Revealed by Universal, late last night at the HHNU offices we were holding our typical editorial meetings when suddenly news came over the interwebs from our sources that a 10th House was to be announced for HHN, this was our initial response:
You see, Universal has a long history flirting with a secret/extreme/up-charge house, a history that has seen this house never come to fruition, that is until now.
If you want to read about this mythical house that never was, you can here.
So here’s what we know so far…
Location:
We believe it has been constructed in Soundstage 19, which is a former stage occupied by Nickelodeon and a studio which has never housed HHN before. Studio 19 is also HUGE.
Price:
Tickets will be $49.99 plus tax per person and teams of four will experience the house at a time. Discounts will be levied for annual passholders holders.
Booking:
Tickets for the general public will be on sale beginning August 23. Universal Orlando Annual Passholders can purchase tickets beginning August 16. Bookings can be made after these dates by calling: 407-224-7840.
So what is it?
“The Repository” is an exclusive, limited-time attraction with an entirely unique storyline that will pave the way for even more brand new, best-in-class experiences across Universal Orlando Resort. Throughout this extended, heart-pounding adventure, guests will explore highly thematic physical environments and interact with real-life characters – all while working in small teams to solve a dark mystery unfolding before them. Universal Orlando is working with VRstudios (VRcade), a Bellevue, Washington company specializing in unique VR experiences. The company designed a first-of-its-kind VR platform to be used inside this experience.
Say what now?
Expect VR goggles, physical sets with real scareactors, add into the mix paranormal encounters that only your goggles can pick up with a peppering of theming from the Legendary Truth.
So who has created this up-charge house?
VRstudios is the FIRST and ONLY VR company offering a wireless-streamed system and a collection of capabilities that includes full motion, simultaneous multiple users in the same physical and virtual space, enhanced spectator capabilities and 1:1 tracking – all to provide a fully immersive and interactive VR experience. VRcade is the gaming and entertainment brand of VRstudios. Launched in 2014, VRstudios is based in Bellevue, Washington.
Universal has said:
All of this is set in a centuries old warehouse where paranormal and supernatural artifacts have been collected and stored for hundreds of years. Recently though, the secretive organization behind this practice has installed state-of-the-art technology that allows spectral transportation into paranormal realms.
Until now, the supernatural has infiltrated our world on occasions labeled “hauntings.” Now, and for the first time ever, we will send you across the SDP (spectral dark portal) directly into those terrifying environments. I wish you a safe journey because what happens to you on the other side is irreversible.
Here are the headsets and potential weapons (if Universal goes down that route):
Here is a photo of how we believe the Warehouse may look:
And here’s a Zombie for a similar house this company made:
What do you make of all this?