A U.S. trade association representing the coin-operated amusement, arcade, and family entertainment industry. AAMA works on standards, safety, lobbying, and promoting best practices for arcade equipment and attractions, including VR. For operators, AAMA is a key source of regulatory guidance, market research, and connections with suppliers.

Designing attractions so people with disabilities can participate safely.

Software for operators to configure content, users, devices, and permissions. See Operator Dashboard.

Upfront payment to a content supplier that is later recouped from revenue share.

Verification flow used to restrict access by age for content or ticketing.

Large shared play spaces where groups interact in real time. Often 8–20+ players.

Digital graphics laid over the real world through glasses, phones, or projection.

Total minutes to brief, gear up, play, gear down, and reset. Used to forecast throughput.

Operational process to replace depleted headset/controller batteries between groups.

Visual safety grid that appears in VR when players approach the physical edge of the play area.

A group reserves the attraction exclusively for a time slot.

Self‑contained arcade machines with built‑in headset, controls, and payment. Great for quick play and easy ops.

Capital expenditure for equipment and fit‑out vs ongoing operating expenses.

See Boundary System.

Software to manage content assets, metadata, and updates (can be part of a Launcher).

Guests enter and exit one‑by‑one on a rolling basis instead of fixed sessions. Maximizes throughput.

Interaction using handheld controllers for pointing, grabbing, or aiming.

Percent of website or foot traffic that purchases a ticket.

Customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Score for measuring guest experience.

Remote monitoring and control of headsets and PCs (updates, health, usage).

Small tracking errors that accumulate over time, causing position or rotation to feel off.

How long guests spend in your venue before and after the attraction.

Team puzzle adventures built for groups working together in VR.

Competitive multiplayer VR played in leagues or tournaments (with spectators).

Contract clause that limits how close competitors can license the same content/brand.

Playtime inside VR, not including briefing or changeover.

Software that lets staff select, start, update, and monitor VR titles fast.

Umbrella term for VR, AR, and MR.

Players are tracked by external beacons/cameras placed around the space.

Entertainment venue with multiple attractions (bowling, arcades, laser tag, VR).

The extent of the virtual or augmented environment visible at once through a headset. In VR, FOV describes how wide the digital world appears in your vision — wider fields create stronger immersion and reduce the “binoculars effect.” Typical VR headsets range from 90° to 120°, with some premium models pushing wider. In AR, FOV refers to the size of the transparent window where digital overlays appear in the real world. Because AR optics are more complex, AR FOV is usually much narrower (30°–60°), meaning digital elements can feel like they “cut off” at the edges. Operators evaluating hardware should weigh FOV carefully: wider in VR enhances immersion; wider in AR improves usability.

Branded, standardized package including content, training, systems, and support.

Untethered movement in a shared tracked space with friends or groups.

Operational steps to fit headsets, straps, vests, props, then remove and sanitize.

See Boundary System.

How guests move from arrival to briefing to play and exit.

Camera‑based recognition of hands and fingers for controller‑free interaction.

Feedback tech that simulates touch, impact, or motion via vibration or force.

Another name for VR headset.

Cleaning/sanitizing headsets between uses with wipes, UV, or replaceable gaskets.

Immersive experiences without a headset (projection spaces, light‑based, AR).

A phrase first introduced by VR industry consultant Bob Cooney in March 2020, encouraging operators to adopt visible sanitization practices as the COVID-19 pandemic began. The idea is that certain health and safety measures may be more about reassuring guests than materially reducing risk. In VR attractions, this can include highly visible cleaning rituals, UV-C devices on display, or branded hygiene kits. While some practices are more symbolic than effective, they play an important role in guest confidence and perception of safety.

VR enhanced with wind, heat, scent, haptics, or physical props.

International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions; major industry expo.

The feeling of being deeply absorbed in a virtual world.

Headset cameras track the wearer and controllers without external sensors.

Distance between the eyes; headsets adjust IPD for visual comfort.

Environmental or device sensors used for diagnostics and safety.

Delay between movement and what the player sees. Lower is better.

See Experience Launcher. Maintenance – Preventive Scheduled checks and part replacements to avoid downtime.

The broader category of out‑of‑home attractions (including VR).

VR designed for out‑of‑home venues like arcades, arenas, museums, and FECs. Emphasizes durability, group play, and throughput.

Recurring or per‑ticket payment for content usage.

Tools and tactics to reduce perceived wait times and balance capacity.

Real‑time updates and operational tweaks to improve performance and guest experience.

Adapting content and signage for local languages and norms.

Contracted minimum payment to suppliers regardless of sales.

Blends digital and physical worlds; often used for see‑through devices or passthrough video.

Moving platforms synced to VR for racing, flight, or rides.

Mean time between failures / mean time to repair—reliability and service metrics.

Keeping all players and props aligned across devices with minimal lag.

See CSAT / NPS under C.

Post‑experience steps: gear down, photos, reviews, merch, and exit.

Pre‑experience briefing, safety, and fitting so guests start smoothly.

Live control center for sessions, devices, tickets, and analytics.

See External Tracking.

Remote content and firmware updates pushed to devices.

Financial statement summarizing revenue and expenses.

Camera view of the real world inside the headset; enables MR features.

Guests pay for each session; classic arcade model.

Licensing that charges per guest served.

Feeling physically “there” in VR; gold standard of immersion.

See Maintenance – Preventive. Private Booking See Buyout. Projection Mapping Projectors transform walls/floors into immersive scenes without headsets.

Physical items (weapons, tools) tracked in VR for realism.

Systems that schedule start times, notify guests, and balance demand.

Trick of gently rotating the virtual world so players can walk “forever” in a limited space.

The number of times per second a headset display updates, measured in Hertz (Hz). In VR, higher refresh rates (90Hz, 120Hz, or more) reduce motion sickness and create smoother visuals, which is critical for immersive play and comfort during long sessions. Lower refresh rates can cause judder and discomfort, especially in free-roam or highly dynamic content. In AR, refresh rate influences how stable and natural digital overlays appear when anchored to the real world. Because AR must stay aligned with physical objects, consistent refresh is as important as speed. Operators should look for at least 90Hz in VR headsets for comfort and ideally 60Hz or above in AR devices for smooth overlays.

Sharpness and pixel detail in the headset image.

Operator splits revenue with supplier instead of paying fixed fees.

Players physically move in a small area (usually 1–2 players).

Cleaning between uses (wipes, UV, replaceable face gaskets).

Tools used by developers to build VR apps for specific platforms.

Recurring access product offering discounted or unlimited visits.

Compact attraction with headset, content, and enclosure in one plug‑and‑play product.

Guests start and end in fixed time slots; easy to schedule groups.

Tracks position and rotation (x/y/z + pitch/yaw/roll).

Players are seated or standing in one spot with limited or no walking.

Company that produces VR experiences for venues.

Headset connects to a PC by cable or fiber for higher fidelity.

How many guests you can run per hour. Cornerstone performance metric.

Software for reservations, sales, payments, and reporting.

Ready‑to‑run package including hardware, software, install, and support.

Usage note: “pod” often implies an enclosure; VRC typically uses “cabinet” for arcade style VR or “self‑contained unit” for larger multi-player units (eg Omni Arena).

Percent of total capacity actually used in a period.

Ultraviolet device used to disinfect headsets between sessions.

VR visuals paired with a moving coaster or motion chair.

Guests wait “digitally” and return when it’s their turn.

Fully simulated 3D worlds viewed through a headset.

See Head‑Mounted Display. VR Hygiene Kit Disposable or washable items to keep headsets clean (face covers, wipes).

See Motion Rig / Motion Simulator. Waiver Management Digital system for safety waivers and parental consent.

Supplier lets operators use their own branding on software or content.

See Extended Reality (XR) under E.

Adjusting prices by time or demand to maximize revenue.

Dedicated areas for briefing, active play, and sanitization/reset to improve flow.