Enter the Worlds of Steven Spielberg’s New Film at the SXSW Ready Player One Experience with VIVE VR

HTC VIVE™ and “eady Player One have announced eight pieces of virtual reality content inspired by Steven Spielberg’s new action adventure, “Ready Player One.” All eight pieces of content can be enjoyed on Vive, at home or at location-based VR arcades across the country and will be free to download on Viveport and Steam before the film’s March 29, 2018, release, with multiple experiences debuting at South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festival for press and attendees.

“‘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 favourite 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 Experience begins from the outside, where the exterior of Brazos Hall will be transformed into the Stacks, the vertical trailer park where people live in the real world of 2045. Upon receiving their personal RFID wristband, guests will enter the venue through Wade Watts’ Van, the hideaway of the film’s young hero, and, from there, be transported into the OASIS, where the real action begins.

The first floor of the Experience is chock full of things to do:

• The RFID wristband will keep score as guests test their knowledge of `80s trivia, play arcade games, or look for hidden clues, to move up the Leaderboard to win fun prizes, including one grand prize per day: an HTC VIVE VR System.
• Visitors can browse at Avatar Outfitters, offering the Hot Topic Ready Player One Pop-Up Shop. Guests will have a chance to score officially licensed gear, including exclusive t-shirts, caps, jewelry, backpacks, collectible pins and other cool accessories, as well as fan-favorite Funko Pop! vinyl figures and Copper, Jade and Crystal key sets, and much more, all available for purchase.
• Guests can try out the “Ready Player One” Avatar Creator by VIVE to choose their new digital identity, and then send the avatar to their personal email.
• Drop into 2045’s hottest nightclub, The Distracted Globe, where infinity mirrors create the impression of being gravity-free for a cool photo op, and guests can enjoy “Ready Player One”-themed specialty cocktails.
• From the stage: `80s trivia happy hours and nightly artist performances, with special guest DJs and performers, including a WaveVR DJ set by Tye Sheridan, who stars in “Ready Player One”; Them Jeans; FM-84; Bird Peterson; and a special performance by a surprise guest.
• On Saturday, March 10, the SXSW Film Festival will hold its 25^th Edition party, celebrating the anniversary of the film festival, at the Experience.

HTC Vive has partnered with many of the top developers in VR to build experiences that capture the essence of the “Ready Player One” universe. Multiple VR titles will release this month ahead of the film’s release. In addition, a portion of these titles will be made available to VR arcade operators leading up to the film’s release.

• 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.