By MILES TAYLOR February 17th, 2022
Located on North Riverside Avenue in Croton-on-Hudson, the new store, The Edge VR, opened around 6 months ago. Founded by CEO of Hudson Automotives, which is conveniently located next door, Adam Anfiteatro opened the virtual reality experience store with his CFO and co-founder Steven Leo. Anfitreatro has a background in engineering and diagnostics for 30 plus years. Around 5 years ago, he began Edge VR as a passion project for what seemed like a fun idea. After developing a plan for a new tracking technology in VR that would allow for participants to create a full body experience. Antfitreatro says he began to pursue the opening of the store with the goal of “melding the VR experience and an escape room with magnetic tracking technology”. Him and his team of co-founders and fellow engineers, built the game-- The Edge of Space.
Being a current resident of Croton-on-Hudson, Antfiteatro’s opening of the store was convenient to him and his family. With three children in the school system of Croton Harmon, Antfiteatro has experienced a great community in which he believes are full of artisans and creators. He stated that he loves how the community itself is so “open and rich with creative individuals”, that he wanted these artistic minds to experience creativity at a new level.
Virtual reality is an immersive 360 degree environment where participants are able to see whatever is rendered in that technological realm. Most headsets, created by Samsung and Google, have the technology of 3 degrees for participants to solely look around. However, what the Edge VR experience renders is a 6 degree headset which allows you to walk around and interact with your surroundings. As soon as Anfiteatro involved himself in his first virtual reality experience, back in 2016 with the Samsung 3 degree headset, he “instantly recognized the power of the immersion” that virtual reality can give. Antfiteatro exclaims that “not only does it entertain, but a story is told and you feel empowered in the experience”. By using the 6 degree technology, The Edge VR creators wanted participants to go beyond day-to-day life, and beyond just viewing. Antfiteatro believes that it is “a waste to not be able to interact, and beyond, while immersed in VR”.
The store runs on an individualized payment system, with a price of $29.95 per person. The price includes a session time of 1 hour, with the VR experience being 25 minutes. As of right now the technology is supporting a total of 3 participants at a time, however, Anfiteatro believes they will be able to progress the technology to 4. Participants enter the experience by strapping into a total of 2 pound vest and leg gear (harness) that will stream every movement of one’s body. After the 25 minute experience players are given an avatar coin, and a 1 minute compilation of their time in the game. The avatar coin has a scannable QR code which enables participants to place their avatar anywhere while using their cell phone camera. As well as, the website shows a player’s points compiled during the game.
Within the 6 months of being open, The Edge VR has received 26 five star views, had a feature on Channel 12 News, and will be mentioned in an article written by 914 Ink later this month. Anfiteatro describes The Edge of Space as an “immersive experience that elicits realism in a virtual world” rather than just a game. He is not worried about any backlash from the community because of the ensured safety of the experience, and the primary goal of “empowering people to a better version of themselves”, stated directly by Anfiteatro himself.
The Edge VR may be extending it’s business to other locations and local malls around Westchester. They can be found on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter at “@theedgevr”; and at their website: “www.theedgeunreal.com”. “I love watching everybody”, says Anfiteatro, “I love the satisfaction of what I have created to elicit a level of happiness, which is what is rewarding for me”.