Groove Jones Signs On As Magic Leap Early Access Developer

Virtual reality (VR) studio Groove Jones has previously worked with a number of companies and brands to produce 360-degree videos and VR content for both entertainment and promotional purposes. The company has now announced that it is working with Magic Leap as an Early Access Developer.

Magic Leap have raised over $4 billion (USD) in funding for the development of a set of augmented reality (AR) glasses that use Lightfield technology to create a seamless transition between the real and virtual. While the company have been cagey about its products, they have announced that Early Access partners are in the process of getting hold of the Magic Leap One development version.

Magic Leap Groove Jones

Groove Jones are one of the first companies to confirm they are working on developing for the hardware, and the news comes after Unity and Unreal Engine both confirmed that they were working on compatible versions of the respective engines for the Magic Leap One.

On its website, Groove Jones said that the Magic Leap One features a ‘robust sensor suite’ and that the hardware is capable of detecting surfaces, planes and objects, allowing for the real-world surroundings to be accurately mapped for integration into a virtual overlay. It is not currently known what types of content Groove Jones are working on for the hardware.

Groove Jones also announced the release of an updated version of its GrooveTech AR Object toolkit. The toolkit is designed for retailers, aiming to provide a competitive advantage by offering the ability for companies to places photo-realistic models of its products into any environment.

The new version of the toolkit allows for products to be rendered in highly realistic detail, using dynamic lighting to match the real environment. Tools allow users to place any object into any environment and customise various options such as colour, fabric or size. The GrooveTech AR Object Toolkit also now works with both Apple ARKit or Android ARCore.

Groove Jones AR Object Toolkit

Further information on the GrooveTech AR Object Toolkit can be found on the Groove Jones website. VRFocus will continue to bring you the latest on Magic Leap and other AR innovations.

December 26, 2017

A Guide to ARKit Supported iOS Devices

Apple’s ARKit technology has proved very popular amongst developers, with new augmented reality (VR) videogames and experiences launching for the platform practically everyday. However, ARKit requires iOS 11 in order to run, and even then the performance of the AR technology is not guaranteed. Groove Jones has created an infographic to help you determine whether your device is capable of delivering these early AR experiences.

The Machines ARKit

The ARKit technology was originally announced back in June of this year, with development support from Unreal Engine 4, Unity 2017 and UrhoSharp launching in the following months. Since then, we’ve seen a number of high-profile developers launching AR titles, such as Dream Reality Interactive’s recently released Orbu and PlaySide’s AR Dragon, plus updates to a number of existing videogame properties to incorporate the technology, including Niantic’s hugely successful Pokemon Go.

ARKit stretches beyond videogames of course, with applications ranging from architecture to children’s edutainment getting in on the action. And then there are also hobbyist developers, one of whom decided to recreate the first level of the original Super Mario Bros. videogame in AR with the technology.

The breadth and depth of experiences available for developers to create with ARKit is beyond imagination, however the software is nothing if the end user isn’t able to access the hardware that powers it. Below is an infographic designed by Groove Jones to help you discover which iOS devices are suitable for use with ARKit based videogames and experiences.

ARKit Compatibility Infographic The range of experiences available for ARKit will only expand in 2018, with Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Studios heavily involved in developing for the platform and the promise of an update for Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade in the wings. More utilities, such as Sketchfab, will likely make use of the platform as well as Google’s Android competitor, ARCore.

More handsets will undoubtedly launch with ARKit support in the future. Apple has openly stated that developer support for the technology has been far above expectations, and as such it’s likely to become a mainstay of the iOS platform from here-on-out. VRFocus will keep you updated with any and all future devices from Apple compatible with the ARKit technology.
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December 2, 2017

This Week in VR Sport: Test Your American Football & Golf Skills

December is here! But just because the weather is on the turn, the cold is drawing in and there’s the threat (and reality for several of the VRFocus staff) of snow that doesn’t mean that the world of sport and the world of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies don’t continue to collide in brand new ways. The big story of the week might well have been related to fighting demons on another planet, but back on Earth (and in reality) there’s plenty going on. So, since it is Saturday after all, let’s check in with This Week In VR Sport.

Groove Jones & Under Armour Team-Up For Some American Football

Having an American Football related VR experience is nothing particularly new. We’ve seen throughout 2017 use of the technology grow as well as use of AR to create new ‘fan engagement’ experiences. Allowing supporters to show their colours on social media and through other outlets. However, this new one developed by interactive digital content creators Groove Jones is a step above the usual fare and is, in fact, a proper videogame experience.

As part of a tie-in with the two All-American bowls being presented by American Family Insurance – The Under Armour All-America Game and the U.S. Army All American Bowl – the studio has created a new Quarterback Challenge for fans to see if they have the arm and the skills to lead a team to success.

Two versions of the videogame exist, branded up under either Under Armour or the U.S. Army depending upon the relevant event. The title sees fans step out into the centre of a stadium to engage in a number of skill tests related to passing and targeting. Players attempt to throw as many footballs as they can through a number of targets that appear around the playing field, with the top ranked players at the end of the evening getting ‘bragging rights’

Throughout the season the title will be touring various events at High School Football games as well as being on the road throughout the United States. No mention has been made by Groove Jones as to the VR head mounted display (HMD) being used but gameplay would suggest either an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift and Touch. You can see a trailer for the (somewhat of a mouthful) Under Armour All America Football Quarterback Challenge below.

Rickie Fowler Working On VR Coaching App

With four PGA Tour victories under his belt and $30,000,000 (USD) in tour winnings in the bank you’d forgive American golfer Rickie Fowler for maybe just concentrating on the aspects of his own game and keep the success rolling. However, the Florida based star has no intentions of doing so. In fact, he’s rather keen on helping you do better instead.

Earlier this week it was reported that Fowler is working to develop a VR golf coaching platform with Success Co., a Los Angeles based firm best known for their Success Series VR Player – on which various lessons in 360 degree video can already be found. The growing library of lessons, geared towards players of all ages, will range in price between $4.99 and $6.99.

Fowler explained what was going on to Fox Sports earlier in the week: “It’s pretty cool, with the virtual reality, I could be standing in a bunker and it feels like you’re standing right next to me.”

For CEO of Success Co. Anthony Puntoriero, teaming up with Fowler was a no-brainer for the company. “Rickie was the only golfer we wanted to target for Success Series and that is because of who he is on and off the course. Rickie’s brand and character has defined the new era of golfer and he is the ideal ambassador to take golf into the homes of sports fans globally. His message is infectious and he has genuine passion for helping people get better at the game.”

Telemundo Prepares For Russia

One of the big sporting highlights of 2018 will no doubt be the 2018 World Cup in Russia and in anticipation of the event U.S. broadcaster Telemundo has been making a number of announcements on how it will be supporting the event. With all 64 matches in the tournament to be broadcast live across Telemundo and Unvierso, Telemundo will also be dedicating a prime-time show to the World Cup – a first for an American broadcaster of the competition.

It isn’t just traditional television and cable that Telemundo is looking to target, however. They have revealed that they will be producing a full-service VR app for the competition which will be taking place throughout June and July next year. Fans will be able to to enjoy select content from what Telemundo are calling ‘a virtual VIP suite’. with content in both 180 and 360 degrees and multi-angle standard video content as well.

“We have been looking forward to Russia 2018 since 2011 when Telemundo, with the support of NBCUniversal, became the new Spanish-language home of the FIFA World Cup,” Explained Telemundo Deportes president Ray Warren in a statement. “As we approach the World Cup Draw this Friday and the World Cup Finals next June, we at Telemundo and NBCUniversal renew our commitment to deliver the highest quality, most consumed, and most talked about FIFA World Cup coverage in the event’s history.”

We’ll have more immersive sport news on VRFocus next week at the same time.

October 4, 2017

American Airlines Use ARKit For AR Wayfinding

The launch of Apple’s ARKit has opened up several new possibilities when it comes to creating or improving augmented reality (AR) applications. Groove Jones has been working with Locus Labs and American Airlines to create an AR app for navigation.

American Airlines are one of the biggest airlines in the USA, offering flights to thousands of people every day. As such, airports can be large, crowded and confusing, particularly if you’re never visited that location before. The ARKit-powered American Airlines app provides a solution, by offering an AR overlay that can point the way to important places such as the check-in desk, security checkpoint, or even provide recommendation for food and drink and guide the user to those areas.

Gatwick Airport in the UK has been testing a similar system, which uses signals from navigation beacons that can be received by smartphones to provide the necessary location services. It is not completely clear if the AA app requires similar signals, but the depth-sensing and real-time tracking abilities of ARKit suggests it might not need them, just a map to be uploaded to the app. This would save time and money for airports.

On-screen alerts can also be displayed, with information such as wait times captured using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, or gathered from American Airlines themselves.

Groove Jones have released two videos about the app. One of which acts as a trailer displaying how the app would function, the other is a hands-on test captured while the est team were travelling. You can view the two videos below.

VRFocus will continue to bring you news on new developments involving ARKit.

September 16, 2017

Groove Jones Team With Wet n Wild For VR Mermaid Experience

Several companies and brands are now seeing the advantages of using Virtual reality (VR) for marketing and promotion. Recently, VR studio Groove Jones recently teamed up with cosmetics brand Wet n Wild to create a VR experience involving mermaids at night.

The experience was created as a 360-degree video that told a story of a night-time underwater world. Characters were created, models were hired and make-up effects were carefully crafted to create the appearance of scales and other features associated with underwater dwellers.

The models were then scanned from every angle using a sophisticated set-up of 130 DSLR cameras, using a specially set-up in a full surround array to capture every angle. The method used allowed for instant capture, so the models didn’t need to stand perfectly still for long periods of time. Between 500 and 1000 images were captures for use in the video.

The models were suspended on a harness to simulate swimming underwater, and each shot was carefully composed so no extraneous images were captured by the 360-degree cameras. Once the footage was captured, the footage was stitched together and underwater effects were added. Then CGI sea creatures were added to combine with the live action footage.

“Our goal was to create something visually arresting, that would break through and resonate, gaining the heart and imagination of our consumer. With VR we’re able to create a closer connection with our consumer while creating an opportunity for more powerful brand recall.” said Evelyn Wang, SVP Marketing Markwins Beauty Brands Global.

You can watch a video trailer for the Wet N Wild Midnight Mermaid line VR experience below.

VRFocus will continue to report on new applications for VR technology.