I spent my Saturday morning undergoing a rigorous transformation that turned me into a human/machine hybrid, traveling through time, and then saving the world. No big deal, right? And I barely had to go far from home!

Located at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA, SPACES is a VR company that aims to change the way we view entertainment. With folks from the gaming and entertainment industry at its helm, they are creating some incredibly immersive VR experiences that are fun for the whole family.

When my son and I arrived at SPACES, we were greeted by Anthony Jacobson, COO of the company. He gave us cards with QR codes on them that would hold all our information. After signing in, we had our faces scanned, which would allow us to see each other within the experience. A short scanning session, where we turned our heads left and right, created an eerily accurate scan that would be used shortly thereafter.

From there, we suited up, fitted with trackers on our hands & feet, a back pack for feedback, and our VR visors. Jacobson joined us, and it wasn’t long before we were in the virtual world. In the story, we are members of the resistance, fighting back against Skynet. There was a great introductory sequence, to get us use to our new bodies, do some target practice, and then be on our way.

From start to finish, I was very impressed with the entire experience. The tracking gear on our body made for incredibly accurate movement in-game, and everything was smooth & fluid. When we needed to pick up an object in the game, there it was in real-life, as well. The blending of in-game visuals and real-world, physical objects was spot on.

While it will inevitably draw some comparisons to The Void’s Star Wars experience in Anaheim, I would venture to say that this tracking was more accurate than Secrets of the Empire. Some of that tracking was just slightly off when I experienced it a few months ago, with objects being a few inches off. In VR, it can be incredibly jarring to try to touch something, and the physical aspects not actually be there. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case at SPACES, because everything was incredibly accurate.

Speaking of real-world elements, there were tons of tiny little touches that enhanced the experience overall, from the wind blowing in our faces to the rumble of our drop ship while in route to our destination. Hell, even the guns vibrating in our hands when firing, making me feel like I was holding an actual chain gun. All of this really allows guests to immerse themselves into the world of Terminator.

The earlier scanning session allowed for our faces to be used on the Terminator bodies, so when I turned to look at my son during the game, there he was. Of course, there is something hilarious about seeing our faces on robotic bodies, but that definitely added right into the Terminator lore. I was able to see where everyone was at all times, and not have to guess who was whom.

I seriously had a blast with this, and loved every moment of it. While I didn’t always concentrate on the mission fully at times, it was because I was actually taking it all in. I looked for all the tiny details and explored them for myself. For instance, standing on the top of a building for the bulk of the experience, I noticed a hole in the floor. I looked down into it, and saw a toilet there. After discovering it, I did what every normal human being in a VR world with a gun would do; I shot at it. And what do you know, it exploded into a million, virtual porcelain pieces. While an incredibly small touch, it was also an incredibly big attention to detail. This Terminator world that SPACES created is filled with them.

The actual VR portion lasted no more than 15 minutes, but it felt like just the right amount of time to spend in that world, and to feel accomplished. The SPACES team really did an incredible job with it.

Shiraz Akmal, CEO and co-founder of SPACES, joined us shortly after our session as well. With his history in game development (he worked on EVIL DEAD: HAIL TO THE KING!) and his past at Dreamworks, Akmal clearly has his pulse on the future of the entertainment industry.

Before we all sat down to chat, Jacobson made sure we watched our highlight reel, which is a two-minute video that is rendered in real-time of your experience. While every guest will get a 10-second version, for those who want this longer one, there is a slight additional charge. However, I would say it is definitely worth it, because it’s pretty epic. Check out ours!

To me, this video is a great keepsake for families and friends to bring home with them to enjoy, and the folks at SPACES agree.

“The thing that makes us work is that we make this about you,” said Akmal. “When you watch the video, you’re laughing, watching yourselves having a good time, it’s a great memory, because it’s about you.”

The team at SPACES has been working as unit for about 6 years, and this is ultimately is the evolution of their work together. Jacobson meet Akmal when he was helping him on other projects, but ultimately he fell in love with the VR space and what it was capable of.

“I think every kid dreams of being inside a video game, and to be able to realize that is special,” said Jacobson.

But it’s obvious that just isn’t for kids. Both Akmal and Jacobson told me stories of people of all ages who have come to experience SPACES so far, and how much fun they had. From different generations of families coming in to experience together, to the elderly couple who decided to start ballroom dancing in VR, SPACES definitely brings people in from all walks of life.

And these guys are just getting started. They are tirelessly working to continue to push the boundaries of what VR can do. Since this location has just opened up, it may not look like much to the naked eye. However, the space is being built out (and converted from its former life as a restaurant) to accommodate more experiences and more guests…and some fun new things.

“We can’t talk about what the next step is yet,” Jacobson said with a smirk when I inquired what is coming down the road. “We’re going on some stuff now, and it’s going to be incredible.”

It’s obvious that these guys love what they are doing, not just with working within VR, but also enjoying the fruits of their labor as well. Jacobson was hooting and hollering through the entire experience with us, and his enthusiasm was infectious. To me, these guys are living their best lives, where they are allowed to create the things they always wanted to, and have fun while doing it.

If you’re down in Orange County, SPACES is definitely something you need to check out with your family and friends. My son and I had a blast, and I have no doubt you will too. Plus, the fact that the guys behind it are incredibly nice makes it even better.

To learn more, and to book a time to fight for the future yourself, visit them online at: https://www.spaces.com/