San Diego Comic-Con is this week and VR is poised to have its strongest presence ever.
Some of the virtual worlds to visit at the enormous fan convention are likely still under wraps, but we know two major VR-related projects are likely to anchor the week.
Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One will have a major presence with a panel on Saturday including Spielberg, book author Ernest Cline, co-screenwriter Zak Penn and the film’s stars. The project is somewhat divisive, with some VR fans who didn’t like the book’s writing or reliance on ’80s references, while others that did enjoy it are worried about Spielberg’s take on the vision of a future overtaken by VR. This panel will shed a lot of light on the project, which is scheduled to release next year. Warner Bros. panel in Hall H starting at 11:30 am Pacific on Saturday, July 22.
We also know that Marvel Powers United VR will be playable at Comic-Con. The VR project from Sanzaru Games and Disney’s Marvel is coming to the Oculus Rift exclusively next year and represents one of the biggest name projects ever to come to virtual reality. There are almost two dozen films as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, seemingly each of them blockbusters, as well as TV shows spanning Netflix and ABC. This means there are more fans than ever of Marvel’s superheroes, and getting to embody these characters in VR could be just the thing to convince people VR headsets are worth buying. Attendees can try out Marvel Powers United VR at the Marvel Booth, Booth 2329.
The below isn’t an exhaustive list of what will be there but it includes some of the experiences and panels that caught our eye.
Worlds To Visit
The Tick: Amazon lists a “virtual reality escape room” as part of its promotion of the live-action version of The Tick. Sunday, July 23 from 8 am to 6 pm Pacific in MLK Promenade Park at 326 West Harbor Drive.
Blade Runner 2049: An Oculus VR experience will take people inside the future envisioned in the upcoming Blade Runner 2049 film. You don’t need a Comic-Con badge to see this from Thursday, July 20 to Sunday, July 23. Hours are 10 am – 7 pm on Thursday and Friday; 9 am – 7 pm on Saturday; 10 am – 6 pm on Sunday. Appointments can be made same day and admission is free.
IT: An IT-inspired virtual reality installation is said to be available from Thursday to Sunday in the area of Petco Park. There’s a creepy school bus from the film and “FLOAT: A Cinematic VR Experience” by SunnyBoy Entertainment in the Interactive Zone across from Petco Park.
The Futurism & Tech Pavilion: A number of VR and AR experiences will be on display throughout the week at the Omni San Diego Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 4th Floor. Hours are Wed., 7/19: Developer & Public Preview, 6:00–9:00 pm; Thu.–Sat., 7/20-7/22: 9:30 am – 7 pm; Sun., 7/23: 9:30 am–5 pm. Check out the full run-down:
The Futurism & Tech Pavilion is excited to show off the latest in tech and innovation at this year’s Comic-Con. Augmented Reality takes center stage with the exclusive launch of Mira Lab’s new headset, accompanied by some exciting new content. We have a wide range of Virtual Reality with incredible companies providing it: Survios’ Raw Data, VR Werx’ Paranormal Activity, Steel Wool’s Mars Odyssey, Project Cars from Bandai, Star VR’s John Wick, The Power Rangers presented by Qualcomm, Arcslinger from Big Red Button, something cool from Framestore (The Avengers and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), VR cubes courtesy of Exit VR, Augmented Reality, as well as mixed reality and 360 domes courtesy of FulldomePro (a relaxing way to enjoy fully immersive entertainment). Sega is presenting an AR Sonic experience and a special concert with the awesome Shota Nakama on Thursday evening, and dome takeover on Friday! We welcome the “A.I. Innovation Fair “with its focus on artificial intelligence, sustainable tech and advanced robotics; Hanson Robotics will be sharing Einstein and their remarkable ground-breaking robots. With more than 9,000 square feet of futurism and cutting edge innovation and immersive entertainment, the Futurism & Tech Pavilion hosted by VRCon is a must-see event at Comic-Con 2017!
Panels To See
Thursday: Simulated Worlds: Writing for Virtual Reality and Games
Room 25ABC, 7:00 p.m. Pacific (Panel Link)
Writers for games and virtual reality talk about the industry’s next big thing. What’s different about writing for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)? And how does it change the way gamers interact with your games? Game writers and industry professionals discuss the potential pitfalls and challenges of this next leap in technology as well as the potential for new narratives moving forward. Panelists include Jonathan Callan(senior writer, Survios and “Raw Data”), Collin Kelly (writer, adviser to the USC Games Program), Andrew Robinson (senior writer, Animation and Cinematics at Blizzard Entertainment), Nathan Burba (chief executive officer, Survios), and James Iliff (co-founder/chief creative officer at Survios).
Friday: World Creators: Crossing Platforms (Film, TV, VR, AR, Gaming, and Comics)
Horton Grand Theatre, 4:30 p.m. Pacific (Panel Link)
A discussion of what it takes to make worlds come alive across a multitude of platforms, featuring some of the great creative minds in the business. Panelsits to include Ted Schilowitz (Paramount), Kiki Wolfkill (Halo), Randy Pitchford (Gearbox), Colum Slevin (Oculus), Nathan Burba (Survios), Marlene Sharp (Sega) and a couple of suprise guests. Hosted by VR Con as part of the Futurism and Tech Pavilion at the Omni Hotel.
Saturday: How Entertainment and Tech Leaders Are Uniting in Mobile VR to Deliver New Content Adventures: Power Rangers VR Experience
Horton Grand Theatre, 6 pm Pacific (Panel Link)
From feature film promotion to interactive toys and gaming, mobile VR is shaking up the entertainment industry as a bold technology platform for blazing new, engaging content experiences. Learn how creative minds in entertainment and technology are coming together from Lionsgate, Qualcomm, and Reel FX to use mobile VR for designing and developing blockbuster content experiences. This adventurous discussion will open your mind to new VR possibilities, plus get you full-featured access to the immersive Power Rangers “Zords Rising” mobile VR demo. You’ll also score some cool Power Rangers swag, too. Buckle up for the ride and book your front row seat today. Featuring David Edwards (Lionsgate), Patrick Costello (Qualcomm), Jen Cadic (Reel FX), and moderated by Anshel Sag (Moor Insights). Hosted by Qualcomm Technologies and VR Con (curators of the Futurism and Tech Pavilion).
