Get ready for Spielberg’s upcoming VR-inspired blockbuster with a handful of experiences coming to VR arcades, Viveport and SteamVR.
We’re just three weeks away from the release of Steven Spielberg’s highly-anticipated film adaptation of Ernest Cline’s legendary science fiction novel Ready Player One and things are heating up. The Warner Bros. marketing team has been working overtime ensuring every human being on Earth sees one of the films visually-stunning commercial trailers along with a surplus of other various promotional content.
We’ve also been treated to a Aech’s Garage, a gorgeous VR experience for the HTC Vive that gave fans the thrill of exploring the pop culture mecca. However after learning almost a year ago about a partnership between Warner Bros. and HTC Vive to bring massive amounts of Ready Player One-inspired VR content to Vive headsets, fans have patiently been waiting for their long-promised wave of content.
Well rejoice, for Vive has finally made good on its promise with the announcement of a whopping eight Ready Player One VR experiences debuting at this year’s infamous SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Here’s what lucky attendees can expect starting tomorrow when the festivities officially kick-off:
Rise of The Gunters
“Fight against a nearly invincible army of highly trained IOI Sixers. Proceed with caution as you defeat Sixers, collect their coins, find power ups and survive a merciless onslaught of hyper-explosive kinetic action for as long as it takes. The OASIS is yours. Take it back. Battle the IOI by yourself or with up to two fellow Gunters!” Developer: Drifter Entertainment, Inc.
Ready Player One: Avatar Creator
“People come to the OASIS for all the things they can do, but they stay for all the things they can be. With millions of permutations, the Avatar Creator lets you create your own highly detailed OASIS persona. Share your custom Avatar with friends and fellow Gunters.” Developer: Morph3D.
Battle for the OASIS
“Help to save the OASIS by defeating waves of IOI Sixers. Advance through the trenches of Planet Doom towards the snowy planes that surround Anorak’s Castle. With an arsenal only possible in the OASIS, you must stop IOI from gaining control.” Developer: Steel Wool Studios
Smash
“Enhance your hand and eye coordination in this nod to OASIS creator James Halliday’s favorite `80s arcade games.” Developer: 2 Bears Studio
Gauntlet
“Navigate through a seemingly endless dungeon while the undead seek to destroy you. Collecting Gold will improve your score and eating food will restore your health, but only your bow skills will ensure that you make it out alive.” Developer: Directive Games
Aech’s Garage
“Walk into the extraordinary world of Aech’s Garage in VR as interpreted from the original ILM design for Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One.” Inspired by the virtual universe of the OASIS in 2045, Aech’s Garage represents the culmination of VR as it exists in the year 2018.” Developer: Sansar
The Distracted Globe Music Experience in TheWaveVR
“Step inside the fantastical space inspired by The Distracted Globe zero-gravity dance club scene from “Ready Player One.” TheWaveVR experience will let anyone immerse themselves in the dance club scene with specially designed avatars,`80s visuals and music, plus the ability to fly to the music in zero gravity. Available at SXSW, in participating VR arcades across the country, and on the TheWaveVR’s free app on Steam in the U.S. on March 9.” Developer: TheWaveVR
Fracture
“Heighten your spatial awareness and reflexes in this throwback to` 80s brick smasher games reimagined in VR.” Developer: 2 Bears Studio
“’Ready Player One’ has inspired both the current and future state of the VR industry and Vive is in a unique position to deliver on the promise of VR today,” said Joel Breton, GM of Vive Studios. “We’ve brought together a group of our favorite developers to bring content inspired by ‘Ready Player One’ to life in a way that resonates with audiences long after they have left the theater.”
Many of these experiences will roll out first at SXSW and select VR arcades across the U.S. No access to the festival or an arcade? All good. All eight experiences will be free to download to personal Vive headsets later this month.
