HTC Vive Brings Ready Player One VR Experiences to the Home

For the hotly anticipated March 29th release of the Steven Spielberg film Ready Player One, HTC Vive of Austin, TX, has announced eight pieces of virtual reality content inspired by the film. All eight pieces can be enjoyed on Vive, either at home or at a number of location-based VR arcades across the country, and will be free to download on Viveport and Steam before the film’s release.

The upcoming film from Warner Bros., produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, and written by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline, is based on Cline’s 2011 novel of the same name. Set on a future dystopian Earth, the population spends much of its time in an interconnected virtual space called the Oasis. When its founder dies and bequeaths ownership to the first person to the find a hidden treasure, a race ensues between a young man and his friends, and an evil corporation that wants to control OASIS for itself.

 

 

“‘Ready Player One’ has inspired both the current and future state of the VR industry and Vive is in a unique position to deliver on the promise of VR today,” said Joel Breton, GM of Vive Studios. “We’ve brought together a group of our favorite developers to bring content inspired by ‘Ready Player One’ to life in a way that resonates with audiences long after they have left the theater.”

The company has partnered with many top VR developers to build experiences that will capture the essence of Ready Player One universe. The pieces are outlined below with their respective partner developers:

Battle for the OASIS

Help to save the OASIS by defeating waves of IOI Sixers. Advance through the trenches of Planet Doom towards the snowy planes that surround Anorak’s Castle. With an arsenal only possible in the OASIS, you must stop IOI from gaining control.
Developer: Steel Wool Studios

Rise of The Gunters

Fight against a nearly invincible army of highly trained IOI Sixers. Proceed with caution as you defeat Sixers, collect their coins, find power ups and survive a merciless onslaught of hyper-explosive kinetic action for as long as it takes. The OASIS is yours. Take it back. Battle the IOI by yourself or with up to two fellow Gunters!
Developer: Drifter Entertainment, Inc.

Gauntlet

Navigate through a seemingly endless dungeon while the undead seek to destroy you. Collecting Gold will improve your score and eating food will restore your health, but only your bow skills will ensure that you make it out alive.
Developer: Directive Games

Smash

Enhance your hand and eye coordination in this nod to OASIS creator James Halliday’s favorite ’80s arcade games.
Developer: 2 Bears Studio

Fracture

Heighten your spatial awareness and reflexes in this throwback to` 80s brick smasher games reimagined in VR.
Developer: 2 Bears Studio

Aech’s Garage

Walk into the extraordinary world of Aech’s Garage in VR as interpreted from the original ILM design for Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One.” Inspired by the virtual universe of the OASIS in 2045, Aech’s Garage represents the culmination of VR as it exists in the year 2018.
Developer: Sansar

The Distracted Globe Music Experience in TheWaveVR

Step inside the fantastical space inspired by The Distracted Globe zero-gravity dance club scene from “Ready Player One.” TheWaveVR experience will let anyone immerse themselves in the dance club scene with specially designed avatars, ’80s visuals and music, plus the ability to fly to the music in zero gravity. Available at SXSW and in participating VR arcades across the country on March 9. Launching on TheWaveVR’s free app on Steam in the U.S. beginning Thursday, March 17 at 9:00 p.m. CT.
Developer: TheWaveVR

Ready Player One: Avatar Creator

People come to the OASIS for all the things they can do, but they stay for all the things they can be. With millions of permutations, the Avatar Creator lets you create your own highly detailed OASIS persona. Share your custom Avatar with friends and fellow Gunters.
Developer: Morph3D.