Gamers are preparing to descend on Salford as the regions first virtual reality arcade opens.

Based at the University Business Park, SO VR immerses visitors into a world of zombie shoot outs and adventure.

Using the latest HTC Vive headsets the arcade has two gaming stations which can be booked per hour by groups of four.

The futuristic space is the brainchild of founder and lifelong gamer Chris Holland.

He said: Greater Manchester is up and coming for tech and gaming, so naturally it is the best place to launch something like this.

I have always wanted my own business but it was more about starting something at the right time in the right space. Virtual reality (VR) is the next big disrupter in every single sector so we are ahead of the curve.

The 26-year-old, who studied business management and economics at Nottingham Trent University, came up with the concept in April.

By July he had received 15,000 backing from a government loan start-up scheme and had found his first premises.

Asked what inspired him he says: One of my earliest memories is of my dad coming back from India and sitting down together to play GoldenEye or Mario Kart on the Nintendo.

"Everyone loves the nostalgia of old games but VR brings it to life. You can put as many graphics as you like into a game but once you put the player inside its a whole different experience.

SO VR has a choice of 21 games from slicing flying watermelons in Fruit Ninja to surviving a zombie apocalypse in Arizona Sunshine.

Each group gets a trained VR guide who will help navigate them through the games to get the best experience.

There are currently two headset stations but this is likely to extend to four with a partition in the room.

Holland is also keen to create a community feel with a lounging area before you start gaming and expanding to offer a bar with snacks.

He has big plans for growing the business as he hopes extra investment will allow a second more developer-focused site in Manchester city centre.

Here game developers will be able to test out their latest title on gamers and fix any issues.

He also is looking to franchise SO VR further down the line so it can go nationwide. I am thinking big he tells me. This isnt just a one off.

Weekdays cost 32 per hour for a group of four - equalling 8 each. This goes to 40 on the weekend.

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The region's first virtual reality arcade opens in Salford - and it is epic - Manchester Evening News