Travel
The Garage City Of Dreams Brings New Entertainment To Philippines
Today’s casino resorts are quite a bit different from the ones of old. In decades past, these establishments were known mostly for games, hotels, musical performances, and dining options. Now, they have all of these things and more, and are often singled for anything they can offer that’s new or different. For instance, the ARIA in Las Vegas was a hit as soon as it opened in part because of its unique shopping options. The world-famous Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is better known for its sky-scraping infinity pool than for its gaming facilities. And The Venetian in Macau is well-regarded for being an even larger and more impressive imitation of Venice than its predecessor in Vegas.
These types of attractions serve to differentiate resorts that would otherwise be quite similar. They’re also meant, however, to help advance the casino resort concept beyond the games themselves, because the demand for live poker tables and lobbies full of slot machines isn’t quite what it used to be. Some studies have shown young people just aren’t as interested in the games, and there’s also the online factor to consider. The number of reputable sites offered in countries like Canada and the UK has grown so great that there’s hardly a need to seek out actual casinos; it’s all on the internet.
If casinos stayed stale, they would likely suffer from these changes. But by staying fresh, in part by way of new attractions, they’re able to stay fresh, relevant, and extraordinarily popular. And it just so happens that this year one of the biggest and best casino resorts in the Philippines – City Of Dreams Manila – has added a fairly significant new form of entertainment that could not only keep the venue fresh, but which could help to spread a whole new form of recreation in Manila and around the country.
This new entertainment comes in the form of “The Garage,” which has been described as a virtual reality theme park, and which brings some of the most cutting-edge video game and simulation experiences on Earth to paying customers. Developed by Japan’s Bandai Namco Amusement, the park currently offers three different immersive VR experiences, but there are plans to add more, essentially turning the whole place into a large arcade that will provide people with entirely new gaming experiences. The Garage, despite its somewhat rugged title, also presents a vaguely futuristic-looking space, as well as its own dining options and food court area, such that people can really stay occupied there for the better part of a day.
Right now it’s clearly a beginning rather than a finished product. But it already speaks to the point above, which is that casinos have largely stayed relevant by adding fresh experiences that go beyond traditional game floors. VR arcades and parks are starting to open in places around the world, but putting one in a casino almost automatically adds elements of glamour and mystery to it. This is liable to become a very popular attraction, and one with the capacity to change and improve over time. And it should help to keep City Of Dreams fresh for the foreseeable future.
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