Such is the speed at which video games have advanced over the past few decades, it can be tricky to keep track of developments.

Reporter Max Chesson dropped by Ashford’s new virtual reality gaming centre to test the tech which could help revolutionise how we play.

I’ll be honest, I thought virtual reality was going to fizzle out pretty quickly.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s incredibly cool and can be a very valuable resource but I just didn’t find myself convinced.

However, bigger and better minds than mine have felt this alternative form of gaming is worth the big bucks and with a new business set to move into Kent dedicated to the art of VR, I felt it was about time I saw what all the fuss was about.

Virtual Recreation – also known as VRec – is the latest addition to Elwick Place in Ashford, a £75m leisure complex that opened off the ring-road in 2018.

The decor itself is simple but clean and inviting with eight booths and a free-roam area filling the majority of the space of the unit.

An hour in the booth at peak time will cost £24.95, reduced by £5 for off-peak times, with offers of more than 30 games to choose from.

There are also party packages complete with food, drinks and air hockey which can be booked via the phone number on the Virtual Recreation website.

Keen to get underway in this alternate universe I took my place and let the staff kit me up with a headset and two handheld controllers.

The first thing I tried was a basketball-inspired mini-game, partly to get the hang of the controls and partly because I always felt I might be alright at basketball if I ever actually tried it.

It was either harder than expected or my aim was simply terrible because I don’t think I managed to get two baskets in a row – there goes my NBA dream.

There were three game modes: easy, hard and garbage – which is where you simply throw bits of rubbish into bins.

I actually did slightly better on the harder version of the game but realistically anyone with half-decent aim will do well – and it’s a fun mini-workout.

I also made the leaderboard – probably because I was the first non-staff member to try it, but you take the wins where you can get them in this life.

Next up, looking to break free from the shackles of organised sports, I took on an open-world adventure where you take on the role of a flying firefighter.

This is where the movements made in the headset began to mess with my body slightly.

I’d go to land on top of a building where there’s yet another fire only to slightly overshoot it, fall and instinctively go to grab something or brace for impact.

Of course, when I do this with my feet firmly on the floor I can only really go over forwards or backwards – if only I could just remember to stand still.

But I think this is part of the fun and I spend more time than I thought exploring these mysterious new worlds.

Using cutting-edge technology, it’s not quite as realistic as the AI that seems to dominate conversation these days but the graphics certainly are charming.

It also brings out the inner five-year-old in me – though that spirit never went too far – as I live out the ultimate dream of being able to fly.

Taking a break to return to reality, I sat down and spoke to Jackie Dawes, the mastermind behind the new venture.

For Jackie, this is the realisation of a dream years in the making – a desire to spend more time in her hometown with her eight-year-old son rather than spend hours commuting to London.

With a beaming smile and a proud sparkle in the eye, Jackie tells how she came to fall in love with VR – so much so that she left working at universities behind to take the leap.

“During lockdown, it was so nice to be at home not having to travel into London every day so it really hit hard when I had to start doing it again,” she said.

“I had my eye on this place for a while, it was unavailable but somewhere down the line someone pulled out and I jumped at the chance to be here.

“I first tried virtual reality with my son and we both loved it. We’ve got some of the best technology in the country and there really is something for everyone.

“It’s taken a year or so to get everything ready but really for years I’ve been ready to be home a bit more – and I can’t wait to get started.”

Filling the gap left behind by Macknade, Virtual Recreation could possibly play quite a big part in transforming Elwick Place into the destination it was envisaged to be when council bosses first proposed the idea.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say the £75 million project hasn’t quite taken off yet – no doubt suffering from the usual suspects of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.

Yet this breath of fresh air into the heart of Ashford could prove to be just what is needed to attract people to the town – the nearest venues like this are believed to be in North Kent.

And with a bit of neighbourly spirit – VRec has already partnered up with Matches Sports Bar next door to provide food for parties – who knows what could be possible for both Virtual Recreation and Elwick Place.

All I know is this is a genuinely fine addition to the town’s portfolio and long may it stay. It could very well be the catalyst the place needs.

In terms of the tech used, VRec has HTC Vice Pro 2 headsets in the arcade booths, and HTC Vive Focus 3s in the arena.