In 2016 HTC launched the first ever Viveport Developer Awards (VDAs), acknowledging the best virtual reality (VR) experiences available on the platform. Now the company has opened submissions for the second VDAs, looking to award prizes across a range of categories.
Almost any type of app can be entered, so long as it’s already live on Viveport or submitted before 9th February. The five categories being considered are: Entertainment, Education, Arts & Culture, Enterprise and Arcade. So the experience can be something that teaches new skills, can be used for location-based entertainment or contributes to the knowledge and enjoyment of cultural heritage.
There are some significant prizes on offer with the first prize winner taking home $50,000 USD. They’ll also be featured in a studio profile video produced by HTC Vive, get priority access to new developer hardware and of course, a shiny trophy. For those that don’t snag first place, coming in second will still get them $20,000 to spend.
Entering is fairly easy. All you need to do is submit your title for publication on Viveport via the Developer Console. As mentioned, the app doesn’t need to be live just submitted for publishing by the closing date, 9th February. Don’t forget to look at the VDAs FAQ page for further details on submitting an app and eligibility.
The first awards saw Fantastic Contraption, by Northway Games claim first place in the Create category, Apollo 11 VR, by Immersive VR Education Ltd win the Explore category, Cloudlands: VR Minigolf by Futuretown won Connect, while Allumette by Penrose Studios secured the Experience category.
Today has also seen HTC officially launch its first standalone headset, the Vive Focus in China, with shipments now being sent out to pre-order customers. Over 40 titles have been confirmed for day one release as well as a new funding initiative to help startups in the field. As HTC Vive continues to grow its VR business, VRFocus will keep you updated.