virtual virtual reality – Page 3 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

August 18, 2017

VR Days Europe Returns To Amsterdam This October

As always with the virtual reality (VR) industry your calendar is never empty for long. No sooner have you spotted a gap where there isn’t much going on, then it is filled by a convention or a gaming event, a conference, a meetup, a Dev day , a workshop, etc.

The latest gap filler comes in the form of the latest meetup from VR Day, the Amsterdam based event series who are, for the third time, bringing an array of VR and augmented reality (AR) to the Dutch capital. Taking place over three days from October 25^th through to October 27^th 2017 the organisers are promising an array of talks, sessions and discussions about everything relating to immersive technology.

Confirmed speakers at the event include the Principle Development Lead working on the Hololens head mounted display (HMD) at Microsoft, Michael Gourlay and the development team behind Virtual Virtual Reality – whom you can watch an interview with here on VRFocus. Whilst events include the event’s annual HALO Awards for European-based projects working in VR, AR or mixed reality (MR), expert tracks on Media, Arts & Entertainment, Healthcare & Education and Enterprise Solutions and discussions on everything from storytelling to investment.

You can find out more information about what’s on offer at this year’s event on the VR Days website, whilst tickets are now available via Eventbrite.

July 24, 2017

Samantha Gorman Talks Reality and the Future of VR with Tender Claws

VRFocus speaks to co-founder Samantha Gorman of Tender Claws, the indie team behind the comedy satire virtual reality (VR) experience Virtual Virtual Reality. It’s a commentary on the VR experience as a whole and is available on the Google Daydream store right now. All you need is a compatible phone and controller to enjoy it.

This three hour game was made for the Google Daydream and was released in March 2017 winning the Google Play Award as best VR experience. Tender Claws were also behind the interactive novel and game PRY, which was selective as the top apps of the year. Samantha’s experience in the interactive field of VR in 2002. Virtual Virtual Reality is therefore a culmination of Sarah’s eight year experience in VR. She tells VRFocus that she is both an optimist and cautious critic. “We need to be careful about hype and how we need to develop for long form content that is meaningful in the form of VR right now.”

VRFocus‘ Nina Salomons asked what the best tip Samantha could give for artists and writers, “One of the things I see is the danger of thinking that you can make something in 2D or think of a game or even a screenplay and import into VR I think you really need to think about what the medium can do, and design for the space and think about the user experience in VR and what it does best accordingly.”

The game will also be available on Google’s new stand alone headset as well as other platforms at the start of 2018. Samantha says that Tender Claws is working on two other VR projects, with one of them being the spiritual successor of Virtual Virtual Reality, whilst the other project would combine video and CG to create suspense. Watch the video below to find out more.

April 1, 2017

‘Virtual Virtual Reality’ on Google Daydream Plays on Popular Anxieties of the Near Future

It’s the joke everyone in the VR space has made at least once: ‘virtual virtual reality—how meta!’ But developer Tender Claws has taken the idea and applied it to a new Daydream experience which explores common themes of “VR, AI and our collective sci-fi hallucinations.”

“In the near future, most jobs have been automated. What is the purpose of humanity? Activitude, the Virtual Labor System, is here to help. Your artisanal human companionship is still highly sought by our A.I. clients. Strap on your headset. Find your calling.”

virtual virtual reality (1) — Photo courtesy Tender Claws

In the game you’ll find yourself diving into varying levels of VR by putting on virtual reality headsets while inside of other virtual reality headsets. At some point you may find yourself stepping out into the ‘real’ world, which the trailer (heading this article) reveals is a stark shift from the happy-go-lucky virtual realities.

virtual virtual reality (2) — Photo courtesy Tender Claws

There’s more than 50 virtual virtual realities to find, and the developer says there’s more than two hours of gameplay for the $9 price tag. The game makes use of the Daydream controller for various interactions and for locomotion.

“Virtual Virtual Reality directly responds to contemporary issues and debates around how the advancement of A.I. and VR are shaping our society and the way we work: gig economy, virtual labor, outsourcing. The game playfully winks at the lines between simulation/real, prefab/free will and human/artificial,” says developer Tender Claws.

Virtual Virtual Reality has debuted to impressive acclaim among users who have played the game since its launch earlier this month, netting the experience a 4.8 out of 5 stars on the Play Store.

Tender Claws says they are “a collective/studio operating at the intersection of art, games and tech.” The studio is responsible for the iOS app Pry which was selected as one of Apple’s 25 ‘Best Apps of 2015’.

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