About the Experience(s)
As introduced in our latest interview, 23AnalyseStudioVR is a one-man studio creating VR experiences from movies and TV shows. Step into a scene from James Cameron’s Avatar, Dune, Lord of the Rings, and more. Being surrounded by your favorite creative works is fun and a great way to take advantage of the immersive capabilities of VR. As VR becomes more pervasive, more and more movies and TV shows will probably release scenes alongside trailers and other promotional items. Eventually, I expect to even see old movies with characters and dialog brought to life through fully volumetric scenes. Right now, though, you can already access a 3D “snapshot” from the stories you love right in your headset thanks to these releases available through Patreon.
Graphics and Sound
To feel like you’ve been transported, it’s important to match the source material as closely as possible. Since the original production assets (3d models, sounds, materials) are rarely available, everything must be created from scratch. This takes a lot of work, but when it’s done well you can really see the difference. Each of the currently available scenes from 23AnalyseStudioVR is of very high quality. The specific scenes are carefully selected, then the elements to include are considered. It’s not realistic to create something that’s indistinguishable from the original, so there’s creative work involved in arranging the elements to work together well.
3D/VR graphics are the result of not only placing objects next to each other, but also choosing the lighting, shaping the terrain, and creating something that’s a coherent whole. These cinematic scenes feel like the movies they come from because of the work that goes into them. They look and sound how you expect them to. If you want to step into the movies and shows, this is how to do it! Feel the rumble of the thumpers as you call a sandworm. Look around in general awe at the night scene on Pandora. The graphics and sounds are well done and really elevate the experience.
Information Content
These experiences are purely “presence-based.” The Dune setting is the only one with any action to perform. It might be interesting to see overlays to provide details on the various elements of the scenes. This could be a toggle since not everyone would want it. Similar to books about different fictional universes, diagrams with callouts are a fun way to make an imagined setting feel more real. Almost like a documentary feature. So far, the focus is on the visuals and overall look and feel so there isn’t any additional info available.
Navigation and Interactivity
There are minor interactive features in some of the locations. You can float in a boat in the Argonath one, and you setup the thumper in the Sandworm one. I imagine I probably missed some other Easter eggs, but for the most parts these are more about ambiance than about doing things.
Updates and Support
The scenes themselves don’t receive any kind of regular updates, but new scenes get released as Alex finishes them. Time is too precious to spend too much of it continuously refining earlier releases, though I’m sure it’s tempting!
Summary
There’s only one Alex, and so many hours to work on his creations. Still, he creates some impressive productions. Consider becoming a Patreon supporter of his work to get the quickest access and to provide direct feedback on what’s to come. They aren’t quite AAA level, but some of them are pretty close!
Pros
- High-quality graphics and sound create an immersive environment
- Fun selection of fictional locations
- Cheap!
Cons
- Requires downloading and running from the desktop (no Quest or Steam stores)
- You may need to read the accompanying text files since there’s no guidance within the apps
