Alexandre Regeffe created the first virtual reality pinball machine with a group of friends.
Crédits photos : Flipper VR
In the world of virtual reality gaming, it seems like everything has been done… or almost! Back in 2019, a group of friends dreamed of bringing pinball into VR. Six years later, their dream has become a reality, and their French-made digital pinball machine is now available on the market. We spoke with Alexandre Regeffe, co-founder of FlipperVR, who shared insights into the creation, development, and future of his company. He will be showcasing Flipper VR at Laval Virtual from April 9-11, 2025.
Can you share some of your personal background? What brought you to virtual reality?
Personally, I come from the television and audiovisual world, where I worked for 25 years. Then in 2015, I was asked to record a concert in 360. That’s when I got my first taste of virtual reality. I created a content production company to make content for 360 platforms such as ARTE 360. At this time, platforms like Facebook and Google needed 360-degree contents, as they had integrated the ability to play immersive films. I kept this business going until 2018, when the hype around 360 video came to an end. Many people turned away from this format for technical reasons, so requests dropped off and I stopped my business to start providing technical services.
The quick evolution of the immersive sector requires you to have several strings to your bow.
Yes, I do. I provide technical services through my company Rshift, including shooting and post-production of immersive films. In addition, I write articles on virtual reality for specialized magazines, including an annual review of the Laval Virtual exhibition. I also do training in partnership with INA [ed: the French National Audiovisual Institute] and I produce immersive experiences. Our experience “Le Haut Feu” won the jury’s “Coup de Coeur” last year at Laval Virtual. Finally, the last string to my bow is Flipper VR.
A few words about the Flipper VR adventure. How did this project get off the ground?
Flipper VR is first and foremost a buddy story. In 2019, at the Paris Air Show, during a discussion with friends who are also producers of virtual reality experiences via their Tarbes-based agency Otidea, we exchanged ideas and desires to make a game.
Together, we went back through our childhood memories and came up with the idea of pinball, an iconic game from the 80s and 90s that brought back strong memories of our teenage years. So we decided to create a pinball 2.0 game with virtual reality. After 6 months, we presented our first prototype at a trade show in Paris. In 2020, the Covid slowed us down, but also enabled us to complete the development of our game. In 2023, we brought our digital pinball machine to market.
How do you play pinball in virtual reality?
Our digital pinball machine looks like a traditional pinball machine from the outside, only there’s a PC inside. The game board, i.e. the mechanical part, is replaced by a screen. The player puts on a virtual reality headset and is transported into a virtual environment, facing the digital twin of the physical pinball machine. The two versions are synchronized. The player uses the controls of the classic pinball machine, that is, the buttons on each side, except that he or she is playing in a virtual world. This opens up infinite gameplay possibilities! This pinball machine was born of a bit of a joke, but above all of a touch of nostalgia. Today, we’re proud of this achievement, because we’ve succeeded in developing a functional machine that’s available for sale.
Who are you targeting with this VR pinball machine?
Individuals are very interested in our pinball machine of the future. You wouldn’t believe it, but it’s a very active market! In the 90s, pinball machines took over bars. Today, the market has shifted to the home. In fact, 95% of customers are private individuals who buy pinball machines to put in their homes. So our VR pinball machine can appeal to these collectors, who can have several machines in one.
Besides, it’s a very accessible experience for the general public. Unlike other VR experiences, there’s no need for explanations. When I put the headset on someone’s head, they understand how it works instinctively. But we’re also aiming to put pinball back into operation, i.e. in arcades. For example, we’ve put a pinball machine on trial at DreamAway in Paris. And we have a third clientele which is more BtoB oriented.
How can professionals exploit the potential of your VR pinball machine?
One of our specialties is the ability to customize our pinball machines, both the physical machine and the virtual environment. So, when you put on the headset, you can find yourself in a company’s factory or at a brand’s fashion show. We can also customize the game itself to represent a brand’s universe. We’re getting more and more requests of this kind, particularly from the events sector. Bringing a virtual reality pinball machine to an event creates a buzz. We’re at Laval Virtual this year to show companies the potential of our VR pinball machine.
Your VR pinball machine is made in France. Is it important for you to promote “Made in France” in this business?
Our pinball machines are 100% French-designed. We manufacture the outer case in our workshops. The software development inside is also made in France. And we use our own game engine called Flipper VR Engine. This is an important aspect for us. Our aim is not necessarily to industrialize, but to continue to promote quality, local craftwork. Above all, our Made in France approach enables us to respond rapidly to the demands of our French customers, particularly when it comes to customization. I think this sets us apart from other companies in this sector, which are mainly American.
Speaking of the United States, it’s well known that along with Asia, they’re market leaders in the production of VR equipment. Do you think France can find its place and be competitive?
In my opinion, it’s a political issue. The skills exist in France, and more widely in Europe. For example, I’m thinking of a brand like Lynx, which has created a French mixed reality headset. Unfortunately, manufacturers lack funding. They are forced to go to the United States or Asia to develop. Lynx founder Stan Larroque has written an open letter on the subject. In France, we need to be able to benefit from investments that match our national ambitions, which is still too rarely the case in the immersive sector. It’s a shame, because the intellectual capacity is there.
In any case, we can’t wait to discover and try out this VR pinball machine at Laval Virtual!
Yes, it’s important to come and try. You have to test our pinball machine to really appreciate the experience. Generally speaking, when we put the headset on players’ faces, they’re quite pleasantly surprised. We’re bringing two pinball machines to Laval Virtual, and everyone is welcome to try and get the best score over the three days.
What does the future hold for Flipper VR?
Our next objective is to move forward with the creation of new tables and to bring even more innovations, as we’re doing by connecting two machines to play player versus player. It’s quite unusual for two people to play on a pinball machine, but we want to innovate even further! That’s the advantage of digital technology: you can do anything. We also aim to develop an ecosystem, the Flipper VR Family, to create a social link between players. In fact, there are already e-sport leagues based around pinball. My colleagues and I have a team and we take part in professional tournaments that compete in the international IFPA rankings. Our next priority will be to develop this social networking aspect.
