Virtual reality isn't a sci-fi dream in Sevier County anymore.
Virtual Villains is a brand new virtual reality arcade in Sevierville. Co-owners Matthew and Alem Wickham, who have lived in Sevier County for most of their lives, wanted to bring their passions to a place they call home.
"With my dream to be a business owner and her dream to bring a new attraction to the town, this was kind of a no-brainer for us," said Matthew Wickham.
The arcade offers more than 20 games for people to play, ranging from simple tasks to first-person shooters and sporting events.
"We transport people to other realities, and that sounds a little farfetched, but when you come in and you put on the headset, it's like when you're five years old and see magic for the first time," said Wickham.
The virtual reality market is on the rise. One study shows in 2017, for the first time ever, one million headsets were sold in one business quarter. It's due, in large part, to a reduction of price from companies like Sony and Facebook.
The Wickhams hope to target both tourists and those that live in the area.
"Unless you're from New York City or Chicago or Miami or Las Vegas or L.A., chances are, you're not going to have something like this in your hometown," said Wickham. "So this is something that you're not going to find anywhere else as a tourist."
Virtual Villains emphasizes virtual reality has come a long way. You may not even recognize it.
"The difference between VR now and past iterations of it, is very similar to, kind of like, the newest Apple iPhone versus the old cell phones you used to have to carry around in a briefcase," said Wickham.
"The concept was there, but now it's actually possible to do."
For more information on Virtual Villains, you can visit their website.