LIFE VR – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

May 16, 2018

Sports Illustrated and LIFE VR Get Sports Emmy Award

Sports Illustrated is one of the traditional print publications which has most eagerly embraced immersive technology such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). This commitment has now been recognised with Sports Illustrated and the LIFE VR app receiving a Sports Emmy Award for Capturing Everest.

Capturing Everest was released in May 2017 on the LIFE VR app and on a Sports Illustrated micro-site. The episodic VR film followed the journey of a group of climbers including amputee Jeff Glasbrenner and breast cancer survivor Lisa Thompson as they attempt to climb the world’s highest mountain.

Snap Sports Illustrated AR

The VR film was not only given its own micro-site, but was also featured as an AR cover feature in the Sports Illustrated print edition. Capturing Everest received the Sports Emmy award in the Outstanding Digital Innovation category.

Sports Illustrated was one of the first print publications to introduce AR, bringing AR features to selected issues of its print magazine to allow readers to immerse themselves in the content. Since then, SI has integrated VR and AR into its website and social media presence.

LIFE VR has been responsible for a number of recognised VR productions, with Capturing Everest being only one. LIFE VR has also been responsible for letting viewers ride the world’s longest wave alongside surfer Laird Hamilton in Take Every Wave: Laird in VR and has shot up into space with famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin in Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars.

The Sports Illustrated magazine was founded in 1954 and is still the most-read sports magazine, but has also added other strings to its bow, such as a digital network of websites and apps, Sportsperson of the Year, Sports Illustrated Films and its SVOD service Sports Illustrated TV.

For further news of developments in the VR sector, keep checking back with VRFocus.

February 25, 2018

Explore Life on Mars with Buzz Aldrin

Dr Buzz Aldrin is one of the most recognisable names in the history of space flight, being part of the historic 1969 Apollo 11 moon mission. He is also a strong advocate for establishing human colonies on Mars. Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars shows some of Dr Aldrin’s vision for the future of space travel.

The virtual reality (VR) experience of Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars takes users into space and towards the red planet. Though the surface of Mars is desolate, and its atmosphere somewhat hostile to human life, Dr Aldrin has a plan for how Mars can be transformed to allow for a human colony.

The experience users room-scale VR to depict Mars in an absorbing and education way as Dr Aldrin details his plan for how humans could reach Mars, and ultimately make a home for themselves there.

Developers LIFE VR and 8i used motion capture and image capture in order to preserve the appearance of Buzz Aldrin, so his hologram can be preserved to provide information to future generations. Dr Aldrin is firm in his belief that though the space missions of the 60s and 70s were historic and important moments, further progress needs to be made.

“While the moon landing was a monumental achievement for humanity, there’s no greater mission than mankind’s journey to Mars,” said Buzz Aldrin, “I have a plan for creating a human settlement on Mars, and thanks to virtual reality and holographic technology from 8i, we now have an exciting new way to communicate this plan with the world and to leave my legacy behind for future generations of aspiring space travellers.”

Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars is available for free for the Oculus Rift, available from the Oculus Store. The below trailer provides some further information on what users can expect from the VR experience.

As always, VRFocus will bring you news and updates regarding new and innovative VR experiences.

May 3, 2017

VR Series Capturing Everest Debuts on LIFE VR

Last October Time Inc.’s Sports Illustrated and Endemol Shine Beyond USA announced a collaborative effort to record the ascent of Mount Everest in 360-degrees. Today the four-part series Capturing Everest has launched on LIFE VR and several other platforms.

The four episodes – The Journey, The Blessing, The Icefall and The Summit – follows the journey of three climbers as they attempt to make the summit. They were Jeff Glasbrenner, a Paralympian and 25-time Ironman who became the first American amputee to summit Mount Everest on this expedition; Lisa Thompson, a breast cancer survivor who quit her job to take on the mountain; and Madison Mountaineering guide Brent Bishop, son of the legendary climber Barry Bishop, a member of the first American team to summit Everest, in 1963.

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Capturing Everest was shot over a two-month period last spring, the first time the mountain has been deemed safe enough for climbers after two years of cancellations due to bad weather and safety concerns. Using a variety of 360-degree capture methods, the team built specialised cameras rigged to zip lines and body harnesses on the climbers offer first-person views of Mount Everest.

The documentary is available through LIFE VR as well as a microsite on SI.com. On the project editors of SI wrote in a statement: “It was no ordinary expedition, and it was captured in an extraordinary way…. You’ve seen photos and video from the peak. But you’ve never felt Everest like this… Capturing Everest is yet another example of how SI is delivering the access and storytelling for which we’ve always been known in cutting-edge ways—and it’s the jumping-off point for a new idea of what a magazine can be.”

“We are thrilled that Capturing Everest is getting this amazing launch platform thanks to our partners at Sports Illustrated and LIFE VR,” says Bonnie Pan, President, Endemol Shine Beyond USA. “This is such a special series, featuring an amazingly brave team of climbers who captured a view of Everest that has never been seen before.”

LIFE VR is a free app for iOS and Android, and can be watched through a Cardboard head-mounted display (HMD) as well as Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive.

For further LIFE VR updates, keep reading VRFocus.

March 14, 2017

Buzz Aldrin Hologram appears in Cycling Pathways To Mars

A hologram of legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin will guide virtual reality (VR) users on their way to Mars in newly announced educational VR experience Cycling Pathways To Mars.

LIFE VR and 8i have teamed up to produce a VR project featuring Buzz Aldrin as he takes viewers on a journey away from Earth and details his plan for getting humans to Mars. Cycling Pathways To Mars uses room-scale VR to create an educational experience that has used cutting-edge motion and image capture to preserve Buzz Aldrin’s hologram for future generations.

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“Capturing Buzz Aldrin’s hologram for future generations has been an incredible honor and a watershed moment for 8i,” said Steve Raymond, CEO of 8i. “Virtual reality has enormous potential to educate and inspire, and we know Buzz will spark the imagination of young people who will one day journey to Mars and begin a new chapter for mankind. Our entire team has been thrilled to work on this project and we’re excited for everyone to see it.”

“While the moon landing was a monumental achievement for humanity, there’s no greater mission than mankind’s journey to Mars,” said Buzz Aldrin, astronaut on Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 missions. “I have a plan for creating a human settlement on Mars, and thanks to virtual reality and holographic technology from 8i, we now have an exciting new way to communicate this plan with the world and to leave my legacy behind for future generations of aspiring space travellers.”

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Cycling Pathways To Mars had its debut appearance at the South By Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas this week. It is expected to be available through Steam and for the HTC Vive on 17^th March 2017, and on Oculus Rift soon after.

VRFocus will bring you further news about Cycling Pathways To Mars as we get it.

February 15, 2017

Skydance Interactive Unveils its First Two VR Projects Life VR and Archangel

Skydance Interactive, a developer who’s previous work includes Gears of War 4 and XCOM 2, has revealed details surrounding its first two virtual reality (VR) titles, Life VR and Archangel.

Based on the upcoming feature film Life, due to be released on 24th March, Life VR is a sci-fi thriller set within the International Space Station command module. Players will lead a team of orbital scientists in a desperate fight for survival against a rapidly evolving life form from Mars. Due to launch the same day as the movie, Life VR will initially arrive on Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream, with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR all getting support shortly after.

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Archangel will be the first original VR title by Skydance Interactive. Created exclusively for VR, Archangel is a story-driven shooter in which players take control of a six-story-high war-machine, to stop a tyrannical corporation from taking over a post-apocalyptic America. The title is scheduled for release on VR platforms, including Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR in July 2017.

“I am proud to unveil today our first two Skydance Interactive titles that bring to life our mission of combining the fun of interactive gameplay with the immersive nature of narrative storytelling,” said David Ellison, Chief Executive Officer of Skydance Media, in a statement. “Whether it’s the action-filled, anti-establishment game of Archangel or the spine-tingling, thrilling experience of Life VR, we are excited to give audiences something they haven’t seen – or felt – ever before.”

“Our goal is to deliver on the promise of VR by giving not only aficionados and fans but even newcomers compelling and cutting-edge content that they can experience through a headset,” added Skydance Interactive President Peter Akemann. “Both Archangel and Life VR have allowed us to employ our accumulated experience making cutting-edge games for the last twenty years while taking advantage of the massive new storytelling opportunities that only VR can provide.”

As VRFocus learns more about Life VR and Archangel we’ll let you know.