How Spider-Man: Homecoming Lead Justin Lassen to Bigger VR Things

The free tie-in virtual reality (VR) experience for the Spider-Man: Homecoming motion-picture launched in June of this year, and has been seen by many as a resounding success. Speaking to Intel at SIGGRAPH 2017, audio director Justin Lassen explains that a crash course in Unreal Engine 4 has lead him to bigger things in VR.

Spider Man Homecoming VR Experience screenshot“I was the audio director on this cool VR experience. So I did the dialogue, editing, sound effects, ambience, music, spatialization and implementation in the Unreal Engine,” explains Lassen. “And through this project, I actually got to learn Unreal because most of my previous VR projects, like Shapesong, have been Unity projects. So this is my first time really diving into the Unreal Engine. So I learned blueprints, note editing. I learned basically, how fun and easy Unreal is.”

In the interview, available below, Lessen explains how the opportunity to become involved in the Spider-Man: Homecoming VR experience came his way. Lessen then goes on to tease some of the future VR projects he’s now involved in thanks to the success of Spider-Man: Homecoming:

“Because of Spider-Man [Homecoming], and it’s done so well– we’ve got a bunch of accolades and recognition for it– I’ve been offered some really big, really cool virtual reality projects coming up in the future. I wish I could tell you the names of them, but I promise you, in the next few months, you will see them.”

The full interview, recorded by Intel at SIGGRAPH 2017, is available below. VRFocus will keep you updated with any future projects Lessen becomes involved in as a result of the success of Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience Launches on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift & HTC Vive

The highly anticipated Spider-Man Homecoming will be launching in cinemas across the globe next month, and while Insomniac Games’ PlayStation 4 exclusive Spider-Man title won’t be released until later in 2017, there’s another videogame fix now available for webslinger fans. This time, in virtual reality (VR).

 

Spider Man Homecoming VR Experience screenshotIn Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience, players will be guided by the helpful artificial intelligence unit built into the new Spider-Man suit, as depicted in the upcoming motion-picture release. Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience offers players the chance to suit up as Spider-Man, hone their web-shooting skills and sling high above New York City in pursuit of the Vulture.

Prior to today’s release fans have been able to get hands-on with Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience at special events and select movie theaters worldwide, including select Cinemark Theaters in the US and at the CineEurope tradeshow in Barcelona.

Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience is available for free on PlayStation VR, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. VRFocus will keep you updated with any further VR releases featuring your friendly neighbourhood spider.

NVIDIA Release Driver Update for Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience

Having the best possible quality for a videogame at launch is important, and it becomes even more important with the additional requirements that come with virtual reality (VR) titles. Gameplay issues or bugs can break immersion and ruin a VR experience, and so NVIDIA has launched a new ‘Game Ready’ driver in anticipation of tomorrow’s launch of Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience.

Spider Man Homecoming VR Experience screenshot

Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience casts the player as the titular hero in his first VR videogame. Following the success of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s Batman: Arkham VR, Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience will allow player to become their superhero and engage with his unique superpowers.

“Our long-running Game Ready driver program delivers the best possible experience by optimizing performance and latency, which is especially important for smooth, stutter-free Virtual Reality gameplay. Today’s game Ready Driver will provide the best VR experience for Spider-man Homecoming Virtual Reality Experience.”

This new Game Ready driver also supports Lawbreakers, a non-VR title which has a closed beta running 28th June 2017 to 3rd July 2017.

Spider-man Homecoming VR Experience will launch tomorrow, 30th June 2017, and will be available for free on PlayStation VR, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest superhero action in VR.

Dell Team up With Sony to Create Spider-Man Homecoming VR World

The upcoming movie Spider-Man: Homecoming is one of the most anticipated of the year, seeing the masked superhero finally take his place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Marvel Studio struck a deal with Sony Pictures for use of the character. Sony are still getting something out of the deal, however, since the studio form a large part of not only the marketing but also the creation of The Spider-Man: Homecoming VR experience alongside Dell Computers.

The Spider-Man: Homecoming VR experience was developed by experience virtual reality (VR) content creators CreateVR and produced by Sony Pictures Virtual Reality and created on Dell Precision workstations. The VR experience offers players the chance to become Spider-Man and see the world from his viewpoint. Players will have the opportunity to hone their web-shooting, swing from virtual buildings and chase down the film’s villain, the Vulture.

Fans of Spider-Man in the US will be able to get a preview of the VR experience at some selected Cinemark theatres through America, where Dell will be powering the experience using their high-end VR-ready PC products. Dell workstations were also providing the power for the visual effects studio, Sony Pictures Imageworks, which used roughly 1000 Dell Precision workstations and more than 4000 Dell servers to create the visual effects used in the film.

“The computing power of Dell Precision workstations, coupled with thousands of PowerEdge servers, enables rapid creative iterations and allows us to put the best picture on screen,” said Erik Strauss, executive director, Software Development at Sony Pictures Imageworks.

“We are proud that Sony Pictures Imageworks looks to us, and solutions such as the Precision rack 7910 workstations, to deliver the reliable performance for incredible visual effects that make films like Spider-Man: Homecoming possible,” said Rahul Tikoo, vice president and general manager, Dell Precision workstations. “Our collaboration with Imageworks goes beyond this film; we’re making sure to not only equip them with what they need today but to deliver the transformative solutions they might need for the future of immersive storytelling.”

VRFocus will continue to bring you news on developments within the VR industry.

Spider-Man: Homecoming VR Experience Allows You To Do Whatever A Spider Can. For Free.

Good news true believers of virtual reality (VR)! It seem that in promotion of the forthcoming cinema release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, the latest reboot of films featuring the popular wall-crawling superhero. You will get the chance to don Peter Parker’s mask either as part of a tour in one of a number of “secret locations” or alternatively you can bring the experience home with a free download from June 30th 2017.

Spider-Man: Homecoming VR sees you step into the advanced high-powered costume given to Peter by Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) and take on tasks including web-shooting, pursuing pesky criminal (and film bad guy) The Vulture and – most importantly – indulge in a bit of web-slinging in the process. Swinging your way through the streets, flying through the sky above New York. Something we at VRFocus have been craving for a very long time indeed.

Created by Sony Pictures Virtual Reality an CreateVR, known for Ghostbusters – Now Hiring. The free experience will be available on PlayStation VR, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. You can see a promotional trailer for it below.

Jake Zim, Senior Vice President of Virtual Reality at Sony Pictures commented on the announcement. “Spider-Man is the most beloved superhero in the world, so we knew Spider-Man: Homecoming VR had to be something special. Fans can wear the suit, fire the new web shooters – THWIP! – and swing through the air in a faceoff with The Vulture. It’s every fan’s fantasy turned into virtual reality.”

VRFocus will bring you more information about the expereince as it becomes available.