An entertaining presentation at the Tokyo Game Show

Forum8’s products are definitely a treat, even if they are certainly not for the average consumer.

During the Tokyo Game Show, my wife and I visited the AR/VR Game Area, which was located in an exhibition hall separate from the other gigantic buildings at Makuhari Messe. There we happened upon a stand showcasing the offerings of Forum8, a Tokyo-based company that produces simulators for attractions and civil engineering projects.

Since we were visiting on a public day – meaning that the general public was already allowed into the venues, unlike media-only days – the stand was already filled with visitors. Nevertheless, we had the opportunity to try out the products. We’re definitely impressed with the level of immersion, even if the high price means they’re not easy for regular people to get hold of.

First on our list was the Train Simulator program, a customized modification of Forum8’s UC-win/Road, a software used for road planning, construction, traffic management and, yes, even seasonal conditions. The stand representative said that the Train Simulator will be used in cooperation with the East Japan Railway Company (JR-East), which operates hundreds of trains and stations in Tokyo and the northern and eastern regions, excluding Hokkaido island.

This really piqued our interest as we not only attended the Tokyo Game Show, but also vacationed in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Having visited Japan several times, we were fascinated by the public transportation system there. We even plan our daily trips based on train schedules, down to the specific platforms/tracks, transfers and IC cards or subway passes we had to use. That’s why the idea of ​​testing a simulator to train locomotive drivers and locomotive drivers is an unforgettable experience.

Two test benches were available to test the program. The first was a flat-screen variant, but had lever controls for acceleration and braking. The VR variant used an HTC Vive headset. The controls were mostly smooth and responsive on both. However, I really prefer the flat panel option as the levers and control panel allow for more immersion compared to the Vive’s controllers. Still, I had to smile as my wife and I accelerated well past the next station. Thankfully, that immersion didn’t extend to virtual passengers yelling at us for missing their stop, although the representative shrugged and shook his head in disappointment.

Next, my wife tried Forum8’s VR Motion Seat, which costs a hefty $16,000 on the official website. The short demo takes users on a rollercoaster ride. The VR Motion Seat itself can tilt forward and backward, as well as lift up or tilt to the side, simulating the sudden jerky movements of a roller coaster ride.

From there we tried out the VR 360° Simulator, which is somewhat similar to VART’s 360° Rotating Chair. This device is primarily intended for arcade operations due to its size, exorbitant cost, and functionality. Aside from the VR Motion Seat’s tilt and tilt movements, the 360° simulator does what its name suggests: a complete 360-degree rotation, rotating you around your vertical axis. Oddly enough, the demo used for the showcase was a fairly simple program that involved automatically moving along the tracks while avoiding obstacles; It wasn’t a high-speed racer or a sci-fi flight sim.

Forum8’s booth made an impressive presentation at the Tokyo Game Show. However, their software and hardware offerings are primarily intended for transportation services, urban development or facility attractions. It’s unlikely we’ll be able to afford a 360-degree swivel chair for our living room in the near future, but the experience was unforgettable.