VR Continues to Maximise the Power of Crowd-Funding in 2019

When it comes to virtual reality (VR) and crowd-funding the pair have had a long history, you could almost say Kickstarter helped birth the current VR trend thanks to Oculus’ campaign in 2012. Since then that partnership has continued (for better or worse), with both hardware and software companies alike utilising this modern funding method to make projects a reality. While not all campaigns to raise money are successful, 2019 seems to have been a boon year with a significant amount of projects sailing past their targets.

Over the last nine months, VR teams have sought to fund various sized campaigns and for different reasons. It’s not all about raising enough capital to get an idea off the ground anymore, a campaign with a couple of paragraphs and someone’s zeal to secure £50,000 isn’t going to get very far. They need planning, lots of info, with the most successful generally having some sort of history which proves its not a fly by night venture.

So VRFocus is taking a look at some of the projects which have really caught our eye this year, especially noting the influx of campaign over the summer.

Last Labyrinth – January 2019

A VR videogame by Japanese developer Amata K.K., Last Labyrinth is an escape room experience for multiple VR headsets. This was one of those projects that wasn’t looking for funding development – it had begun in 2016 – using both the money raised and the Kickstarter itself as promotion for the videogame.

Successfully hitting its ¥2,000,000 (£13,965 GBP) target, Last Labyrinth has had a couple of delays in 2019, moving from a Spring to Summer then Fall launch window. That seems to be the last of the hiccups as a worldwide launch will take place on 13th November 2019 for Oculus Rift/ Rift S, Oculus Quest, HTC Vive/Vive Pro, Windows Mixed Reality and PlayStation VR devices.

Last Labyrinth
Last Labyrinth – Oculus Quest Screenshot

Cybershoes – February 2019

A VR locomotion system designed to mimic a natural walking motion whilst seated, Cybershoes launched its first crowd-funding campaign via Kickstarter in 2018. On the back of that success, the company headed over to Indiegogo for another chance to raise more money.

Beginning in February, the campaign hit $156,763 USD (£126,790) for its $30,000 target, and now you can easily buy the system from its official website.

Cybershoes mainFirmament – March 2019

The biggest VR crowd-funding campaign of the year so far on Kickstarter was Cyan’s Firmament. The developer famous for videogames like Myst, Riven and most recently Obduction, this next project was a big endeavour.

A story-driven experience with steampunk aesthetics, Firmament needed to raise a rather substantial $1.3 million in 30 days. Proving that even big figures are achievable when correctly approached, the campaign managed to secure $1,433,161, with a delivery date still expected around July 2020.

Firmament

Feelreal Multisensory VR Mask – April 2019

Back on the VR hardware, Feelreal Inc. wants to make VR immersion even more realistic with this add-on peripheral. Having run an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign back in 2015, Feelreal returned this year looking to raise $20,000, managing to achieve $140,794 in the process.

A device which attaches to VR headsets, the Feelreal Mask is capable of generating various scents, water mist, cool/warm wind, vibration and punches. Shipments to backers were supposed to start in August but there has been a delay. Let’s just hope it not the sort of delay which has plagued previous hardware stories.

Feelreal

Zenith – August 2019

The first of the summer slew of Kickstarter campaigns, Zenith is the brainchild of indie studio Ramen VR, a cyberpunk MMORPG inspired by anime and JRPG classics. A title which has some very big ideas for a new studio, the videogame promises players a world where they will be able to fight, craft, and explore to their heart’s content.

Only looking to raise $25,000 for such an expansive undertaking, the campaign managed to hit that in under four hours and it’s actually still ongoing. With another 15 days to go, Zenith currently sits on a funding pot of just over $211,000 (£171,000). Thanks to this success Zenith has unlocked six of its seven stretch goals with the final $250,000 Level Editor looking within reach. There’s still a way to go, with a launch date pencilled in for August 2020 currently.

Zenith

VRGO Mini – August 2019

Another company coming back to Kickstarter looking for more success, VRGO held a Kickstarter for its VRGO Chair in 2015 which went well. This year it’s the turn of VRGO Mini, a more consumer-friendly version of the original chair, designed to facilitate comfortable locomotion in VR.

As mentioned, this is a company with history which makes for a safer bet when crowd-funding. Using most of the tech from VRGO Chair, the VRGO Mini is designed to be used on chairs/sofas and other seats. With a funding target of £20,000, that was easily achieved and just like Zenith still has time to spare to raise even more money. With the VRGO Chair still on sale, a launch goal of March 2020 for VRGO Mini is a likely bet.

VRGO Mini image2

Woojer – August 2019

Cyan’s Firmament has so far raised the most cash but Woojer’s current campaign is on track to be the most successful when it comes to target and amount raised. It’s two haptic products in one campaign the Woojer Vest Edge and Woojer Strap Edge, designed to let you feel sound.

Not solely designed for VR as they have multiple use cases, the two devices are an immersion aid – especially the Vest Edge – when playing all manner of VR titles, ideally for rhythm action videogames like Beat Saber. Initially aiming to raise $20,000, the campaign has skyrocketed currently sitting at just over $1.2 million with a month still to go. Needless to say, with over 7,000 backers, Woojer has hit the jackpot with most going for the budget-friendly Strap Edge.

Woojer Edge Strap

Low-Fi – September 2019

The most recent entry, Low-Fi is another experience from an established team. Created by Iris VR (the team behind Technolust) is another big sprawling adventure, this time set in a far-flung dystopian future. You play a police officer tasked with patrolling the street and skies of crime-ridden city-block 303.

The Kickstarter campaign only started on 3rd September looking to hit $60,000 CAD over 30 days and managed that in under four days. Such was the success the team reworked all of its stretch goals, lowering the targets for platforms like PlayStation VR and Oculus Quest. It’s still too early to tell how successful Low-FI will be but there’s no distracting from its ambition.

Low-Fi screenshot1

The Power of Smell has Made Kickstarter a Breeze for Feelreal

It used to be that virtual reality (VR) headsets were oft considered accessories when it came to PC or console gaming (that’s less of an issue now). Companies then trying to make additional add-ons could find it difficult to make headway in such a niche market. That was originally the case for Feelreal and its VR Mask when it held an unsuccessful crowd-funding campaign in 2015. But the market has changed since then, and it certainly shows with Feelreal’s latest Kickstarter now complete, achieving seven times its initial funding goal.

Feelreal

VRFocus reported last month how the Feelreal campaign easily hit its $20,000 USD target within the first hour, going on to raise just over $75,000 in the course of 24 hours. With 29 days left to spare the team has managed to achieve $140,794 from 561 backers, clearly demonstrating that VR fans want to feel the wind/heat on their faces and smell the aroma of whatever VR experience they’re playing.

Thanks to the success of the campaign Feelreal has now added further videogame support including Guided Meditation VR and Mind Labyrinth VR Dreams, whilst teasing another: “Following Kickstarter success, developers of some of the best VR games and experiences have reached out to us. Sorting the legal details will take some time, but I can give you a small hint today: The next Feelreal-supported VR title has ZOMBIES in it. And a whole lot of SUNSHINE.” Sounds like a popular VR title by Vertigo Games if VRFocus isn’t mistaken.

With the Kickstarter completed Feelreal will now focus on the important work of bringing the VR Mask to all of its backers: “Right now I am making preparations for our team trip to Shenzhen to start manufacturing the Feelreal VR Mask. I will ensure the perfect quality and that the first devices would be created in time!” an update notes. Original estimates are for shipping to start in August, as long as no issues present themselves in the next few months.

Feelreal

The Feelreal Multisensory VR Mask is capable of generating various scents, water mist, cool/warm wind, vibration and punches, with 255 individual aromas to be made available for the mask. It’ll attach to the underside of a range of headsets including Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Go.

As Feelreal continues to make progress bring ing the device to market, VRFocus will keep you updated.

Feelreal Smells the Sweet Joy of Kickstarter Victory

No matter the Kickstarter there are no guarantees a campaign will be successful, some become unexpected hits while others simply don’t manage to gain any traction with backers. Feelreal Inc. is a company that has tasted both sides of that coin. In 2015 it’s first crowd-funding campaign failed. Yesterday Feelreal launched a second Kickstarter for its Multisensory VR Mask and the results couldn’t be more different. 

Feelreal

The team were looking to raise $20,000 USD over the course of 30 days, and quite easily smashed that target. In fact, the $20,000 was hit within the first hour of the campaign going live, and 24 hours later had quadrupled its initial goal, raising over $75,000.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who have supported our campaign so far. With the overwhelming support from our community we can finally achieve our dream of introducing new sensory dimensions to virtual reality!,” said Gary Mostovoy, President and CEO of Feelreal, Inc. in a statement.

330 backers have already supported the project which has 29 days to go, as such, three early tiers are now no longer available including the $199 tier – the cheapest. If you’re trying to decide whether to back the project then the next available tier retails for $209 but is very time limited with 18 hours to go. After that has finished then the standard Kickstarter offer of $249 will remain in place until the end of the campaign – which still saves $50 off the regular price. As well as the mask the tiers also include the “Feelreal Dreams Aroma Set” which has nine various Aromas: Female Perfume, Burning Rubber, Gunpowder, Espresso, Rose, Burning Wood, Tiramisu, Forest, and Barbecue. There’s also a bonus Patchouli Aroma.

The Feelreal Multisensory VR Mask is designed to deepen the immersion of VR by attaching to the underside of Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Go headsets. The device is capable of generating various scents, water mist, cool/warm wind, vibration and punches, and judging by the Kickstarter success, there are plenty of VR owners keen to give the mask a try.

Feelreal estimates shipping will commence in August 2019 for backers. As further updates are released, VRFocus will let you know.

Feelreal to Launch its Multisensory VR Mask Kickstarter in April

In December 2018 VRFocus reported on Feelreal Inc. planning another stab at Kickstarter success for its virtual reality (VR) headset addon which aims to stimulate the senses through aroma, wind, and water vapour. Today, the company has officially announced that the crowd-funding campaign for the Feelreal Multisensory VR Mask will be taking place this month.

Feelreal

The whole point of the Feelreal Mask is to make VR experiences even more immersive, capable of generating various scents, water mist, cool/warm wind, vibration and punches. The Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign will begin next Tuesday 9th April 2019, at 11 am EST, with early backers able to make use of a limited time offer. The normal retail price of the Feelreal Mask will be $299 USD, but on the first day of the campaign, Feelreal Inc. will be offering a 33% discount, reducing the cost to $199 whilst including 10 basic scents. You can receive a launch invite by registering your details here.

There are five versions of the Feelreal Mask, designed to fit Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Go, all costing the same price. As for the scents, the company teamed up with acclaimed perfumer, Olfactologist, and perfume critic Bogdan Zubchenko to create 255 individual aromas for the mask. This can be purchased individually when the store goes live for $4.99 each, or in various packs like the Skyrim VR Aroma Set, Beat Saber Aroma Set, Death Horizon Aroma Set or Aromatherapy Aroma Set for $49.99.

“We have worked extremely hard for several years to prepare this product for Kickstarter and full-scale manufacturing. To make Feelreal a reality we went through many tests and iterations. Now we feel extremely proud that we finally have the opportunity to break the boundaries of what was thought possible and introduce new dimensions to our favourite medium. We are focused and determined to get every little detail right,” says Gary Mostovoy, President and CEO of Feelreal, Inc. in a statement. 

Feelreal

The Feelreal Mask connects to the headset via Bluetooth and already supports a number of videogames, with developers able to use the Feelreal SDK to add support to their projects. Plus there is a Feelreal Dreams app for additional experience created in-house or by independent creators. The mask can even be used without a VR headset as an aromatheraphy device.

Feelreal Inc. has yet to confirm when the mask will start shipping. Once the Kickstarter does go live, VRFocus will bring you further details.

FeelReal Smells Success as it Takes Another Shot at Kickstarter Success

We all want virtual reality (VR) to get to the stage where it’s fully immersive to the point of reality. There’s still a fair way to go until that happens but every year is another step closer. FeelReal Inc. is one company looking to push multi-sensory immersion, with a device called the FeelReal VR Mask, designed not only to provide smells, but also vibrations, and blasts of air or mist onto a player’s face.

Feelreal

The company has been working on its design for several years now, originally holding an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign back in 2015. Now FeelReal Inc. is back with a new and improved design for VR headsets, with plans to launch another Kickstarter in the near future.

Unlike the VAQSO VR scent device for example, which purely releases smells according to what the VR player is seeing, the FeelReal VR Mask takes this idea and pushes it another step further with the addition of tactile sensations. When it comes to odour, FeelReal has developed a scent generator that holds replaceable cartridges with 9 individual aroma capsules. Users can choose and combine any of the 255 scents available in the store, with all FeelReal aromas exclusively designed by acclaimed perfumer, Olfactologist, and perfume critic Bogdan Zubchenko.

As for the tactile sensations, these are essentially different haptic solutions, with the FeelReal VR Mask able to produce Water Mist, Heat, Wind and Vibration, to cater for any virtual situation. Whether that’s watching a 360-degree movie feeling the rain on your cheeks or racing through the hills, feeling the cool mountain breeze on your face.

Feelreal

FeelReal Inc. hasn’t confirmed when the Kickstarter will go live or how much the company is planning to raise. The previous campaign aimed for $50,000 USD, only achieving $24,000, with development devices starting from $250. A lot of time has passed since then, with new images of the device making it look like a much more consumer-ready device, compatible with a wide variety of headsets including Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Oculus Go and PlayStation VR.

When FeelReal Inc. releases further details regarding the device and its Kickstarter launch, VRFocus will let you know.