Category: hideo kojima

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Netflix is Selling the ‘3 Body Problem’ Headset, But Sadly It’s Just a Prop

Netflix is selling the headset featured in its latest TV series 3 Body Problem, which heavily features characters accessing a shared virtual reality. Unfortunately, it’s just a prop—but it’s actually pretty cool as far as nonfunctional collectibles go.

Sold direct from Netflix for $110, it’s pretty clear from the price alone that the 3 Body Problem headset is just a high quality model, although it’s actually a little bit more than just a piece of plastic you can wear on your head.

The model’s polycarbonate is finished in silver chrome, letting you actually wear it and see the world around you, similar to how you might through a pair of high-polish sunglasses.

Unlike the cool chromed-out metal models used in the show, the prop has padding on the ear and rigid ‘one size fits most’ headset strap, and even includes a facial interface like a real VR headset to make it more comfortable as you wear it around.

Check out famed video game director Hideo Kojima trying on his own:

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/1776184353804234920

Kojima’s version seems to be slightly different from the one sold both through the store and given away as a promotional freebie at this year’s SXSW, with Kojima’s kit appearing to include custom lens inserts that likely account for his individual prescription.

Netflix is probably hoping Kojima wears it around for more than a few minutes, while everyone else following VR is probably hoping the the Death Stranding director and chief of Kojima Productions starts throwing resources at developing his own VR project.

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At the time of this writing, the 3 Body Problem headset is currently out of stock, however you can insert your email and sign up for updates in case the company decides to do another production run.

As it is, the prop headset’s store page says it’s a ‘FINAL SALE’, although it’s a good bet the non-functional headset will pop back up due to just how quick stock was snapped up when the page went live just a few hours ago.

The post Netflix is Selling the ‘3 Body Problem’ Headset, But Sadly It’s Just a Prop appeared first on Road to VR.

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Rumors Suggest Hideo Kojima Could Be Working On A PSVR 2 Game

Rumors and unconfirmed reports emerged over the weekend that suggest Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima could be working on a new game for PSVR 2.

The source of the rumors is the Twitter account Oops Leaks (@oopsleaks), pictured above. The tweet suggests that Kojima Productions “got PSVR2 prototypes back in November 2021” and the studio’s “upcoming smaller project could be a VR game/experience with award-winning Virtual Reality expert and storyteller Céline Tricart.”

Tricart has worked on a variety of VR projects, seemingly more focused on immersive films and media than games specifically.

Now, we would encourage you to take this entire rumor with a major pinch of salt, as the tweet is incredibly vague, unsubstantiated and only cites “unconfirmed information.”

But, with that very important disclaimer out of the way, could there be any stock to this? Well, we do know that Kojima is fond of VR and said in September 2020 that he thought the next two to three years would be “major” for the technology and people working in it. He was also “really interested” in VR back in 2019, but at the time he wasn’t free enough to work on a game for it.

Kojima also spoke to Famitsu at the end of last year, which was originally published in Japanese. However, Siliconera’s Andrew Kiya gave a translated report on what he said, suggesting Kojima confirmed that his studio was working on two games – one “big” title and a second “new, challenging” title. The description of the second could be referring to a new IP, but it’s also possible that the challenge he describes related to working with a new medium, perhaps VR.

A tweet from Kojima on January 12 showed a new folder on a computer, which (when translated using Google Translate) is called something to the effect of ‘New Project’. Again, very vague, but we live in hope.

Overall, it’s all still super unsubstantiated but given some developers likely have their hands on PSVR 2 dev kits by now and we know Kojima is working on two new games, it’s not impossible. Let’s keep our ears peeled for more info in the future.

Would you like to see a Kojima game for PSVR 2? Let us know in the comments.

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Hideo Kojima: ‘I Think The Next 2 – 3 Years Will Be Major For VR’

Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima thinks the next two to three years will be “major” for VR and the people working in it.

Kojima said as much in a recent documentary following the history of PlayStation, called From Bedrooms To Billions: The PlayStation Revolution. “I think that VR will be a major shift,” he said in a segment focusing on Sony’s work with the technology. “In the games up until the present, all of the video, screens, etc have been put into a square layout that is there to hold information. We’ve have film as a medium for over 100 years now and this is the first time that we’ve broken through this frame.”

Kojima himself hasn’t yet made any VR titles, though has often spoken about his fondness for the technology. In fact, he was a member of the jury for this month’s Venice VR festival.

“Being able to now create art, film, and games that don’t fit into this frame and the question of how to go about expressing this… I think that the next two to three years will be major for this medium in terms of how creators and artists will use it and what they will create.”

In October last year, the famed creator said that, while he was really interested in VR, was currently wasn’t free enough to work on a VR project of his own. Since then his most recent title, Death Stranding, has released on both PS4 and PC. Perhaps he might have since found some time to work on a VR experience?

We can only hope. Would you want to play a Hideo Kojima VR game? What do you think it would look like? Let us know in the comments below!

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Metal Gear Creator Hideo Kojima Is Judging Venice’s Online VR Film Festival

Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima is a member of the jury for this year’s Venice VR Expanded, an online portion of the Venice Film Festival.

While it appears parts of the festival are still going ahead on-location this year, the VR selection is moving entirely online. This was likely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; even if lockdown is easing across Europe, a VR-focused event where hundreds of users swap out the same headset still sounds like a big risk. It’s not yet clear how this will work, though some form of accreditation will be needed to view the projects online.

A total of 44 projects from 24 countries will be available to view from 2 – 12 September 2020. 31 of those will be in competition for a grand prize. Also joining Kojima on the jury this year is The Key creator, Celine Tricart, and Asif Kapadia, the director of Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy.

Kojima is renowned for his approach to storytelling in games, though notably hasn’t made a VR project himself yet. That said, he has had plenty to say on the new medium over the past few years, including some interesting comments on people’s approach to the platform. We’ve long hoped that the developer would dive into a VR game of his own.

Appearing in this year’s line up is Jon Favreau’s Gnomes and Goblins and Agence, two projects that made a splash at our VR Showcase: Summer Edition in June. Outside of the competition, there will also be a selection of games like Down The Rabbit Hole and The Room VR.

The post Metal Gear Creator Hideo Kojima Is Judging Venice’s Online VR Film Festival appeared first on UploadVR.