paranormal evidence – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

June 20, 2018

NextVR Release Third Episode In Their Paranormal Evidence Series

Fans of NextVR’s paranormal investigation series will be happy to hear that following enthusiastic fan feedback that the virtual reality (VR) series is getting a third installment. This new episode is titled “Paranormal Evidence: Missouri State Penitentiary” and as the title points towards, this episode will take viewers inside the Missouri State Penitentiary to look investigate for any paranormal activity.

Paranormal Evidence: Missouri State Penitentiary

Once known as “the bloodiest 47 acres in America” for its deadly riots and grisly murders, the Missouri State Penitentiary will make fur a thrilling investigation. Lead investigator Jack Kassewitz, who has years of investigative journalism and linguistics experience, lead his team into the abandoned prison to find answers to the paranormal activity that is known to take place their.

Kassewitz gave his team of investigators a range of details, including historical artifacts, based on months of research, to try and trigger paranormal activity in specific areas of the prison in hope of catching it all on film. The result far surpassed its reputation for unexplained phenomena as the team were victim to bizarre voices, multiple touches, and a physical attack.

“Paranormal Evidences continues to be a fan favorite in the VR community,” said David Cole, NextVR co-founder and CEO. “We excited to enable Daydream users to be the first to explore the shadowy and sinister halls of Missouri State Penitentiary.”

Paranormal Evidence: Missouri State Penitentiary

“When Jack came back from Unit 1 with wounds that looked like bite marks on his arm, we nearly pulled the plug on the shoot,” said Michael Watchulonis, executive producer. “The team insisted on continuing, and experienced new phenomena that we can’t wait to show our audience.”

This new 30 minute long episode is being released exclusively for Google’s Daydream platform through the NextVR app. This means users with a Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream or Daydream View, along with a compatible smartphone will be able to experience the immersive episode from the Google Play Store today. 30 days after this release the episode will become available on all platforms allowing all NextVR users to enjoy the paranormal evidence.

NextVR is available now for download on compatible headsets including Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, Windows Mixed Reality and PlayStation VR. For more on NextVR in the future, keep reading VRFocus.

August 6, 2017

Experience the Haunted Halls of Pennhurst Asylum with NextVR

When VRFocus reports on NextVR it’s usually to do with the company broadcasting live sporting events. But that’s not all NextVR does. It’s created a new piece of original content called Paranormal Evidence, exploring the unexplained phenomena reported at notoriously haunted locations.

An investigative program led by journalist Jack Kassewitz, the team chose Pennhurst Asylum for the premiere of Paranormal Evidence. The institution opened in 1908 to care for children with severe mental and physical disabilities. In the following decades, the isolated facility also housed society’s outcasts and criminals, became dangerously overcrowded, underfunded, and under staffed. After nearly a century of controversy and accusations of abuse and neglect, the institution was finally closed. Unexplained occurrences have been reported for years, including strange voices, slamming doors, shadowy figures, and visitors grabbed by unseen hands.

Paranormal Evidence image 2

For the programme NextVR focused on Pennhurst’s Mayflower Hall, building a proprietary 360-degree camera system that could capture full spectrum footage in the pitch-dark environment, enabling the audience to see things imperceptible by even the investigators.

“We are creating original content for VR fans that significantly extends the entertainment portfolio at NextVR,” said David Cole, NextVR CEO in a statement. “Paranormal Experience is at once an adventure through dark and creepy spaces and a thought-provoking exploration of the paranormal. When you put on the VR headset, you enter Pennhurst Asylum with our team during the witching hour. You become part of the investigation. It’s an experience perfectly suited for VR.”

Checkout the Paranormal Evidence trailer below to see what it’s all about. Or to watch the first episode download the NextVR app for Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of NextVR, reporting back with the latest updates.

July 28, 2017

NextVR Developing Longer Format Original VR Content, Starting With ‘Paranormal Evidence’

NextVR, a platform known for its VR live broadcasting of sporting and concert events, is creating original VR content in the form of a suspenseful show called Paranormal Evidence. The California-based VR broadcast company developed the program, described as “a virtual reality investigation exploring the unexplained phenomena reported at notoriously haunted locations.”

The first episode, launching August 1st, focuses on the decrepit halls of Pennhurst Asylum, aiming to capture evidence of haunted happenings with a team of investigators, led by Jack Kassewitz. The NextVR engineering team used their VR live capture expertise to build a “proprietary camera system to capture full spectrum footage in the pitch-dark environment, enabling the audience to see things imperceptible by even the investigators.”

“We are creating original content for VR fans that significantly extends the entertainment portfolio at NextVR,” says David Cole, NextVR CEO. “Paranormal Evidence is at once an adventure through dark and creepy spaces and a thought-provoking exploration of the paranormal.”

The show appears to be styled as a typical paranormal ‘reality show’, where a mock non-fiction presentation will see ‘investigators’ spooked and scared, but naturally the ‘investigation’ won’t result in anything of substance, despite the audacious title of Paranormal Evidence.

The team claim to have successfully captured “multiple bizarre and disturbing events”, which certainly has the potential to be unsettling (or perhaps highly entertaining, or both, depending on your outlook) in VR. “When you put on the VR headset, you enter Pennhurst Asylum with our team during the witching hour,” says Cole. “You become part of the investigation. It’s an experience perfectly suited for VR.” Paranormal shows might not be to everyone’s taste, but it is likely a compelling use of VR camera technology. But perhaps more important than the subject matter is NextVR’s expanding portfolio, which now includes original content production.

NextVR has produced some short-form original content prior, but Paranormal Evidence marks the start of more substantial productions, with episodes hitting the 30 minute mark.

“First and foremost, we’re programming to be a destination. We’ve identified key areas that appeal with our fans that augment our sports and entertainment slate,” Cole tells Road to VR. “Specifically, areas where we can build repeat viewership with episodic releases. We’d love to meet that programming need with partners, and we’re excited to develop our own original programming when required.”

“Some of the genres of programming that we’re developing are pretty ‘out there’ in terms of concept. We’re in such a great position to meet viewer’s preferences with innovative VR programming because we have an existing audience and we’re getting good at understanding our audience’s preferences.”