Chris Hall loves to entertain people, and he loves gaming. He thinks tech is cool and he wanted to start a business that would be completely different. As the founder of Manitoba’s first VR entertainment company (and Canada’s third), he hit the mark.
Chris’ first company, Portal VR, was an instant hit in Winnipeg, with about 20 virtual reality games to choose from. Customers could battle zombies, train to be a space pirate or design their dream vacation. This wasn’t just gaming, this was full-on immersion!
But in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit it became obvious that a business model where customers use headsets that go right on their faces was going to have a serious downside. The business closed, and while Chris was home running Daddy Daycare, he spent some time deciding what would be next.
In his research, Chris discovered a fully programmable robot with omnidirectional movement and multiple battle modes. It’s a highly versatile, maneuverable robot that makes playing fun, challenging and exciting. Pair them up with a system that enables them to operate remotely at fast speeds and with low reaction times and you’ve got something amazing.
So Portal VR was renamed Portal Bots and robot wars suddenly got real!
Since the pandemic began Portal Bots has been operating online, offering robot races, free-for-all battles and strategy games, with live, driver-view images beamed straight to the players’ laptops. As social distancing restrictions wind down, Portal Bots is closer to offering in-person play at their Winnipeg location.
Portal Bots has six robots that operate on a course complete with obstacles and a ramp. On this course it’s possible to race your opponents at breakneck speeds, fire laser beams at them in all-out battle or explore and discover in strategic team games; the robots can do it all and players can make it happen from their own laptops.
As long as your system meets the <requirements> you can play Portal Bots from anywhere in North America.
Your team members don’t even have to be in the same location to play, so it’s a great solution for parties or celebrations where friends or family members can’t get together, or for corporate events where employees work from home, or divisions are based in different cities.
As the pandemic winds down, Portal Bots is winding up to reintroduce in-person games at their Winnipeg location. Coming soon!
What an amazing way to celebrate a birthday, engagement, special event, or even just a Wednesday! Portal Bots is a great group activity, especially when it’s hard to get people together.
In these days of telecommuting and distributed workforces, the traditional workplace has changed. Colleagues are no longer always up the corridor. Whether it’s a fun event designed to bring employees together or a team-building exercise to teach cooperation, we’re sure Portal Bots is the most exciting, unique event you’ll ever have put on!
Meet the mastermind behind Portal Bots! Get to know Chris Hall, CEO and creative visionary, and learn how his cutting-edge virtual team building experiences are revolutionizing remote work. Discover how real-life robots can bring your team together and create a sense of comradery from anywhere in the world. From laser tag to robot soccer, experience competitive and interactive games like never before. Explore Chris’s passion for entertainment and creativity, and join the Portal Bots movement today!
The robots are real, the thrill is intense, and you’re in control as you race and battle robots, in real time, from your computer.
