Of course, we had to go and check one out for ourselves. In London, we walked to the back of Currys PC World -- the same location that houses the Google Store -- and found a small area cordoned off with enormous Vive posters. A HTC employee took us through three games -- Job Simulator, Google's Tilt Brush and Space Pirate Trainer -- for roughly 15 minutes. (Your experience might vary if there's a long queue in the store). Once we finished the taster, there was an opportunity to ask questions about the Vive's PC requirements and the physical space that's needed to play.

While you can pre-order a Vive, that's not the sole purpose of the booth. The demonstrations will, for many people, be their first exposure to VR, so there's also an educational aspect. If Vive is to succeed, HTC needs to show what a premium VR experience is capable of, and why it's worth £689. It's a tough ask, but if virtual reality is going to take off, it's these hands-on experiences that will ultimately prove and sell the concept to skeptics.