Ever fancied stepping into a real-life hoot-’em-up video game, but without actually losing your life if you die?
Yas Mall's newest venue, Tasleeh Entertainment, brings virtual reality to life with an authentic battle zone based on the popular Call of Duty series of video games, where you can become a war hero with your army of friends.
Protective masks, gloves and vests are worn within the Battlezone to prevent the small Airsoft plastic bullets from causing any harm.
Tasleeh was founded by Salem Al Matroushi. “I wanted to take kids away from their video games,” says the 37-year-old Emirati. “Mine are always on their iPhones and iPads. This enables young people to do it for real, with the same rush of adrenaline that the video game gives them, but in a safe atmosphere. It keeps them fit and makes them think in different ways.”
Al Matroushi had the idea after the UAE government decided to make military service mandatory for Emiratis.
“I want to educate people about how to use rifles in a safe environment, where you’re not shooting real ammunition,” he says.
Although there are similar attractions in the United States and Europe, Al Matroushi says his 30,000-square-foot venue, which combines a battle zone and shooting ranges with a store and a cafe, is something new.
“In other countries, people play shooting games in a forest or a hangar,” he says. “This is the first time it has been done in a shopping mall.”
Tasleeh is Yas Mall’s second virtual reality-themed attraction – Ipilot, which opened last year, offers thrill-seekers the chance to find out what it feels like to fly a passenger jet.
Tasleeh is on the first floor of Yas Mall, near Home Centre. To enter the Battlezone, a card is purchased and topped up with credit for bullets. The minimum Dh120 fee gets you eight rounds of ammunition in the short-range shooting area.
Tasleeh employee Kingsley Dominic, from Nigeria, shows us his James Bond-style shooting skills by hitting all of his targets in less than six seconds.
The gun provided is an M4A1 rifle from the US. It is fairly light, and when it fires, there’s more of a reassuring “ping” than an ear-splitting bang.
"Shooting moving targets in the long range makes you feel like you're a sniper," says Dominic. There's also a mazelike shooting course boasting a sandy desert-themed section, where groups of pals can run around hitting as many targets as they can in 60 seconds, just as though they were playing a video game, while five giant screens project Call of Duty-style combat scenes. Military-style netting, artificial foliage and graffiti art enhance the warlike atmosphere, and there's an upstairs gallery from which to watch the fight unfold below.
Domini says he has been busy since Taleeh opened three months ago. “It’s been very popular,” he says. “We’ve definitely had lots of young military-service guys coming in. There’s an ongoing Ramadan competition – we give them training until Sunday, then the actual competition is from Sunday to July 7.”
Tasleeh is offering a first prize of Dh15,000 and a 50 per cent discount on shooting credit. The contest costs Dh200 to enter.
After letting off some steam, Tasleeh customers can browse hunting gear in the store or enjoy a shot of caffeine at the aptly titled Kalashnikov Cafe. This branch of a popular Moscow cafe has a menu featuring military-themed food and drinks, such as the explosive espresso and the AK-47 chocolate cake.
With so many all-too-real battles being fought in other parts of the world, blurring the lines between virtual reality and real-life warfare might seem insensitive or disturbing to some.
But Al Matroushi says his entertainment centre is equipping young people with valuable skills.
“The activities will also sharpen leadership skills, strategy and self-confidence,” he says. “It’s not just about shooting, there’s so much you can integrate into it.”
Tasleeh has also signed up with Dubai-based training company Gameplan to provide corporate team-building activities.
“My eldest son is 11,” says Al Matroushi. “He enjoys coming in and helping out with the customers.”
Ali Alkhezaimy, 20, an Emirati engineering student at UAE University, has been coming to Tasleeh Entertainment every week since it opened. “I used to work with an M16 rifle at school during my military training,” he says. “These are the M4s, which are similar. I think this place is the future of military training.”
• Purchasing a card for a minimum of Dh120 gets you 120 credits to use in the firing range (it includes eight rounds of 15 bullets each in the short range; four rounds in the long range; and five rounds on the shooting course. Battlezone access is separate and costs Dh150 for 30 minutes. The minimum age for the firing ranges is 10 and 14 for the Battlezone
artslife@thenational.ae
