Virtual reality (VR) has expanded to the point where we can do so much from inside our VR head-mounted displays (HMDs). We can browse the internet, work, craft videos, experiences, explore worlds and so much more. Now, after a sellout VR arts festival in December, Fantasynth has been awarded a VR arts awards.
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Created by Brighton studio HelloEnjoy, Fantasynth is a surreal, abstract journey through a world of geometric shapes, where the environment reacts to the music. The experience plays along to the song “Chez Nous” by French music producer N’to.
Judges at the Limina VR Weekender, which took place at the Watershed Cinema, Bristol, wanted to see a VR experience which made effective use of the medium and an awareness of their target audience. The panel of judges included Verity McIntosh from Watershed, Emma Hughes from Limina Immersive, Dan Page from Bristol VR Lad, and Sharon Clark from Raucous.
The panel of judges were elated with Fantasynth’s unique landscapes, and sung it’s praises after awarding HelloEnjoy with their hard-earned award; “Fantasynth is an accomplished and euphoric piece. It lifts you in a way that could only be achieved in VR, demonstrating the transformative power of VR in relation to mood in a slick and compelling format. It has impact and gives audiences a sense of wonder, providing a fantastic portal into the world of virtual reality for those who may not have experienced it before. 7 minutes of pure joy. Hugely popular with festival-goers, Fantasynth provoked physical reactions from awestruck audience members who found their heads bobbing and bodies spinning, fully immersed in the visceral landscapes created by HelloEnjoy.”
HelloEnjoy themselves, a duo made up of Carlos Ulloa and Libertad Aguilera, were of course blown away by the reception Fantasynth received; “We’re thrilled Fantasynth has won the Limina Creative VR Award. We were already very excited to be part of the VR Weekender, a great honour to be among such fine selection of VR pieces.”
Speaking about their creative process the duo state of Fantasynth; “The main creative idea behind Fantasynth is to look for the intense sensory experience that takes place when visual effects are in perfect sync with wondrous sounds. You can visually play with the music and take great joy from it. We see a new form of interactive entertainment in this activity, mid-way between a music show and an art installation.”
The future of interactive VR entertainment is only becoming brighter by the day, and Fantasynth’s great reception is hopefully the sign of even greater things to come. For the latest on exactly what those great things might be, keep reading VRFocus.
