How To Run In Virtual Reality
And not smack your face into a wall
You can tell stories in Virtual Reality that you can’t tell anywhere else.
Directors are making movies in VR.
Game companies are making games in VR.
Theater companies are even performing theater in VR, and allowing the audience to log in (and participate!) from far away.
Imagine the deep, branching narratives that will unfold.
We’re Going to Look at Stories in a New Way
My favorite VR games are Robo Recall, Super Hot, Beat Saber, and Vader Immortal.
I like those games because of the muscle action. The movement feels right. It feels like you’re really there.
But I like Vader Immortal because it has a story that delves into Darth Vader’s pain, his motivations, and what he does in his big bad lair when no one is looking.
Here’s a look at how Robo Recall sucks you in with their storytelling:
Could we make a full novel in VR?
I think the more important question is, could we make it intriguing enough, and immersive enough, that you’d want to spend hours upon hours in the headset to find out what happens next?
Virtual Reality Comes Down to Play Mechanics
Virtual Reality has a lot of problems to solve. Smacking into walls. How do you walk? Nausea. Heck, my son’s friend put a hole in our TV when he threw the controller at it. “Darth Vader was right there, so I had to get him with my lightsaber,” is how he told it.
Well, at least we know VR feels real.
When I play VR, I want to explore worlds. I want to roam. VR can put you into worlds, but it can’t let you wander around them naturally. You’ll smack into a wall. Or your couch. Or your TV (oops).
Zero Latency
Until now.
I’ve been investigating Zero Latency, a free roam VR solution. I am actually considering owning a location so everyone can come and play.
It’s the size of a basketball court, so you can run from the zombies and dodge their attacks. I found myself ducking behind walls and cars so I could get a better angle with my sniper rifle. Warning lights flash when you’re getting close to the walls, but for the most part, I found myself staying near the center.
Take that zombies!
Now imagine that you can wander around The Shire, or explore the Upside Down. That would feel truly cool and creepy.
It opens up the possibility to explore, which is the true potential of VR.
When we can truly BE in a new place, VR is going to reformat the way we think about stories, and stories rewire how we think about the world.
We’re Working on Something Big
We're about to announce the biggest Virtual Reality Experience Future House Studios has ever worked with one of our favorite stories of all time.
I got to art direct it. I got to be there early on to help create the ideas behind the story and game.
I’m teasing this here for you all before we announce it, since you’re in my inner circle.
Can you guess what it is?
A few hints:
You all know the books, the movies, the toys, the comics that go with this IP.
It's a multi-billion dollar, international IP.
2-3 of our crew worked on the film before they joined Future House. I did too.
One of our internal toy experts (Ryan Bird) was instrumental in executing this IP according to the IP holder's rigorous specs (you've got to respect tradition!)
This VR experience will be available in over 150 locations across the USA.
Put your guess in the comments, or tell me what your favorite VR game is.
See you in the future.
Adam Sidwell
Creative Director
Future House Publishing & Future House Studios
And Another Thing…
Sword of the Week: Sword of Judgement. This is Optimus Prime’s personal sword in Age of Extinction.
Optimus Prime retrieved the sword, reconfiguring his appearance to resemble the ancient Guardian Knights, and used it to free the Dinobots captive aboard the ship.
Book Recommendation: Back in the Game, book 2 in the Dream State Saga. Read Book 1 if you haven’t yet.
Join the conversation: Next week is San Diego Comic Con. I’m going (probably). Come talk about it and see a pic of a past Comic Con here.
I get very motion sick, so I've been hesitant to try VR. I recently had a chance to try it out and was blown away! I played Beat Saber and haven't been able to stop thinking about trying it again. Not sure how I'd do with a game where you run around, but I'm excited to see how technology develops to combat nausea/motion issues.
Teenage mutant ninja turtles