Apelab – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

December 23, 2018

The VR Job Hub: Apelab, University of Westminster and Resolution Games

There’s only a couple of days to go until Christmas which means 2018 is almost over. And the most popular time of year to change jobs just so happens to be January/February supposedly. So with that in mind here are some more jobs form the ever growing VR & AR industries.

Location	Company	Role	Link
Geneva, Switzerland / Los Angeles, California	Apelab	AR/VR Unity Engineer	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	University of Westminster	Assistant Technician (X-Reality Lab)	Click Here to Apply
Stockholm, Sweden	Resolution Games	Internship/Junior Level Design	Click Here to Apply
Stockholm, Sweden	Resolution Games	Senior Programmer	Click Here to Apply
Stockholm, Sweden	Resolution Games	Marketing Manager	Click Here to Apply
Toronto, Canada	Secret Location	Full Stack Developer	Click Here to Apply
Toronto, Canada	Secret Location	Games Developer (Unity)	Click Here to Apply
Toronto, Canada	Secret Location	Project Manager	Click Here to Apply
Toronto, Canada	Secret Location	Games Creative Director	Click Here to Apply
Toronto, Canada	Secret Location	Networking Gameplay Programmer	Click Here to Apply
Toronto, Canada	Secret Location	Software Developer	Click Here to Apply

Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.

If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).

We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.

October 7, 2018

The VR Job Hub: Early October Job Opportunities

The first chilly Sunday of October is here and that means it is time for another entry in The VR Job Hub. This weekend there are a number of exciting job opportunities at a range of companies all working on immersive content. Want to be a Lead Unity Engineer at apelab, or maybe work for Niantic as a Software Engineer in Tokyo. Whatever you might be looking for there is sure to be something for everyone this weekend. So, what are you waiting for? Time to find your next job.

Every weekend VRFocus gathers together a number open position from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe, to help make finding the ideal job easier. Below are a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on VR, AR and MR.

Location	Company	Role	Link
Les Acacias, Switzerland	apelab	Lead Unity Engineer	Click Here to Apply
Les Acacias, Switzerland	apelab	Mobile App Developer	Click Here to Apply
Basingstoke, UK	Lenovo	AR/VR Technical Business Development Manager	Click Here to Apply
Raleigh, NC, US	Lenovo	AR Solution Architect	Click Here to Apply
Houston, TX, US	VISION Production Group	3D AR/VR Developer	Click Here to Apply
Redmond, WA, US	Oculus VR	Research Intern, Haptic Design and Control (PhD University Student)	Click Here to Apply
Newport Beach, CA, US	NextVR	Production Manager	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	The Dream Corporation	Marketing Manager	Click Here to Apply
Tokyo, Japan	Niantic, Inc	Software Engineer, Game Development	Click Here to Apply
Tokyo, Japan	Niantic, Inc	Unity Technical Artist – APAC	Click Here to Apply
Brighton, UK	Make Real	Immersive Learning Designer	Click Here to Apply
Brighton, UK	Make Real	Internal R&D Developer	Click Here to Apply

As always, if there was nothing in this week’s feature that was a good fit for you, you can always look at the previous edition of The VR Job Hub.

As always, if you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to myself (keva@vrfocus.com) and also Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).

Check back with VRFocus next Sunday at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the industry.

September 30, 2018

The VR Job Hub: Finish September By Finding A New Job

As the last Sunday of September ticks by it is time for another entry in The VR Job Hub. This weekend there are a number of exciting job opportunities at a range of companies all working on immersive content. Maybe you want to be a Lead Unity Engineer at apelab, or how about a Marketing Manager at The Dream Corporation? Whatever you are looking for, there is sure to be something for everyone this week. So, what are you waiting for? Time to find your next job.

Location	Company	Role	Link
Les Acacias, Switzerland	apelab	Lead Unity Engineer	Click Here to Apply
Les Acacias, Switzerland	apelab	Mobile App Developer	Click Here to Apply
Basingstoke, UK	Lenovo	AR/VR Technical Business Development Manager	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	Mozilla	Research Engineering Manager – MR Browsers	Click Here to Apply
Newport Beach, CA, US	NextVR	C++/OpenGL Software Engineer	Click Here to Apply
Newport Beach, CA, US	NextVR	System Engineer	Click Here to Apply
Newport Beach, CA, US	NextVR	Production Manager	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	The Dream Corporation	Marketing Manager	Click Here to Apply
Melville, NY, US	Labrodex Studios	Director of Business Development	Click Here to Apply
Melville, NY, US	Labrodex Studios	Senior Animator	Click Here to Apply
Brighton, UK	Make Real	Immersive Learning Designer	Click Here to Apply
Brighton, UK	Make Real	Internal R&D Developer	Click Here to Apply

As always, if there was nothing in this week’s feature that was a good fit for you, you can always look at the previous edition of The VR Job Hub.

Check back with VRFocus next Sunday at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the industry.

October 31, 2017

Break a Leg Conjured onto Gear VR

apelab has today launched the full edition of Break a Leg on the Samsung Gear VR, a new virtual reality (VR) videogame which casts the player as an unfortunate magician. Available to download now, this final release version follows a preview chapter launched back in June of this year.

Break a Leg screenshot 1 Who is the greatest magician of the universe? Harry Houdini? David Copperfield? Well, today it could become you: starting tonight, Samsung Gear VR owners can enter the enchanted world of Break a Leg and perform tricks like a true illusionist on Halloween Night.

Break a Leg is a VR experience inspired by the magic shows of the 19th Century. The videogame tells the tale of an unknown creature that has kidnapped you as part of a plan to unleash the ‘Ultimate Power of The Galaxy’. Only a human being can unleash its force by going through the ancient book of Stellar Tricks written by Houdini’s Great Great Aunt Maggie in person.

Using the new Samsung Controller as a wand players will perform iconic magic tricks such as “The Orange Tree”, “The Vanishing Assistant” or train your sleight of hand in Break a Leg’s second act, called “The Professor”.

“VR and theater are really close, it is all about acting. In Break a Leg you really are the actor on your own stage,” states Maria Beltran, CDO at apelab. “The game is also really funny, with strange and exotic creatures and great challenges, it is a total new world.”

Break a Leg screenshot 2 apelab developed Break a Leg using their own SpatialStories software, which is currently taking on beta applications. This Unity plugin, currently in development as a full software title, allows developers to craft augmented reality (AR) or VR videogames and experiences without any prior coding knowledge. Users simply upload designs, convert them into interactive objects and assign to them predefined behaviors.

Break a Leg is now available to download from the Oculus Store, exclusively for Samsung Gear VR, priced at $5.99 USD/ £4.49 GBP. The official launch trailer for Break a Leg follows below and VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest from apelab.

October 24, 2017

Break a Leg Brings its Full Experience to Samsung Gear VR Next Week

Have you ever fantasised about summoning objects, uttering powerful spells or become the greatest illusionist of the universe? This Halloween you’ll be able to grab your wand and enter the world of Break a Leg, apelab’s virtual reality (VR) adventure for Samsung Gear VR.

Break a Leg screenshot 1 Having debuted with its first chapter in June of this year, apelab are back with the full Break a Leg experience. 60,000 gamers already downloaded Break a Leg‘s debut release, and the full videogame will be released exclusively on the Oculus Store next week. Using the new Gear VR Controller as a wand, players will have to perform magic tricks and master the codes in a world inspired by Harry Houdini and his fellow illusionists.

Players must levitate objects from distant locations, conjure an audience, shrink to the size of a mouse and much more in order to solve the puzzles within Break a Leg.

“We gave Break a Leg all the passion that we have for interactive VR and magic shows. It is not only an adventure we took time crafting, it has also been a challenging project allowing us to build new production pipelines. SpatialStories saved us production time but more importantly gave the creative team the tools they needed to achieve their vision. And we hope it shows in the final product,” said Emilie Joly, CEO at apelab.

Break a Leg’s debut was married with the launch of the new Gear VR Controller earlier this year. A number of other alternatives for the Samsung Gear VR are available, and you can find out more in VRFocus’ guide to the best gamepads for the Gear VR.

Break a Leg screenshot 2 The full Break a Leg adventure will be released on 30th October 2017, available for Samsung Gear VR exclusively via the Oculus Store. Other editions of Break a Leg have already been announced, including a version for Google and Vive’s forthcoming all-in-one head-mounted display (HMD), currently believed to be named the ‘HTC Vive Focus’.

Break a Leg is also expected to come to other VR platforms in due course, and VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest details on this and other VR titles from apelab.

October 5, 2017

AR Experience Ko’Ko’s Curse is an Interactive Ecological Fairy-tale

There have been a number of augmented reality (AR) apps come to market that explore the innovative use of the medium, but very few that intertwine a strong story element. Looking to change that is Apelab – the studio behind Dear VR title Break A Leg – which has just announced its latest project Ko’s Ko’s Curse.

Created using the developer’s real-time virtual environment creator SpacialStories and it Unity SDK, Ko’s Ko’s Curse is interactive fairy-tale aimed at teaching kids about the environment.

“For the Hopi tribe, Ko’Ko the Burrowing Owl is the sacred God of Death. Commonly named the ‘Watcher of the Dark’, he protects the underworld, the seeds, and the plants,” the synopsis explians. “One day, a feather from Ko’Ko’s plumage is stolen and he is turned into a statue, causing the plants and trees to stop growing. The user has to find the feather and place it back on Ko’Ko before the last branch dies in the ancient forest.”

Ko'Ko's Curse screenshot 1

The story narrated by actor, activist and zen buddhist priest Peter Coyote, who said in a statement: “It’s exciting to be asked to play with a completely new media, a new way of telling stories. This is a fun beginning, but just as the man who invented television was not as free and fluid with it as his children, we all have to start somewhere and this is a great start, giving anyone with a cell phone the role of co-creator in storytelling.”

Ko’Ko’s Curse is the first of Apelab’s AR stories. It has been co-produced by the Digital Lab at the Swiss Television RTS and will be showcased at Future of Storytelling in New York City starting 4th October. Alongside the smartphone AR app, a special Hololens installation using a physical tree is being built by the props workshop will feature at the Geneva International Film Festival.

“Augmented Reality is fun, social, instantaneous and an excellent way to tell stories that feel magical. To make it truly work though, an AR experience needs to be thoroughly crafted. We use space, and make sure the environment reacts to the user because in the end the story is for him and he will need some kind of agency. We try to use all the tools that a smartphone can give you as the driver of the narrative. There is still a ton to be learned, we are at the beginning, and it’s also what’s exciting for us,” says Sylvain Joly, Creative Director at Apelab.

There’s no official release date yet for Ko’Ko’s Curse, when there is one VRFocus will let you know.

September 6, 2017

Create VR and AR with No Experience in SpatialStories

apelab, a Swiss-American company, partnered with Technicolor to deliver SpatialStories earlier this year. A tool that will help optimise your virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications without coding, SpatialStories currently works for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR and HoloLens, with support for Apple ARKit and Google ARCore coming soon.

Break a Leg header SpatialStories is designed as an easy editing tool to create native VR and AR projects. With the Unity plugin, SpatialStories allows teams to create interactive experiences in a simple and accessible manner. The design and prototyping process is dramatically reduced, as can be seen in Break a Leg, apelab’s next videogame release, which was developed in only a couple of months using the toolkit.

SpatialStories allows users to select an object or a character and assign to it predetermined specifications. Everything is interdependent, enabling designers to craft a flow of actions and to quickly test interactions.

“We wanted a flexible and intuitive tool people without coding knowledge could master within a few days” says Michaël Martin, CTO and Co-Founder apelab. “It is really how we developed it. Whenever we needed a new function in Break a Leg, our game project, we created the appropriate tool. Everything was tested by non-developers, so we really worked hard to make the process as simple and smooth as possible for them. And we are improving it everyday!”

SpatialStories also allows for a gap to be bridged between team members without coding knowledge and experienced developers. The interactive interface helps creatives focus on the creative work while programmers can build their own code embedded into SpatialStories to build custom functionalities for the creative team to use.

ARKit apelab plan on adding new features to SpatialStories in the coming months. As stated above, support for ARKit and ARCore is on the way, but also AI, voice recognition and machine learning are technologies currently being researched for incorporation.

“We’re building a future where computers seamlessly fit in our lives, designing digital worlds that fit seamlessly over the physical world. SpatialStories is an important tool that will let today’s storytellers build the stories, movies and games of the future,” said Timoni West, Head of Authoring Tools at Unitylabs, who recently joined apelab’s advisory board.

Early next year, apelab will release SpatialStories Studio, a standalone software through which designers and creatives will conceive and build interactive content directly within a VR or AR environment. VRFocus will continue to keep you updated with all the latest details on SpatialStories.

July 26, 2017

Apelab’s Break a Leg Swinging onto Google & Vive’s All-in-One VR Headset

Apelab’s debut virtual reality (VR) videogame, Break A Leg, launched for Samsung Gear VR only last month. However, the studio is now looking to bring the title to more formats, including offering a launch title for the upcoming all-in-one mobile head-mounted display (HMD) from Google and Vive.

Google-Vive-Standalone-HMD Created by the four-person team of Emilie Joly, Michaël Martin, Maria Beltran and Sylvain Joly, who together form Apelab, Break A Leg is an interactive adventure which challenges the player to perform magic tricks in front of a demanding audience. Following the Samsung Gear VR edition of the videogame, the apelab team is developing an ‘arcade style’ version for standalone VR platforms and PC hardware and have announced plans to be a launch title on the new Vive and Google HMDs debuting on holiday period.

In order to achieve their goals, the team turned to Kaleidoscope to help with funding. $300,000 USD is the requested sum, with more information available to those registered on the Kaleidoscope platform here.

The first chapter of Break A Leg is available to download for Samsung Gear VR via the Oculus Store now completely free of charge. VRFocus will keep you updated with Apelab’s future plans for the videogame and further titles announced for the upcoming Google and Vive all-in-one HMD.

June 30, 2017

It’s Time to Break a Leg on Samsung Gear VR

The secretive and fantastical world of magic has long enthralled the public, with magicians like Penn and Teller, David Copperfield, Houdini and many more becoming famous worldwide for their acts of illusion. Now Samsung Gear VR owners can delve into that world of mystery now that Apelab has released its interactive story Break a Leg.

This initial release is actually a pre-cursor to a larger narrative and videogame due to release later this year, with players drawn into the world of Harry Edward Jonas Pablo the 15th, the titles host and former illusionist. Divided between puzzle phases and performances on a stage, players take on the role of an illusionist who has been kidnapped by an unknown species and forced to perform in front of a highly demanding audience.

Break a Leg screenshot 2

Apelab created Break a Leg using its narrative tool SpatialStories which the studio built to create interactive animation Sequenced that premiered at Sundance in 2015. In a press release the team explains some of the development behind Break a Leg, saying: “The title started as a Google Project Tango prototype back in 2013 when the team was already exploring mobile interactions with 6DOF configuration. When mobile headsets started to get controller support the team jumped at the opportunity to build a full fledged adventure based on the initial premise.”

Ever since Sequenced was released Apelab has expanded SpatialStories functionality completely upgrading it to support high-end roomscale, mobile + controller and AR configurations. The team is also experimenting with voice commands and IBM Watson as a tool to bring more life to the characters and the environment, all of which will be available inside the SDK release roadmap.

Break a Leg is free to download now for Samsung Gear VR, and when further details are released regarding the videogames full story VRFocus will let you know.

June 23, 2017

Break a Leg’s First Chapter Coming to Samsung Gear VR this Month

In March VRFocus reported that Apelab would be releasing a new story-driven experience called Break a Leg for the launch of Samsung’s new Gear VR controller in April. That didn’t happen with the title getting delayed, but as it turns out not for long. The developer has just announced that Break a Leg’s first chapter will be coming to the mobile head-mounted display (HMD) later this month.

Benefiting from the latest version of Apelab’s SpatialStories toolset, Break a Leg aims to bring interactivity and a polished storyline to the mobile platform revolved around performing magic. Players have been kidnapped by an unknown entity that wants to unleash the ultimate power of the galaxy, which turns out to be unlocked by performing tricks from The Ancient Book of Stellar Tricks written by Houdini’s great great Aunt Maggie. They’ll need to learn close-up tricks, misdirection, levitation and more to succeed.

Break a Leg screenshot 2

“I absolutely love stage magic performance and always have”, said Emilie Joly, CEO and Director of Apelab in a statement. “Tricking the mind into believing something is real is what makes VR unique and illusionists have done quite a bit of that. Break a Leg is an homage to those performers of the 19th century. I had studied the link between stage magic and interaction design in the past and Break a Leg was the perfect project to apply this research. I also draw my inspiration from iconic stories of my generation like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Beetlejuice, The NeverEnding Story or even The Monty Python movies. You’ll also notice some hints as you go along the adventure at pieces like Fantasia and amusement park rides like Disney’s haunted house or the older Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Break a Leg premiered at the Future of Storytelling and won an honorable mention at GDC 2017. An exclusive sneak-peek of the upcoming Oculus Rift version will be shown at the Art of VR on 23rd June at Sotheby’s NYC.

The first chapter of Break a Leg will be released for Gear VR on 29th June for free, with the full experience coming out Q3 2017.

For further updates on the title, keep reading VRFocus.