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'Iron Man' director's VR game lands on September 8th
On top of trying to outdo a beloved Disney classic, director Jon Favreau achieved a fascinating feat with his film adaption of The Jungle Book: Aside from its young actor portraying Mowgli, every other character and setting were built with CGI. But it seems he's still eager to make computer-created immersion. The first part of the filmmaker's next project, the fantasy VR experience Gnomes & Goblins, will be digitally released for free on September 8th.
If video killed the radio star, VR slayed it
There's nothing in virtual reality quite as rapturous as exiting Tyler Hurd's "Old Friend" for the first time. The up-tempo, computer-animated experience, backed by up-and-coming VR studio Wevr, is a three-minute long, hyperactive, confetti-filled romp through a neon-hued world of happy clouds, little naked green men (who wouldn't look out of place on the set of The Muppets) and one very determined marching band leader. It's essentially a dance party set to the Future Islands track for which the VR piece is named, and it stars you, the viewer, as a squiggly armed raver. In a way, it does for VR what The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" did for MTV: It defines a whole new genre for a whole new medium. Think of it as the next phase in the evolution of the music video.
Got an HTC Vive? Now's your chance to swim with a blue whale.
HTC's Vive virtual reality headset has finally begun shipping to enthusiasts' homes. But a high-end VR headset is only as good as its content. Which is why LA-based VR studio Wevr is making its Transport platform (think: Netflix for VR) available to users today. Interested VR heads can head to Steam or hit up Wevr's own site now to download the app. The best part? Transport will debut with three key pieces of free content: the surrealistic, deep space experience Irrational Exuberance; the shifting music video perspectives of Crown by hip hop group Run The Jewels; and underwater odyssey theBlu: Whale Encounter.
Wevr: The virtual reality studio you need to know
It's pronounced "weaver." And you might not be familiar with it now, but the LA-based virtual reality outfit is quietly positioning itself as the backbone of the industry. With one foot firmly planted in the production side of the business (the studio's recent slate includes Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue) and the other in distribution, Wevr is primed for the impending mainstreamification of virtual reality. So when the public eventually goes gaga over VR goggles, Wevr will be right there, ready to deliver that content.
Sports Illustrated puts you inside the new Swimsuit Issue
Babes, bikinis and ... virtual reality? It's an equation that pretty much elicits a "no duh!" from anyone in the room. Which is why when I meet Chris Hercik at Time Inc. headquarters in New York, he can barely suppress his glee, and for good reason. As creative director of Sports Illustrated, Hercik's overseen every cover of the magazine, including its annual Swimsuit issue, since 2002. But this year, in addition to its big 2016 Swimsuit cover model reveal (Ronda Rousey graces one of three covers), the iconic brand is doing things differently: It's launching a suite of mobile VR experiences designed to put you on the beach for some one-on-one time with the models. "For the first time ever, we're going to be able to answer the question that I always get and a lot of the people on staff always get, which is: 'What is it like to be on set for a Sports Illustrated photo shoot?'" says Hercik.
Reggie Watts made a weird comedy just for VR
Reggie Watts is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of both technology and humor, and he just found a way to do both at once. He recently produced Waves, a mind-melting comedy (it involves joining a cult, among other things) that's tailor-made for virtual reality. And it's not just the camera angles or attention-grabbing visuals, either. Watts tells Wired that the relatively distraction-free VR environment allows for subtle laughs that wouldn't fly in movies or TV, where you're more likely to miss them.
