Category: Philip K Dick

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Philip K. Dick’s The Great C Arrives on Mobile VR Headsets

There are some truly amazing animation experiences for virtual reality (VR), showcasing how well the two fit. One of those is The Great C, an adaption of author Philip K. Dick’s (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) story by Secret Location. Originally released for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift last year, today, the studio has brought the title to mobile headsets.

The Great C

The Great C is now compatible with Oculus Go, Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, bringing the content to an even wider audience. Secret Location used its white-label VR content management and distribution platform, Vusr Publisher, to port the experience over.

“Philip K. Dick’s cautionary tale on the pitfalls of worshipping technology is especially relevant in today’s society and our adaptation of The Great C stands strong as an example of how a VR narrative can be riveting while still conveying an important message,” said Ryan Andal, president of Secret Location. “We hope to introduce The Great C’s truly cinematic production value and storytelling to the millions of mobile VR users seeking a new sci-fi adventure to experience.”

Coming in at a decent 37-minutes, the dramatic sci-fi adventure takes place in a post-apocalyptic landscape where humanity’s remnants are ruled over by an all-powerful supercomputer known as the Great C. The story follows Clare, a young woman who finds her life upended when her fiancé is summoned for an annual pilgrimage; a journey from which no one ever returns. Forced to leave the safe confines of her village, Clare must now decide whether to accept the rules of this harsh society or fight against the oppressive reality of her world.

The Great C

Secret Location is well versed in immersive storytelling having created a number of different VR experiences over the years, such as Insidious 3: VR Experience, Sleepy Hollow: VR Experience, Transpose and Blasters of the Universe.

The Great C is available now for Oculus Go, Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream, as well as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive from the usual online stores, retailing for $5.99 USD. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Secret Location, reporting back with any further updates.

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The Great C: VR-Kurzfilm nach Philip K. Dick für Rift und Vive veröffentlicht

Der US-amerikanische Autor Philip K. Dick ist bekannt für seine zahlreichen Science-Fiction Romane und Kurzgeschichten, welche das Genre imposant prägten. So wurden von seinen 118 Kurzgeschichten und 43 Romanen unter anderem Blade Runner, Minority Report oder A Scanner Darkly verfilmt. Mit der Dystopie The Great C wurde eine seiner Kurzgeschichten in die VR adaptiert und erstmals auf den internationalen Filmfestspielen in Venedig vorgeführt. Seit wenigen Tagen ist der VR-Kurzfilm ebenso für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive erhältlich.

The Great C – Dystopischer VR-Kurzfilm nach Philip K. Dick auf Steam und im Oculus Store erhältlich

The Great C gehört eher zu den unbekannteren Titeln des amerikanischen Sci-Fi-Urvaters. Dennoch ist die dystopische Kurzgeschichte aus dem Jahr 1953 nicht weniger interessant:

In einer postapokalyptischen Welt haben sich die letzten menschlichen Überlebenden zu einem Stamm zusammengesammelt und leben nun in einer unterdrückten Gemeinschaft. Beherrscht wird der ruinenartige Planet von einem maschinellen Overlord, dem Great C. Diese KI fordert eine jährliche Herausforderung von seinen Untergebenen.

Diese müssen ihm zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt einen männlichen Abgesandten schicken, welcher drei Fragen an den Supercomputer stellt. Sollte er nicht in der Lage sein, diese zu beantworten, gewährt er dem Dorf die Freiheit. Kann er sie jedoch mit seinem Wissensschatz beantworten, erwartet den Boten der Tod. Zum Zeitpunkt der Handlung schildert eine liebende Frau die Ereignisse aus ihrer Perspektive, deren Verlobter zuletzt für die gefährliche Aufgabe auserkoren wurde. Die junge Clarke begibt sich daraufhin auf eine Reise, um das Schicksal ihres Geliebten zu erfahren.

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Die Kurzgeschichte wurde nun von Secret Location in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Canadian Media Fund in einer VR-Adaption umgesetzt. Und das mit reichlich Potenzial: Der VR-Kurzfilm kombiniert die immersiven Möglichkeiten der VR-Technologie mit den konventionellen Methoden der Filmproduktion und erschafft dadurch eine einzigartige Geschichte mit beeindruckendem Schnitt und Montage. Damit erzeugen die Verantwortlichen eine tief gehende wie bedrückende Welt mit imposantem Storytelling. Zur künstlerischen Freiheit halten sich die Produzenten nicht vollständig an die Vorlage, sondern erweitern diese an manchen Stellen bzw. gehen eigene Erzählwege.

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Insgesamt werden die Zuschauer/innen während der 37-minütigen Animationsreise durch über 22 imposante Umgebungen geführt, um die emotionale Reise nachzuerzählen. Das dramatische Epos bietet derweil dank der beeindruckenden Grafik ein immersives Erlebnis, welches dank des tollen Soundtracks von Tom Holkenborg zusätzlich unterstützt wird.

Der Film feierte auf den internationalen Filmfestspielen in Venedig kürzlich seine Weltpremiere. Ab sofort dürfen jedoch auch VR-Home-Nutzer/innen auf das Spektakel zugreifen.

The Great C ist ab sofort für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive für 4,99 Euro auf Steam sowie im Oculus Store erhältlich. Im Q4 2018 soll ein Release für weitere VR-Brillen wie PlayStation VR (PSVR) folgen.

(Quellen: Road to VR | Video: Secret Location YouTube)

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VR Brings Philip K. Dick Story The Great C to Life Today

After making it public debut during the Venice Film Festival this summer, Secret Location’s virtual reality (VR) adaption of famed author Philip K. Dick’s The Great C, is now ready for worldwide consumption, launching for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive today.

The Great C transports viewers into a post-apocalyptic landscape where humanity’s remnants are ruled over by an all-powerful supercomputer known as the Great C. Each year, the nearby village is forced to send a young person on a pilgrimage to appease the mysterious machine – a journey from which no one ever returns.

The 37-minute dramatic sci-fi adventure follows Clare, a young woman who finds her life upended when her fiancé is summoned for this year’s pilgrimage. Forced to leave the safe confines of her village, Clare must now decide whether to accept the rules of this harsh society or fight against the oppressive reality of her world.

Featuring stunning environments and a powerful soundtrack composed by Grammy-nominated artist Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL, his recent film scoring credits include Mad Max Fury Road, Deadpool and Peter Jackson’s forthcoming Mortal Engines.

Secret Location has used traditional filmmaking techniques throughout The Great C in areas such as editing, composition, and story structure. The studio has created a number of different VR experiences over the years, such as Insidious 3: VR Experience, Sleepy Hollow: VR Experience and Blasters of the Universe.

The Great C is available now for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive for $5.99 USD, with a PlayStation VR version to follow. When a date is announced VRFocus will let you know.

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Philip K. Dick’s The Great C VR Adaption Is Releasing Next Month

Back in July of this year it was announced that the short story The Great C from the renowned sci-fi author Philip K. Dick, who is known for his odd and often twisted narratives which covered near-future and cyberpunk themes, would be getting adapted into virtual reality (VR). Now, sci-fi adventure will be releasing for everyone to enjoy next month as the immersive cinematic experience comes to the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.

The story of the The Great C focuses on a young woman called Clare, who lives in a village under the control of the almighty computer. Each year, the village is forced to send a young person on a pilgrimage to appease the machine. Clare soon finds herself in a tough spot as her fiance is chosen for the pilgrimage and she must choose whether to accept the rules of her society, or try and fight back. It is within this story that viewers will be taken on a cinematic narrative journey to a post-apocalyptic future.

The Great C has been adapted into VR by Entertainment One’s studio Secret Location, who are using the project as a test bed for pushing the boundaries in VR editing, composition and structure. The project also features the musical talent of award-winning producer Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL who is best known for his work composing soundtracks for Hollywood blockbusters such as Mad Max: Fury Road and Deadpool.

“I’m always looking for new technological advancements or mediums to experiment with in my composition work and The Great C was a unique project to explore VR, a really exciting new space with huge cinematic potential,” said Holkenborg in a statement about his involvement on the project earlier this month: “I love being at the cutting edge and The Great C allowed me to really push the envelope of what a film viewing and listening experience can be.”

The Great C will be releasing on HTC Vive and Oculus Rift on October 9th, 2018 with a PlayStation VR release to follow in 2019. The title runs for 37 minutes and will feature a poignant storyline, stunning environments and a powerful soundtrack. For more on the title in the future, keep reading VRFocus.

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Philip K. Dick VR Adaptation The Great C Announces Junkie XL As Composer

The work of writer Philip K. Dick has captured the imagination of science fiction fans for decades, ad been the inspiration behind movies and TV shows like Blade Runner or The Man in the High Castle. The virtual reality (VR) adaptation is hoping to tread that same road, and the studio behind the adaptation of The Great C, Secret Location, has announced it will be working with award-winning producer Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL.

Holkenborg is best known for his work composing soundtracks for Hollywood blockbusters such as Mad Max: Fury Road and Deadpool. He has expressed his enthusiasm about the project and is hoping to enhance the VR experience by using his experience with modern and classical musical structures.

“I’m always looking for new technological advancements or mediums to experiment with in my composition work and The Great C was a unique project to explore VR, a really exciting new space with huge cinematic potential,” said Holkenborg. “I love being at the cutting edge and The Great C allowed me to really push the envelope of what a film viewing and listening experience can be.”

The Great C was premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and follows the story of a woman called Clare, living in a harsh future totally controlled by an apparently all-knowing computer called The Great C. Clare finds herself having to choose between the rules of her society and her own feelings when her fiancé is chosen for a deadly pilgrimage.

“Junkie XL’s reputation precedes him. We knew from the beginning that having him compose The Great C’s soundtrack would be a best-case scenario that takes our work to the next level,” said Ryan Andal, President and Co-Founder of Secret Location. “Pairing a strong Philip K. Dick story with Junkie XL’s atmospheric soundtrack, and then wrapping it all up in an intense filmic experience has made The Great C an unmissable title we feel is indicative of a new wave of VR content that better shows the medium’s potential.”

The Great C is planned for release on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR in Q4 of 2018. For future coverage of new and upcoming VR experiences, keep checking with VRFocus.

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Philip K. Dick Story The Great C Comes to VR

Renowned sci-fi author Philip K. Dick became known for his odd, and often twisted narratives which covered near-future and themes that became popular in cyberpunk. One of his short stories, The Great C, has been adapted into virtual reality (VR) and will premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

The Great C short VR film is described as a cinematic VR narrative, which takes the viewer to a post-apocalyptic future where the remnants of humanity are ruled over by an all-powerful computer known a The Great C.

The story of The Great C concerns a young woman called Clare, who lives in a village under the control of the almighty computer. Each year, the village is forced to send a young person on a pilgrimage to appease the machine. Clare finds herself faced with a bitter choice when her fiancé is chosen for the pilgrimage and she must choose whether to accept the brutal rules of her society, or try and fight back.

The story has been adapted into VR by Entertainment One’s studio Secret Location, who are trying to use The Great C as a test bed for pushing the boundaries in VR editing, composition and structure.

“Philip K. Dick’s wonderfully forward-thinking stories have always felt primed for telling in equally forward-thinking mediums. Secret Location is highly focused on ushering in the future of storytelling, so pairing The Great C‘s provocative themes with our VR development prowess is helping us redefine how we consume sci-fi stories,” said Ryan Andal, President and Co-Founder of Secret Location. “Authors have long adhered to the ‘show, don’t tell’ technique. We’re hard-pressed to find a better way to ‘show’ a story than in VR – adapting Philip K. Dick’s The Great C only makes our ability to ‘show’ even stronger.”

For further information on the Venice Film Festival, check out the official website. Future coverage on new and upcoming VR projects will continue to be covered here on VRFocus.