As full-body tracking technology becomes capable of handling more data for virtual reality (VR) experiences, companies like Pillow’s Willow VR Studios are leveraging it to build unique gaming experience. Talking to them at Gamescom 2018, VRFocus’ Nina Salomons met with Peter Kortenhoeven, Co-Founder, Pillow’s Willow VR Studios to talk about their full-body eSport title Exodus Burned.
“So I’m wearing a suit that is fully armed with a motion capture suit. We made it possible to put it in this harness and with it connected we can have the helmet and then just walk around with the tracking being combined from the motion capture suit as well as from the inside-out tracking of six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) device.” Kortenhoeven explains.
The setup is designed for out-of-home entertainment locations where visitors will be able to have fully immersive experiences that they otherwise would not be able to at home. Kortenhoeven notes that the setup is likely to high in cost for the average user to have readily available within there home, not to mention the space requirements. The result is complete freedom to play in a 4×4 meter area where you can see your whole body tracked within VR.
Because the suit is modular in design it also means that users can add additional pieces of equipment to the setup to further enhance the immersion. This means that gloves can be put on to allow for full finger tracking with the more sensors on the suit allowing for more precise tracking. Thankfully though, all of this remains lightweight meaning the user is still able to move around with next to no issues.
Talking about the title that the team were showcasing, Exodus Burned, Kortenhoeven explained: “So what you have seen is us playing around in some sort of eSports competition in which we’ve tired to make games more social. So VR is like an isolated experience, but you want to showcase how fun it is so you want to share that experience. So by using your body, you’ve got these kind of situations where you can run towards a button with all kinds of obstacles which you need to overcome.”
“Our game is the same but only within VR and not only is it great to play, because it really looks cool without the wiring you can roll you can jump you can do whatever you want.” Kortenhoeven continues to explain: “But it’s also that neat because it’s nice to look at because we have like huge screens that showcase what you’re actually doing that you can interact with. So it’s like having ten minutes of gaming time, a full exercise – jumping, rolling whatever you do. And then you have like an elevation where if you finish each room within a minute you go up but you don’t you go down. This ends up as a competition between two people against two people in which one is the winner and the other drops down.”
The full interview with Kortenhoeven can be viewed below and gives viewers a good look at what they can expect from Exodus Burned. VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest on the title and the companies future announcements so make sure to stay tuned for all the latest.
via Mint VR