VR MMO (short for Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online)– game is a virtual reality multiplayer video game capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played mostly on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world.
Game or reality? Sword Art Online (SAO) has garnered worldwide popularity in a variety of forms, from light novels to anime and games. Sponsored by IBM, SAO did a massive VR experimental demonstration in partnership with IBM, Japan.
The chance to participate in the real-life creation was very slim, reportedly garnering the attention of 99,800 applicants, though only 208 were actually chosen. Those who did have the honor of being chosen were able to scan their bodies, which were then rendered as 3D avatars for the demonstration. They then manipulated their in-game avatar using a variety of hardware, including an Oculus Rift (Developer Kit 2) for head-tracking and VR visuals, Leap Motion and Ovrvision for hand manipulation, a Microsoft Kinect 2 for body movement, and lastly, special footwear to detect foot movement.
They got a taste of what technology will bring us in the future!
Watch the video here: http://www.mugendai-web.jp/vrmmo-project/
Watch the Behind the scene video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G33pMjfU28
The hardware was labeled “Nervegear Prototype,” which is named after the virtual hardware used in the source material.
IBM Japan refers to the project as a “virtual reality massive multiplayer online game (VR MMO).”
However, it is unsure whether the project will continue beyond initial tests, or if these tests will lead to a larger project.
Image credits: All images and videos belong to IBM Japan and Sword Art Online
Source: IBM developer
