UploadVR: “Jigsaw Night & VR Villa Partner To Introduce Hundreds Of People To VR”

One started with the plan of a simple jigsaw app to play in VR with his son. The other turned an online chopstick business into a free-to-play VR gaming initiative.

March's Jigsaw Nationals in downtown Atlanta, Georgia was the largest event the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association has ever put on. 1,800 competitors and 3,000 people in total visited the event over the late March weekend.

When I arrived to the event, I made a beeline for the second floor where jigsaw puzzle exhibitors were selling their work. Tucked in the back left corner of the floor was VR Villa's setup, a VR free play station with dozens of Quest headsets, battery backups, and wide-eyed jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts discovering VR for the first time through their existing shared passion. This is where I met Steve Lukas from ContractXR, the developer of Jigsaw Night, and Jeff Basladynski, the owner of VR Villa.

During my time there, I watched dozens of jigsaw competitors experience Jigsaw Night (and VR) for the first time, competing in speed competitions, working together, and most importantly, smiling and having fun. Some of the comments I overheard:

• "I was always afraid VR would make me sick, but this is great. I feel fine."

• "I could do puzzles with my dad. He lives out on the West Coast and can't travel, so we never see each other."

• "It's so responsive and seeing all the pieces in the air around me is just... wow!"

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