding virtual environment may have a different layout. The offsets are used to correlate portions of the physical environment and virtual environments together so that a user does not realize the differences between the environments. By providing offsets in this manner, an enclosed physical environment may be used to provide an expanded and unlimited virtual environment for user to navigate and explore.

Abstract: In part, the disclosure related to systems and methods of merging a simulation experience with physical objects and sensory stimuli generated outside of the simulation in a controlled physical environment to enhance the simulated experience.