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Local Store One Of The First To Offer Demonstrations Of New Virtual Reality Gadget

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's one of the most talked about virtual reality experiences out there: Oculus Rift.

And you can now try out the new headsets at a limited number of Best Buy stores, including the one in North Fayette.

People have been scheduling appointments for the demos because the demand is so great for a free try.

"That was something else!" said Mike Abraham from Robinson as he was taking off the headset after a demonstration.

"Being able to use your actual body and feel like you're inside the game changes everything," said Clayton Fadeley from Best Buy. "It's really exciting for any age."

KDKA's David Highfield tried it out.

The first scene during his experience was a cartoon forest that seems real: "What's neat about this, is it doesn't take long before you forget where you really are," said Highfield during the demonstration.

There are also two parts of the demo that get your blood pumping - one where a dinosaur roars at you and the other where you feel like you're on scaffolding high above a city.

They do provide a button to stop the demo if it becomes too intense.

"I liked that one 'cause it was realistic," said Abraham of the city scene.

The demo ends with a game where you feel like you're mountain climbing in the Himalayas.

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Highfield says the trick is not to look down, and he groaned a little in the store when he did.

While the demos are free, Oculus Rift is not: It costs $599. For more information on the technology, visit: https://www.oculus.com/en-us/

Best Buy says it has a "very limited" number of them for sale at stores that are doing the demos.

You also need a high-powered PC to run it.

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