While not necessarily related to AR/VR/MR, immersive experiences are becoming more and more available to us in every day life. Live, immersive theater such as “Sleep No More” is becoming more popular than ever. Brands are using these same immersive, interactive techniques to pull the audience into their theme worlds in an attempt of lavish marketing. Here are a few examples:
Samurai Films
Ever wanted to be a Samurai but don’t want to necessarily devote a large portion of your life studying the way of the sword? Samurai Films lets travelers at the Haneda Airport tape a scene as a samurai and have it edited into a professional-looking feature. Led by movie stuntman Kenji Sato, the project allows those who partake to dress the part and battle ninjas, all documented in a short movie showcasing their swordsmanship. The entire process, including costume change, rehearsal and filming, takes 2 and a half hours and is available at the airport only on certain occasions.
Star Wars
This one is a no-brainer as guest are invited into Disneyworld Star Wars experience and become co-creators of their own story within the Star Wars Universe. When the Star Wars resorts open at Walt Disney World and Disneyland in 2019, the theme park will allow visitors to develop a reputation. If a visitor rides the attraction that pits the First Order vs. the Resistance, the side they pick will have ramifications throughout the park. You may be asked to do tasks for one side or the other in a bar and whether you choose to do it or not could affect your park experiences. The whole point is to immerse the viewer in Star Wars in a way they’ve never felt before. I know too many people who are chomping at the bit for this opportunity.
Lust Experience
Like Sleep No More on extended Viagra, the Lust Experience is an immersive theater project in which 100 participants are involved in a months-long game of conspiracy and paranoia. Each person involved in the experience has to complete various tasks, including speaking with actors on the phone, taking part in one-on-one encounters, and tracking messages while grisly murders and corrupt deals take place.
SimuLife
This is a new one for me and more surprising since it is created my one of my mentors, Jeff Wirth and his Interactive Play Lab. Simu-Life is four-day fictional narrative experience that plays out in real-world locations, mixing the line between reality and fantasy by letting users interact with the story as part of their daily lives. The experience is centered around one or more participants, and is supported by a full cast and crew, as well as captured on hidden cameras. I’ll need to contact Jeff to get more information about this extended experience.
Westworld
The remake of the Westworld movie into the HBO television series left me at a fairly satified state. However, There’s money in them dare hills thus HBO is creating a new series. To help promote this new series they contracted a UK based robotics manufacturer to pull a little stunt in a local UK pub. The glitchy robot had conversations with the unwilling patrons, asking them such questions as, “What are your thoughts on the impending humanoid robot invasion?” and “Humanoid robots are so much useful than humans, don’t you think?” I think it was a fairly effect publicity stunt.
