Pac-Man Makes In-Flight Debut on New In-Flight Entertainment System, Virgin America’s Red Beta
Jackie Reddy June 15, 2015
With the debut of Red Beta, Virgin America is capitalizing on its reputation for consistent in-flight entertainment.
Virgin America has announced the beta launch of its Red in-flight entertainment system. The Android-based platform, created in partnership with Panasonic, will debut on three of the carrier’s aircraft later this month. The system will feature a number of enhancements, including higher resolution capacitive screens that allow passengers to pinch, swipe and zoom in on their seatback monitors.
In a statement on its blog, Virgin explained that the refresh “allows us to make faster improvements in the short-term to our in-flight entertainment platform — and in the long-term, will make it possible for us to further connect, personalize and expand Red in entirely new ways.”
Red Beta can host up to three times more content, so passengers will be able to watch full seasons of popular shows like The Walking Dead, House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Virgin America has also coordinated with California-based company Dysonics to bring passengers a 3D in-flight sound experience.
This particular enhancement will be available fleetwide on both the carrier’s classic Red and Red Beta entertainment systems, including on the films Insurgent and Run All Night as well as on HBO’s Game of Thrones. Red Beta also features interactive maps and a wider selection of games, including old school favorites like Pac-Man and Atari’s Asteroids.
Speaking of the launch, Paul Margis, President and Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic Avionics Corporation said, “The result of our first collaboration with Virgin America was the award-winning Red system. It set a new standard in many ways. The new Red Beta platform is a natural evolution, and proof of the platform’s ability to grow with changing technology and market demands.”
Ken Bieler, Director of Cabin Systems, Product Design & Innovation at Virgin America further explained that the carrier’s, “…intent is to build a next generation of Red that again breaks the mold for the industry – and that offers our travelers an even richer, more interactive experience.”
Red Beta will be outfitted onto 18 aircraft by the end of this year, with roll out continuing onto the rest of the carrier’s fleet into 2016.
[Photo: Virgin America; Video: Virgin America YouTube]
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"screens that allow passengers to pinch, swipe and zoom in on their seatback monitors." I can just feel how well these features are going to go over with the passengers who have to incur the a game player.