Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation
What Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality developers are talking about
It's been six years since we first told you about Angry Birds maker Rovio's plans to go public, but now, it seems as though action is on the horizon. The Finnish game maker and animation studio "could list on the stock exchange."
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Tencent Holding Limited are one of the biggest providers of internet services in China, including popular instant messaging software QQ. The company recently announced that it’s campaign for the latest The Fast and the Furious movie, which included augmented reality (AR) elements was a success.
As part of a campaign to promote the film in China, smartphone users could watch a Fast and Fusrious themed animation when they scanned the movie’s posters using the QQ Mobile AR function. Universal Pictures placed more than 2,500 posters in China’s subways and cinemas to allow as many consumers as possible to get the chance to activate the animation. There is even a scene in the move itself where a billboard can be scanned to activate the animation.
Tencent also made a car racing videogame titled Qzone available for its customers. A survey by Qzone established that 71% of users who played Qzone had seen or were planning to see the movie, compared with 62% of people who did not play the title.
In another survey, 80% percent of people who had seen the animated trailer on Mobile QQ had watched or were planning to watch the movie, compared to 49% who didn’t.
“As Hollywood studios increasingly target China to boost global revenues, they look for partners that can provide tech-driven marketing solutions to attract the country’s huge number of tech-savvy young people who are eager for an engaging experience,” said Dan Li, General Manager of Marketing, Social Network Group, Tencent. “With our large user-base in China, consumer behavior insights and strong technical capacity, we can support Hollywood to tap the China market. By doing this, we can also bring more great content to Chinese audiences.”
VRFocus will continue to bring you news of developments in the VR and AR industry.
Tencent Holdings, the big umbrella that owns the likes of Call of Duty Online and League of Legends, announced its plan to build an esports-themed park as part of a new pro-gaming themed 'town.'
The post Chinese investment firm Tencent may build esports-themed amusement park appeared first on Digital Trends.
Tencent, a Chinese company that provides social networks, e-commerce and mobile and online videogames for the Chinese market, is looking at launching a new virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display for the Chinese market.
Tencent is actually the largest videogame company in the world, having recently acquired Supercell, who are behind hit mobile title Clash of Clans. Tencent is the company responsible for popular Chinese social media platform WeChat. The company also recently launched a videogame system called the MiniStation, which was powered by Android. Indications were there on launch that the system was designed to be compatible with a yet-to-be-released VR headset, though no details were provided.
A webpage provided for developers to apply to make titles for the MiniStation, however, indicated that it was Tencent’s intention to create a complete VR platform, with WeChat providing social networking and an in-app payment system that was already being worked on.
The company has been working with tech manufacturer Qualcomm to create a design for a standalone VR headset that used ‘inside out’ tracking that does not require an additional tracking camera or sensor. Tencent have also invested in AltspaceVR, an online community service for VR, and in Epic Games, who are of course the people behind Unreal Engine.
Since Oculus Rift doesn’t have a presence in China due to the ban on Facebook services, it could mean the gap in the market is big enough to let Tencent get a foot in the door, despite it’s relatively late start when compared to other VR headset manufacturers.
Tencent hopes to release the new headset sometime in the second half of 2017. It has not yet been confirmed if the headset will be a PC-based VR system, or a mobile VR system using the MiniStation as a basis. Nor has a price point been discussed.
VRFocus will bring you further news on Tencent’s VR headset as soon as it becomes available.
Tencent, the leader in games revenue, will launch "WeGame," a worldwide digital storefront for PC games that operates like Steam. The Tencent Game Platform already boasts 200 million players in China.
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As the virtual reality (VR) industry heads into the new year, one of the growing aspects of the technology is 360-degree live-streamed content. This can range from sporting events to concerts, giving viewers a far more involved viewpoint in the proceedings. One company expanding its VR aspirations is Digital Domain, and recently the company has revealed a collaboration with one of China’s leading online video streaming platforms, Tencent Video, to live-stream pop singer Faye Wong’s Moments Live 2016 concert in 360-degrees this month.
Faye’s Moments Live 2016 concert will be live-streamed in high-definition and distributed through Tencent QQ LiveMusic and the WhaleyVR mobile app, adding visual effects whilst bringing her music to audiences around the globe in the comfort of their homes.
Daniel Seah, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Domain Holdings Limitedcommented, “As we all know, Faye Wong is one of the most prominent Chinese pop singers of all time. It’s our honor to work with an extraordinary pop diva and broadcast her exclusive concert live worldwide using our leading VR technology. Virtual visual effects will be added during the concert, giving her fans around the world a first-ever and stunning music experience.”
“The strategic collaboration between Tencent Video and Digital Domain to deliver the world’s first 360 live broadcast of pop diva Faye Wong’s concert marks an important milestone for both companies,” said Jeff Han, Vice President of the Tencent Online Media Group (OMG) and Vice President of Tencent Penguin Pictures. “Leveraging Tencent Video’s exclusive worldwide broadcasting platform and Digital Domain’s leading visual effect and virtual reality technology, we hope that Chinese music fans both domestically and abroad will be able to enjoy this much-anticipated concert, which aims to share an innovative musical and visual experience to the world.”
“Faye Wong wishes to hold a concert where fans from different parts of the world will be able to enjoy her concert live,” said Silence Leung, Producer of Faye Wong’s Moments Live 2016. “To allow fans who are unable to join us feel like attending the live concert performance in persons, we will apply advanced VR technology to provide the sensory experience of the scene. Although the concert will be held only once, the integration of Digital Domain’s panoramic 360 degrees immersive live streaming technology with internet and new media will mark a breakthrough from the restrictions on venue and the number of people in traditional concerts, as well as immersing Faye’s fans around the world into her music.”
The WhaleyVR app is available for both Android and iOS devices directly from the company’s website. Faye’s Moments Live 2016 concert will be live-streamed on 30th December 2016.
For the latest VR news from around the world, keep reading VRFocus.
After a five year absence, Activision Blizzard has renewed its membership with the Entertainment Software Association, and it is joined by Chinese gaming giant Tencent. And the timing may be crucial.
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