Location-Based Startup ‘The Void’ Partners with Sony Pictures for a New Location-Based VR Experience
The location-based virtual reality startup The Void is teaming up with Sony Pictures Virtual Reality for a new location-based VR experience according to the startup’s chief creative officer Curtis Hickman.
The information was revealed by Hickman and confirmed by a Sony spokesperson who, however, did not comment on the Sony franchises which this partnership will be based on.
The Void launched its first virtual reality centers with its Ghostbusters Dimension, a title that it also produced in partnership with Sony Pictures. The company has since gone to launch Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire and Ralph Breaks the Internet that it produced in partnership with Disney. The startup is also planning to launch a new experience which will be based on the Marvel cinematic universe.
Apart from its partnerships, The Void is also working on bringing in more original IP to its locations. The company has been developing some its own intellectual property such as the horror-themed experience Nicodemus.
According to Hickman, having original IP offers the company greater flexibility in its content offering that it is developing and also helps The Void to fine-tune its technology even further. Some of the technology that was used in developing Nicodemus was also applied in Ralph Breaks the Internet. Moving forward, we are going to see more Void content as the company revs up its own IP.
Earlier this summer, The Void had announced its plan to expand to 25 additional locations. The startup also opened new locations in Westfield Center in San Francisco and in the World Trade Center in New York. The Westfield Center location is situated on the fourth floor of the San Francisco mall but the startup is planning to shift it to a more permanent location in the food court at the iconic mall.
According to Hickman, The Void’s new expansion drive has benefited substantially from the experience it has amassed in its existing locations across the U.S. and in Dubai. According to the company, the initial rollout has been a learning process about the business. The company has, for instance, been able to streamline its on-boarding experience while doing away with the self-service kiosks for a more personal concierge experience.
The Void is planning other improvements to its product. It is planning to enhance its hardware and to make its virtual reality backpacks lighter so as to cater for younger visitors to the location-based VR centers.
Hickman has stated that The Void has also been trying out the use of additional trackers for full-body tracking. However, the company eventually dropped the idea due to the extra complexity in the experience which might ruin the fun.
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https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2019/08/23/location-based-startup-the-void-partners-with-sony-pictures-for-a-new-location-based-vr-experience/https://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/The-Void-Location-Based-Virtual-Reality-600×589.jpghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/The-Void-Location-Based-Virtual-Reality-150×90.jpgBusinessSonyStartupsThe location-based virtual reality startup The Void is teaming up with Sony Pictures Virtual Reality for a new location-based VR experience according to the startup’s chief creative officer Curtis Hickman. The information was revealed by Hickman and confirmed by a Sony spokesperson who, however, did not comment on the Sony…Sam OchanjiSam Ochanjisochanji@yahoo.comAdministratorVirtual Reality Times