E3 2016: Immerex Brings VR Horror Anytime, Anywhere
The term “virtual reality” was on everyone’s lips this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. From the reveal of Bethesda starting to release and develop games in VR to the countless new head-mounted displays (HMDs), everyone wanted a piece of the VR pie.
It would have been impossible for me to find enough time to demo every single new HMD at E3, but I did my best to fit in as many as possible. One of those was with the company Immerex.
Immerex is a VR start-up that’s only been around for about a year and a half. Already they have their own HMD with portable processor developed. The intention of this display is to differentiate themselves from others on the market. Many VR headsets have the gaming audience as their target market; Immerex plans to focus more on the larger market of movie consumers.
Additionally, most current VR displays use the power of a computer or a console to drive them. Immerex wanted to bring a more portable option to audiences by integrating their own processor.
Finally, Immerex also wants to bridge the current gap between VR hardware and available content. Not many films currently exist that were made specifically for VR so Immerex plans to utilize partners in Hollywood to fill that void.
Let’s first take a look at Immerex’s VR hardware. When it ships early next year, Immerex’s system will ship with the HMD, ear buds that include an inline controller, and the portable processor. The processor will have the ability to hold eight hours of video and will have a four-hour battery life. One unique thing about Immerex’s hardware is that their pieces can be parceled out. If you just want the HMD to use with your computer, fine. If you want the whole kit and kaboodle but would rather use your own headphones, that’s fine too. Immerex will have a mobile app that you can use as a controller rather than the inline one. I got the chance to try an example of the controller app during my E3 appointment, and it was incredibly satisfying how easy it was to use. Flick right or left to scroll through options, and tap the screen to select.
The Immerex headset that was available for use at E3 was loaded with a few different sample videos. One big thing about their product is that not only can you use it to watch VR/360° films, you can also watch traditional 3D or 2D films. I got the chance to test out the 3D viewing capabilities of the headset. It essentially creates a virtual screen within your field of vision in the headset, and the 3D effects happen within that screen just like they do on a normal movie screen. 3D effects will always be a little hokey, and unfortunately VR viewing doesn’t really change that. The effect of having your own personal movie screen to watch was pretty cool though.
As far as the VR films go, I was able to try out a few different types. One had four women huddled around me, seemingly conducting a seance. It was a treat to look around at them and feel that sensation of being trapped. Another showed a woman moving gracefully underwater with dark blue around her, emulating the black depths of the sea. The picture quality in the Immerex headset was definitely something to admire. Most mobile VR platforms suffer slightly on the graphics end of things, but Immerex felt a step ahead of its competitors in that regard.
If there’s any detriment to the Immerex product, it’s that it currently has no streaming capabilities. It will allow you to watch films, play games, or access apps that you have downloaded to the processor, but none online. The company hopes to provide streaming services on their product in the future, but it is not currently integrated.
Immerex hopes to fill this gap by aiding in the process of VR film production. They have already helped with a film called The Spring. The movie takes place in a cave system in Texas that has proven deadly in reality. Three female explorers enter the cave system but suddenly find themselves trapped as it floods and they have to seek an alternative exit. That escape comes in the form of “The Spring,” a rumored, but as of yet unfound, exit from the cave system. It’s easy to imagine that VR will lend itself perfectly to the claustrophobic feeling of a flooded set of caves.
As a company, and as future content partners, Immerex realizes that horror is perfectly suited to virtual reality. When I met with them, they shared excitement over the fact that Dread Central is horror-centric because they understand that the intent of horror, and VR, is to fully immerse viewers. They’ve shown that they’re committed to this concept by making the choice to work on a thriller as their first project. The future of VR horror films is a bright one if more companies like Immerex realize the importance of bringing the two together.
As of the time of my meeting at E3, Immerex did not have a price point decided for their product. However, Immerex CEO Adam Li said that they want to be as competitive as possible as the first movie-oriented VR product.
Only time will tell how well the Immerex VR system is received. But with the prevalence of VR in today’s technology industry, it might not be a stretch to imagine a future where VR replaces the need for movie theaters. At the very least, the popcorn would be much cheaper!
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