Google Daydream: Patent für neue VR Brille

Google hat mit dem Daydream System eine Plattform erschaffen, die den Mobile VR Markt aufmischen soll. Anstatt sich auf eigene Smartphones zu beschränken, erlaubt es Google anderen Herstellern ihre Smartphones Daydream Ready zu gestalten, damit diese auch Zugriff auf die Anwendungen im Daydream Store erhalten. Dennoch wird die Daydream View Brille Google nicht aus den Händen gerissen, da Daydream Ready Smartphones noch recht teuer sind und die Anzahl an hochwertigen Anwendungen überschar ist. Eventuell könnte Google die Zielgruppe mit einer kompakteren Brille aber demnächst erweitern.

Patent für neue VR Brille

Das neue Patent beschreibt eine Verpackung für Smartphones, die gleichzeitig als Virtual Reality Brille genutzt werden kann. Der Formfaktor unterscheidet sich also deutlich von Daydream View und die Brille soll damit zum Alltagsbegleiter und zur Einstiegsdroge werden und  das Reisegepäck als sperriges Zubehör nicht unnötig vergrößern. Im Endeffekt erinnert das neue Patent sehr stark an das Google Cardboard und dennoch könnte Google mit diesem Produkt einen wichtigen Schritt zur Erreichung des Massenmarktes gehen. Die Box kann nämlich zum Anfixen von Menschen dienen, die noch nicht überzeugt von Virtual Reality sind. Wenn Google Daydream Ready Smartphones in einer solchen Verpackung ausgeliefert würden, könnten Menschen direkt einen Blick auf die Möglichkeiten dieser Technologie werfen, ohne sich eine entsprechende Daydream Brille kaufen zu müssen.

Aktuell kennen wir aber die wahren Pläne von Google nicht und das Patent bedeutet ebenso nicht, dass Google die Pläne auch tatsächlich umsetzen wird. Es bleibt spannend, ob sich Daydream zu einem starken Konkurrenten zur Samsung Gear VR entwickeln wird. Samsung konnte immerhin bereits über 5 Millionen Samsung Gear VR Brillen in die Haushalte bringen und hat damit eine echte Virtual Reality Erfolgsgeschichte geschrieben.

Der Beitrag Google Daydream: Patent für neue VR Brille zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

Eclipse: PSVR Spiel wird zum exklusiven Daydream Titel

Mit Eclipse hatten die Entwickler von White Elk Studios ein VR Adventure für die PlayStation VR Brille versprochen, doch anscheinend haben sich die Pläne geändert. Wie im neuen Trailer zum Spiel zu sehen ist, wird das Spiel nicht mehr für die PSVR Brille beworben, sondern nun ausschließlich für das Daydream System von Google.

Eclipse

Auch wenn die Google Daydream Plattform in diesem Jahr vermutlich deutlich wachsen wird, da einige Daydream Ready Smartphones von verschiedenen Herstellern auf den Markt kommen werden, so überrascht die Entscheidung der Entwickler dennoch. Bekannterweise verkauft sich die PlayStation VR hervorragend und das Auslassen der Plattform kostet dem Studio sicherlich einige Kunden. Google scheint den Entwicklern aber genügend Anreize geschaffen zu haben, um diesen Schritt wagen zu können.

Der Trailer zum Spiel macht zumindest schon Lust auf mehr. In Eclipse stürzt ihr auf einem mysteriösen Planeten ab und mit einem speziellen Artefakt könnt ihr mit den Objekten und den Technologien auf dem Planeten interagieren. Ob das Adventure zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt auf die PSVR Brille, die Oculus Rift und die HTC Vive kommen wird, ist im Moment noch unklar. Bekannt ist jedoch, dass die Entwickler das Spiel auf vergangenen Events bereits mit der Brille von Sony vorgeführt hatten. Somit ist es nicht unwahrscheinlich, dass das Spiel auch für weitere Plattformen erscheint, wenn der exklusive Vertrag mit Google ausläuft. Sofern es neue Informationen von den Entwicklern gibt, werden wir euch natürlich informieren.

(Quelle: Upload VR)

Der Beitrag Eclipse: PSVR Spiel wird zum exklusiven Daydream Titel zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

Google Cardboard title Dead Target VR coming to Daydream

VNG Game Studios, a developer in Vietnam, announced at the recent Google Daydream/Tango Code Lab’s event that it’ll be bringing its mobile shooter Dead Target: Zombie to Google Daydream.

Dead Target VR, originally launched for Google Cardboard, will be upgraded for for the new head-mounted display (HMD) adding mechanics for the controller such as: shooting, reloading, and throwing grenades. The developer also plans to add melee attack and more complex actions in future updates.

Dead Target VR unveiled at Google DaydreamTango Singapore Code Lab (6)

As the name suggests, Dead Target VR is focused on shooting zombie hordes through countless missions, challenges whilst providing the player with tons of guns and upgrade options.

Made by a two person team from VNG Game Studios, Dead Target VR is still in alpha stage catching Google’s attention which led to the invitation to present at Google Daydream/Tango Code Lab’s event.

Some of the key features of the title include:

  • Big boss battles: Players encounter lots bosses throughout the game
  • Endless mode:  With quests and missions
  • Alternating Quests: Quests system (main quest, daily quest, event quest).
  • Challenge Mode: Win reward such as Golden guns.
  • Casino: Earn supported items and cash.
  • Customisation: Unlock weapons and armor for the upgrading system.
  • Capture: Select highlights with in-game screenshots and share immediately with other players while playing.

As development continues VRFocus will bring you the latest updates.

Google’s creating higher quality streamed video with Equi-Angular Cubemaps

The world is used to watching videos on YouTube and depending on bandwidth, altering the resolution to get a steady stream, regardless of quality. For immersive 360-degree content however that’s not as easy. While poor internet speeds can ruin virtual reality (VR) viewing, low resolutions can also destroy immersion and make content an unwatchable mess. So in a joint effort between the YouTube and Daydream teams, they’ve been working on new techniques to solve the issue, one of which is Equi-Angular Cubemaps (EAC).  

In a new series of blog postings, Google VR will be taking an in-depth look at improving VR experiences, and with immersive video gaining popularity as it becomes more widely available the company has chosen to start there.

So what are Equi-Angular Cubemaps and how do they help improve 360-degree content? 360-degree videos require a significant amount of pixels to create a decent experience, ideally being 60 pixels per degree of immersive content to match human visual acuity. But due to current device capabilities and internet speeds this isn’t generally possible, instead clever projection methods are needed.

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There’s Equirectangular Projection, where latitudes and longitudes are used to form a square grid, but as Chip Brown, Staff Software Engineer, Daydream, explains: ‘when used for video transmission, it has serious problems. First, the poles get a lot of pixels, and the equator gets relatively few.’ Then you’ve got Cube Maps, this deforms a sphere into a cube which can then be unfolded. “This is an improvement over equirectangular projections, but it still causes substantial variation in pixel density,” explains Brown. “The problem is that the centers of the cube faces are close to the sphere, while the corners are further away.”

This is where Equi-Angular Cubemaps come in. “The traditional cubemap has samples of varying length depending on the sample’s location on the cube face. EAC is specifically constructed to keep these lengths equal, creating uniformly allocated pixels,” said Brown. “The EAC formula is mathematically precise in 2D, but only an approximation of an equal angle pixel distribution in 3D, albeit a pretty good approximation with manageable distortion.”

EAC FrameCompare_SansSerif_n9EZUWL.width-1000

As you can see from the image above, what this means is a higher quality video for consumers creating a far more engaging experience.

YouTube engineers haven’t stopped there, they’ve also developed a Projection Independent Mesh, which they hope will eventually become a widely agreed upon industry standard.

“A Projection Independent Mesh describes the projection by including a 3D mesh along with its texture mapping in the video container. The video rendering software simply renders this mesh as per the texture mapping specified and does not need to understand the details of the projection used,” said software engineer Anjali Wheeler. “Some 360-degree cameras do not capture the entire field of view. For example, they may not have a lens to capture the top and bottom or may only capture a 180-degree scene. Our proposal supports these cameras and allows replacing the uncaptured portions of the field of view by a static geometry and image.”

Android already benefits from EAC projection streamed using a projection independent mesh and the techniques will be coming soon to iOS and desktop.

To keep up to date on Google’s latest advancements in VR, keep reading VRFocus.

NextVR And Live Nation To Exclusively Broadcast Galactic And Robert Randolph Concert

Galactic and Robert Randolph & The Family Band will be performing a concert at the Boston House of Blues today and the NextVR app will be broadcasting the event live to music fans all over the world.

Fans of Jazz-fun and soul bands Galactic and Robert Randolph who own a Google Daydream or Gear VR along with a compatible smartphone will be able to watch the concert, which will be broadcast for free through the NextVR smartphone app to give fans a virtual front-row seat to the event.

NextVR has made a name for itself by offering a range of live broadcasts of sporting events, concerts and even political debates. They have previously worked with the likes of FOX Sports, NBC, and CNN. Their work in that area won them an award for Best In Sports Technology at the 2016 Sports Business Awards.

NextVR - Galactic

As is usual for NextVR broadcasts, the Galactic and Robert Randolph broadcast will have multiple cameras around the venue so fans can get the best view of the action on stage.

Galactic come from New Orleans and have become well known for fusing a range of influences such as hip-hop, electronic and blues into their own distinctive jazz-funk sound.

Robert Randolph is a renowned steel guitar player who leads funk and soul group Robert Randolph & The Family Band, who have recently released a new studio album ‘Got Soul’.

The broadcast will begin at 7:30pm (ET) on Thursday March 9th 2017.

VRFocus will continue to bring you news on VR broadcasts.

Climax Studios Unveils Daydream Exclusive Lola and the Giant

Today Climax Studios, the British developer behind virtual reality (VR) titles such as Bandit Six, Hunters Gate and Gun Sight, has announced a new adventure videogame for Google Daydream, Lola and the Giant.

Telling the story of Lola, a little girl who meets a lonely stone giant in a mysterious world, Lola and the Giant, takes players on a fantastical journey as they search for a way home.

Lola and the Giant - Companion App

On their travels through the world, players will have to solve puzzles whilst encountering weird and wonderful creatures in this lighthearted escapade. Gamers will be able to switch between third and first-person viewpoints as they control each character to utilise their individual abilities to succeed.

The videogame was inspired by Climax’s lead designer, Matt Duff recently becoming a father: “Lola and the Giant came to me a few months into me becoming a parent for the first time. I began to wonder how differently my daughter Eleanor saw the world compared to me. How we both occupied the same place but because of our vast differences in size, our perspectives of that world were completely different. One of the most immersive aspects of VR is a sense of place and so it became the perfect fit to tell this fairytale story of a little girl and her huge Giant, working together, trying to find a way back home.”

Climax Studios has also worked on a companion smartphone app allowing a second player to help the person in VR. “We wanted to create a VR game that could be experienced by everyone not just the user in the headset. We feel this is an important step to ensure the growth of the market,” added Matt.

As yet no date or price point have been confirmed Lola and the Giant. For further updates on Lola and the Giant, keep reading VRFocus.

Social App AltspaceVR Coming to Daydream and Android this Week

AltspaceVR has been one of the major front runners in the social virtual reality (VR) scene, not only providing a place to meet up with friends, but also providing entertainment and events. Now the company has announced its latest venture, expanding head-mounted display (HMD) support to Google Daydream View as well as Android devices. 

Launching this week, the free app brings to Daydream all the same functionality as its previous incarnations on Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. With cross-platform support it means even more people can get together to watch comedy shows from performers like Reggie Watts or play videogames such as Dungeons and Dragons, Boss Monster or Holograms Against Humanity.

AltspaceVR Mobile Portrait Shots

The major inclusion in the launch is the support for non-VR users, allowing anyone with an Android device to use the app. They’ll be able to check what events are coming up, see if friends are online, or checkout the entertainment available, with or without a headset. Intern this may also attract more Android users to try VR.

“We are excited about serving Daydream customers, which could number in the tens of millions by the end of the year,” said Eric Romo, founder and CEO of AltspaceVR in a statement. “We are looking forward to providing them with the wide range of activities and events that are available in AltspaceVR, and connecting them with their friends on other platforms.”

There’s no update on if or when AltspaceVR might come to the last major headset, PlayStation VR, but when the company does reveal any further details VRFocus will report back.

Rogue-like VR Shooter Battle Planet Hits Daydream

If you bought one of Google’s Daydream View headsets, chances are you’re keen for more content to launch as the device hasn’t exactly been inundated with titles. That does look to be changing as earlier this week Climax Studios released Bandit Six with sequel Bandit Six: Salvo due this coming week. But there’s more. Arriving in time for the weekend is Battle Planet, a rogue-like shooter from German indie studio THREAKS.

The first virtual reality (VR) title from the team, Battle Planet is a top down shooter with players protecting micro planets from destruction. Facing a barrage of enemies from all sides, they’ll have to unlock new weapons and upgrades if they want to survive, making sure they’re ready for some massive boss fights.

BattlePlanet_04

There are loads planets to save and highscore ranks to compete against others players.

Battle Planet is available today for $11.99 USD/£10.49 GBP exclusively on Daydream.

Checkout the release trailer below, and for the latest Daydream releases, keep reading VRFocus.

Bandit Six Comes to Daydream, Bandit Six: Salvo Due Next Week

Since it’s launch back in November, Google’s Daydream View hasn’t exactly been inundated with loads of videogames. Some noteworthy titles include InMind 2, The Arcslinger, VR Karts: Sprint, Bait!Hunters Gate and Danger Goat. Owners looking for more content should be a bit happier this week as Climax Studios has launched shooter Bandit Six, with its sequel Bandit Six: Salvo arriving next week.  

Both titles originally launched on Samsung Gear VR back in 2015, with Bandit Six putting players in the tail guns of a World War 2 bomber fending off swarms of attacking fighters as they close in for the kill. Bandit Six: Salvo adapted that idea further, instead of a turret inside a bomber, players operate various ground weapons including machine guns, cannons and mortars that overlook locations such as beaches and war torn city streets. They select which positions will have what weapon and then man them to take on a onslaught of different enemy types, from enemy bombers and helicopters to landing craft, tanks, jeeps and more.

Banditsix_Screenshot_Daydream

“We are a big supporter of Daydream and believe it will continue to push our industry forward toward mass consumer adoption. We have already seen great success with our first Daydream release, Hunters Gate, and are excited to see the public’s reaction to our next two titles,” says Simon Gardner, CEO of Climax Studios.

Bandit Six is available now on the Google Play Store for £2.99 GBP/$2.99 USD/3.49 EUR. Bandit Six: Salvo arrives on the 23rd February and is a free to try title. Players will be able to download and experience the first 3 levels for free, with the full game unlock available for £2.49/$2.99/3.49 euro.

For any further updates from Climax Studios, keep reading VRFocus.

Google Brings VR to the Web on Chrome for Daydream

Access to virtual reality (VR) content is getting easier and easier, with multiple head-mounted displays (HMDs) now available and a wealth of apps and services now supporting the medium. Today Google has announced WebVR support on Chrome for use with Daydream View and Daydream-ready smartphones like Pixel or ZTE’s Axon 7.

This update will allow users to surf the web and when they find a VR experience they want to view, simply pop their device into the headset to enjoy the immersive experience. Even if they don’t have the headset they’ll be able to view and control it using their finger.

Sketchfab - Webvr - spacedome

While there’s not masses of WebVR content available Google has highlighted some of the best to get users started. For those interested in architecture, celebrity homes, museums and more there’s Matterport.  Award-winning content creator Within has a mixture of documentaries, short films and other 360-degree experiences. Or for user generated 3D models and scenes there’s Sketchfab. Utilising the Daydream remote for a range of gameplay option is the WebVR Lab from PlayCanvas. Or checkout the Bear 71 interactive documentary, produced by the National Film Board of Canada, which blurs the lines between the wild world and the wired one.

WebVR is set to be a big part of VR’s future, enabling views ways to explore content. Other companies working on WebVR applications include Oculus with its Carmel browser. Supporting both Rift and Gear VR, Oculus launched a developer preview for the mobile headset back in December, available as a Gallery app on the Oculus Store.

For all the latest WebVR and Daydream news, keep reading VRFocus.