Virtuality 1000SD
| Virtuality 1000SD | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Virtual Reality Arcade System |
| Subtype | PC-Powered VR |
| Platform | Virtuality |
| Creator | Dr. Jonathan D. Waldern |
| Developer | W Industries (later Virtuality Group) |
| Manufacturer | Virtuality Group |
| Announcement Date | 1990 |
| Release Date | 1991 |
| Price | £20,000 - £30,000 (arcade unit) |
| Versions | 1000SD (Sit Down) |
| Requires | Arcade installation, dedicated attendant |
| Predecessor | Virtuality prototypes |
| Successor | Virtuality 2000SD |
| System | |
| Operating System | AmigaOS |
| Chipset | Texas Instruments TMS34020 (x2) |
| CPU | Motorola 68030 (Amiga 3000) |
| GPU | Custom graphics accelerator cards (x2) |
| Storage | |
| Storage | CD-ROM |
| Memory | 4 MB Fast RAM |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | LCD |
| Resolution | 372x250 per eye (276x372 according to some sources) |
| Refresh Rate | 20 Hz (20 FPS) |
| Image | |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Mirror-based system |
| Ocularity | Stereoscopic 3D |
| Passthrough | No |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6 DoF |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Play Space | Seated position |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in speakers |
| Microphone | Yes |
| Camera | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Network capability for multiplayer |
| Wired Video | Yes |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Power | AC mains power |
| Battery Capacity | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Large arcade cabinet |
| Haptics | No |
| Sensors | Magnetic tracking sensors |
| Input | Joystick controller |
The Virtuality 1000SD was a sit-down virtual reality arcade system produced by Virtuality Group, released in 1991 as part of the groundbreaking 1000 series[1]. The "SD" designation stood for "Sit Down," distinguishing it from its stand-up counterpart, the 1000CS (CyberSpace)[2].
History
Development
The Virtuality 1000 series evolved from research conducted by Dr. Jonathan D. Waldern at the Human Computer Interface Research Unit of Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University)[1]. By 1986, Waldern had produced a system known as the "Roaming Caterpillar" that could deliver a stereoscopic view of a three-dimensional scene[1].
Waldern subsequently formed W Industries in October 1987 to commercialise 3D visualisation technology together with colleagues Al Humrich, Richard Holmes and Terry Rowley[1]. The team produced multiple prototype VR units, with a fifth prototype version being produced by 1989 that would form the basis of the first commercially released Virtuality system[1].
Commercial Launch
The Virtuality 1000SU VR system was launched in 1990 at the Computer Graphics '90 exhibition held at Alexandra Palace in London[1]. The 1000SD and 1000CS models were released in arcades in 1991, during what was one of the biggest years the amusement arcades would ever see[2].
Market Position
The 1000SD was positioned as a slightly cheaper alternative to the stand-up 1000CS model[2]. However, "slightly cheaper" is a term used under strong advisement, as compared to the usual price of between £2000 and £10,000 for a contemporary arcade machine, Virtuality units cost between £20,000 and £30,000 per pod[2]. This was before the added expense of having to pay for an attendant to help people in and out of the machine, hook up the Visette Head Mounted Display, and deal with player confusion[2].
Technical Specifications
Computer System
The 1000SD was powered by a Commodore Amiga 3000 with:
- Motorola 68030 CPU
- 4 MB of Fast RAM
- CD-ROM drive
- A pair of graphics accelerators (one for each eye) based around the Texas Instruments TMS34020 chips with a TMS34082 floating point co-processor[1]
Each graphics card could deliver about 40 Mflops with a capability to render 30,000 polygons/s at 20FPS[1].
Display Technology
The 1000 series headset (called the "Visette") featured:
- A pair of LCD screens supplied by Panasonic
- Resolution of 372x250 per eye (derived from a camcorder accessory)[1]
- The screens were positioned either side of the headset and reflected with mirrors into the lenses, as they were too heavy to be positioned directly in front of the user's eyes[1]
- 20 Hz refresh rate (20 frames per second)[2]
Tracking System
Unlike the 1000CS version which featured 6DoF AC magnetic tracking delivered by a Polhemus Fastrack unit embedded in the waist height ring[1], the 1000SD's tracking system was adapted for seated gameplay.
Games Library
The 1000SD ran the same games as the 1000CS, including[3]:
| Game Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Dactyl Nightmare | Multiplayer arena combat with pterodactyl enemies |
| Grid Busters | Robot shoot-em-up |
| Hero | Locked door puzzle game |
| Legend Quest | Fantasy adventure |
| Battlesphere | Space battle |
| Exorex | Robot warriors combat |
| Total Destruction | Stock car racing |
| VTOL | Harrier Jump Jet simulator |
| Flying Aces | Biplane dogfight simulator |
Technical Limitations
Despite being powered by one of the most powerful consumer PCs of the era, the Virtuality 1000SD had significant limitations:
- At best the hardware could render up to 30,000 polygons at up to 20 frames a second[2]
- The 20 Hz refresh rate was far below what would later be considered necessary for smooth VR (60+ Hz)[2]
- The world consisted of flat shaded polygons and simple geometry[4]
- Motion sickness was a common issue due to low frame rates and joystick-based locomotion[2]
Network Capabilities
The first two networked VR systems were sold to British Telecom Research Laboratories to experiment with networked telepresence applications[1]. The system supported multiplayer gaming, allowing players in different pods to interact in the same virtual environment.
Legacy and Impact
The Virtuality 1000SD, along with its stand-up counterpart, was instrumental in:
- Sparking public interest in virtual reality during the early 1990s[1]
- Establishing many of the design patterns for VR arcade systems
- Demonstrating both the potential and limitations of early VR technology
Many other systems were sold to corporations including Ford, IBM, Mitsubishi and Olin[1]. At its peak, Virtuality was worth over £90 million and was the top player in the arcade virtual reality business[2].
Restoration and Preservation
Due to the age and complexity of the systems, restoration of Virtuality 1000SD units presents significant challenges. Common issues include[5]:
- Dead Amiga computers requiring replacement
- HDD failures (often replaced with CF cards via SCSI to IDE adapters)
- CRT display failures
- Joystick malfunctions
- Sound system problems
The Retro Computer Museum in Leicester, UK maintains working Virtuality machines[6].
See Also
- Virtuality 1000CS
- Virtuality 2000SD
- Amiga 3000
- Virtual reality
- Virtual reality headset
- 1990s in video gaming
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Wikipedia. "Virtuality (product)." May 25, 2025. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "wikipedia" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 Virtual Reality Society. "Virtuality – A New Reality of Promise, Two Decades Too Soon." April 17, 2018. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "vrs" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Virtuality.com. "Home - Virtuality.com." June 17, 2019. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "virtuality-com" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Sega Retro. "Mega Visor Display." September 23, 2022. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "segaretro" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ ukVac. "Virtuality 1000 SD restoration." July 31, 2014. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "ukvac" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Pure Amiga. "The Amiga not-quite-3000." July 26, 2022. Cite error: Invalid
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