Category: Breaking Fourth

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VR Sci-Fi Comedy Bro Bots Premiers At Tribeca

British-based virtual reality (VR) content studio Breaking Fourth have launched a new scripted sci-fi comedy series called Bro Bots at the Tribeca Film Festival this week, with the first episode forming part of Samsung’s VR Video Pilot Season.

Bro Bots takes place in a futuristic vision of New York City where robots have become sophisticated, working and living alongside humanity with their own personalities and problems. Two bots called Otis and Roberto move to New York with the goal of joining the New York Police Department.

The series has a comedic, slapstick edge, with the two robots having highly contrasting personalities that can cause friction as they try to solve crimes for the NYPD.

The first six-minute episode, titled Bro Bots Go Sky High was screened for attendees at the Tribeca Film Festival, and also launched on Samsung VR Video as part of the ‘Pilot Season’ programme. The Pilot Season is designed to help create original new VR content and drive growth in the independent VR filmmaker community.

Bro Bots creators and directors David Kaskel and Nathan Miller said: “We’re thrilled to be part of Samsung’s VR Video Pilot Season. VR continues to push the boundaries of the way viewers can engage with content and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this medium.”

Kaskel, who is also the CEO and Founder of Breaking Fourth added: “Consumers today not only want to watch but also engage with content. Bro Bots is an innovative and hilarious VR series that will allow everyone to do just that.”

Three more episodes of Bro Bots are currently in production and will be released on the Samsung VR Video service in future months.

Attendees at Tribeca Film Festival can find Bro Bots being screened until 28th April at the Immersive Hob and at Samsung 837 in New York City. The first episode can also be viewed on Breaking Fourth’s Samsung VR channel by Samsung Gear VR users.

Further news on Bro Bots and other VR content from Breaking Fourth will continue to be covered here on VRFocus.

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VR eSports Psychodrama Ctrl Remastered is Here

London based virtual reality (VR) studio Breaking Fourth has brought back the critically acclaimed VR psychodrama Crtl in a new remastered version.

Ctrl Remastered Screenshot 01

Ctrl follows the tale of champion gamer Liam, as viewers take a front row seat to the final rounds of an eSports tournament where not all is quite as it seems. With a troubled domestic life and sneering commentators overheard, Ctrl will take viewers beyond the blurred lines between the virtual world and the real world with devastating effects. As time runs out it becomes clear what Liam is really fighting for in this dark, serious drama that contains scenes some may find upsetting.

Ctrl was originally shown to an exclusive audience at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts with a follow up release on PlayStation VR. Now, Ctrl Remastered brings viewers back once again to the hot seat with updated visuals and aims to deliver an astonishing narrative experience full of emotional and compelling storytelling. This has been achieved thanks to Breaking Fourth’s commitment to embracing the limitless creative possibilities that VR technology has to offer in creating immersive storytelling.

Ctrl Remastered Screenshot 01

Talking about the release of Ctrl Remastered, David Kaskel, Co-founder and CEO of Breaking Fourth said: “We received really positive feedback from Ctrl’s original release and found that it stimulated a lot of discussion, not just because of the medium but because of the more emotional elements of the story. It’s this level of poignancy that we can deliver with such impact in VR, so it made sense to keep the technological aspects as current as possible to ensure that delivery both for our current audience and a new one.”

For the new release Ctrl Remastered has gone multiplatform meaning viewers can experience it on their preferred choice of media. This includes the Samsung VR store, Oculus Video, Breaking Fourth’s own WARP app on the Oculus store and as a YouTube 360 video, available on Breaking Fourth’s YouTube Channel. All of these releases are available for free, meaning anyone can view this deep and meaningful drama.

For more on Ctrl Remastered and the work by Breaking Fourth, keep reading VRFocus.

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The VR Job Hub: Love A New Job?

We’re already mid-way through February and Valentine’s Day has been and gone, but are you still in love with your current role or are you open to looking at potential pastures new? There’s all manor or roles out there relating to virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) available for you to apply for and in countries all around the world as well. Here’s a selection of current roles that you may want to check out

Location Company Role Link
Newcastle, UK Hammerhead VR Senior Developer Click here to apply
London, UK Oliver Bernard JavaScript Developer – Virtual Reality – React & Node Click here to apply
Mountain View, CA, US Udacity Content Developer, Blockchain (Contract) Click here to apply
Sydney, Australia Breaking Fourth Unity Environmental Artist for Futuristic VR Piece Click here to apply
Amsterdam/Eindhoven, Netherlands Accenture Internship Virtual/Augmented Reality Click here to apply
Groton, CT, US Automation Associates Limited Developer w/ VR experience Click here to apply
Los Angeles, CA, US Vulcan Inc Immersive Reality Intern Click here to apply
Redmond, WA, US Oculus VR Digital Design Engineer Click here to apply
Redmond, WA, US Oculus VR Graphics Engineer, Oculus Home Click here to apply
Redmond, WA, US Oculus VR Research Scientist, Physiology (PhD University Grad) Click here to apply
Redmond, WA, US Oculus VR Computer Vision Engineer Click here to apply
Menlo Park, CA, US Facebook Associate General Counsel, Oculus Sales & Marketing Click here to apply
Taipei City, Taiwan HTC Vive HR Business Partner, VR Click here to apply

 

Don’t forget, if there was nothing in this week’s feature that was a good fit for you, you can always double back and look at the previous edition of The VR Job Hub. Last week’s listings took in roles across the UK – and even a role working with us!

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 to be send to myself at keva@vrfocus.com and also pgraham@vrfocus.com.

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

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Breaking Fourth Launch Video App WARP, Showcasing All its Content

London, UK-based virtual reality (VR) studio Breaking Fourth has announced the launch of its first app today, WARP, where viewers can watch all of the studio’s content in one place.

Available on Samsung Gear VR via the Oculus store WARP is a one stop shop that contains all of Breaking Fourth’s content to date, as well as housing future content automatically, as it becomes available. This will effectively operate like a video-on-demand service exclusively for the studio’s narrative VR/360-degree videos.

Along with a pilot episode of Breaking Fourth’s latest series Bro Bots, WARP will also carry the social media satire music video Opinions starring the eccentric antics of Bourgeois & Maurice, thoughtful dystopian sci-fi film Utopia 6 and popular drama Ctrl. Also included is a special Christmas message from Breaking Fourth themselves, hidden within the app and wishing their fans well and shedding some light on upcoming activity.

“We’re excited to give viewers the chance to access all of our productions in one place” said David Kaskel, Founder and CEO of Breaking Fourth. “Everything will be easily accessible and will update quickly, letting users access all content as it goes live. Over the coming months we have some incredible new pieces lined up that, with WARP installed, will be instantly ready for streaming or download.”

Breaking Fourth’s lighthearted animation Bro Bots came to Oculus Rift at the start of the month, with a story that involves a pair of British robots called Otis and Roberto, who have travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to New York in order to join the New York Police Department. Ctrl on the other hand originally hit Gear VR back in 2016, a 20-minute drama that follows a character called Liam as he competes in an e-sports competition to win enough money to help him and his mother out of their situation.

WARP is available now on the Oculus store. For any further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

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Breaking Fourth Showcase Lucid at VRLO

For those who have been anxiously following Breaking Fourth ever since their virtual reality (VR) film CTRL can soon expect another emotional film called Lucid. A demo was available at ninth VRLO which was held at London’s Central Saint Martins University and VRFocus managed to sit down to speak to Pete Short, VR Director and CTO at Breaking Fourth about the film. 

The twenty minute seated piece follows daughter Astra as she dives into the mind of her comatose mother in order to try and piece together her consciousness and bring her back to the real world. The two go on an adventure that puts character at the heart of the story.

Breaking Fourth create various VR content ranging from light-hearted and entertaining music videos to long emotional pieces that are about making an impact such as CTRL. Short explains to VRFocus that CTRL was a long VR film in duration, and Lucid too became longer after Breaking Fourth received feedback from users asking for the experience to be lengthened. Short also says that Lucid could not have come out any sooner, as with the evolution of VR technology Breaking Fourth want to stay at the forefront of technology and will continue to experiment with the newest capabilities of immersive technology.

“I think we are starting to see an evolution of VR users that are willing to take these experiences, rather than having a jump in-jump out situation.” Short explains. “Like you get with a five minute experience, and actually wanting to stay in these worlds.”

So far the feedback couldn’t be better, with most users being extremely excited about Lucid. Short says that the piece is currently being submitted to several film festivals and the 360° version will be released this December on the Samsung Gear VR. The full version of Lucid will be available exclusively to the Oculus Rift next year for free. This may also be coming to Breaking Fourth’s app, that itself is heading to the Samsung Gear VR and will feature all of Breaking Fourth’s CGI pieces – as well as their future content moving forward. All of the content on the platform will be free at the initial launch. Short wants to have as many people experiencing their content and this is a great way to do it.

Watch the video below to find out more about Lucid and Breaking Fourth’s new app.

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Animated VR Comedy Bro Bots Comes To Oculus Rift

UK-based virtual reality (VR) content creation studio Breaking Fourth has been responsible for the creation of a number of theatrical VR movies, such as the E-sports inspired dark drama Ctrl, or the dystopian sci-fi story Utopia 6. The studio is now bringing lighthearted animation Bro Bots to Oculus Rift.

Oddball buddy comedies are a mainstay of cinema, and Breaking Fourth is exploring this genre in lighthearted animated comedy inspired by classic old-school cartoon adventures. The story of Bro Bots borrows from sci-fi as well, with a story that involves a pair of British robots called Otis and Roberto, who have travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to New York in order to join the New York Police Department. There, they begin investigating a possible bomb threat on the subway, and subsequently find themselves pulled into a murky world involving organised crime, vengeful bad guys as well as some madcap situations and a strange, sinister teddy bear.

Bro Bots was previously released on Samsung Gear VR, alongside musical satire Opinions, which uses the framing device of a musical comedy duo to poke fun and current popular trends such as social media, and dark sci-fi drama Utopia 6 where a tour through a seemingly idyllic city begins to reveal dark secrets.

Breaking Fourth was founded in 2015, growing alongside modern VR to become of the most well-respected creators of theatrical VR titles, with Ctrl and Utopia 6 receiving much acclaim from critics and audiences. The company has previously stated its intent to use the immersion and presence of VR to push storytelling in new directions.

Bro Bots is available for free download from the Oculus Store. The trailer is available to view below.

VRFocus will bring you further news on Breaking Fourth’s VR projects as it becomes available.

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Breaking Fourth Brings VR Films To Gear VR

Breaking Fourth have becomes known to consumers of virtual reality (VR) content as creators of high-quality VR films which spans a variety of genres and subjects. Soon those films will be available to users of the Samsung Gear VR.

Breaking Fourth’s VR productions have driven forwards the art of immersive storytelling, delving into areas of satire, musical comedy, sci-fi and drama with content such as Opinions, Bro Bots and Utopia6, all of which will soon be heading to the Samsung Gear VR.

Opinions was created as a musical satire, poking fun at current trends and obsessions, in particular at how so many people are glued to social media. Presented by musical comedy duo Bourgeois & Maurice, viewers will be in the middle of a series of 360-degree music videos that comment on our modern society.

Contrasting this is Bro Bots, a light sci-fi comedy in the form of a quirky VR cop show, with the stars being British robots Otis and Roberto, who travel across the Atlantic to join the NYPD and become embroiled in a series of dangerous but faintly ridiculous situations with a narrative inspired by classic cartoons.

Utopia6 is set in a future ravaged by war and environmental disasters. A fraction of the population can escape to Utopia6. Presented as a VR tour through the apparently idyllic city, viewers are guided by the CEO of the Utopia Life Corporation, the sponsors of the city. As the tour progresses, it becomes clear that all is not well with the CEO’s assistant, Bea.

David Kaskel, Founder & CEO of Breaking Fourth said; “Breaking Fourth is delighted to bring Opinions, Bro Bots and Utopia 6 to audiences on Samsung VR. Viewers will have the opportunity to be truly immersed in three very different worlds and introduced to uniquely different characters, from the effervescent real-life cabaret stars Bourgeois & Maurice, to comedic robot cops, and a desperate refugee in a dystopian future. Each production has been created with immersive narrative at its heart, and gives audiences a front row seat to their tales in beautiful 360-degree worlds.”

VRFocus will bring you further news on Breaking Fourth’s VR projects as it becomes available.

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VR Movie Inspired by eSports Is Coming to PlayStation VR

The world of eSports is growing every year, seeking to get closer to the mainstream and be accepted as a ‘real’ sport alongside football, tennis and motor racing. The genre of sports films is well-established, often featuring inspiring messages, such as the ones featured in movies such as Field of Dreams. Now eSports is getting a movie that looks into the world of videogaming competition, and looks at it in 360-degrees.

The movie is titled Ctrl, and though a short film, it seeks to tell a broad story. The short film tells the story of Liam, a competitor in an eSports tournament. The film seeks to bring the atmosphere of a eSports tournament to life, giving viewers an inside look at the arena, letting viewers experience the tension of the content and discover the real reason Liam is fighting so hard to succeed.

The story is described as ‘deep and darkly twisted’, so viewers shouldn’t be expecting a typically uplifting sporting movie. The team behind the short film hope that viewers will be dawn into the plot, to confront the reality of the protagonist, and perhaps learn something about themselves in the process.

The creators of Ctrl, Breaking Fourth, had this to say about creating the film experience: “The process of creating Ctrl for PS VR was incredibly interesting and it allowed us to examine how best to draw the audience into a story, as well as navigate the challenges of 360 degree viewing. We focused heavily on viewer experience – we believe that embodiment and presence comes with responsibility – and PS VR gives us such a great opportunity to play with new techniques and make the most of its immersive capabilities.”

Ctrl will be available for download by PlayStation VR users from 23rd June from the PlayStation Store. Further information can be found at the Breaking Fourth website.

VRFocus will continue to bring you news on new 360-degree films and VR experiences.

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Breaking Fourth’s VR Drama Ctrl To Launch On the Oculus Store For Gear VR

You may remember back when VRFocus reported on a theatrical debut of Breaking Fourth’s Ctrl, which proved to be one of the more impressive examples of a virtual reality (VR) premiere and cinematic experience that leaves the viewer with much more than a polite smile and nod. It has now been announced that the title will be available for those with Gear VR head-mounted displays (HMD).

Not much can be shared about Ctrl as it really is the unraveling of events that gives the narrative real impact, and rarely leaves audiences with much to say afterwards. You follow Liam as he competes in an e-sports competition to win enough money to help him and his mother out of their situation. Viewers take the stance of an onlooking statue in the middle of the stadium of the videogame, looking up at both Liam through his webcam and the two presenters who are hosting the competition.

Ctrl1

In a press release David Keskel, CEO and Founder of Breaking Fourth, said: “Virtual reality is an incredible medium for telling stories. Ctrl shows creators what possibilities exist for dramatic, powerful, engaging content. With 15-20 minutes in VR, you can achieve a level of emotional and narrative intensity that would take more than an hour to reach in film. At a time when our attention is fractured and our time is limited, VR offers a concentrated blast of powerful, emotional connections.”

The 20-minute drama is to be released on the Oculus Store tomorrow, 8th September, for £2.99 (GBP), or $3.99 (USD).

For more on the latest releases, as well as all the news, updates, and features in the world of VR, make sure to check back with VRFocus.