User:Conn Man/wip

  • Creating a future VWE extensive edit
For the software run on the location based simulator pods, see BattleTech: Firestorm.

Company Description[edit]

Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan Virtual World Entertainment, LLC (VWE) was a supplier of attractions to the location-based entertainment industry. Virtual World Entertainment, INC founded and owned by Tim Disney had produced and distributed the original gaming cockpits since 1990.

BattleTech Cockpit Simulator Pods[edit]

VWE's gaming cockpits provide gamers the opportunity to play the part of a MechWarrior piloting a virtual BattleMech in networked combat with other players.
=== System 1 ===
Initial development began with Amiga home computers. This direction was abandoned in favor of the TRW chipset. The graphic system had a screen resolution of 320x200 on both primary and secondary displays. Primary display had a max of 64,000 colors on screen. Total color palette of 16 million. Secondary screen had a max of 16 colors with total palette of 4096. System memory was 34.5 MB of RAM.
A max of 19,000 game sprites were stored in 32MB of cockpit memory. Geometry engine performed hardware scaling in real time. Mirroring, warping, flips, and keystones were calculated. Each sprite was assigned a color from a palette of 256. Palettes assigned depending on type, location, and situation.
User Interface Hardware included a pair of 8 position joysticks with three triggers each, one analog throttle, two analog footpedals, 60 momentary switches, 8 momentary rocker switches, a 16 button keypad, a 32 segment LCD bar graph, and 128 LED alphanumeric displays with 14 segments each.
Released in 1990. No pods from this system still exist. All were destroyed after System 2 was implemented.
=== System 2 ===
1992
=== System 2.5 ===
=== System 3 ===
=== Tesla ===
1996
=== Tesla II ===
2002
The cockpits, featuring the BattleTech: Firestorm software, are fully-enclosed, arcade-style simulators featuring a main view screen that was projected through an optical beam splitter and mirror array for depth, 5.1 surround sound, two foot pedals, a throttle bar with reverse button, and a right-handed flight stick with four-way hat switch, three assignable triggers, and a multi-function button. All controls used optical encoders for durability. In addition to the main display are five multi-function displays (MFD's) that show info related to Targeting, Communications, Navigation, Armor, and Weapons. Each MFD has eight buttons for related controls. A secondary display below the main shows radar and map screens, speed and heat scales, and has twelve buttons for various controls. Each pod was powered by an Alienware Area 51 gaming rig with a Pentium 4 processor and multiple Nvidia graphics cards. The system includes a separate PC for staging missions (The Console), and one each for the Live Cameraship, and the Mission Review station.

Game Software[edit]

=== System 1 BattleTech ===
Developers: Environmental System Projects, Incredible Technologies
=== System 2 BattleTech ===
Developer: Virtual World Entertainment
=== System 3 BattleTech ===
Developer: Virtual World Entertainment
=== Tesla BattleTech ===
Developers: Virtual World Entertainment, FASA Interactive

BattleTech: Firestorm (Tesla II)[edit]

Main article: BattleTech: Firestorm

Battletech: Firestorm (BT:FS) is the software run on Virtual World Entertainment's (VWE) location based Tesla II simulator pods. The software was developed by VWE, FASA Studio, Cyberlore Studios, and Gameleap Inc. [1] The initial rollout was principally to various Dave & Busters (D&B) locations around the United States, with the first being D&B Chicago Gold Coast. [2]

BattleTech Centers[edit]

The BattleTech Pods were available as various retail centers across the United States. (See map for locations.) NOTICE: list of centers was updated May 2020.

BattleTech Pods at Conventions[edit]

BattleTech Pods travel throughout the year to various conventions across the United States. This convention tour listing provides upcoming venues. Further information for planning and scheduling of pods should be done through event organizers, with specific details found at the Con Organizers site.

Example Pod Media[edit]

Related Youtube videos[edit]

External Links[edit]


  1. ↑ BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction, Page 259
  2. ↑ VWE Press Release: "BattleTech: Firestorm Premieres at Dave & Busters Chicago Store"

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