Bronx video game designer launches VR boxing league
Boxing Apocalypse’s arcade machine and VR headsets to allow players to be fully immersed in its fast-paced,
action-packed gameplay. Photo courtesy of Gotham City Films, LLC
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 38 UNE 14-20, 2019 BTR
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BY ROBERT WIRSING
A Bronx video game designer’s
fi rst-of-its-kind video game
boxing league is bound to be a
‘knockout’ with gamers.
Pelham Bay native Mario
Simone has launched the
fi rst-ever virtual reality boxing
esports league, ‘The Boxing
Apocalypse Virtual Fight
Club.’
The arcade style VR combat
game, ‘Boxing Apocalypse,’ created
by Simone and published
by his LA-based production
company, Gotham City Films,
is a virtual reality boxing simulator
that allows two players
to battle head to head in a virtual
arena in a bare-knuckle
boxing style.
Players use VR headsets to
allow themselves to become
fully immersed in Boxing
Apocalypse’s fast-paced, action
packed gameplay.
An avid gamer, Simone recently
played in a Fortnite
Tournament at HyperX esports
arena during his trip to Las Vegas.
He was inspired to evolve a
popular sport like boxing and
bring it into a virtual competitive
arena for all types of people
to compete without injury.
“It’s really a great way to
bring the masses together to
have them share in the excitement
of fi ghting,” he expressed.
Esports refers to a form of
competition using video games
between professional players,
individually or in teams.
In the current decade, esports
have become a signifi cant
factor in the video game industry
with many developers consciously
designing their games
toward a professional esports
subculture.
Fans can currently test
their pugilistic skills and join
a team at the e-league’s fi rst offi
cial location, Sportime USA
at 380 Saw Mill River Road in
Elmsford, NY.
Boxing Apocalypse will be
installed at FunFuzion at 29
Lecount Place in New Rochelle,
NY in late June.
Simone is also working
with Caesars in Atlantic City
to open an additional e-league
there this summer.
Each location sets its own
price for players to play the
game, most of them charging
between $8 to $10 per person,
per fi ght.
Anyone can visit any location
with a Boxing Apocalypse
arcade machine and register
for a monthly membership.
Packages are established by
each location, but usually include
practice time and tournament
competition.
Each location sets its own
general guidelines, however
anyone 10-years-old and older
are welcome to play.
Sportime USA will host
weekly competitions and prize
giveaways starting in June.
The Boxing Apocalypse
Virtual Fight Club will soon be
available at local arcades, bowling
alleys, family fun centers,
casinos and additional nationwide
locations.
The professional esports
league is expected to be added
in the next 12 to 18 months and
will allow esports professional
and regulated fi ghters to compete.
Simone is planning to have
tournaments held at each location
with the winners advancing
to the nationwide competition.
The professional league will
be available for sports betting
at legal sports betting locations
throughout the nation.
All e-league updates, new locations
and tournaments will
be announced on its Instagram
page @boxingapocalypse.