Read on for our full impressions. Read on for our full impressions.
VR can uniquely transport you to moments in time like no other medium can. There are many immersive experiences that you can enjoy away from games.
is one of my favorites. Astra and Empereur also make for compelling journeys. Following its 2022 debut, I recently tried In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats and found myself taken in.Body of Minehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xrou824O70SenGoing hands-on during the
, it’s easily my favorite “new” experience from this trip. The experience was designed as a “room-scale” one. I put my headset on, donned a haptic jacket and suddenly found myself back in 1989. It allows for exploration by walking around, and it supports smooth camera turns. I’ve lived in Southern England all my life, but In Pursuit Of Repetitive beats is an interesting look at a wider UK culture that can be surprisingly relevant. This interactive documentary explores the illicit side of NewImages Festival, in Coventry during the 1980s. Three ravers are on a quest to find a warehouse party. The experience is split into several scenes. You can be in a bedroom with football posters, a policestation or even a mythical warehouse. This is interwoven with interviews of prominent acid house artists like MC Loud & Nasty and Tony McCook, which are placed on physical flyers. As someone largely unfamiliar with the scene’s history beforehand, I was drawn in by their stories and these environments look great.XR MarketThere’s an impressive attention to detail that captures this era well. East City Films uses radio and TV broadcasts of 1989 to recreate the era. It was like walking through a mix of a visual synesizer and a radio, where the station would change as I moved. It was pleasant to hear old football scores mention my team AFC Bournemouth. It’s an interesting time capsule which has left me with nostalgic feelings for times before my birth. It’s 45-minute experience is not the longest, but I found myself still thinking about it a week after. East City Films’ integration of haptic vests, which enhance the immersion through synchronization with the soundtrack was particularly impressive. After this demonstration, I talked with Director Darren Emerson (co-founder and CEO at East City Films) to find out more. Emerson has been creating VR content with social commentary since the early days of modern VR. His efforts include
, and more recently
.
The Coventry City of Culture Trust approached Emerson initially to create In Pursuit Of Repeative Beats. The Trust funded the project with the British Film Institute. Emerson was born in London but wanted this to be a true experience for anyone who participated in the rave culture of that time. I wasn’t there in 1989 when raving was happening, but the process remained the same. You go to your friend’s home and ask, “Where will we go?” This flyer is interesting. What about this flyer? I wanted to represent that in 1989 when it was more politically and culturally seminal. To recreate that time, I used real broadcasts from pirate radios to help me convey the message. Acid House was known for using these stations as a way to spread their message. The scene where your position was like a tuner for radios, which is described above, we discussed. You don’t live outside your bedroom. While trying to locate pirate radio, you’ve passed classical music, 80s pop, and news stations. Finally, the pirate radio tells you the location of the party. This type of story telling is full of nostalgia. You can create vivid, emotional worlds. Emerson says that he chose VR because it is more about emotion and connections, so he has focused on community in his work. It’s why he chooses VR over traditional filmmaking, and he believes that many music documentaries are too similar.
“After a while, it gets really boring. The main reason I did not want to listen to anyone talk about this was because it was boring. I’m there to help; I don’t want to hear anyone talk about it. How do I get there? Only in VR can I really feel like I’m there. You can pick people up to provide you with commentary, like talking heads in an interview, but these are the same people who you’ll see there. You’re being guided by them. Since its premiere in Coventry, two years ago In Pursuit Of Repeative Beats, has continued to tour numerous festivals. East City Films plans a new eight stop tour very soon. East City told me they are looking at a possible home release of In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats. The touring factor is a consideration when it comes to releasing the game. Regarding future plans I was told that another consideration is adding multiplayer co-location “in an LBE context” before it’s released on home video. Emerson suggested that people can join an “endless rave” at their own discretion, along with guest DJs. Although it is a wonderful experience, I see potential in this idea and hope that we will not have to wait long before a launch at home.Witness 360: 7/7