New Speakers, New Panellists, New Games – Last Chance To Get Tickets For The Post Gamescom XR Review!

We are but a day away from our Post Gamescom XR Review, which is taking place in London this Thursday at The Realities Centre’s venue at Huckletree West. The review is, among all things, a chance for people to get together, try some virtual reality (VR) and discuss with those working with VR what they are doing and VR’s videogaming path coming out of Gamescom and all that happened there.

You can sign up here incidentally and get a ticket.

Huckletree West (1)[2]Of course you’re like as not aware of things already mentioned on the site which will be in attendence, but as with all events some things change so we have some changes to the card (as it were) to inform you of. The bad news is that Firesprite and their VR videogame The Persistence will no longer be able to attend which is a great shame. Don’t worry though as we’ve some new items to announce as well!

First up is confirmation of one of our talks for the event. Dave Raynard, the CEO of Dream Reality Interactive (DRI) will be talking to attendees about the life of a young development studio in The Terrible Twos: The DRI Story So Far.

“Dream Reality Interactive is two years old. DRI have had the opportunity to work on some amazing projects – and still be in business! In this talk, Dave will speak about their journey and reflect on what went well and where they could have improved.”

DRI will also be at the event showing of their VR title Arca’s Path VR of course, and Dave Raynard will also be contributing to the panel at the end of the evening.
Arca's Path keyArt

Also taking part in the panel will be Sam Watts of Brighton-based developer make[REAL], a familiar face to the VR talk circuit and to VRFocus readers with his recent developer diaries about the studio’s project Pastimes for Pirates. Watts will also be showing off the studio’s hit party game title Loco Dojo at the event. Attendees will be able to adventure into a whimsical world overseen by the mysterious Grand Sensei. Can you stand up to his ‘Table of Trials’?

LocoDojo Screenshot 3_RockyDesertOne more member of the Post Gamescom panel has also been announced: Kish Hirani. The CTO of Terra Virtua, Hirani has undertaken roles at Acclaim, BBC Multimedia, THQ, Microsoft and at Sony as their Head of Developer Services, running the PlayStation developer technology services division. Hirani is also a former Chair of BAME in Games and a Board member of Women in Games, so will no doubt have much to say on VR’s direction as we begin to look past 2018 and into 2019.

Our final announcement for now is that we will also be joined on the day by Tara Reddy and Sam Weekes, the co-Founders of LoveShark. Who will be showing off their forthcoming augmented reality (AR) drawing-based videogame LaserDRAW. Look out for them on the day.

LaserDraw - ScreenshotWe’re still awaiting the confirmation of more developers and speakers so look out for more news. But before that act fast if you want to check out everything at the event tomorrow!

Kish Hirani Talks To Porsche On The Future Of VR and AR In The Automotive Industry (Updated)

How exactly do you sell a car? What is the thought process that goes into it? Is it all about the journey outside, getting from A-B with the least fuss possible or is it perhaps the journey inside. The comfort, the ride, the experience you get driving the car. Practicality against luxury. Engineering against design. Productivity against feel. How can you connect with your audience? Moreover, how can you create a mix of the two schools of thought and visualise what you’re creating?

Car manufacturers are increasingly turning to the digital world in order to create both the design and the connection, with an example being the increasing occurrences of cars being a part of videogame conferences. If you can remember this happening you’re most likely remembering this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, California. During the event Porsche announced a brand new sportscar, the 911 GT2 RS.  It was also revealed as being both in and the cover star of the equally just announced Forza Motorsport 7.

Porsche are also interested in virtual reality (VR) technologies and the possibilities they could, in theory unlock. They have already dipped into virtual reality twice already with experiences revolving around their Panamera and 911 GT3 cars but with German rivals BMW and Audi looking into immersive technologies, Ford utilising Microsoft’s Hololens, other parts of the motoring industry investing and experimenting with VR and industry surveys backing up its use .It makes sense for Porsche to ask the question what VR, mixed reality (MR) or augmented reality (AR) could do for the company.

As such, on their official website they recently released a feature interview with Kish Hirani. Hirani is presently self-employed and working as a consultant on videogames, mostly within the VR/AR sphere and is the Chair at diversity in videogaming development advocacy group BAME in Games. Prior to this spent eight years at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, which included work championing the PlayStation VR. Porsche also mention Hirani working with augmented reality (AR) from when it was a feature on the PlayStation Portable (PSP), the PlayStation Vita and on PlayStation 3 through the peripheral Wonderbook.

Indeed, it is the latter he is highly enthused about. “Nowadays, you can point a smartphone at an object and get more information about it straight away. Above and beyond what you see before you in the real world. That’s AR. It’s going to grow.”

Hirani also notes that teaming AR with artificial intelligence (A.I.) would be beneficial. “Learning-enabled artificial intelligence has reached this level in the meantime. A computer can register some things much faster and more precisely than possibly the eye can. You have this wonderfully large surface directly in front of you and it can be used for more than just looking through.”

“It’s very interesting to see a document on how a car will be made. With virtual reality, however, you can see how your own car is being made. It isn’t safe for you to stand by the assembly line in the factory, but, in the virtual environment, you can watch it with your own eyes. You don’t have to wait until the day you buy your car to get to know it, you can start much sooner in the development stage. It’s important to know everything about your vehicle. When you have a car that offers so much power and technology, it’s also exciting to take a look under the bonnet.” Later adding that there’s also an educational slant to doing things this way. “You can visualise how the power flows and the paths it follows, how mechanisms and motors work together.”

You can read the interview in full hereVRFocus will bring you more information on the discussions being made regarding the future direction of immersive technologies in industry very soon.

Update: The story has been updated with new information to clarify Mr. Hirani’s present role and former work with AR.