System and method for controlling multiple user groups within a single virtual reality play area

A method for controlling player movement within a fixed virtual reality play area, comprising:

• dividing a virtual reality play area into a plurality of virtual reality environment play areas numbering at least three, each of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas comprising a portion of the virtual reality play area;
• wherein the dividing the virtual reality play area defines a central transport area disposed such that it is adjacent to each of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas;
• mapping the virtual reality play area and the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas and the central transport area onto an associated mapped portion of a physical area;
• associating a first virtual reality player group with a first virtual reality environment play area of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas, the first virtual reality player group including at least one player member;
• displaying a first virtual reality environment to the first virtual reality player group, the first virtual reality environment limited to the first virtual reality environment play area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area, wherein boundaries of the first virtual reality environment are within boundaries of the first virtual reality environment play area;
• detecting a position of a player member of the at least one player member of the first virtual reality player group within the first virtual reality environment;
• determining if the detected position of the player member is a desired position of the player member, wherein the desired position of the player member may comprise any position within the first virtual reality environment;
• altering the display of the first virtual reality environment to encourage the player member to move toward the desired position within the first virtual reality environment responsive to a determination that the detected position of the player member is not the desired position of the player member;
• associating a second virtual reality player group with a second virtual reality environment play area of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas, the second virtual reality player group including at least one player member;
• displaying a second virtual reality environment to the second virtual reality player group, the second virtual reality environment limited to the second virtual reality environment play area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area, wherein boundaries of the second virtual reality environment are within boundaries of the second virtual reality environment play area;
• detecting a position of a second player member of the at least one player member of the second virtual reality player group within the second virtual reality environment;
• determining if the detected position of the second player member is a desired position of the second player member, wherein the desired position of the second player member may comprise any position within the second virtual reality environment;
• altering the display of the second virtual reality environment to encourage the second player member to move toward a second desired position of the second player member within the second virtual reality environment responsive to a determination that the detected position of the second player member is not the desired position of the second player member;
• determining if the second virtual reality environment play area has not been vacated by the second virtual reality player group;
• responsive to a determination that the second virtual reality player group has not vacated the second virtual reality environment play area, preventing entry of the first virtual reality player group into the second virtual reality environment play area from the first virtual reality environment play area, wherein the step of preventing further comprises:
• displaying the first virtual reality environment to the first virtual reality player group;
• preventing the first virtual reality player group from entering the central transport area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area using the first virtual reality environment;
• determining if the second virtual reality environment play area has been vacated by the second virtual reality player group;
• responsive to a determination that the second virtual reality player group has vacated the second virtual reality environment play area, enabling entry of the first virtual reality player group into the second virtual reality environment play area from the first virtual reality environment play area, wherein the step of enabling entry further comprises:
• directing the first virtual reality player group to the central transport area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area using the first virtual reality environment;
• determining that the first virtual reality player group has entered the central transport area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area;
• displaying the second virtual reality environment to the first virtual reality player group;
• and
• directing the first virtual reality player group to the second virtual reality environment play area using the second virtual reality environment.

A system for controlling player movement within a fixed virtual reality play area, comprising:

• a plurality of panels defining a virtual reality play area;
• a transport area associated with the virtual reality play area;
• a virtual reality system for displaying a virtual reality environment to players, wherein the virtual reality system:
• divides the virtual reality play area defined by the plurality of panels into a plurality of virtual reality environment play areas numbering at least three, each of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas comprising an associated portion of the virtual reality play area;
• defines a central transport area disposed such that it is adjacent to each of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas in the virtual reality play area;
• maps the virtual reality play area and each of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas and the central transport area onto an associated mapped portion of a physical area;
• associates a first virtual reality player group with a first virtual reality environment play area of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas, the first virtual reality player group including at least one player member;
• displays a first virtual reality environment to the first virtual reality player group, the first virtual reality environment limited to the first virtual reality environment play area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area, wherein boundaries of the first virtual reality environment are within boundaries of the first virtual reality environment play area;
• associates a second virtual reality player group with a second virtual reality environment play area of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas, the second virtual reality player group including at least one player member;
• displays a second virtual reality environment to the second virtual reality player group, the second virtual reality environment limited to the second virtual reality environment play area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area, wherein boundaries of the second virtual reality environment are within boundaries of the second virtual reality environment play area;
• directs the second virtual reality player group from the second virtual reality environment play area to a third virtual reality environment play area through a central transport area;
• determines if the second virtual reality environment play area has been vacated by the second virtual reality player group;
• responsive to a determination that the second virtual reality player group has not vacated the second virtual reality environment play area, prevents entry of the first virtual reality player group into the second virtual reality environment play area from the first virtual reality environment play area, wherein the process of preventing further comprises:
• displays the first virtual reality environment to the first virtual reality player group;
• prevents the first virtual reality player group from entering the central transport area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area using the first virtual reality environment;
• responsive to a determination that the second virtual reality player group has vacated the second virtual reality environment play area, enables entry of the first virtual reality player group into the second virtual reality environment play area from the first virtual reality environment play area, wherein the process of enabling entry further comprises:
• displays the first virtual reality environment to the first virtual reality player group;
• directs the first virtual reality player group to the central transport area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area using the first virtual reality environment;
• determines that the first virtual reality player group has entered the central transport area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area;
• displays the second virtual reality environment to the first virtual reality player group;
• and
• directs the first virtual reality player group to the second virtual reality environment play area from the central transport area and the associated mapped portion of the physical area using the second virtual reality environment.