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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwQKRXymK5g]
VIVE Talk looks at ‘Curious Alice’, the remarkable collaboration between VIVE Arts and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London that explores the world of Alice in VR. This exciting VR experience forms part of the V&A Museum’s ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’ exhibition opening this month.
Learn more about Curious Alice VR Experience. Enjoy the adventurous story of Alice and unleash your creativity with VIVEPORT.
Upgrade to Next-Level VR Headsets with the AIO VIVE FOCUS 3 and the PCVR VIVE PRO 2.
Website: LINK
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcuPFX5Jbk0]
VIVE Talk takes a look at “Emergence”, described variously as a VR game or interactive art. Immerse yourself in a dense crowd that sways around you and runs with you, as you make your way through different scenes, in a truly unique exploration of human behaviour.
Download ‘Emergence’ VR experience on the Steam store.
Upgrade to Next-Level VR Headsets with the AIO VIVE FOCUS 3 and the PCVR VIVE PRO 2.
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Taipei – April 28, 2021 – VIVEPORT, HTC’s pioneering VR app store and subscription service platform, today announced a strategic alliance with BANDAI NAMCO Pictures (BN Pictures), the leading animation studio and production company, to bring BN Pictures’ well-known animated content to a new dimension in virtual reality (VR).
Over the next few months, new services will be made available on Viveport enabling users from hard-core players to casual viewers to enjoy new immersive animations and virtual social interactions. Known for producing original animation series with strong merchandising potential, such as the ‘Aikatsu!’ series, the ‘Battle Spirits’ series and the ‘Tiger & Bunny’ series, BN Pictures also creates animations based on hit comic titles such as the ‘Gintama’ series and ‘Sergeant Keroro’ series. Viveport and BN Pictures will work closely together to create and evolve the VR ecosystem, to allow access to a wide range of virtual experiences for consumers.
VR is changing people’s behavior – in design, marketing, education, training, socializing and entertainment. Viveport has been an essential part of HTC’s position as a global pioneer in VR, providing a well-rounded content platform for a wide variety of VR experiences, and continually seeks new opportunities to serve up the best, immersive experience in the fields of games, entertainment, events, exploration, education and more. This partnership with BN Pictures enables HTC to expand its intellectual property (IP) portfolio, while for BN Pictures, this partnership vastly broadens access to its content for users around the world.
“The future of virtual reality is about delivering experiences and exploring infinite possibilities to be realized,” said Joseph Lin, President of VIVEPORT. “We are honored to become BN Pictures’ first VR partner. Through this collaboration, we can bring animation content to a higher level and push the frontiers to unlock the full potential of virtual reality. In the next few months, anime content will be
available on Viveport and more virtual experiences will be delivered to our audience. Please stay tuned – more exciting things are on the way!”
OZAKI Masayuki, President and CEO of BANDAI NAMCO Pictures said, “We at BANDAI NAMCO Pictures are an animation production company that has produced and owned numerous TV series, OVAs, Web animations, and theatrical films, and in particular, we continue to actively produce original works. By combining the original animation planning and production know-how that we have cultivated over the years with HTC’s advanced technological capabilities and strength as a communications platform, we will be able to create an environment where fans can enjoy experiences together, transcending physical limitations, as if they were diving directly into the world of our creations from anywhere in the world. We are very much looking forward to evolving this newly born space together with our fans.”
This partnership will initially focus on the integration of animation content, development and distribution resources from both companies, ongoing collaborations on new animation and IP development, and robust exploration of new business opportunities. Through the collaboration with BN Pictures, Viveport will continue to enrich and diversify the content for mobile and social VR platforms – creating new and fun virtual entertainment.
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About HTC
HTC Corporation aims to bring brilliance to life. As a global innovator in smart mobile devices and technology, HTC has produced award-winning products and industry firsts since its inception in 1997, including the critically acclaimed HTC U and Desire lines of smartphones. The pursuit of brilliance is at the heart of everything we do, inspiring best-in-class design and game-changing mobile and virtual reality experiences for consumers around the world. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). www.htc.com.
About VIVEPORT
VIVEPORT is a global platform, VR subscription service and app store operating in more than 70 countries. Customers can experience over thousands of VR apps and games while content creators have the most ways to distribute and monetize their content. VIVEPORT supports a wide range of
virtual reality headsets including PC, standalone and mobile devices. VIVEPORT Infinity launched as the world’s first unlimited VR subscription service in 2019. For more information on VIVEPORT, please visit: https://www.viveport.com/
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HTC VIVE®, the leader in premium virtual reality (VR), announced today that it is partnering with iFixit, the leading supplier of replacement parts, toolkits, and repair guides for today’s most utilized consumer electronic devices. iFixit will offer official HTC Vive virtual reality (VR) system parts and accessories, empowering customers to extend the life of out-of-warranty products, while saving on both time and costs associated with hardware repairs & “down-time”.
“We hear from many customers who love their original HTC Vive headsets after years of use, but occasionally still need a specific part,” said Daniel O’Brien, General Manager, HTC America. “By partnering with iFixit, we’re taking an unprecedented approach to meeting the demands of our long-time customers who want to repair and continue to use their beloved headsets that may be out of warranty or no longer available through us.”
“This is groundbreaking. HTC is the first VR manufacturer to support their customers with the parts they need to keep their headsets functional,” said Kyle Weins, CEO and Co-founder, iFixit. “iFixit is thrilled to help gamers fix their meatspace hardware so they can get back to their important cyberspace business.”
HTC Vive customers in North America may now order specific replacement parts for VIVE CE and VIVE PRO headsets, VIVE Wireless Adapter, VIVE Tracker, and other peripherals such as wall mounts and cables. Additionally, iFixit offers repair guides for the headsets and original VIVE controllers.
For more on HTC Vive and iFixit and to see a list of available parts, please visit: https://www.ifixit.com/HTC-Vive/HTC-Vive
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Play with anyone, anywhere in the next VR action FPS from the team behind Arizona Sunshine
Hi everyone, I’m TamTu on the Vertigo Games community team and I’m here to make good on my promise to you guys about After the Fall; the 4-player VR co-op action FPS that will pit you and your friends against a hostile, post-apocalyptic VR world in a raging fight for survival.
As many of you will have seen, we recently released a cinematic trailer for our next VR action FPS After the Fall in March. In my blog post I promised you we would soon be sharing actual gameplay footage, and today is the day – we’re back with a first look at the intense co-op action that is waiting for you and your friends in VR this Summer:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmKeG2cbz60]
Watch as our four heroes set out into the frozen post-apocalyptic wasteland that was once 1980s LA. It’s not long before they stumble upon an infestation of snowbreed, the ferocious undead creatures that roam the ruins of the city and have driven mankind underground. Keep your eye open for the more twisted types: this new trailer shows a glimpse of the eater – an enormous, revolting snowbreed type that does something more than annihilate everything in its path if it explodes. More on the eater soon.
We hope you love what you see and are looking forward to jumping in with your VR squad this Summer – regardless of the platform your friends are playing on. That’s right: After the Fall will fully support cross-platform play, bringing together the VR community in a way that has rarely been done before! We’re immensely proud of this achievement by our technical team, who have poured time and relentless energy into this monster of a challenge while ensuring the gameplay stayed uncompromised in the process.
That means that wherever you are playing, you’ll need to pull out all the stops to fend off huge hordes of snowbreed. And you’ll need your friends – or AI companions – to watch your back and the ceilings above, all while wielding an arsenal of deadly weapons using VR motion controls on your way to securing humanity’s survival.
So round up your squad, wishlist the game now , and subscribe to the newsletter at http://afterthefall-vr.com to stay up to date on everything After the Fall.
This game is coming soon to Viveport. Add it to your wishlist now!
Website: LINK
Immersion in your VR experience is the difference between wearing oversized goggles in your living room and being transported to another world through the power of your headset. You want to allow yourself to be emotionally invested in your virtual environment, but your equipment or surroundings could determine
We want to help educate the world about what VR has to offer, and we know the internet loves tier lists! So, we created the comprehensive tier list of VR immersion in 2021!
Let’s walk through these tiers:
As the tier title dictates, this is your most basic version of VR. Where it lacks in immersive properties, it makes up for in sheer convenience. However, this is not meant to be your primary VR experience, but it is meant to educate you on what VR is capable of at its most basic form.
This transcends beyond just the simple cardboard system; this involves a headset and a remote to simply interact with the material available. While it still is missing certain features, it is an optimal choice for those who want a comfortable viewing experience with a low friction set-up.
This tier allows for further tracking of your head’s movements, and the remote has evolved into a controller. The added degrees of freedom and the use of a controller allows for the opportunity to interact with 3D objects. Compared to tier 2, this set of equipment creates the opportunity for your movement to be even better captured while still remaining very easy to set up or teardown.
This is where many VR community members now find themselves in now. This is a standalone headset with two controllers. Your body and head are now tracked through the headsets, and you have two controllers to interact with the virtual world. The content is limited to what is available on the system itself, but it remains easy to hop in and out of VR.
With a PC now working in tandem with your VR headset, a whole host of content is now at your disposal. Not only do you have all the necessary functions for VR, but a wider range of content available now opens new opportunities to interact with the Virtual world.
Now, with base stations and a PC working with your headset, external tracking and more immersive VR takes place. Premium tracking can take place without experiencing lowlight issues.
Base stations and trackers now fully capture your extremities in order for your movement to be best translated into VR. By placing trackers beyond just your body parts, you can bring real objects into VR as intractable pieces of your environment.
If the goal of VR is immersion then this is the final level of VR. Eyes, mouth, and body are now all fully trackable by VIVE hardware.This bolsters your sense of empathetic communication by amplifying facial expressions and emotions. As the future of work and collaboration further incorporates virtual reality, having the ability to be truly expressive will be invaluable. VIVE hardware allows users to build rapport and earn trust in ways that would be impossible without natural empathetic communication. With VIVE Facial Tracker we have brought the warmth of a smile into VR spaces. By doing this we transform not only the way that we socialize virtually, but also how we conduct counseling & therapy sessions from afar. With VIVE hardware, you’re supported on a technical level and an emotional level.
The VR space is constantly growing, and we are always excited to see where the VR community innovates and pushes the boundaries of what we know as VR.
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SEATTLE, 8 April, 2021-HTC VIVE®, the global leader in premium virtual reality, today unveiled its list of 2021’s top 100 VR Social influencers from around the world who are leading the evolution of the VR industry, from gaming enthusiasts to product reviewers, and designers to technology industry commentators.
The influencers named on HTC VIVE’s list were ranked according to several factors including reach, levels of engagement, and how much of their content is dedicated to VR. Additional recognition was awarded to influencers who have a voice in mainstream media, such as Forbes.
Number one on the list is duo Jonathan Nafarrete and Malia Probst, founders of VRScout. This LA-based start-up has grown to become the world’s leading immersive media network, with a reach of over 250 million people. Also on the list, in position 100, is SweViver, a Swedish VR enthusiast who shares gameplay, reviews, tutorials and VR content with his 39.2K YouTube subscribers.
Cher Wang, CEO and Chairwoman of HTC VIVE, said: “As a pioneer of mainstream VR, we have seen first-hand the exponential progress of the VR ecosystem. Through their online presence, these influencers are inspiring, informing, and educating others. They are the leading voices growing awareness and shaping the evolution of virtual reality. Their commitment to VR is key to the growth of a technology that is transforming the way we learn, work and play – they are contributing to the advancement of humankind.”
The top 100 are influencing across multiple platforms, including BiliBili, TikTok and Twitch. HTC VIVE’s ranking metrics take all languages into account, and the list shows that VR conversations have a fairly even geographic spread, with individuals from 23 markets making the top 100. HTC VIVE’s research indicates that YouTube is the preferred primary platform of many VR influencers.
Yu-kai Chou, Head of Digital Commerce at HTC VIVE, said: “It’s exciting to see that these influencers are spread around the world; it shows that the popularity of VR is increasing everywhere, not just in certain markets. These ones-to-watch are helping to propel VR from a relatively niche technology towards a future where we can imagine a VR headset in every household, workplace and classroom, while inspiring others by sharing their knowledge and insights. Anyone who is interested in VR should be listening to these voices.”
VIVE Top 100 VR Social Influencers
Website: LINK
After spending over 3 years listening to user feedback on Tracker 2.0, we are launching VIVE Tracker (3.0). There are no perfect products; there are only the ones that most suit your needs. At VIVE, we share the mentality of continuous improvement by taking valuable advice from our users. Through this process, we learned that smaller size and longer battery life are what everyone expects from Trackers.
01
▲VIVE Tracker 3.0 is much smaller than 2.0
▲VIVE Tracker 3.0 is 33% smaller, 15% lighter and 75% longer-lasting compared to 2.0.
02
▲VIVE Tracker 3.0 offers 240° FOV tracking
After the launch of 3.0 we received many questions from users:
Q1: Is Tracker (3.0) durable?
A: HTC began as a hardware manufacturer; industrial design is what we do best. Durability is an important factor always being considered during our design process. If you are satisfied with Tracker 2.0, Tracker 3.0 will also serve you well.
Q2: Has Tracker 3.0 improved on precision?
A: Its Precision is the same as Tracker 2.0. After all, we reduced the size and weight, yet managed to increase battery life. With only a small sacrifice on the FOV, from 270° to 240°, user experience is largely unaffected. We saw that most users only need 180° FOV tracking, so we believe that it won’t affect user experience.
Q3: Can I use Tracker 3.0 while charging?
A: Yes. However, there is a potential problem with magnetic interference in some special environments. Therefore, Tracker 3.0 also supports USB-C charging.
Q4: Can I use Base Station 1.0/2.0 with Tracker 3.0? And if I already owned the last Tracker, can I use it with Tracker 3.0?
A: Yes, you can use Tracker 3.0 with Base Station 1.0/2.0 and Tracker 2.0.
If you have more questions about Tracker 3.0 or advice for the future, you are welcome to share them with us. We’re always happy to help.
Website: LINK
Guest post by Vertigo Games
Watch the new Traffic Jams trailer showing all destinations and the variety of challenging events you’ll discover along the way!
Hi everyone!
The teams from Vertigo Games and Little Chicken Game Company are very excited to share with you that our VR sim Traffic Jams is coming to Viveport on April 8, 2021!
Traffic Jams is a wacky take on traffic control, set in a crazy, cartoon world where all traffic lights have gone out and you are the only one who can keep traffic flowing. Easy? Think again! This outrageous VR game throws in monsters, (un)natural disasters, and up to 4 non-VR friends in party mode!
To celebrate our release date announcement, we’ve created a shiny new trailer, showing all destinations Traffic Jams has to offer at launch and the variety of challenging events you’ll discover along the way! Watch it here:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N91wPVUxb04]
Traffic Jams will take you on a jam-packed global adventure to the world’s most iconic and chaotic cities, increasing in difficulty as we add bigger intersections with more lanes, more traffic, and more chaos. Starting out on a quiet corner of a small Dutch town named Gouda, you’ll soon master the traffic control basics, and just when you think you’ve got this traffic control gig all figured out, job offers start pouring in from around the globe and each new location will throw its own wacky twists and turns at you.
The first challenge we added was an angry wasp. It was easy to recognize and understand, and flailing your arms around on a busy intersection seemed like a fun way to confuse the drivers waiting for your signal. From that point on the ideas started coming faster than we could implement them.
Think you can crash 10 cars within a minute? Let’s try! Want to try your hand at “cheese bowling” or up your traffic control skills to guide that blazing meteorite safely past earth? Let’s do it! These are just some of the challenges that make Traffic Jams more than a traffic control simulator and allow you to control traffic your way.
Made it to the top in career mode? Not to worry, because Traffic Jams also supports a couch party mode, uniting VR and non-VR players through their mobile devices in a frantic multiplayer experience!
We can’t wait for you to uncover all the wacky challenges and see how you control traffic when the game launches on Viveport on April 8, 2021! To stay up to date on all news coming your way, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to the newsletter at trafficjams-vr.com.
Add Traffic Jams to your wishlist today!
Website: LINK
HTC VIVE’s XR Suite, the enterprise-focused integrated VR software bundle, today expanding to additional markets for the enterprise. The solution which enables users to stay productive and collaborate even when physically apart via VR headsets, PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, is now available to purchase in EMEA, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwVFlv-3Gkw?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&w=730&h=411]
First launched in China last year, VIVE XR Suite was created in partnership with leading VR software companies. The bundle is comprised of five apps (VIVE Sync, VIVE Sessions, VIVE Campus, VIVE Social [provided by VRChat], and VIVE Museum) and is designed to meet the challenges of working, learning, and living remotely.
The integrated bundle uses the latest spatial computing to provide users with enhanced and engaging shared social experiences with others in a virtual space. Promoting a new era of business networking, creativity, and productivity, the VIVE XR Suite removes physical distances while increasing collaboration.
The apps included in the VIVE XR Suite can be purchased as a bundle or standalone depending on your business needs. The VIVE XR Suite includes:
VIVE Sync
VIVE Sync is the all-in-one meeting and collaboration solution for VR. A secure and intuitive VR tool, Vive Sync allows teams and partners to connect and collaborate in a shared virtual space. With Vive Sync, it’s easy to customize your avatar, create a private meeting room, and begin working face-to-face with colleagues around the world.
VIVE Sessions (powered by Engage)
VIVE Sessions is the leading VR platform for large-scale conferences, exhibitions and educational events. Users can easily customize a VR presentation with thousands of 3D models, special effects, audio effects, and a wide selection of virtual locations.
VIVE Campus (powered by Virbela)
VIVE Campus provides virtual offices, learning environments and event spaces that mimic the real world to enhance natural communication and collaboration. Users have a private, always-on virtual workspace to do real work with their remote teams. Powerful communication features including spatialized voice, text and emotes enable seamless collaboration for teams both big and small. Vive Campus is powered by Virbela, part of eXp World Holdings (Nasdaq: EXPI).
VIVE Social (provided by VRChat)
In VIVE Social, users can experience an ever-expanding virtual universe powered by a passionate community who create and share virtual worlds, avatars, and interactive experiences. The platform has grown to millions of users and features a community of creators who have published tens of millions of unique pieces of content. This open-ended creativity and the dynamics of sharing in an active social environment have led to a never-ending fountain of entertaining, surprising and wonderful experiences.
VIVE Museum (powered by Museum of Other Realities)
VIVE Museum provides a new opportunity for artists to create, showcase, and share their work with the world. It offers exquisite venues, large-scale multi-person communication, and effortless navigation.
To add an additional layer of security and convenience, all apps included in the XR Suite bundle can be accessed with a single sign-on account. To cater to businesses of all sizes, the XR Suite includes various license purchase options and deployment tools to enable remote user management.
Visit the XR Suite website to find out more about how the solution is sold in your country: http://www.vive.com/xrsuite
For additional information on the VIVE XR Suite, watch the October launch event here: https://youtu.be/bbPgzj4_jME
Website: LINK
Vertigo Games — the team that gave us Arizona Sunshine — have been hard at work on their next big game. After the Fall pits you and your friends in 4-player co-op against a post-apocalyptic VR world in a raging fight for survival. And it arrives on Viveport this Summer.
Imagine if Left 4 Dead and John Carpenter’s The Thing got epically spliced together into a VR game and you’ve essentially got After the Fall. 80s themed? Check. Hordes of grotesque monsters for you and your friends to blow away? Check. An arsenal of cool weapons to play with? Oh yeah.
To celebrate, feast your eyes on an all-new cinematic trailer that introduces the game’s four heroes. We join the team after they’ve left the safety of their underground hideout. A never-ending blizzard has turned Los Angeles into a frozen wasteland and is overrun with the snowbreed, a new breed of undead that prowl this new tundra of the west coast.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si2w1A4tQYQ]
It’s been 20 years since the snowbreed conquered the world’s cities, collapsing civilization in the 1980s. These monstrosities are now freely roaming the frozen, 80s-influenced ruins of the City of Angels–the place our four heroes call home.
Although snowbreed classify as undead, they’re not mindless walking corpses. They’re ferocious and hunt in packs – just waiting to strike in big numbers. As you and your friends try to keep cool fighting off huge hordes, you’ll soon notice the more twisted types, from gigantic monstrosities equipped with fists of ice to decapitators that grab you by the neck to pull you off the ground. You’re going to need to stick together to make it out alive.
Stay tuned because all new gameplay videos will drop in the next few weeks and showing off what to expect when you venture out into the frozen urban wasteland of After the Fall.
Stay up to date on the Viveport blog with the latest and greatest of VR and also be sure to head over to After the Fall’s Twitter and Facebook channels and sign up for the newsletter on www.afterthefall-vr.com.
Website: LINK
Curious Alice VR Game
In previous cooperations with the Louvre to commemorate the 500-year anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci, VIVE Arts brought the story of the Mona Lisa to life with VR.
This year VIVE Arts partnered with the V&A Museum, the VR game studio PRELOADED, and the VR platform ENGAGE on the major 2021 exhibition ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’ to present the VR game ‘Curious Alice.’
Curious Alice not only tells the story of the classic English novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, but it also lets people visit the wondrous world with the help of Virtual Reality.
The major exhibition ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’ features artworks by Icelandic illustrator Kristjana S Williams who designed the artwork for Coldplay’s previous live album.
VIVE Arts then turned her astonishing works into an interactive VR game for the audiences to explore.
The opening event is on March 27 at the Sainsbury Gallery.
Right before the opening event, V&A will host the preview of ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’ from March 25 to March 26.
We at VIVE also invite all the audiences around the world to experience the adventures of Alice through the VR communication platform ENGAGE.
VIVE Arts will take you into an enchanted world, where you can start a series of magical adventures in Virtual Reality.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4eKpFGD6RU]
For a bit of background, the Victoria and Albert Museum was renamed after Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert.
The author and illustrator of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll and John Tenniel were also people of the Victorian era.
For that, the Icelandic illustrator Kristjana Williams used traditional Victorian engravings to create a three-dimensional paper theatre and bring the atmosphere of the Victorian era to the audience.
Kristjana S Williams illustrating Alice in Wonderland VR. (Credit: YouTube)
The Author-reader relationship is crucial because it affects how the reader experiences the world that the author creates.
Authors create stories and deliver them to audiences through the storytelling medium.
From Plain Text to VR: The Evolution of Alice in Wonderland
As message recipients, audiences can’t interact with the story. They are bystanders observing the happenings in the story.
Sometimes the audience can be “intruders” in the storytelling when the character in the story breaks the fourth wall and interacts with them.
Nowadays, some innovative solutions even allow people to comment and vote for character action decisions on social media, which gives them the power to influence the story.
But from a pure story standpoint, there is no story like Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland.
Author-reader Relationship of Alice in Wonderland
Because the story’s first-ever audience Alice Liddell is the main character.
This unique author-reader relationship is one of the reasons why the story is so engaging.
It all started on a beautiful afternoon in the late 19th century, where a young mathematician Lewis Carroll and three young ladies of the Liddell family went for a picnic on a boat.
As they rowed along the Thames, 10-year-old Alice Liddell asked Carroll for a story. To entertain the young ladies Carroll came up with the adventure of Alice.
The young girl was fascinated by the story and ask Carroll to write it down for her.
Accepting the request, Carroll added more details to the story and gave the manuscript to the young girl as a gift.
Carroll eventually published the book with the help of a prominent political cartoonist John Tenniel to illustrate the magical adventure of Alice.
For Alice Liddell, the book was not only a story but a tailored game – a game that each and every individual who reads the story can experience. Instead of being bystanders, the audiences can imagine themselves as Alice and go on their own adventures in Wonderland.
The illustration of Alice in the book and ten-year-old Alice Liddel. (Credit: Wikipedia)
With the help of VR, VIVE Arts introduces the audiences to the strange and unusual world of Wonderland. Making it possible for the audiences to solve riddles and overcome challenges from a first-person perspective.
VIVE Arts welcome you to immersive yourselves in this adventurous story and unleash your creativity.
Let’s go back in time. Onboard the boat of Lewis Carroll and row along the Thames.
Let’s become Alice, follow the white rabbit and find its missing glove, solve the caterpillar’s mind-bending riddles, visit the Red Queen’s croquet garden, and compete in an unfair game with the Red Knights.
Curious Alice VR Experience
Website: LINK
From education to entertainment, manufacturing to medical, training to design, and everything in-between, companies have realized the ROI of VR. Businesses of all sizes and across industries have accelerated their adoption of VR in the past year, and are getting ready to scale their VR networks as the global workforce becomes more and more remote.
Premium specs, durable hardware, private and secure – HTC VIVE has set the standard when it comes to enterprise-grade VR. But what also makes VIVE stand out are its features that help you scale and maintain your VR network, making VIVE the ideal partner for your digital transformation.
Business Warranty and Services
Our Business Warranty and Services offering helps businesses protect their VR investment and are available across our VIVE Pro Eye, VIVE Cosmos series and VIVE Focus series. The package includes a two-year limited commercial-use warranty, support, and services. Features like next-business-day email response and expedited product repair help minimize downtime so you can focus on what matters most to your business.
Device Management System
VIVE’s Device Management System allows businesses to remotely manage distributed VR devices and PCs, helping them more effectively distribute content and push updates safely and securely to corporate devices. With today’s remote workforce, IT can easily monitor and distribute SteamVR runtimes to selected groups of users either online or offline through their internal network no matter where their employees work in the world.
With VIVE’s Kiosk Mode feature, businesses can limit access to apps and navigation on the VIVE Focus to ensure a user-friendly VR experience for trainees and clients alike. Whether in a showroom, classroom or at an employee’s desk, the VIVE Focus turns into a portable and powerful fixed-purpose device. Kiosk Mode allows users to focus only on what matters most – the content.
HTC VIVE’s enterprise services ensure you’re ready to deploy and scale your VR solution quickly and efficiently. Make sure to follow @htcvive for more news on VIVE’s enterprise solutions: https://enterprise.vive.com/dms/
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Infograph: These are all the things that HTC VIVE is doing to elevate VR!
Most people just know HTC VIVE works on top-end VR Headsets. But many don’t know all the other thing VIVE is doing to actively push VR into the mainstream future.
Here is an infograph that summarizes all the activities VIVE is doing for the VR Community (with your help!). This will be handy for you to share with your friends who have just heard about VIVE but have no idea what VIVE really entails.
Consumer VIVE has seen momentum in education and games
* VIVE headsets have been adopted by thousands of schools
* Over 2000 games titles are available for the VIVE VR system
The app store for virtual reality content and experiences. VIVEPORT Infinity provides access to over a thousand VR Titles for a set monthly subscription.
Medical VIVE is the healthcare division of HTC. Surgeons and families can join a shared VR world where surgeons can explain surgical procedures and educate patients
A multi-million dollar global VR program set to change the way the world creates and engages with the arts. The investment program will support content creators in this new medium.
Enable businesses of all sizes to enhance their creativity, accelerate training, strengthen collaboration, and engage customers.
Combines professional-grade hardware, software, platforms, and services to provide complete XR solutions.
Development, production and distribution of original content.
HTC VIVE ORIGINALS assembles VIVE Reality ecosystem through content, and enlightens people with the latest technical innovations.
Of course, our journey does not stop here. We will be constantly and relentlessly pushing the boundaries of VR and creating a better future for each of us through innovative and humanistic technologies.
Stay tuned for other things that will come out of VIVE for the world of Virtual Reality!
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New hits are making their way to your VIVEPORT Infinity library with five titles launching during the shortest month of the year. From upcoming titles to our favorite recent releases we’re giving you a heads-up on what is in store for your Viveport Infinity account this month.
Are you considering Viveport Infinity for the first time? We have a special deal just for you during February! Through February 17, we’re giving 10 AUDICA bonus DLC tracks to all new customers who sign up for an annual Viveport Infinity subscription. For more information on the promotion head here for more details.
Let’s take a look at what is on the horizon for Viveport Infinity in February:
Coming Soon to VIVEPORT Infinity
Hyper Dash is a VR multiplayer team based shooter. Make smart use of Dashing, Sprinting, Walking and Rail Grinding to get around the arena’s fast and lethal.
A Wake Inn is a PC VR horror game with elements of action, storytelling, exploration and puzzles. Explore gloomy passages on a wheelchair, with an immersive control system complying it’s limitations and difficulties. You won’t be alone – mysterious Doctor Finnegan, owner of the estate, will accompany you through your shortwave transmitter. On your way you’ll find many other items – some useful to move forward, some that can give you a hint about this place and its former inhabitants.
Hop Step Sing! Kisekiteki Shining! & Hop Step Sing! kiss×kiss×kiss
Enjoy a front-row ticket to a performance by Japan’s newest idol group: Hop Step Sing! Niina, Mikasa, and Shikiri will sing and dance their way into your hearts in this, immersive VR experience of their debut single: “Kisekiteki Shining!” (“Miraculous Shining!”)
Virtual Battlegrounds
Virtual Battlegrounds is a VR Battle Royale built from the ground up for virtual reality, with multiplayer mode. Battle to become the last warrior standing on this dystopian war-crazed island with tactical gun-play, an epic map, and physically controlled locomotion.
Swords of Gurrah
Swords of Gurrah is a real-time multiplayer sword fighting VR game. Fight with or against friends, with battles of up to 12 players. Choose from over a huge variety of weapons and create a fighting style of your own!
Recently added to Infinity:
Audica
AUDICA is a VR “rhythm shooter” that combines Harmonix’s award-winning music gameplay with precision shooting mechanics and a 33-song soundtrack, all set in a mesmerizing cosmic arena.
Pixel Ripped is back with a brand new nostalgia-fueled virtual reality game-within-a-game, this time in the year 1995! To restore balance to multiple dimensions, our videogame hero Dot recruits the help of the best gamer from 1995, an unassuming 9-year-old boy named David. Join this unlikely duo through challenging throwbacks to all your favorite classics from the late 16-bit and early 32-bit era of games inside a virtual reality world, all while maneuvering through the real-life challenges of a kid who just wants to save the world by doing what he does best – playing videogames.
Ven VR Adventure is a single-player platform game built for virtual reality from the ground up. You happen to meet Ven on his unknown planet, invaded by Bruce Nelson, who wants to destroy the surrounding magical world and gain access to energy that can make him virtually immortal. Be the hero to help Ven save his planet from destruction.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a real thief? Now you can see for yourself in Thief Simulator VR! Steal in free roam sandbox neighborhoods. Observe your target and gather the information that will help you with the burglary. Take the challenge and rob the most secured houses. Buy some hi-tech burglar equipment and learn new thief tricks. Sell stolen goods to the passers. Do anything that a real thief does. And… don’t get caught!
Recent Game Updates:
In addition to new Infinity titles, Viveport will help host Japan’s first VR international film festival, Beyond the Frame, from February 12-21. Stay tuned for more details!
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What is Virtual Reality?
That’s a very good question, and one we’re sure many have been asking recently, as virtual reality technology continues to make its way into the daily conversation. The easiest definition of virtual reality can be boiled down to an experience, or series of experiences that use digitally synthesized 360-degree environments to trigger and respond to a user’s digital inputs, creating the illusion of a continuous reality. Kinda cool, isn’t it?
Well, those who have used virtual reality know it’s much more than that.
Virtual reality has been the catalyst and solution for many, many ideas and experiences that were once thought too difficult to make real. It has aided teachers in expanding students’ horizons, it’s become a new tool in helping doctors and therapists rehabilitate patients, it’s given designers the ultimate resource in realizing new ideas, and yes, perhaps it’s helped us to blow off some steam by hunting down some zombies, or jetting us into a futuristic, dystopian city, where only we have the power to save the world. Virtual reality is truly an unending adventure.
“What is Virtual Reality?” – The HTC VIVE Philosophy
We, at HTC VIVE take virtual reality very seriously. We understand the benefits VR can play as an educator, entertainer, historian, builder, healer, and well, just about anything one can dream. For us, virtual reality is a dynamic experience that removes the boundaries of the everyday for just a moment or two and offers a unique experience to everyone who puts on a headset. Plainly put, we want you to get into VR because we love VR and know what it can do. So, let’s get started on the basics. And if you have more questions, we’re always here.
Why Virtual Reality is Right For You
Virtual Reality offers something for everyone. Especially, in times like these where traveling and outside entertainment is less accessible than it was in the past, virtual reality can replicate many of those experiences. Travel to the top of Mt. Everest, learn more about the farthest reaches of the galaxy, watch movies in a whole new way, and more. The best part is, it’s accessible for the whole family.
So, What Do I Need to Know About Virtual Reality?
The best answer to that question is all you really need to know is that virtual reality is absolutely for you and is scalable depending on how you’d want to use it. Some key basics to know off the bat are some virtual reality devices require a computer to run, while other devices run by themselves, and each have their benefits. But before you get into that, we wanted to share with you some commonalities between the two to give you some cursory knowledge about VR. Three key factors that can help you navigate your “What is virtual reality?”
You’ve Got the Look
Arguably, one of the most important features of virtual reality is screen resolution and visual fidelity. After all, the clearer you can see, the more you’ll allow yourself to be fully immersed in the experience. Original virtual reality headsets relied on bulky lenses and low-resolution pixels, making the whole experience somewhat blurry. However, rapid advancements in OLED and Real RGB pixel technology now produce crisp visuals, offering incredibly realistic imagery, regardless of pixel. Some may say OLEDs produce better black, while Real RGB has more vivid colors, so it’s really a matter of preference. You also may have heard of virtual reality’s “screen door effect” which is due to the size of the headset screen pixels. The bigger the pixels in their grid pattern would give the illusion one was watching through a screen door. However, technology has found a way to pack smaller pixels, reducing the effect. For our VIVE Cosmos, we’ve nearly eliminated it all together.
All the Right Moves
Now, seeing things in virtual reality is cool, but you don’t have to stop there. In fact, virtual reality is best when your movement isn’t limited by the headset. The most ubiquitous term for movement in VR is called “degrees of freedom.” Early VR kits were 3DoF, which stood for three degrees of freedom, meaning the headset would allow you to move your head up, down, and side-to-side, but restricted any more physical movement, like forward and backward. 6DoF, or six degrees of freedom, takes in the principles of 3DoF, but in addition allows users to move forward and backward, duck, and spin around (before those pesky zombies can grab you). Most virtual reality kits are now standard 6DoF and offer greater versatility than 3DoF. Unless your main goal with VR is watching 360-degree videos, which only require 3DoF, but we strongly suggest 6DoF.
I’ve Got My Virtual Reality Kit, Now What?
So, you’re feeling a little more confident in selecting a VR kit. Congratulations! But, what can exactly can you do with it? Well, simply put, anything you want! But, how do you find what to do with it? Now, that has an easy answer. There are marketplaces that have been created specifically to get you the most and coolest VR applications out there making sure you stay immersed in VR for as long as you want We even have one called Viveport Infinity, where for a small monthly fee you can try out the newest VR games, popular classics, 360-video, and more.
If we’ve whetted your appetite on your quest to learn “what is virtual reality?” feel free to visit us at VIVE.com to learn about our extensive family of virtual reality kits, or ask us a question or two on our social media channels. We’re always happy to talk VR and will make sure you’re confident in understanding virtual reality so you can make the best decision to suit your interests.
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You may be familiar with what VR can do in terms of gaming and immersive entertainment experiences. But, in addition to traveling to new worlds, battling zombies, and learning about other cultures, virtual reality has been an invaluable resource for the business community for many years. From engineering to research, to workplace training, and even customer experience, VR has helped to significantly evolve how businesses operate today. According to a poll commissioned by Grid Raster, nearly 91% of businesses surveyed have or plan to implement AR or VR technology. VR has made headway in nearly every industry, and it’s quite possible VR may have influenced your favorite product or service.
So, how does one even get started when evaluating VR opportunities for one’s business? Given the limitless opportunities and solutions VR offers, it can seem like a daunting challenge to find the best solution for your business. Well, the solution really depends on your needs. But, the best place to start may be with the headset, arguably the most important tool in the virtual reality arsenal.
Both HTC VIVE Pro Eye and VIVE Focus Plus are terrific VR headsets for your business.
Not all headsets are built the same, and they can serve very different purposes. Two of the most popular and versatile types of headsets are the PC-based headset (PCVR) and the all-in-one headset. Essentially, PC-based VR headsets are attached to computers via cable (or wirelessly connected via wireless accessory), while standalone or all-in-one (AIO) headsets have all the necessary components housed within the body of the headset. Let’s give you the lowdown on each and how they may work for your business.
PCVR: A VR Headset with Top-End Specs, Precision Tracking, Connected VR
PCVR continues to be a popular choice due to its technical specs. Since the headset is connected to a PC, much of the effort is done by the various parts of the computer; the CPU for speed, the GPU for visual fidelity, and the power supply unit for power. So, in essence, the VR headset taps into the full capabilities of whatever computer it’s connected to offering the best visual fidelity, refresh rate, and rendering quality while enabling the headset to run the most immersive content.
PCVR headsets, like the VIVE Pro Eye connect with computers to produce the clearest visual fidelity, fast refresh rate, and the most precise tracking
But, what’s outside the PCVR headset is another feature that sets it apart from AIO headsets. PCVR leverages outside-in tracking, meaning the headset and controllers get their room spatial awareness by communicating with base stations that are attached to walls or ceilings. The base stations then help map the room and constantly communicate with the headset to offer the most precise tracking (but don’t worry, all data is stored locally and never shared). This is incredibly important when the VR experience requires precise design elements or multi-user training.
Given PCVR is tethered to a PC, and requires set up of base stations, it is best employed for longer-term solutions or in fixed places. Although, there are many businesses that have found transportable PCVR solutions for events, education, and trade shows.
All-In-One VR Headset: Portable, Versatile, Contained VR
The main differentiation with AIO headsets is the absence of any cables or external processing assistance, like a computer. Where PCVR is the host to the computer’s specs, AIO has a dedicated CPU, GPU, and power supply all tightly packed underneath its shell, and usually runs off a processor designed specifically for mobile VR. AIO also uses what’s called inside-out tracking, where the headset actually plays the role of the base stations, using the sensors and cameras on its face to understand its position relative to the boundaries the user has established during setup. (Note, some PCVR headsets like our VIVE Cosmos also support inside-out tracking).
AIO headsets also tend to be wi-fi enabled, providing a seamless experience to download new apps, browse the internet, or even broadcast what’s happening in the headset to a tablet or other mobile device.
The HTC VIVE Focus Plus is an advanced all-in-one (AIO) VR headset that is completely wireless, offering portability and versatility.
The key benefit of the AIO headset is that it is completely wireless and portable, making it perfect for training, remote collaboration, rehabilitation at healthcare facilities, a unique presentation tool on the road, as well as many other valuable uses. Kiosk mode on the VIVE Focus Plus all-in-one VR headset enables businesses to limit access to apps and navigation and turn the Focus into a portable, powerful fixed-purpose device. With this user-friendly feature, trainees and clients can focus on only your enterprise apps.
VR Headsets Built to Suit Your Needs
As you can see VR is completely adaptable to just about any business need. At HTC VIVE, we understand the unique challenges businesses have, and in addition to offering both best-in-class PCVR and AIO VR headsets, we also offer complete business VR solutions with software and warranty services. If you are thinking now may be a good time to employ VR for your business, visit https://www.enterprise.VIVE.com to learn more and to speak with a business sales associate.
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There has always been the desire to better connect virtual reality with actual reality, and within that desire most noticeably how to bring more from the real-world in. After all, the goal of VR is to make users feel completely immersed in an experience, and if some part of that experience is lacking then it’s harder to let oneself fully embrace the technology. Of course, it all starts with a headset and controllers, but both developers and consumers continue to demand more tools to fully realize their ideas on what VR should be.
This is where HTC VIVE Trackers play a tremendous role in amplifying VR experience. Think of VIVE Trackers as little pucks that work in concert with VR headsets to offer a greater opportunity to bring elements of the real world into the virtual world. What do we mean? Take for instance, you love to play tennis. So much so, that you recently downloaded a tennis training app to take your playing to the next level. But, holding a controller just doesn’t feel the same as the grip on your favorite racket. Well, a VIVE Tracker connected to a racket accessory, now places an actual racket in your hand in the game! Now, you can feel more comfortable as you smash that overhand serve past your virtual opponent.
But, VIVE Trackers do so much more than just helping you with your tennis game. They are also an invaluable tool in providing developers and content creators more unique and powerful ways to bring their ideas to life. In fact, VIVE Trackers have been a popular resource for years now, providing that crucial bridge from reality to virtual reality and the other way around. And, what’s neat about VIVE Trackers is their versatility, meaning sometimes you don’t even need a headset to use them to make your masterpiece.
Take, Blackfish Studio, a Polish technology film studio, who saw the need for more dynamic camera angles for their animated content project for GoPay. Instead of just locking down a camera and filming actors, they wanted to bring the viewer in on all the action and dynamism of the footage. In order to achieve that effect, Blackfish attached a VIVE Tracker to their camera and leveraged specific production software, essentially connecting the camera to virtual space making the viewer feel like they were along for the heart-pounding ride. In the “making of” video here you can see how the camera’s view moves within the virtual space, adding a very dramatic effect that keeps the viewer on their toes.
Of course, gaming accessories and production are just the tip of the iceberg in demonstrating the power and capability of VIVE Trackers. In the coming weeks, we will continue to bring you examples of the limitless opportunities these nifty little devices can provide. If you are interested in learning more about how VIVE Trackers work, visit www.VIVE.com
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