Posts

Posted on

HTC Invests $5 Million In Series A Funding In Steel Wool Studios

No matter the studio, no matter the application or experience and no matter the hardware that it is being produced on, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) continues to generate investment from both inside the industry and from grants, individuals and consortiums outside outside of it.

The latest to acquire funding is independent Steel Wool Studios, a team with more than an a little bit of an interesting background.
Founded five years ago Steel Wool Studios has within its staff alumni from Telltale Games, Lucasfilm and Pixar Animation Studios which many video game aficionados would consider something of a dream team development. Steel Wool Studios began to use VR in 2014 on and earlier this year this work produced Quar: Battle for Gate 18, a turn-based strategy launch title for the HTC Vive which VRFocus described in its review as “genuinely fun and often tense”.

Their next project Mars Odyssey sees you take on the needed maintenance roll for the (in-game) long abandoned Mars exploration rovers. Teaming with NASA, Steel Wool Studios have produced a realistic environment based on the known martian terrain and the likes of Pathfinder and Opportunity will be found in their current locations and need to be repaired using their actual schematics. is launching on Steam on September 9th 2016, also for the HTC Vive. It is this along with other VR related projects “which span game, simulation, and narrative-based concepts” that will be supported by HTC through $5 million (USD) in Series A funding.

Steel Wool Studios

Speaking on the deal, HTC Corporation’s CEO Cher Wang said, “The Steel Wool Studios team carries an impressive pedigree of creative talent that has already proven its ability to build cutting-edge content for the nascent VR category. Taking a look at Mars Odyssey and Steel Wool’s other projects under development, it’s immediately clear that this studio will drive VR adoption with great content that balances amazing visual fidelity with strong storytelling.”

“After earning our stripes with Quar, we went all-in on creating content for VR, a medium we’ve been waiting for our whole lives.” Added Andrew Dayton, who co-founded Steel Wool Studios. “HTC’s investment gives us the ability to explore and push the limits of VR through the completion of projects we hope will excite everyone as much as we’ve enjoyed building them.”

VRFocus will bring you more information on the release when we have it.

Posted on

Facebook shows commitment to video with new 360 video stabilization demo



With new 360 video cameras hitting the shelves alongside matching headsets in time for the holiday season, millions of new users will be looking to consume VR content. Facebook recognizes that one of the biggest impediments to the enjoyment of 360 video is excess motion. The company released a demo today of its new 360 video stabilization technology. The new technology combines traditional… Read More



(RSS generated with FetchRss)
Posted on

Björk: ‘I build bridges between tech and the human things we do’

Icelandic singer brings her 360-degree VR show to London’s Somerset House, putting the universe of Vulnicura on display

Few will be surprised to learn that Björk admits she can be something of a control freak when it comes to her musical output.

“When I make my music I am a bit of a tyrant – it is my world and people follow my vision,” she says with a giggle. “But with the visuals it’s more of a collaboration.”

Related: Björk: Vulnicura review – a sucker punch of a breakup album

Related: Björk: 'It’s no coincidence that the porn industry has embraced virtual reality'

Continue reading...
Posted on

Funomena’s Oculus Touch Indie VR Puzzler Luna Will Demo at PAX West 2016

Luna was mentioned a little while ago when we reported on 30 titles set to launch with Oculus Touch this Fall, and now it will finally be playable at a public event this weekend at PAX West 2016, featuring in the Indie Megabooth.

This indie title is a virtual reality (VR) puzzler that uses the Oculus Touch controllers, and players are encouraged to observe, listen, customise, and interact with a storybook world. This world is inspired by origami, minimalist illustration, abstract sculpture, and stop animation.

luna funomena

The story that brings this title to life is as described by the developers, Funomena, themselves: “The game begins when a young Bird is lured from its nest by a mysterious Owl, whose hypnotic song convinces the Bird to swallow the last piece of the waning moon. Blown far from its nest by the ensuing storm, Bird wakes up in a scrambled, unfamiliar and lonely place.

“To help the Bird find its way home, players must first look to the stars. Here, they help untangle the mixed-up constellations of Bird’s memories, which appear as tangled webs of stardust floating in the night sky.”

As well as the title itself, there is said to also be the usual freebies that come along with this event, so if trying out this title on the Touch controllers isn’t enough, then your innate sense of wanting free goodies may kick in.

Luna will be available at the Oculus Touch stations and at the AMD booth if you are looking for other opportunities to come by it during PAX West 2016.

For more on the latest events in VR, as well as all the news, updates, and features in the world of VR, make sure to check back with VRFocus.

Posted on

Björk to Release Multiple VR Experiences as She Tours

Earlier this year Björk claimed to have made the world’s first virtual reality (VR) album with the HTC Vive, where she released VR videos that complemented her latest album. Now, she is carrying on the trend and releasing many, many more VR instalments as she tours around.

It was shared on Björk’s Facebook profile that she has already created four VR videos that are ready to be released, and she will go on to release more with every city she visits, starting with London.

bjork

Although it wasn’t in VR, Björk delivered the conference to announce this in real-time as she was reimagined in 3D using Unity.

On the post, Björk talked about how technology is enabling women to work outside the hierarchical system, and how technology personally helped her. She went on to say (all grammatical errors her own): “VR is helping making a new stage free of politics where sound and vision is swirling free in 360 fully liberated . i found vulnicura a helpful material to work in VR because of its old fashioned heartbreak saga , the narration in it is the most stubborn of my albums so i felt it could take on the experimentation of where VR is now . benefitted from 2016-ing it . and because of vulnicuras one singular selfpitying voice to work with many directors gave it more point of views.”

If you are in London, you can check out the debut of Björk’s Digital Exhibit at Somerset House starting on 1st September.