We’ve seen VR headsets made out of McDonalds Happy Meal boxes and Coca-Cola crates. Now it’s time for an HMD that doubles as a beer holder. Really.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are responsible for this bizarre creation. The NBA team handed out a total of 750 of its own VR goggles at its playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks last night. The Cardboard-based kit runs off of a phone much like the countless other devices out there, but it also boasts one very unique feature. Recipients were able to hold the device upside down and fit beer cans inside for transportation. Whatever you might think of mobile HMDs, you can hardly say that Oculus, HTC, or Sony had thought of that entirely crucial feature, can you?
https://youtu.be/ROX0GkVuR74
As reported by Forbes, the kit was produced in partnership with Budwiser and DODOCase, the latter of which has its own array of cardboard-based kits that are recognised under the ‘Works with Google Cardboard’ label. Of course, there will be some VR content specific to the HMD to view; owners need to download and visit the Cavaliers’ own official app on both iOS and Android, or head over to Budwiser’s own YouTube channel, though the content isn’t actually available yet.
The content will take the form of four 360 degree videos. One will offer a court-side view of an arena as the National Anthem is played, while another will give viewers a tour of the team’s locker room. There’s also a tour of the practice facility and a look at the team’s dunk squad, C-Town Throwdowns. A video recorded on the night can also be seen above. According to Forbes, another 1,500 HMDs will be given out over another two games later in the season.
Of course, beer holding isn’t an essential requirement for a VR HMD, and we dread to think about what using them in this way would do for the quality of the VR experience. At the same time, it’s a pretty hilarious way to introduce people to VR for the first time, and far more accessible than an expensive and complicated rig linked up to a high-end device. We’ll drink to that.
