CITY of Dreams (COD) Manila recently unveiled The Garage, its latest entertainment and dining hub featuring a virtual reality (VR) center paired with a food park.
What was formerly a 2,714-square -meter (sq m) car park on the upper ground floor across Dreamplay was recently turned into a VR arcade and spot for food and beverage trucks.
To bring in the cutting-edge technology, COD has partnered with Japan’s Bandai Namco Amusement, one of the world’s leading video digital entertainment development companies. The VR Zone mirrored its look from Bandai’s 3,500-sq-m VR Zone in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Bandai Namco is popularly known for its intellectual properties on Gundam robots and video games like “Mario Kart Arcade GP2,” “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “Dragon Ball.”
Kevin Benning, chief operating officer of COD, says that the initial plan was to simply put up a food park. However, the idea of injecting VR Zone into the whole concept was inspired by his boss’s 11-year-old daughter who loved playing in Bandai’s VR Zone.
Bennings’s visit to Japan, where he experienced VR entertainment, resulted to importing the technology to the country.
He says, “With their creativity and cutting-edge technology, we are honored and delighted to partner with them, and together blaze a trail in delivering an extraordinary entertainment experience that goes beyond gaming and recreation in the Philippines.”
Bandai Namco’s General Manager Kunihisa Yagisita said that the company is honored to partner with the integrated resort and casino property and bring in the first VR Zone entertainment facility in Southeast Asia.
“We hope to bring outside of Japan immersive, multisensory and fun activities to Filipinos and foreign guests with our unique VR activities at The Garage,” he says.
Thrilling games
THE VR Zone at The Garage promises a thrilling experience for every gamer.
Exciting activities in the VR Zone are Mario Kart Arcade developed by Bandai Namco Amusement under license from Nintendo; the “Hospital Escape Terror,” an immersive horror room game, the goal of which is to escape and survive in a dark, abandoned hospital; and “Ski Rodeo,” a ski simulator that lets a player ski in a vast, snowy mountain course with sharp slopes and steep drops.
Benning adds that there are plans to open more Bandai Namco attractions in the future, depending on the reception.
World-class food finds
TO complete the fun is The Garage’s Food Park that hosts 10 food and beverage trucks and trailers offering international gastronomic selections.
Japanese cuisine lovers can choose from the well-loved ramen served by Hokkaido Ramen Santouka’s or Katsu Sora’s Japanese deep-fried pork cutlet or tonkatsu.
Pink’s Hot Dogs, Los Angeles’s popular hot dog stand, is also serving iconic “The Hollywood Legend.”
For those who prefer local food finds, one can go to Little Flour Café by the highly successful Wildflour Café + Bakery, for its Filipino rice bowls, delicacies and grilled items.
Mexican-style street tacos, burritos, enchiladas and grilled chicken sticks are also available at El Chupacabra, while, Pizza Grigliata serves hot, freshly made artisanal pizza.
To cap off the food experience is Farmacy Ice Cream’s fresh homemade ice cream, milkshakes, sodas, coffee and pastries.
Alongside the well-curated food and beverage outlets at The Garage are COD’s own exceptional outlets Chocol8, Juiced and The Roaster offering delectable chocolate treats, fresh juices and artisanal coffee.
COD also highlights that this new attraction is one with its sustainability drive as The Garage casual dining experience makes use of eco-friendly, biodegradable and compostable plates, utensils and takeout bags.
The Garage is open daily from 10 to 2 a.m.
Image credits: City of Dreams Manila